The realization of a dream

[CraigC]

The realization of a dream (and a knife too!)

I've got several fairly basic customs but have long wanted to do a really special custom five-shot Bisley. Reading about Jack Huntington's work, handling some guns he built, shooting one of his .500Maximums and having the feeling that compatibility with all the .500S&W bullets on the market being a huge plus, I decided to have Jack build me a .500JRH. His much shorter lead times made it an easy decision. I consider the two greatest influences Seyfried's #13 and Keith's #5. Boge Quinn's .500 Bisley Vaquero certainly didn't hurt. I initially wanted to do a Single Six style dovetail rear sight topstrap conversion and might entertain that still but as of right now, the build consists of the following. My 50th anniversary .44Mag flat-top has never become a favorite so it will be the base gun. It will get converted to a Bisley, obviously with a five-shot custom cylinder left unfluted and a 4 5/8" octagon barrel. I've yet to decide on a front sight base, perhaps something similar to Jim Stroh's or maybe an express style ramp. Perhaps something one-off. I'd like to do something special for the basepin, maybe something closer to the original #5 pin than Belt Mt's iteration. Probably either a bullseye or crescent ejector. The grip frame will be decked and will receive a set of Jack's grips in elephant ivory. I've been on the phone with suppliers and hope to find some with some yellow streaking and character.

The Cimarron Open Top that I had engraved nearly two years ago was actually intended as a prelude to this project. I wanted to try the engraver and finish work on a $500 gun before I full blown custom. So this special sixgun will also be engraved in American scroll at 75% coverage by Michael Gouse. The hammer and trigger will be color case hardened, the screws and pins fire blued and the rest carbona blued. Just like the Open Top. Talked to Jack again yesterday, ordered dies and a bunch of components. Sixgun goes out this week. I just have to decide on some details and certain elements of the engraving.




The base gun:

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Holy bananas Craig...... That sounds real nice. I'm looking forward to seeing the final product. I'm unfamiliar with that cartridge. Guess I better get to reading.

I'm feeling a greater and greater pull to the SA world.

Just curious, what are elephant ivory grips going to cost? I know the entire package will be really expensive but isn't elephant ivory pretty hard to come by?

Ah, just went and read a little about the 500 max. Looks like a heavy bullet at moderate velocities, which I know is right up your alley. I take it you'll be plugging some big critters with this one.

 

[788Ham]

I too await that final restoration/makeover Craig, you have some of the finest revolvers I've ever seen. Congratulations, you're deserving !

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I don't know about those style of guns but it's sure to be beautiful.

 

[bannockburn]

CraigC

That should be one fine looking revolver when it's finished! Eagerly awaiting that day when we get to see photos of it.

 

[buck460XVR]

It's sure to be a truly unique and special firearm. Can't wait to see it.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks guys, I'm excited about it!

460Kodiak, ivory is actually fairly plentiful, even though it was all imported before the 1989 ban. It's just not cheap. It's going to cost me $400 for the material and $300 for labor. Which is actually $100 less than what Nutmeg charges for Bisley sized grips. We think Obama's executive order banning the sale of ivory is going to be found unconstitutional and struck down. If it is allowed to become law, I'll have another set made of ivory micarta for when I travel with it. Because it won't be a safe queen, it will be used, holstered and blooded. I plan on using it regularly but it will also go with me to Argentina for water buffalo and probably Africa in the coming years.

Jack first devised the cartridge years before the .500S&W, in the days when the only .50 caliber cartridge you could get in the FA was the .50AE. The .500Linebaugh is actually too big to fit in the FA but his .500JRH is perfect. It had more powder capacity and allowed a firm roll crimp with better bullets and FA's only needed a cylinder. He went with a rim, FA later went with a belt on their .500Wyoming Express. Nowadays, we just cut .500S&W brass to 1.4" and call it a day. Other makers may mark their guns ".500S&W 1.4"". The bonus is that the brass is more plentiful and it's compatible with all the .500S&W bullets available. The 440gr CPBC is one of Jack's favorites and it supposed to be a jackhammer on game. It is also available from Leadhead's for much less coin. Missouri Bullet also has a nice plain based 400gr that would be perfect for mild to moderate loads. The .500Linebaugh is a little more limited as its bullets are .511-.512 and brass is made from .348Winchester or .50AK. The .500Maximum or .500Linebaugh Long, is just a stretch version of the standard Linebaugh and built on the Ruger .357 Maximum. The loads I shot were a 525gr at 1200fps and Jack's grips made it quite manageable.

