Help! Trying to ID BHP custom work...

[nwilliams]

I picked up this gun a while back from a gun shop in Prescott Arizona, back when I used to live there. It's definately very customized with checkering on the front and back of the grip, beveled mag well, S&W sights, barrel bushing, ambi safety, mag disconnect removed and the trigger weighs in at just 4.25 pounds. The only thing I added was the Esmeralda grips, the grips that came on it were Pachmayr.

I'd love to know who did the custom work on this gun. Of all the handguns I've owned over the years this is by far my favorite but I know nothing about it's history. It's possible that I'll never know who customized it but if the work looks familiar to you then I'd love to hear your ideas. Someone in another forum suggested it might from Don Williams at Action Works in Chino Valley Arizona.

I can try and provide any information I can, just ask.

Thanks!

Here are some pics....

 

[earlthegoat2]

Putting the S&W rear sights on was a somewhat common practice back in the 70s. If you can date it by the serial number the gun could be put into that vintage possibly.

Over at Hi Powers and Handguns, Stephen Camp's first Hi Power had the same sight conversion although his also had an S&W front sight with orange insert. The work on that gun was done by "Lou Williamson, a gunsmith at Knight's Gun Shop in Ft. Worth, Texas" (Hi Powers and Handguns, Stephen Camp). He also mentions that it was common practice back then to graft to the S&W sights onto the slides of automatics.

Though this does little to help you along your way to finding out who the customizer was, it is still some interesting information.

 

[Dr.Rob]

That's no slouch job for sure.

 

[winter1857]

I don't know who did it but I surely do like it. I approve.

 

[sidheshooter]

Can't help you either... but that is sweet looking!

 

[Gunfighter123]

Some custom gunsmiths engrave/stamp their name/init./year etc. on the top INSIDE of the slide ---- I have two Jimmy Clark Sr. guns that are marked like that.



Edit --- whoever it was did a VERY nice job.

 

[David E]

Armand Swenson did much to promote the use of S&W revolver sights installed on semi-autos. As others have noted, this was very popular in the 70's to early 80's.

However, it appears to me that the BHP in question isn't old enough (going by the ambi thumb safety) to have been worked on by the aforementioned Mr. Swenson, presuming all work was done at the same time.