Custom Guns

[rjrivero]

I know alot of us are into Customizing stuff. I was just wondering if anyone was into customizing guns......

The Coolest Movie I can remember with all the customized weapons was the Remake of Romeo and Juliet (1996). The man who made the guns, Charles Taylor, has done alot of firearms manufacturing for movies, but the Romeo and Juliet Collection is what really jumped him in to the movie buisness.
http://www.brockglaze.net/images/rjgun2.jpg
Anyone have any one off guns?

I'm thinking about picking up an older 629, and sending it off to have it reflect my personality. Won't be worth squat for anyone but me, but that's what I'm thinking right now. I like this one, it's a 66-6. If it was something without a lock, I may already have bought it.
http://www.revolverforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=45&d=1226933748
http://www.revolverforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=46&d=1226933764
http://www.revolverforums.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=47&d=1226933777
Anyone Else?

RJ

[StrawHat]

I have a few. Some of the work was done for me and some of the work was done by me.

When I was competing I had a Davis PPC gun built on the S&W M64 frame. Slabsided barrel, adjustable front and rear sights, the whole hog. It was from one of my competitors who was getting out of competition and he wanted it to keep shooting. I used it for about a dozen years.

Next were two Model 686's that I slicked the actions. Both were used in competition and still are on occasion.

Next is my carry piece and one time duty piece. I always wanted an N frame 45 ACP with a four inch barrel but in the late 70's they were not available. Some were available on the collectors market but priced too dear for me to afford. I took my M28-2 and shipped the 4" barrel to be rebored to 45 caliber. I fitted a 45 ACP cylider and timed it to index properly. Refitted the barrel and installed a new cylinder stop. Nowadays it is called a Mountain Revovler but mine was made several decades before S&W came out with them.

My latest custom job is a Model 1860 clone I shortened to 3".

All have served their purpose and I enjoyed the projects.

Would I do it again? Maybe, the 45 ACP N frame was the only way I could get what I wanted. Same with the 3" 1860. The compettion guns I have found to be available for sale as folks get away from shooting so probably not.

My next project is for an engraved revolver. Currently trying to decide between an Pocket Navy clone or my 45 ACP M28.

THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will post photos later, the old poses need to be refreshed!

[snake charmer]

Hey RJ, I saw this gun Sunday at the match, the owner called it California Camo. Most of my guns are custom built for competition pictures to follow.

[rjrivero]

Hey RJ, I saw this gun Sunday at the match, the owner called it California Camo. Most of my guns are custom built for competition pictures to follow.

Oh my. That makes my eyes hurt a bit. It looks like Walt Disney Threw up on it.

[rjrivero]

StrawHat.

I have a question. There are alot of engraved guns out there, and alot of them commemorate something or another.

Is there someone out there who would do a custom engraving for someone? I mean, if I wanted to get my dad a pistol, and have it engraved with images, or symbols, or a theme that is IMPORTANT TO HIM, maybe tells part of his LIFE STORY in the engravings, who would I talk to?

[Max]

There are several custom engravers around. I can get you some email address's if you want some.

[rjrivero]

There are several custom engravers around. I can get you some email address's if you want some.

Thanks Max. No hurry. I'd appreciate it. If they have links to their own websites, please post them here.

I have alot of thoughts in my mind for a project gun. One is to make a generations gun. Have a gun engraved with a small mural, of somesort. Maybe on one panel, maybe between the flutes on the cylinder. Then when I give the gun to my daughter, she can have something engraved on one panel. Then when she gives the gun to her son/daugher, she could do the same.

Maybe a family gun. My dad could get something engraved on one flute, then I could do something on one flute, then my brother, and my older brother.

Maybe like a Stanley Cup. Everyone gets to add something, as it get's passed along.
Just some thoughts........

