Need help with info on a 13-3 PPC gun and its Gun Smith

[cschell]

Hello to all. A couple of things caught my eye recently in my never-ending wandering in search of interesting pieces. I ran across this blast from the not-so-distant past and am debating whether to pick it up and add it to my get to it one day project list. It is a Model 13-3 turned into a PPC revolver. It is professionally smithed and has the name W.W. Buttler Feb. 88 stamped on the side plate. The cylinder charging holes are numbered and beveled. The ejector does not lock from the front, but the crane/yoke has a ball detent on top and in the front. The barrel is stamped m Baker on the right side along with Indep. Mo. and .357 MAG. The left side of the barrel is stamped Champion. I do not see any identification on the sight bar.
Thus far my internet search has given me no information. I was wondering if anyone might know of the Gunsmith responsible for the work? The double action pull is fantastic with no push-off.
I appreciate the craftsmanship involved with creating such a cool piece and am drawn to it. My hesitation is centered on the condition of the bluing and barrel bore. The bore seems to retain a hint of rifling. For those familiar with PPC guns from the day the question is was the rifling pronounced or reduced on competition barrels?
I haven't added the gun to the collection yet, but I think the price it was offered to me for was fair and am wondering what those in the know think would be a reasonable price to pay for a neglected work of art? I would appreciate the input and any information on the piece and its creator.

 

[SSGRock]

A real piece of history. I think I would make a deal for it.

 

[Protocall_Design]

It says M. Baker. That is probably the gunsmith, or maybe the owner. WW Butler Feb. 88 on the sideplate may have been the maker or owner.


The Wichita Rib and underlug and probably barrel are from Power Custom. Ron Power designed the rib and commissioned Wichita Arms to manufacture them. Ron was located in Indep. MO for many years.

 

[Pizza Bob]

I know PPC guns are used hard and long, but that one looks like it was rode hard and put-up wet. It would have to be pretty cheap to get my juices flowing, but to each their own.

My guess would be Baker is the maker and Buttler was the owner - maybe a match prize.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[cschell]

Thank you for your responses. I was able to get a lead on W.W. Buttler. His name is Warren W. Buttler, and he was a retired Federal Agent and Instructor. He authored two books on handgun shooting: "The Art and Science of Basic Handgun Accuracy" from 1991 and "The Armed Option: Zen in the Art of Combat Pistolcraft" from 1993. That's the good news.
The bad news. The owner of the gun, who had never shot the gun and believes the owner before him never shot the gun, allowed me to give the gun a quick cleaning and take it to the range. Well, how is that bad? I used PPU LSWC 158gr. and was getting the occasional keyhole. It wasn't every round, nor every cylinder. I shot 50 rounds and got about 6 keyholes. I wasn't able to determine if was a single cylinder chamber. The cylinders are numbered, but when I would try and get the chamber of the last keyhole reloaded and try again there was not a repeat keyhole. From my less than expert opinion it seems that the rifling in the barrel is well worn.
I ran out of time and patience as the A/C at the indoor range was not working and the lighting in the stall was closer to dusk than daylight. The small rubber grip on the round butt model 13-3 frame made it impossible for me to obtain a decent hold. Plus, I ran out of ammo. I am scheduled for hand surgery next week. The owner of the gun said he will hold it for me until I return to try again with my weak hand with a larger rubber K-frame round butt grip that I have in my collection.