New BBQ Gun,,,,but it's a COLT...

[2152hq]

I posted a few of the in-progress pics of this Colt Police Positive a while ago inside another thread. A few are reposted here with a couple of final product pictures. It's a 1915/16 vintage Police Positive 38 (38 New Police caliber). Started out as a tryout test bed for some new tools and techniques. Got set aside after the cylinder and backstrap were cut. Then I decided I might as well finish it up a while back. The gold inlays are 24k. I made the grips from a slab of English Walnut I had around. The old style front facing medallions and screw & bushings were from another set of P/P grips that weren't salvagable except for the hardware. I did the checkering to 26lpi. I gave it a cold rust blue finish. The engraving probably shows up better in the 'in the white' pics. I think I need a new camera

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[2152hq]

I posted a few of the in-progress pics of this Colt Police Positive a while ago inside another thread. A few are reposted here with a couple of final product pictures. It's a 1915/16 vintage Police Positive 38 (38 New Police caliber). Started out as a tryout test bed for some new tools and techniques. Got set aside after the cylinder and backstrap were cut. Then I decided I might as well finish it up a while back. The gold inlays are 24k. I made the grips from a slab of English Walnut I had around. The old style front facing medallions and screw & bushings were from another set of P/P grips that weren't salvagable except for the hardware. I did the checkering to 26lpi. I gave it a cold rust blue finish. The engraving probably shows up better in the 'in the white' pics. I think I need a new camera

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[MikeyL]

Nice work! I'm jealous, because there's no way I could do that. The grips are marvelous! Is this your life's work, or just a hobby?

MikeyL
S&WCA #2010

 

[s&wchad]

Stunning! Superb scrollwork, and the rampant colt is better than Colt's! But BBQ? Like you'll stick that in a holster…

 

[DHENRY]

What beautiful craftsmanship!
You, sir, are a true artist!
Don

 

[Babalooie]

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

 

[JayCeeNC]

Simply gorgeous, your craftsmanship is superb!

 

[j38]

Very impresssive work! Thanks for sharing that with us. Jerry

 

[Clyde from Carolina]

Nice. VERY nice.

 

[dinghysailer]

Now that you've successfully completed the first part of your apprenticeship, we'll let you work on Smiths.

 

[BuzzardBilly]

Wow!
Now there is a Colt I'd display smack-dab in the middle of my Smith & Wessons.
Job Well Done....

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

My congratulations on a superb project.

How many hours did you devote to complete it?

 

[buckwheat01]

Very Nice job
Jim

 

[fat tom]

Stunning work. I'm envious,to say the least.
f.t.

 

[thomasinaz]

Wow! Nice work. That is beutiful! I'm also curious if this is what you do for a living or as a hobby.

 

[Rad29]

Very nice work! Thanks for sharing!

Bob

 

[bowie]

I'm ready to send you several pieces to engrave!

Email me if you are taking on any work.

Thanks
Joe Sharpe
Memphis

I hate to bust a cap on a woman, especially if she is sitting down. Frank Hamer after the death of Bonnie Parker.

 

[gizamo]

Wonderful workmanship. It must feel good at the end of a project like that. You must have the urge during the process to just look at it and still imagine where you are going. I've always defined that as a true masters touch ~ the wondering/dreaming part....

Your there.....

Giz

 

[2152hq]

Thank you all for the wonderful comments. I do this full time and have done so for the last 18yrs. B4 that on a partime basis back to about 1970. I have slowed down alot in the last year or two for a couple of reasons not of my choice but still like to kick out a project once in a while. A handfull of old customers keep me well supplied with work so I am not taking in much new work now. Still trying to figure out how I'm going to complete what I have on the to-do list now. I've always loved custom guns and restoration so thats where most of my projects take me, a mix of both somewhat. Like this Colt, the pattern certainly isn't factory, but it doesn't look that far out or place for the period, nor does the amount of gold inlay. The grips follow the shape and style of the originals as does the checkering pattern, but they're not a strict copy of the originals. Working to customers specs is altogether different though. They get pretty much what they want. Though I have refused a few jobs I though weren't right.
This Colt took about 35 hours to complete including the engraving, inlay, blueing, grips, checkering and a few small details. It was a pretty clean gun to start with and I polished it as I went along as you can see in some of the in-progress pics. I usually polish it complete first but I hadn't actually intended to do an extensive job on this gun when I first started cutting on it nor make any new grips for it. The grips should have been fitted B4 the engraving but as this project was done all backwards, I made and fitted them after the engraving was done. I gold plated the medallions and screw & bushings for a little extra touch. Hang this one on a peg and I'll have to try and finish up a Smith for the next one

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Here's another pic of a shotgun engraving job from a while back..

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24k inlay bottom of Winchester Model 21
Customer supplied photo(s) of his K9

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Most Impressive work Sir!