Ever since seeing Boge's Skeeter Gun, I have dreamed of building my own. If you don't remember his, check it out here...
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=70070&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=skeeter&start=15
My intention was to find a suitable Flattop 357, and have it converted to 44 special. While I was dreaming on that, along came the first run of Lipsey's 44 specials. I picked up one in each barrel length. The 4 5/8" would be my Skeeter Gun, while the 5 1/2" would be my Keith No.5...but that project is another story.
This past summer, the 4 5/8" sixgun accompanied me to Idaho for a visit with Dick Thompson. Shortly after arriving, we dropped the little sixgun off with Dick's gunsmith son, Shane. I asked Shane to slick up the action, and modify the front sight by milling it to .100 wide and reshaping the blade to the Keith/TLA patridge profile. This blade profile provides a sharp sight picture in bright or low light conditions and looks great. Out of the box, the trigger had a lot of creep and was heavy. Pulling the hammer back was equally rough, and I had several failures to ignite primers with both handloads and factory ammo. When Shane handed me the gun, I was very pleased to find the gritty feel was gone when cocking the hammer, and the trigger pull broke like glass with no creep. Since the action job, I have had no more failures to fire. Thanks, Shane!
Next thing for the Skeeter Gun was a Belt Mountain No.5 basepin. A few days after a phone conversation with Kelye Schlepp, a new .400 diameter No.5 basepin arrived, with an added touch. Kelye took his parting tool and cut a raised rib in the middle of the No.5 hourglass shaped head, replicating the basepins built by Bill Grover for his Texas Longhorn Arms, Improved Number 5 revolvers. Though it is a subtle touch, I feel it adds class to an already classy basepin. Kelye says he will be doing more basepins like this. Thanks, Kelye!
The Lipsey's guns came with what I think are very cool looking, retro hard rubber stocks, but the Skeeter Gun needed something more traditional. After several conversations with Dick Thompson, we settled on a set carved from Curly Maple. I have a few sets of stocks from Dick that he sent in the rough for me to fit. For this project, I wanted a finished set made by Dick. He cut them slim to my liking, but thicker than the factory stocks, and in my hand they feel great. The Curly Maple was a very unique choice, and the photo doesn't do them justice. Thanks, Dick!
There are still a few more things to be done before this project is complete, but I think I will just shoot it for a while! Thanks for looking!
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=70070&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=skeeter&start=15
My intention was to find a suitable Flattop 357, and have it converted to 44 special. While I was dreaming on that, along came the first run of Lipsey's 44 specials. I picked up one in each barrel length. The 4 5/8" would be my Skeeter Gun, while the 5 1/2" would be my Keith No.5...but that project is another story.
This past summer, the 4 5/8" sixgun accompanied me to Idaho for a visit with Dick Thompson. Shortly after arriving, we dropped the little sixgun off with Dick's gunsmith son, Shane. I asked Shane to slick up the action, and modify the front sight by milling it to .100 wide and reshaping the blade to the Keith/TLA patridge profile. This blade profile provides a sharp sight picture in bright or low light conditions and looks great. Out of the box, the trigger had a lot of creep and was heavy. Pulling the hammer back was equally rough, and I had several failures to ignite primers with both handloads and factory ammo. When Shane handed me the gun, I was very pleased to find the gritty feel was gone when cocking the hammer, and the trigger pull broke like glass with no creep. Since the action job, I have had no more failures to fire. Thanks, Shane!
Next thing for the Skeeter Gun was a Belt Mountain No.5 basepin. A few days after a phone conversation with Kelye Schlepp, a new .400 diameter No.5 basepin arrived, with an added touch. Kelye took his parting tool and cut a raised rib in the middle of the No.5 hourglass shaped head, replicating the basepins built by Bill Grover for his Texas Longhorn Arms, Improved Number 5 revolvers. Though it is a subtle touch, I feel it adds class to an already classy basepin. Kelye says he will be doing more basepins like this. Thanks, Kelye!
The Lipsey's guns came with what I think are very cool looking, retro hard rubber stocks, but the Skeeter Gun needed something more traditional. After several conversations with Dick Thompson, we settled on a set carved from Curly Maple. I have a few sets of stocks from Dick that he sent in the rough for me to fit. For this project, I wanted a finished set made by Dick. He cut them slim to my liking, but thicker than the factory stocks, and in my hand they feel great. The Curly Maple was a very unique choice, and the photo doesn't do them justice. Thanks, Dick!
There are still a few more things to be done before this project is complete, but I think I will just shoot it for a while! Thanks for looking!