[budroe]

I have a couple of customized revolvers, but I didn't do the work myself. Dave Clements is an outstanding revolver smith who does fantastic work on S&W's and Rugers (and anything else, I guess). I'm having him do my retirement ccw special. I have a model 58 S&W. I'm having the barrel cut to 3", a round grip installed, an action job and some other little niceties. Was thinking about having it rebored to .45 Colt, but now leaning towards keeping it as a .41 magnum.

[StrawHat]

StrawHat.

I have a question. There are alot of engraved guns out there, and alot of them commemorate something or another.

Is there someone out there who would do a custom engraving for someone? I mean, if I wanted to get my dad a pistol, and have it engraved with images, or symbols, or a theme that is IMPORTANT TO HIM, maybe tells part of his LIFE STORY in the engravings, who would I talk to?


Try any of these

http://www.fega.com/

http://www.grengraving.com/firearms.shtml

http://www.gunengraver.us/index.html

http://www.gunfancy.com/

http://www.thegunengraver.com/

http://www.mtart.com/sales.htm

Those should get you started!

[StrawHat]

I have a couple of customized revolvers, but I didn't do the work myself. Dave Clements is an outstanding revolver smith who does fantastic work on S&W's and Rugers (and anything else, I guess). I'm having him do my retirement ccw special. I have a model 58 S&W. I'm having the barrel cut to 3", a round grip installed, an action job and some other little niceties. Was thinking about having it rebored to .45 Colt, but now leaning towards keeping it as a .41 magnum.

Budroe,

Around here the Model 58 has something of a cult following. Personally, I would modify almost any firearm I own, but you might be able to sell the 58 and buy a 45 LC to work on and have money left over for some of the work.

Of course a fixed sight 45 would be nice.

[mycar47562]

ive always wanted to do custom work but never new besides making them pretty what i could do so maybe yall could give me some idea's i have a taurus pt145 cz vz58 and a
m44 mosin nagat

[StrawHat]

ive always wanted to do custom work but never new besides making them pretty what i could do so maybe yall could give me some idea's i have a taurus pt145 cz vz58 and a
m44 mosin nagat

I do not know either of those guns so I will answer generically. As to what you can do, making them pretty is enough but barrels can be swapped out, stocks modified to fit the shooter, better sights or a scope, bedding, action work and trigger work to name hust a few.

At one time this was a stock S&W M64

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/SWDavisCompetitionRevolver001.jpg

Custom does not have to mean pretty. I had an Winchester M1895 reworked and it looks stock but has a new barrel and some action work done to it.

My Ruger M77/22 has a new barrel, from a Winchester M52

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/Ruger7722001.jpg

Here is a ground up custom job, not fancy but just what I wanted ,

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/32FlintLateLancaster001.jpg

It all depends on what you want to do. And your budget.

Now, are they worth it? I have heard custom guns descibed as money wasted and from an investment aspect that is probably true. With few exceptions most custom guns will lose money when sold. What I want in a gun is personal and probably not what you want. Same with engraving.

Now, investments aside, is it worth it? Yes, if you can not get the factory to build what you want or need, it is the only route you can go. The example here is my N frame 45 ACP with 4" barrel. When I wanted it, none were to be found so I used a M28-2 as the base and went from there. Now, they are available from the factory but in the 70's that was not an option.

[budroe]

Straw - I have three model 58's. I've been planning this job for a couple years now. Actually plan to send the gun off next month while I'm home.

I like the model 58's fixed sights and heft. Cutting off an inch of barrel and changing to a round grip won't drop the weight all that much, but I think it will be handier. I want the hammer spur shortened, but not fully removed. I want a good action job but no porting of any kind. Not sure if I want to stay with the ramp front sight or go with something different. Not sure if I want to go with some long lasting finish, or a casehardened frame and royal blue finish. I've changed my mind more than a few times on the caliber; either a .44 special or .45 Colt would be excellent, but lately I've been leaning towards keeping it in .41. More muzzle blast than I care for, but I do like the .41 magnum round. I guess I need to make up my mind in the next couple weeks. I'd welcome suggestions from everyone on finish, caliber and other possible features.