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Post by kings6 on Jan 4, 2022 11:06:41 GMT -5
Bushy started us off with the beautiful old model 357 conversion to 44 Special by Hamilton and we all know that prior to Ruger bringing out the mid framed 44 Specials, this conversion was a staple of the custom revolver trade. Boxhead included his picture of one as well and considering this is such a iconic conversion I figured why not do a picture gallery thread dedicated to this conversion. Drop your pictures in, a little on the back story on the gun and lets see what is out there. Greg and Boxhead, please repost your guns here as well. I will drop a couple in once someone else has gotten the ball rolling. (This kind of post is what you do when it is 38* outsie, pouring rain and you are old and retired!"
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Post by taffin on Jan 4, 2022 11:46:25 GMT -5
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Post by Lee Martin on Jan 4, 2022 11:52:34 GMT -5
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Post by taffin on Jan 4, 2022 11:52:53 GMT -5
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Post by kings6 on Jan 4, 2022 12:07:34 GMT -5
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Post by kings6 on Jan 4, 2022 12:13:04 GMT -5
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Post by kings6 on Jan 4, 2022 12:19:46 GMT -5
The final gun now lives at another members home but I will share the back story since I had some additional work done on it before I sold it. I bought the guns years ago and for some reason the original owner had sent it to Ben Forking to get converted to 44 Special but it had already been converted to the transfer bar. While this feature is fine on a new model Ruger I prefer non converted old models so between Ben and I we found the parts to return the gun to its normal state except for the Clements Bisley hammer I sent him. When I was able to trade a USFA 44 Special to Ben for one of his 5 shot 45 Colt "Nimrod" style guns I decided to use the 5 shot gun as Bens contribution to my quest. Bens guns are so hard to find that I didn't feel right having two of his custom sitting in the safe so I let this one go to another member here. I will let the new owner post a picture if he so chooses. I have some good pictures of the gun if the new owner wants me to post them.
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Post by taffin on Jan 4, 2022 14:12:00 GMT -5
THE LAST THREE IN MY FIRST POST ARE BEN FORKIN SIXGUNS IN .44 MAG, .45 COLT, AND .41 MAGNUM
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Post by taffin on Jan 4, 2022 14:12:59 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2022 19:11:32 GMT -5
Robb,I believe the last visit I had with John, he was working on building JT/SS. Always a fond memory, getting to watch John build a friend's gun.
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Post by kings6 on Jan 4, 2022 19:24:06 GMT -5
That gun was a total surprise. AS I knew John was nearing the end of his time in the shop I told him to box up that gun and just ship all the parts and the gun back to Oregon. I figured he had more important things to focus on than that particular gun. He surprised me and told me he had been working on finishing it without me knowing it and it was just about done and ready to come back to Oregon. He did the same thing on the old model 45 Colt that had been down there for aa few years as well. I gave that gun to my son Remington when I let him choose his heirloom gun from a selection of 4-5 different guns. He selected that gun with the brass grip frame and case coloring with one of Davis hammers.
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Post by boxhead on Jan 5, 2022 0:24:52 GMT -5
My first custom build circa 2003 with Alan Harton. It started as a basic 357 to 44 Special conversion. He said he would never build another. Harton grips from wood that my high schooler in Calgary found in a junk box "upstairs" in his wood shop class.   One from Bowen's website already built a number of years ago. A 44 Special with my Clements provided hammer. I think I had Alan make these grips as well.  Time flies... |
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Post by tdbarton on Jan 5, 2022 7:57:17 GMT -5
My first custom build circa 2003 with Alan Harton. It started as a basic 357 to 44 Special conversion. He said he would never build another. Harton grips from wood that my high schooler in Calgary found in a junk box "upstairs" in his wood shop class. One from Bowen's website already built a number of years ago. A 44 Special with my Clements provided hammer. I think I had Alan make these grips as well. Time flies... Those are both really nice, Boxhead. Always appreciate your revolvers when you bust em out. |
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JCW64
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 66
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Post by JCW64 on Jan 5, 2022 12:38:51 GMT -5
 Here are 2 that I am proud to own. The top is a John Gallagher 44 special that I commissioned him to do for me 12-14 years ago. It has his own case hardening and he also made the grips. The steel gripframe is from a new model that John made to work with the Old Model. The bottom gun is a Forkin Custom Classic 44 special that I stumbled into. I bought a nice 2nd gen SAA last year from a gunshop online and when I called them to complete the transaction I asked where the SAA came from. The guy stated they just got some guns in from an estate so I asked about Colts and Rugers. He went over a few guns and then stated he has a  ?? Custom Classics gun. I didn't understand when he said "Forkin". I asked him to describe it and spell the name on the barrel. Then I knew what it was and after he sent pictures I bought it. It came with some nice sambar stag grips but I have since put on some ivory with Ruger medallions. |
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Post by squawberryman on Jan 5, 2022 15:51:21 GMT -5
Top one has a 44-40 cylinder. I'm heading out the door, will post details later.  |
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?? Custom Classics gun. I didn't understand when he said "Forkin". I asked him to describe it and spell the name on the barrel. Then I knew what it was and after he sent pictures I bought it. It came with some nice sambar stag grips but I have since put on some ivory with Ruger medallions.