Custom revolver work--who is doing

[ExMachina]

I have a custom revolver project in mind, which will entail fabricating and a new cylinder and barrel for a Redhawk.

The only revolver smith I can find that seems capable of doing such radical custom re-barreling and re-chambering is Bowen Classic Arms. Can anyone recommend any other alternatives I should consider?

Thanks,

-ExM
bering

 

[Preacherman]

There are others. You could talk to Cylinder & Slide, and see what they can do. However, for a job this big, I'd stick with Hamilton Bowen. Why not use the best?

 

[ExMachina]

Thanks Preacherman. We'll see what happens--it's a hair-brained scheme so, I'll probably go through with it

 

[bigbore45colt]

Bowen is definitely one of the best.

I might suggest a few others that are, in my opinion, also very good:

-David Clements, Clements Custom Guns (www.clementscustomguns.com)

-Jim Stroh, Alpha Precision, Inc (www.alphaprecisioninc.com)

-Gary Reeder

-Cosby's Custom Guns

-Milt Morrison, Qualite Pistol & Revolver

-Ben Forkin

All of those guys can probably do the job...and do it well. At least this gives you a few do get some competitive quotes on the job you want done.

Take care, and RKBA!

BB45C

 

[Chuck Perry]

Jack Huntington

 

[cigardad]

Karl Sokol at Chestnut Mountain Sports does excellent revolver work.

 

[ExMachina]

Another "thank you" to all who responded. Lots of interesting options (including a few ideas I hadn't considered! )

 

[Big Daddy]

I'm not sure if he does Ruger revolvers but www.sdmfabricating.com does some trick stuff with S&Ws.

 

[Colt46]

Be aware......

If he is very good then he will be very busy! I ran into a situation where it took a year to get my gun back from a promised 3-4 months turnaround. I was very pleased with the work. But, a top name smith will be backlogged a lot longer than he might be willing to admit to up front.
Bowen, Linebaugh, Clements, Reeder and Stroh are the top ones that come to mind.
Good luck.

 

[medmo]

Jeff Mangum at Magnum Precision. 602 200 0943

He is very busy so if he does do the work it might take awhile. The guy is an artist...

http://www.magnumguns.com/

 

[mec]

Best bets for great work and good business practices are Bowen, Clements and Alex Hamilton of tenring precision-not necessarily in that order. If you use bowen or hamilton you are tapping into the combined skills of the american pistolsmith's guild. they talk to each other all the time and share techniques and knowledge. I believe Stroh is part of that connection too but haven't delt with him myself.

Here's a flattop done up for Katherine Schmidt by Bowen

and here's a 500 done for Jared Schmidt by Bowen:

Clements guns are very close in appearance and all are outstanding shooters.
In contrast, Here is something from Reeder Custom Guns:

 

[HankB]

. . . it took a year to get my gun back from a promised 3-4 months turnaround.

I've encountered similar situations with both pistolsmiths and taxidermists.

Look, if it's going to take a year just TELL ME UP FRONT, don't just quote me a few months when you KNOW full well it's going to take 3 or 4 times as long.

And if I'm spending the money to have a BNP (Big Name Pistolsmith) do the work, DON'T PASS MY WORK OFF TO SOME FLUNKY IN YOUR SHOP! These days I make blankety-blank sure the guy I'm sending my money to is the guy who's going to do the work, or at least the most skilled part of the job.

 

[mec]

a problem with communication:
gunsmithese: " I'm running about 8 to 10 weeks behind right now."
translation: " I'm running about 16-20 weeks behind right now and loosing ground."

"I had trouble getting the new barrel to shoot but now, It'll ' shoot uh inch' ."
Trans: "I do not know how to install a revolver barrel but I do have a bunch of wierd-ass ideas about how it should be done. "

Gsmithese: " I'm finishing up your gun As We Speak."
Trans: " I think your gun is under a pile of stuff that came in about a month ago."

Gsmithese: " That job should run about $300."
Trans: " That job will run abut $500 and I'll factor in a 15% discount to make you think you're getting a special deal.

Gsmithese: " I told you that job would run about $500."
trans: " You are a very stupid person. You picked ME to work on your gun."

Gsmithese: " I don't do that sort of work. You would not be satisfied with the result and are better off with somehing like my Aces and Eights Special Package."
Trans: the last time I did a job like that I screwed up so bad the customer has given me nothing but grief."

 

[Sheldon]

John Linebaugh is another guy to consider.
http://www.linebaughcustom.com/ProductsServices/tabid/194/Default.aspx