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My most recent Behlert custom. Browning Hi Power with Austins "Combat 9mm" package. The Combat 9mm had 1" cut off the length of the slide. The "Mini Combat 9mm" had 1" cut from the slide and 5/8 cut from the butt.

http://www.randgfirearms.com/photogalle ... temId=5022

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

I was wondering when you were going to get around to posting that. Thought about getting it myself till I saw your bid on Gunbroker. Nice addition to the collection. Congratulations!
How about some details.

Is that a locking screw in the bushing? Threaded (a lot of his were)? I've got a couple of his bushings that cover the whole front of the slide including the dust cover/spring tunnel. Looks like he welded/remachined the tunnel on that one. Neat!

What is the black spot on the slide stop lever (hole for something..takedown)? What about the slide stop pin? Cut flush and drilled for...??
I see it has his wide trigger mod, too.

Thanks Bill. Funny I did not have this particular variation. I have a had a couple of the mini combats but not a combat. About a week before this one came along someone found me on the net and offered a blue twin to this one. Same except for Hammer, finish and the blue one was signed. The bushing is threaded with the locking set screw. I am going to guess the hole in the slide stop is to insert a pin to aid in disassembly. According to a post by Austin on pistolsmith.com he made his wide triggers by silvering on a portion of a steel ring then contouring it. I am in the process of detailing his different bushing's, trigger, and extended safeties. I have several with screw in bushings but most are the full profile you describe.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

I am always happy to see some of Mr. B's work posted..... many of us owe him a great deal for his influence. For my part I'm not just talking about the gun stuff, either. The word "gentleman" gets over used sometimes but he sure was one, and a gentle man, to boot. Truly, truly a nice guy and I think it's safe to say he got a kick out of seeing some of the work going on these days. He knew he had played a part in getting much of it going. He enjoyed getting credit for his work and innovations but he never tried to claim it all; he was big enough to give credit where it was due for new ideas, although honestly-- a lot of the new ideas probably never would have been hatched without the foundation laid by Austin. My re-acquaintence with him was all to brief but oh so rewarding and enjoyable...... I miss the old boy.

apparently something on LTW doesnt like my photo album. I can load from Shutterfly.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

That is a really amazing pistol. Thank you for posting pics.

Yep, a great smith and a truly nice guy. He was one of my early heroes in the gun world. I used to buy parts from him when I was building race guns. There are still a couple local guys shooting casual IPSC running his parts that I installed. I built a bunch of comps on his blanks.

thats just a great pistol.
very early in my education of fine pistols, i had heard of austin behlert. i was sent to allentown pa. and literally went for a sunday drive. i was very suprised to see his shingle hanging by the side of the road.....kinda wish i'd a stopped in and introduced myself.
nice gun gary, do you have pics of your entire collection??--cam

Thanks. His widow told me they left NJ when it became too gun unfriendly. I believe Frank is doing non-gun related work in the old shop now.

This link will take you to my Behlert guns page.

http://www.randgfirearms.com/5141/26901.html

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com