C&S Pathfinder

[Marshall]

I recently purchases a Browning Hi Power. I have enjoyed shooting this thing so much I rememberd an article I read a number of months back so I searched and found the article I was remembering. It's an article about a C&S (Cylinder & Slide) Hi Power called the Pathfinder. It's a cut down version on JMB's design and has a number of custom features. You supply a MKIII or a quality clone like the FEG and they perform the transformation. You can also buy the whole thing from them.

I am wondering if anyone has done this and what they think about the Pistol? It's pricey, $1,000.00 get's the total job done with a HP supplied for them. With custom pistols costing as much as they do it doesn't seem out of line for a hard tuned carry size HP with all the bells and whistles, the list is long.

Anyone?

 

[Dave Williams]

Marshall

I don't have one of these. However, I'd considered getting one for my wife, as she likes the BHP best, and I thought the Pathfinder would be a perfect carry gun for her for when Ohio passes the CCW law. In talking to a friend about it, he pretty much convinced me that while it's neat, the non-standard springs, mags, and other parts would be a problem come replacement time. Let's face it, with use, those things wear out. Now if C&S could convince Browning/FN to put it into production, like they did Colt with the Defender, that'd be great.

Dave

 

[Marshall]

That would be an excellent to question to ask them! I figured I could just call and get replacements thru C&S. For how long is probably the real question?

Thanks Dave

 

[ajacobs]

I have one on order. I will certainly post a review when it arrives in 6 months or so. I have had nothing but wonderful experiences will Cylinder and Slide though. Bill might be able to convince Browning as he did invent the SFS system and provides some to browning which you can get already installed in a new gun. The truth though is this is probally a nich peice as the recoil spring does have to be changed often just by the nature of reducing the slide. As far as parts availability goes I just ordered 4 mags with the pistol as any spare mags I would carry would be full size mags anyway. Springs are just factory springs shortened to the right length I believe.

 

[Wildalaska]

If Bill Laughridge makes it..it gonna be quality!

 

[Marshall]

ajacobs,

Did you order the whole gun or send them one? Do you know if they are providing the gun at a good price, like cost, since they are really making their money on their conversion?

Thanks!

 

[ajacobs]

I don't know what price they provide the gun at. Usually it is around the same as you get from a dealer. I like to buy my own guns this way I can deal directly with the company and have it returned directly to me. Plus generally a dealer will make you put up all the money up front where cylinder and slide only asks for half the modification money. Plus since I am out of state I only end up paying tax on the price of the original gun not the gun with modifications on it. Additionally I like to fire several hundred rounds through a pistol before hand to make sure everything is alright.

Also Cylinder n slide (the only company I know of that does this) has you hang onto your pistol until they are ready to work on it (which was about 7 months last pistol I had them do) then they send a post card to you saying to mail it in and they then get it back to you within a couple of months or less depending if there is any outside work. So this way I have use of the pistol for 7 months where otherwise I would not.

I hope this explains my reasoning I think it works out to a win win situation to buy the pistol first.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

It is a C&S gun, but Bill didn't make it, Christian did. I reported on this when it was intro'd at the 2001 SHOT Show. See the C&S paragraph here http://www.shotshowreports.com/2001pg1.html

 

[Marshall]

Thanks for the replies! If that's the case I will just wait until they send me a postcard and buy the gun to send them then. I aready have one to shoot with.

 

[PCRCCW]

Ive lusted after these for a while...saw an earlier article on the same guns.....WAY NICE! Price You get what you pay for.
I was on a quest for a more compact FN...to match my little CZ's.

I WILL NOT SAY these are as good ...not even close to the Pathfinder...but here are a couple of interesting options..Ive found on my MINI HP quest........

Arcus Compact 94 SA - 98 Trad d/a
FN HP DA c Trad d/a - DAO
Detective" top end for a standard HP frame.....

I got the FN.......

Shoot well