If you were to have a flashy "bbq" revolver....

what would you pick in my situation? As you might have inferred from the title, the other thread on BBQ guns has really got my wheels turning and I have decided to pursue one. I want something unusual and special. I am willing to spend some cash on it, I am thinking floral style engraving with 75% coverage, and looking at some type of exotic natural grips. My grip considerations are as follows;
Elephant Ivory
Mammoth Ivory
Mammoth molar (no dye)
Mother of pearl
Walrus ivory
Burly Ironwood or similar
other suggestions?

The elephant ivory may be difficult to find so I am not holding my breath on that one.
as far as the finish on the metal I like nickel plating (hard chrome? or even a high polished stainless steel) but wouldn't be opposed to a color case hardened frame with a blued barrel done by the likes of Turnbull.

The firearms I have on hand that I am considering are these, all are in great mechanical condition, none have any sentimental value;

S&W 29-2 blue 8 3/8"- its in really nice shape save for a couple very minor cosmetic flaws

S&W 57 no dash Blue 6" also in very nice shape virtually no cosmetic flaws.

S&W 27-2 blue 6" this one is rough, it came with some beat up magna grips which I replaced with some cheap rosewood target grips but some of the bluing is missing from holster wear dings ect..

Colt Python 6" 2020 version stainless steel perfect condition.

Magnum Research BFR 475 Linebaugh stainless steel 7" has buffalo horn grips and some very light scratches on the cylinder and ejector rod housing.

Ruger Blackhawk 3 screw 4 3/4" Blue 357 magnum has some dings and scuff also unfortunately has the "safety" conversion.

Dan Wesson 357 super mag blue 8" perfect except for flame cutting on the top strap (not my doing, on a side note, any one know if this is correctable?)

S&W 686 ( -4 I think, before the dreaded Hillary hole) 6" stanless steel 7 round in pretty good shape.

S&W 629-5 5" classic full underlug round butt. this one is in pretty good shape except for a couple small dings on the cylinder and has the wrong screw holding the rear sight on.

Ruger Vaquero stainless 4" 45 colt birds head grips, in great shape

Some other options I am considering buying for this cause;

Colt SAA in 45 Colt 5.5"

S&W 25 in 45 Colt, pinned and recessed 4" 5" or 6" barrel, though I tend to think 4" might be a little short for this project. I would probably look for one thats like the model 27 rough looking but mechanically sound.

I am also open to other suggestions for the donor gun.

I like the 5" and 6" length barrels for this, I do think the 8"s are a bit long. I am currently
leaning in the direction of the model 57, or a model 25, with either the mammoth ivory grips or mother of pearl. But I am definitely open to suggestions and input and reasons why.

It will be fun to make my own leather to match.

If pics are needed I will edit later and add them.

 

IMHO, permanently modifying a high-condition pinned and recessed S&W these days is criminal......

That said, its your property, so do as you please.

I vote for the Python, Vaquero, or perhaps one of the two imperfect M29s.

 

My tricked out 686 with Pacmyer grips and some .38s with 180 grain bullets that I molded from an LBT mold that was specially made for me. These bullets will easily group into 1 inch at 25 yards from a rest.

 

With what you have listed, the shiny birds head Vaquero in one of Craig C’s Slimjim holsters would be quite a sharp combo…

Stay safe.

 

Smith & Wesson subdued PD340 with bold white stag grips would be WAY exotic!

 

It certainly would!

 

Vaquero, highly polished, with a black grip of some sort of natural material. Engraved to your liking. Carried in black leather with nickel plated cartridges in the loops and cylinder.

 

It'd be this one, with (as you noted) some nice floral engraving and elephant or mammoth ivory grips (with the medallions, of course).

 

First thing I would do was seek inspiration by looking at photos in Craig C’s posts. Man has got classy revolvers, pictures of other folks classy revolvers, sweet gunleather, and pictures of others’ sweet gunleather.

But for me, it would be one of the Uberti Charcoal Blued and CCH Richards-Mason Conversions in 38 Special, 5.5”. An elegant looking revolver indeed.

 

I don't have anything too flashy. I guess I could make do with this old clunker and some nice leather.

 

For my money, elephant ivory is numero uno. It's also close to impossible, these days. I think the "no bark" stag grips are about the classiest things available today.

I also think that leather is at least as important as the gun, when it comes to "BBQ" carry. After all, unless it is the sort of gathering where you can pull your piece every few minutes, you'll be showing your holster far more than your gun.

To me, the highest evolution of the BBQ rig is a 4" DA S&W in a caliber starting with a "4", carried in a floral carved El Paso Threepersons rig with matching belt.

 

This is about the ultimate, to me. (Courtesy of John Taffin.)



Although, honestly, a pair of engraved and nickeled "Wolf & Klar" 1926 models would make it perfection.

 

That’s absurd! I love it!

 

captain awesome

From the guns you already have I would go with the S&W Model 27-2 for the make-over. Since it's already a little bit rough and in need of a little cosmetic TLC. I would have it engraved, bright nickel plated, and have Sambar or Elk stag grips, with S&W medallions inserted in them, of course!

For something you might acquire I would look for a Colt or a USFA SAA in .45 Colt (with a 4 5/8th" barrel), engraved, with bluing on the barrel, color case hardening by Turnbull on the frame, and a nickel plated backstrap and trigger guard. Elephant Ivory (if available), or else Sambar or Elk stag grips, along with silver Colt medallions.

 

My thoughts exactly! You'd wind up with a nicely finished gun instead of a beat up looking one.

Engraving, finish, etc, is up to you.

As far as grips, I'm a fan of mammoth ivory, love the variate colors and patterns.

 

Out of the choices listed the Colt SAA would be my first choice. The Python next. Just my opinion. Truthfully I have little interest in owning a really fancied up handgun. Leather is another matter. I like fancy, floral carved leather.

 

One of these would be where I would start.


In one of these holsters, well not the left handed 1911



Kevin

 

Yeah, wonder if it's too late to get John Taffin to adopt me so I could inherit some of his revolvers.

Some hand-tooled gunleather is, of course, required.

 

Walrus ivory is obtainable from Native Americans:

https://walrusivory.org/walrus-ivory/

Conelrad

 

Have you considered leather chaps, stiletto heels and a matching thong?

 

This one: Colt SAA in 45 Colt 5.5" in nickel, mammoth ivory stocks, carried in a fully floral carved El Paso Saddlery 1930 Austin holster (in black for evening wear, russet for day wear!) You're in AZ; what could be more appropriate?!

 

Of the things you've mentioned my personal preference would be the Model 25 4", nickel (nickel is "warmer" than chrome, IMO), mammoth ivory grips (magna size, not target), and a Tyler's T-Grip adapter.

According to what I can find if you find elephant ivory grips the sale of them would be legal only from a seller in your state (with a few exceptions) and only then if the seller can prove that the ivory was imported prior to 18 Jan 1990.
https://www.akti.org/education/the-ivory-ban/

 

If you can find a factory original S&W Model 25 that is recessed, better hang onto it, as only Magnums and Rimfires ever got the recessed cylinders IIRC.