This last weekend I was asked to serve as the Range Master at a Men's retreat for our church. Not knowing how many guys would bring their own guns, I took a Ruger Mark ll bull barrel and four different single actions. All the single actions had been customized to some extent and it was amazing the number of questions the guys asked about the guns, what had been done etc. Oh yes, we did shoot all the ammo I took as well!
After coming home and thinking about all the guys questions I noticed that the semi-annual gun show was coming up in June and I stopped in to see if there was a table left. The show manager said that there was so I decided to rent a table and do a display table of customized revolvers. The point is NOT to toot a personal horn or anything like that but to try and let some folks see what is possible when you start out with a basic Ruger and let one of the gunsmiths we know work it over. I ordered a banner that has the Ruger emblem on one end and says "RUGER - The heart of the custom revolver!" I also am making simple cards for each gun stating the main artisan and a few facts about the gun.
I also will have Bowens book there on a stand and a couple of stock Rugers so I can explain what the base gun was for each project. I might even have a few of the custom parts we often add to these guns such as a steel ERH, a set of Clements OM bisley parts, some ivory grip panels, a two piece gripframe etc.
Who knows we might even have a few additons to our addiction by the time the weekend is over! It may be a crazy idea but I'd love to have some of the locals get some ideas as to how to customize some of their toys. Who knows, it may be a flop of an idea and I set there for two days twiddling my thumbs but it might gets some ideas flowing as well. We will see how it turns out.
After coming home and thinking about all the guys questions I noticed that the semi-annual gun show was coming up in June and I stopped in to see if there was a table left. The show manager said that there was so I decided to rent a table and do a display table of customized revolvers. The point is NOT to toot a personal horn or anything like that but to try and let some folks see what is possible when you start out with a basic Ruger and let one of the gunsmiths we know work it over. I ordered a banner that has the Ruger emblem on one end and says "RUGER - The heart of the custom revolver!" I also am making simple cards for each gun stating the main artisan and a few facts about the gun.
I also will have Bowens book there on a stand and a couple of stock Rugers so I can explain what the base gun was for each project. I might even have a few of the custom parts we often add to these guns such as a steel ERH, a set of Clements OM bisley parts, some ivory grip panels, a two piece gripframe etc.
Who knows we might even have a few additons to our addiction by the time the weekend is over! It may be a crazy idea but I'd love to have some of the locals get some ideas as to how to customize some of their toys. Who knows, it may be a flop of an idea and I set there for two days twiddling my thumbs but it might gets some ideas flowing as well. We will see how it turns out.