ltwguns.com

This has been a fantastic weekend. First photographing the LTW #2 pistol and then being asked to snap some of Don Williams work on a revolver. There aren't many custom revolver smiths showing their wares these days, much less still doing outstanding quality revo work. Don still does as illustrated here. The photos don't capture everything on this one. The trigger pull being the most notable. Not to mention the balance of this bullseye revolver. Enjoy.

















I get a feeling this one shoots dead nuts on as well.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

I am fortunate to have an example of Don's revolver magic. It's a simple m37 with a trigger job and converted to DAO (with a few cosmetic improvements ). The trigger is superb, I can imagine what this one feels like.

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Sic Semper Tyrannis

Nice PPC shooter Don! (I don't think there are many people around who even know what PPC is! )

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom, LLC

Nice. VERY nice!

Wow. The old PPC days. That brings back a few memories.

Beautimous work, Don.

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Any way to see some of yours and Don's previous work?

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Lester Wang

Afraid I never had the pleasure of collaborating with Don on any customs, Lester.

I was just making reference to the passage of time. I don't believe I've even picked up a PPC revolver since about the mid 80's.

Not that I wouldn't be glad to give it another whirl if only Don would send up that beautiful example!!!

NOTE: This is neither a hint or solicitation intended for or directed to Don Williams. It is mearly the ramblings and digressions of an old pistolsmith while he eats his lunch and drools over said Don Williams magnificently executed work on a Smith & Wesson..........

End of disclaimer.

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Thanks Guys. These are really fun to do, but one doesn't get too many of them these days. Seems everyone is into IDPA, IPSC, etc. This is actually a prize gun for a young man who won it at the last regionals in either North or South Carolina (can't remember which). Barrel is a Jarvis, which he wanted as big as Bill could make it. It measures about 1.125, rather than the usually inch plus a bit. Thanks to Ned Christiansen, I was able to recut the radius on the underside to match the barrels larger diameter (thanks Ned!!). I haven't done one of these for awhile, but now I have 2 more to do. Best,

Mr. Wang, Be glad to give you an e-mail link to gaze at some of my pics - just drop me a line. Thanks,

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

This probably isnt the place for this but it reminds me of a real funny one. Back in the days when I was building alot of Custom Ruger MK 1 and 11swith their one inch dia bbls, I got an order for a Douglas bbld Hi Std. I cut a blank to length squared the ends and began to turn the diameter. When I got to 1.015 dia and the finish was great I figured thats fine and left it at that. After chambering and cutting the extrater groove, I installed the bbl lug and snapped it on the receiver. Of course putting the slide on first I decided to try feeding some dummy rounds. It fed bad but I looked at the dummy rounds and the bullets were a little loose so I dexccided to put in a couple live rounds. I had no firing pin in the slide and holding the pistol crossways at the bbl and frame I let the slide go. BANG went the pistol and scared me to death. I found out that the bbl being .015 oversize made the slide headspace crush the rim and fire.

This is not the end of the story. I had no idea where the round went. I checked all the vunerable places in the cellar even the lead bend on the john in the cealing. On the far side of the cellar my wife had all of our winter clothes on a rack covered with a white sheet. Thats where the round ended and it went thru 13 wool shirts and jackets before stopping. I heard about that one for months. That was the shot that was heard around the world as my wife told that story to everyone she knew.

Pretty funny Austin!

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom, LLC

Steve,
Thanks for the great photos of a very interesting gun.

Don,
Very nice work. I especially like the stippling on the back of the grip. I bet it shoots even better than it looks.

Tom

Thanks Tom, Don did a beautiful job on this one.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Don,

That's one beautiful wheelgun! Cool how you made everything line up nicely with that huge barrel. I'll bet it just hangs out there.

It actually brings back a lot of great memories, as my start in competition pistol shooting was in PPC at the ripe age of 15, c. 1987. I would have loved to shoot a gun like that!!!!

