I just received three revolvers back from Hamilton Bowen and am very happy with the result. I had a M27 5", a M28 4" and a M24-3 .44 Special 4" that were all a little dog-eared. I collected them over the years and saved some money because each had a cosmetic or mechanical problem. They sat idle for years while I vowed that "some day" I was going to get them fixed up.
Another project I could never get around to funding was a mint Ruger three screw Blackhawk .357, which I planned one day to have Bowen convert to .44 Special. I finally realized that I would probably never be able to justify the cost of the Blackhawk conversion, but I knew that three screw Blackhawks were on Bowen's "want list." So I approached him about trading the Blackhawk toward the cost of the work on the three Smith & Wessons. Bowen normally works in custom packages and does not do refinishing or repair on an a la carte basis. But he was willing to make an exception as part of a trade.
Before I show you the photographs, let me acknowledge that it is pretty lame not to have enough grips for my handguns and have to photograph all the revolvers wearing the same pair of grips! I hate the modern factory grips and sold them off to people who must have hands the size of Andre the Giant. The grips in the photos are some ill-fitting Sile walnut grips which I sanded down into my idea of the correct size and shape and finished in oil. I have the original Magna grips for the M28 and should have put them on for the photos.
The Model 27-2 .357 with five inch barrel was made in 1980, and is one of the last five inchers made. I love that length. The blue is factory original. Bowen corrected the timing and endshake, did an action job and narrowed the target hammer and trigger. The narrower hammer and trigger make the gun much more lively and handy. Bowen had Turnbull re-color the hammer and trigger after re-contouring them. I can’t believe how nicely they turned out.
The Model 24-3 .44 Special is one of my favorite firearms. It is light and powerful, possibly the best all around field revolver made. I was walking out of a gun shop one day and spotted it out of the corner of my eye. I about sprained my neck whirling around to check it out. It had a very bad pit on the right side of the extractor rod housing, along with some small rust flecks around the cylinder latch. I left it and got in my car, then went back in and bought it. For years I have wanted to get it refinished but was worried that the pit was too deep to get rid of without changing the contour of the housing. The “before” picture shows it after I had done a little sanding before getting cold feet and stopping. Bowen did a great job and you can hardly tell any difference in the contours compared to the other revolvers. Bowen chamfered the chambers, corrected the timing, polished out the pit and freckles and blued the entire gun.
I can't attach more than five photos so I will post separately about the M28. I am really happy with the way it all turned out. Mr. Bowen was very fair and the trade helped me reduce the cost significantly. He is a class act and very helpful and communicative. Now for some custom grips and leather!
Another project I could never get around to funding was a mint Ruger three screw Blackhawk .357, which I planned one day to have Bowen convert to .44 Special. I finally realized that I would probably never be able to justify the cost of the Blackhawk conversion, but I knew that three screw Blackhawks were on Bowen's "want list." So I approached him about trading the Blackhawk toward the cost of the work on the three Smith & Wessons. Bowen normally works in custom packages and does not do refinishing or repair on an a la carte basis. But he was willing to make an exception as part of a trade.
Before I show you the photographs, let me acknowledge that it is pretty lame not to have enough grips for my handguns and have to photograph all the revolvers wearing the same pair of grips! I hate the modern factory grips and sold them off to people who must have hands the size of Andre the Giant. The grips in the photos are some ill-fitting Sile walnut grips which I sanded down into my idea of the correct size and shape and finished in oil. I have the original Magna grips for the M28 and should have put them on for the photos.
The Model 27-2 .357 with five inch barrel was made in 1980, and is one of the last five inchers made. I love that length. The blue is factory original. Bowen corrected the timing and endshake, did an action job and narrowed the target hammer and trigger. The narrower hammer and trigger make the gun much more lively and handy. Bowen had Turnbull re-color the hammer and trigger after re-contouring them. I can’t believe how nicely they turned out.
The Model 24-3 .44 Special is one of my favorite firearms. It is light and powerful, possibly the best all around field revolver made. I was walking out of a gun shop one day and spotted it out of the corner of my eye. I about sprained my neck whirling around to check it out. It had a very bad pit on the right side of the extractor rod housing, along with some small rust flecks around the cylinder latch. I left it and got in my car, then went back in and bought it. For years I have wanted to get it refinished but was worried that the pit was too deep to get rid of without changing the contour of the housing. The “before” picture shows it after I had done a little sanding before getting cold feet and stopping. Bowen did a great job and you can hardly tell any difference in the contours compared to the other revolvers. Bowen chamfered the chambers, corrected the timing, polished out the pit and freckles and blued the entire gun.
I can't attach more than five photos so I will post separately about the M28. I am really happy with the way it all turned out. Mr. Bowen was very fair and the trade helped me reduce the cost significantly. He is a class act and very helpful and communicative. Now for some custom grips and leather!
