Why custom?

Both by Bowen. On the right is a Super-Redhawk Alaskan fitted with a new 5 round cylinder and barrel to handle .454 Casull. Shot a couple thousand rounds over the years and it's still tight as a virg ... well, it's pretty tight. On the left is my pride and joy. One of only a few Redhawk M1917 Conversions he's done. 5 shot cylinder in moonclipped.50 AE. No, it's not a duplicate of either the Colt or the SW. It's not meant to be. It's a master gunsmith's interpretation of the original, using one of the most durable revolvers extant as the clay. It's impossible to appreciate the workmanship and attention to detail of a gun like this without holding it and shooting it. The lanyard ring may seem oddly placed, but the serial number for the gun is right in the middle. Because of its small size, it serves the same purpose as with the originals but more elegantly and unobtrusivley. In the hand its unnoticeable. Not that I'll ever have need to take it into the trenches. Does a boar or coyote notice any difference between this and a stock Redhawk on the receiving end? Nope.Was it "worth" the money and wait? For me, yes.Having something this close to mechanical and (my) aesthetic perfection is a joy to me whenever I shoot it. Everyone needs one "perfect" thing in their life.

SharpDog said:

My finest gun is a Dickenson's I got from eBay ... yes, eBay when it first opened and they did not know better. I actually bought 3 revolvers from them. Not a custom but shoots inside of a quarter at 25 yds (I can't but it can, I have seen my instructor do that offhand). It is on the right, my 329 is on the left.

My finest custom piece would be this ivory-hilted Damascus dagger given to me by my friend Fuad:

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How has the ivory held up over time? Hard as hell to find anymore