 

[CraigC]

I forgot to mention that there will be some very special leather to go with this sixgun. Could be made in a material related to the grips and its prototype might get posted this week.

Ordered 2000 bullets today.

 

[22-rimfire]

Sounds like this is going to be a great hand cannon. Hope it works out real well for you.

 

[captain awesome]

sounds like its going to turn some heads anywhere it goes. Congrats on the decision to go for it and your 50th anniversary. I have to poke a little fun though, thank goodness for the 500 S&W or you wouldn't have all those wonderful bullet option available to you.

 

[StrawHat]

CraigC,

Good luck on your quest. Not my cup of tea but the Open Top you had built is more to my liking. Looking forward to seeing hte completed revolver.

Kevin

 

[jbj]

That'll be a gorgeous gun with pretty much any of the options you put on it! Can't wait to see the pictures.

If elephant ivory turns out to be too much hassle, you could look into mammoth or walrus. I hear they tend not to be as fragile either.

Anyway, congrats on the start of a great gun!

 

[CraigC]

Well, the Blackhawk went on its way yesterday.

I don't see elephant ivory being a problem. I'm going to order two pairs of slabs this week. It's a popular misconception that ivory is fragile. It's actually extremely tough. Elephants fight and push over trees with their tusks all through their lives which may be several decades. I do like some of the fossil ivory but not for this project.

 

[CraigC]

The Blackhawk (minus cylinder and grip frame) is in Jack's hands as of this morning. Got my dies, brass, loading blocks and other miscellaneous pieces. Ordered 1000rds each of gas checked Leadhead's 440gr LBT and Missouri Bullet's plain based 400gr RNFP. Just got off the phone with Gene at Gunner Products and he'll have two pairs of ivory slabs (wanted some extra!) headed this way next week. Thanks to squawberryman for the lead on that. I'm almost ready to just start waiting.

Now I've got a new steel XR3 grip frame to contemplate a use for.

 

[CraigC]

Somebody made the ingenious suggestion of having a custom knife made to match. I thought, that's a wonderful idea! I know just the guy. Several months ago I found a new knifemaker that lives only about an hour away in Mississippi. I had bought a gorgeous 10" bowie from him at a sportsman's show in Tupelo, pictured below. He had a beautiful damascus bowie with mammoth ivory handle that also tugged at me.....hard. Pictured below that. Perusing some of his other wares, I have the idea that a nice 5-6" bowie with a wide blade and deeper belly would make an excellent working knife that would work fine for skinning, caping and light butchering. Closer in shape to the third knife pictured. It should have a damascus blade, perhaps a damascus guard, ivory cut from the same tusk as the Ruger, mosaic pins and a sheath to go with the special rig I'm going to build. I haven't decided if I want to do a handle similar in shape to the top two or a coffin handle pattern like the bottom two knives. I contacted the maker, he's going to draw up a sketch tonight and get back to me. A fantastic project just got sweeter!!!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Hey that's a great idea.

I think if it were me, I'd go with the Damascus blade in the third picture like you said. That wide blade just looks right. A big fat cartridge needs a big fat blade to compliment it.

As far as the handle goes, I really like that first one! I think the flared butt of the handle would compliment the shape of the butt of the grip on the gun. What would REALLY be sweet is if you had a nicely polished chunk of that ivory set into the bottom, outlined with a silver ring around it or some kind of silver setting, and your initials carved into the ivory center piece.

 

[CraigC]

That's a cool idea!

The maker sent me a sketch last night and it looks a lot like what I was thinking. For those interested:

http://rwhiteknives.webs.com/

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Boy, it looks like the man makes some really nice stuff. This is really looking to be a sweet setup Craig. I hope it all comes together as you hope. It's pretty cool that you are able to do this. Not a lot of us truly get to own the equipment we dream of.

If you have a child, that's going to be one nice inheritance.

 

[CraigC]

He does some really nice work. I used the big bowie last season and it did very well and stayed sharp.

Got my ivory slabs over the weekend. Raw ivory is pretty stinky! Looks like it's got some nice color in it. Now I've got to call him back to order enough for the knife.

I'm very fortunate and grateful to be able to make all this happen. I count my blessings every day.

 

[Choctaw]

Wow, very, very nice guns and blades sir. I have no doubt this will turn out jusssst fine for you.