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Stan Chen Customs
http://www.chencustoms.com

VERY nice "Roundgun"!!!...I'm curious 'bout a coupla' things...how LIGHT is Don able to get the DA trigger and still have it go "Bang" every time???...is it possible to "Time" one of these babies so that the cylinder "locks up" EARLIER in the DA trigger stroke than it did prior to modification???...Thanks....mikey357

Mikey, D/A is about 8 1/2 -9 lbs, and it works fine with Federal primers. As far as an earlier lock-up, you're somewhat limited in S&W's. The cylinder is advanced with the hand working on the cylinder ratchet pads, and you could advance it a tiny bit (assuming an in-time action to start with) with an oversize hand or peening and re-dressing of the ratchet pads, but I doubt you would gain much. You can tune the cylinder stop to move upward sooner, but that would only have it turning against the cylinder for a longer period. I suppose one could make the argument that this would make lock-up more certain, but it's probably a moot point. Regards,

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

how LIGHT / able to get the DA trigger and still have it go "Bang" every time???...is it possible to "Time" one of these babies so that the cylinder "locks up" EARLIER in the DA trigger stroke than it did prior to modification???...Thanks....mikey357[/quote]


Mikey
In the world of PPC, which still thrives today, 5-5 1/2 lb D/A pulls; 2 1/2 inch diameter Shilen barrels; multi axis crowns/Taylor Throats; & sunken Aristocrat ribs are common place in the winners circle.. Timing is adjusted to the shooters preference by tig welding and recutting the D/A engagement surface of the hammer to the lock up point desired. Most of these guns will shoot under an inch at 50 yds..

Take Care

Jerry Keefer

Wait a minute Jerry. I want to see some pictures of your work. Don't be so shy, humble, and bashful. I have heard people rante and rave about your work.

If I remember, you have done a few 1911's with long slides in 9 mm for PPC competition

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Lester Wang

Lester WangWait a minute Jerry. I want to see some pictures of your work. Don't be so shy, humble, and bashful. I have heard people rante and rave about your work.

If I remember, you have done a few 1911's with long slides in 9 mm for PPC competition

Lester;

I dug up a couple of pictures; been trying for an hour, but I can't figure out how to post them.
Sorry

Jerry[/img]

Hey Jerry-

Welcome aboard! I'd help you with the pics, but I'm technology challenged. Somebody will volunteer shortly, I'm certain.

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Sic Semper Tyrannis

Jerry--Thanks for answering my questions...and CONGRATS on your recent admission to the "APG"...quite an accomplishment!!!
Being a CIVILIAN employee of "Uncle Sam", I'm not ALLOWED to participate in PPC, but I LOVE my Smith & Wesson revo's...I'll jump at any chance to shoot 'em!!! Currently, I'm playing the "IDPA" game with an older six-shot 686 , as well as shooting in some local "Steel Challenge"-type matches, using S&W 686 "Pluses"...using FACTORY ammo--yeah, I've got a Dillon 550, but not the TIME to reload presently--how LIGHT can the DA trigger be made and still have it go "Bang" every time, using FACTORY ammo and NOT reloads with deep-seated Federal primers???
I figured there WAS a way to "Manipulate" the "Timing" of the cylinder's lockup relative to the hammer fall, but thought it might be done with the hand/ratchet interface...hhmmm...NOW you've got me thinking...always DANGEROUS!!!
BTW, are you presently doing any 'smithing for CIVILIANS???
If so, what is the best way to contact you???
Thanks in advance....mikey357

Nice work Don. That really is a good looking revolver. Sometimes PPC type revolvers can look a bit "backyard smithed" so it's always nice to see one that's clean and professional looking. I got my start in club shooting with local PPC, with a commander length 1911 against guys wearing blinders and unusual large faced watches, lighting little strange "smokepots", and laying down mats to lie down on . It's a different world, although an interesting one.
EricO

Boy do I miss them. I setup behind the line doing smithing for at least 35 years in cluding Camp Perry. I also sold carbide lamps with a bottle of carbide for 2.50 and now the lamps sell at antique shows for 35.00. The blinders were worn so you werent distracted by your neighbors shooting. The cammeraderie at BE was so great and the precision shooting was amazing, shooting a possible at 50 yards with 45 was something worth doing. Seeing someone shoot 2679 out of 2700 over three days was quite a deal.

Wait a minute Jerry. I want to see some pictures of your work.

Lester;
I sent the pictures to Steve Bailey..if I did that part correctly, Steve is going to post them...

Thanks

Jerry