Bill Davis Custom?

[jgertig]

I have a S&W Mod 10-6 that's set up for PPC that has a slab side barrel with a 3 position Aristocrat rib. This revolver has probably the best trigger I've ever seen on any S&W and it is incredibly accurate. The hammer has not been bobbed off like a lot of PPC guns were so it can be used both double action and single action.

I've been told that it is probably a Bill Davis custom, but I can't find any evidence of Davis's mark anywhere on the gun. What I did find though on the bottom of the relief in the barrel for the ejector rod is: 10-6 on the first line, then: (XX) and Truchan on the next, the next line ts: 4-80 and the bottom line reads: 14 T and 26 several spaces apart.

Can anyone tell me what I have?

 

[wheelgun28]

No one has taken a shot on this so I will give an opinion...

I doubt its a Bill Davis, he was pretty big on putting his name on the barrels.

No, thats not bad news. I think you have a gun done by Truchan and it was made in April of 1980.

I did a search of "Truchan ppc " and found a beautiful Ruger. I didn't find much else but you can look more.

Lots of builders built these back in the day, many have no names or markings at all.

I have two older PPC guns and they are just great shooters, my favorites really!

If it looks like that Ruger, well shes a looker too!

 

[JM4151]

PPC Gun

During the mid 1970's thru late 1980's a lot of gunsmiths produced PPC guns. That was a very popular sport in police circles. In early 1979 myself and two friends ordered three Cake Davis custom PPC gun, with the slab sided 6 inch bbls. They were based on a model 19 frame. We took delivery of them in May of 1979. I believed that they were marked Cake Davis Custom. Sold the gun in the early 1990's. By then the kids came along and they required a lot of my time. Shot a lot of ammo out of that gun between matches and practice a couple times a week. Never has a problem with that gun.

 

[Yorkie Man]

My late friend shot a Davis PPC gun and it had "Davis" inscribed on the side of the barrel if I remember correctly. I put a PPC gun together on a Model 14 frame. I was told that Davis is making his rubber grips again.

 

[Chuckster62]

A Bill Davis

Since no one has posted a photo yet, here is mine. Built on a model 10-7
Tack Driver, DAO, With Super Match HBWC a dream to shoot.

 

[jgertig]

I looked up Truchan myself, but all I could find was an estate sale for a Frank Truchan that took place in 2012 that listed unspecified gun barrels along with machine tools, a red 1979 Ford van, various model airplanes and a lot of other assorted stuff that would be found in the workshop of a retiree, including myself. Nothing in the sale description gave any hint that Frank was a gunsmith even though it did list gun barrels in the sale. If it was the same man who built PPC revolvers under that name, he's long gone.

I did look at the Ruger and it is beautiful. In fact, except that its not a S&W its almost a carbon copy of the revolver I'm trying to research. I'll try to get some pictures to post later on. My gun has more visible wear than the Ruger but except for that, I can honestly say that I've gotten some 2.5" groups at 50' off the bench. I'm thinking that someone more experienced with PPC would probably be able to do better. Anyway, I'm more than happy with it and as far as I'm concerned, its not going anywhere. But If I could find out more of the gun's history; that would put icing on the cake.