Don't worry, I won't show you the picture of the die grinder with the cut-off wheel...

Some years ago, forum member Twaits had posted a few pics of a Colt Army Special that he had Fitz'd, and I was very impressed with how it looked. I finally came across a suitable Colt Army Special to do something similar, and I'm pretty happy with the progress so far.

Before: (Sorry, I can't seem to make photobucket rotate it the right way)



After:





I don't think I'll cut the trigger guard in true Fitz fashion, but I really liked how Twaits had contoured the grips into a round butt, so I did the same. I think it looks better, more importantly, it now fits my hand much better. One thing I always disliked about the old Police Positives and other Colt double actions was their square grip, which never suited me.

It's amazing how taking off just the corners can make it feel so much better, not digging into my palm or having my pinky halfway on the grip. Much better now. Aesthetically, I like how it now follows the checkering pattern.

Not sure how I am going to finish it. Twaits's gun was scrubbed clean of blueing, but I'm not sure I'll do the same. I was thinking maybe I'll have it reblued, but there are a couple of serious gouges in the barrel from some previous owner, and it would never look right, I don't think.

If I knew how to make the frame and the barrel match the cylinder, I'd like that, I think.

I'll leave it as is for now, shoot it some, and then decide what it needs..

If those tiny scratches were in your trucks fender, you'd just smear some bondo and sand it off smooth. Then some glossy black paint.

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Dick Burg

Get a rope!

Ballsy move. I kind of like it. I think you should go all out and chop the trigger guard but I can understand why you didn't. The "round butt" portion of the conversion is very nice.

Sometimes on the old custom carry snubs, instead of a full deletion of the front of the trigger guard, they took about half off the trigger finger side. Just an idea.

I don't think reblue is the way to go, it needs some patina.

Why?

It's only an "OLT" now, and i like it

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Jamie wants big boom

I'd chop the trigger guard too! A LGS has one of these for sale and I might just do the same.

I'm usually in the camp that say "It's your gun, do what you want with it." But I'd love to own that old Colt in it's original configuration.

I'm an orginalist. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. But it's a Colt and its yours.

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Inconsistently consistent

I like the round-butt effect, too. If you want to match the rest of the gun to the bbl. and cyl., try Naval Jelly or white vinegar to strip the bluing, then after washing in water, rub your hands over the surfaces, then apply some cold blue. It will come out splotchy and patchy and make the whole piece look "experienced". Oh, and good decision not to open the guard. Please do post a follow-up.

Larry

I'm in the keep it original club myself. What you made is a gun I always hope to run into at the LGS. If you find it already in a certain configuration you are absolved of guilt.

Very nicely done!!