Looking for Pdf or Copies of Publications as well as George Mathews S&W Pistols

usnrigger · Jul 14, 2014

Im looking either Pdf copies or the actual books themselves.

- 1989 Handguns - Wiley Clapp
- 1970 Guns & Ammo Annual

Both of these should have sections that cover George Mathews - Gunsmith California. Im Also looking for Photos and information of modifications he performed on his Combat Style Handguns, History, background ext...

Joe Kent · Jul 19, 2014

bump to the top

SG-688 · Jul 19, 2014

No time now, but Joe finally clued me in. Tag for later.

The 1970 G&A article is here.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...3-walter-rickell-farrant-custom-handguns.html

mikepriwer said:

I have some other articles in PDF that I can share. Another member here found a custom Colt PP that had all the markers for a Mathews custom. I'm searching for his thread.

Here's my rough bibliography for articles or pictures:
Guns & Ammo Annuals for 1969, 1970, 1974 and 1977.
Guns & Ammo May, 1990
Guns magazine January, 1986
Handguns 1989
Custom Combat Handguns 2000

Joe Kent · Jul 19, 2014

SG-688 thanks for the link, that also should help USNRIGGER. All my best, Joe.

SG-688 · Jul 19, 2014

Guero is the member who found one. This thread has two pictures of his Police Positive.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge...r-pistolsmith-george-matthews-california.html

Guero said:
I have been a fan of George Matthews' modified revolvers for a number of years. Information on them was originally included in a couple of articles by Wiley Clapp that were published over the past 25 years or so. I never saw one until recently when I stumbled over one on an auction site. It was a highly modified Colt Police Positive which, it turned out, was in much better condition than the pictures indicated. It was not advertised as a Matthews but when I examined the pictures it seemed to share a number of the characteristics of the Matthews guns included in the articles. Those characteristics were a welded up and re-shaped hammer that did away with the hammer spur but retained a area that enabled the shooter to thumb cock it after the trigger pull started the hammer moving. Also, a rib that Clapp described as being carved out of a piece of steel which was milled into the top strap of the weapon. Some were fitted with a fully adjustable but the example that I have has a rear sight adjustable for windage only. The rib ended in a front sight which was a modified Patridge. On this particular example the back strap is heavily checked at about 20 lpi. I am attempting to attach photos. I think it is an excellent example of another well known gunsmith who is now largely forgotten. Are there any other examples out there?
Many thanks to Joe Kent and SG 688 for sharing copies of the articles.

Sorry about the size, I am just happy to get it on the forum right now, I will do better if I ever do this again.

usnrigger · Jul 20, 2014

Thanks Guys, i found the side profile of the colt, but it did not include the description. I really like the hammer and rib. Would love to do one in that styling. I think alot of people would see its merit in even today's carry crowds. Ive have received good interested with the 1917 build im currently working on.

SpartanDCI · Aug 2, 2014

I've always been enthralled with the George Matthews custom pistols. I missed out on several, while I lived in Los Angeles in the 90's. Most could be bought from former LAPD and LASD officers for next to nothing. All I tried had GREAT triggers, and the combat hammers were very NICE.

Here is a Matthews smithed Colt that was pictured in a high visibility Gun Auction a short while ago. It did not sell for much, as it was not listed as a George Matthews piece. It has all the hall marks of a target piece, especially with that hammer. MOre of a Kings custom, but when you look at the docked/slimmed trigger guard, it is ALL Mathews! Probably done up in the 1950's when the surplus COLT New Services hit the market

Pizza Bob · Aug 2, 2014

While not the combat revolvers described and shown above, I had George Mathews modify a S&W model 28 for me ca 1973.

I wanted a model 24 in the worst way and having been discontinued six years earlier they were hard to come by and expensive if you could find one. At that time J&G was selling model 24 barrels - 6.5" with the appropriate roll marks. These were finished in a matte blue - perhaps from a police or military contract overrun. I bought the barrel, found a used model 28 ($125 IIRC) and, having read an article in Guns magazine about George (and the fact that MMC was backlogged 12 months on .44 Spl conversions), I sent it off to him.

What I got back was the most accurate S&W I own. George bored the cylinder and recessed the chambers. Faced the cylinder and/or forcing cone to assure perfect "squareness". Installed and pinned the barrel and changed the front Patridge sight to a Baughman ramp with a gold insert. The matte barrel matched the finish of the 28 perfectly, so it didn't even need to be refinished.

This by far is the favorite S&W I own. In it's early life (when I still lived in a free state) it accounted for a good number of turkeys and hams at local club shoots. Also saw some bowling pins and other fun matches. As we both aged, it was the first handgun that I changed to an optical sight, that being a Tasco ProPoint - first generation when they were still made in Japan - on a B-Square no-gunsmithing mount. Last addition was the Hogue one-off Micarta grip. Found out from a friend, that works at Hogue, that these were done from the customer's own material. I found them on Ebay in the mid-90's IIRC.

Inspired by Skeeter Skelton's countless articles about N-frame .44 Specials, it has seen thousands of rounds of his favorite load of 7.5 grs of Unique behind a cast 250 gr LSWC, and is as accurate today as it was when it came out of George Mathews' Downey, CA shop.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Looking for Pdf or Copies of Publications as well as George Mathews S&W Pistols

usnrigger

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Joe Kent

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SG-688

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Joe Kent

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SG-688

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usnrigger

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SpartanDCI

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Pizza Bob

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