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Custom Gunsmiths of the Forum;

Looking back at the history of custom pistols, two pistols stand out in my mind as being landmark in their design: the Swenson guns and the Pachmayr Combat Specials. As a teenager and budding gun nut, I always thought the Pachmayr Combat Specials were the coolest looking guns ever built. At the time, I didn't know that they were the result of several gunsmiths at Pachmayr. All I knew is that I wanted one just like Ross Seyfried's.

This whole thing came to mind after Steve posted that Gold Cup-based Pachmayr Combat Special a while back. Understanding that the Combat Specials were constructed of largely obsolete materials, I have a hypothetical exercise for the collective geniuses assembled here. If you were to design and construct a Combat Special today, what would you use? If I were the customer, I would spec only two requirements. It would have to be built on a new Colt Series '70 and have buried, dehorned Bomar sights. Oh, and if I could find one, I would like a Swenson single-side safety. Other than that, have at it! The only request I have is that you remain as true to the original Combat Special concept as possible. So, what say you?

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Wayne Miller

Funny you mention the Pachmayr Combat Special . I too was always admiring Ross Seyfried and Jeff Cooper's PCS in those old gun magazines. A friend wanted one so badly that he commissioned our mutual pistolsmith to build a close copy. The owner supplied John Harrison of Precision Gunworks with a Colt series 70 and the gun in the picture is the result.
It has:
Bomar rear sight (dehorned)
Wilson ambi (sorta look like the old Swenson safety)
Videki 3 hole trigger (not like the PCS, most pictures I've seen had solid trigger)
Wilson beavertail with speed bump
Actual Pachmayr flat MSH
20LPI checkering on front strap
20LPI serrated top of slide
Serrated rear of slide to match the Bomar
Hard chromed frame
Blued slide (the blueing had worn off and now it wears a black polymer coat)
Commander hammer
Barsto barrel
Wilson speed chute (for USPSA matches)

Well, the owner shot the daylight out of this gun and now is waiting for a Liebenberg copy of the PCS. He had to make room for the Pistol Dynamics gun so he sold this Colt. I couldn't let this gun pass by, so I grabbed it. Since acquiring this pistol, I replaced the Colt grips with a set of old Pachmayr rubber grips. It is a sweet shooting gun with lots of mileage left. I think it's one pistolsmith's and customer's version of the PCS.

This was my IPSC gun from the late '80's through the '90's. It was built by Les Bear when they first started the SA Custom Shop.



It has:
Bomar rear sight (dehorned)
Wilson ambi (sorta look like the old Swenson safety)
Videki 3 hole trigger
Wilson beavertail w/o speed bump
flat 30LPI MSH
20LPI checkering on front strap
30LPI checkering on front of trigger guard
Serrated rear of slide to match the Bomar
Hard chromed frame
Blued slide
Commander hammer
Nowlin barrel
welded Ed Brown mag chute

Guys, I have to spill a few of Jason's beans...

A while back, we discussed making a gun of this type on a large letter 70 series Jason had laying about collecting dust. The gun was to be made up in the spirit of the old PCS's, but would take advantage of advances in techniques and materials. The style would remain severely traditional, but would exhibit a high level of detail.

Jason's dream PCS is almost a reality, and he'll find that there's a twist involved that he hadn't planned on

I'll get a few pictures up when I get it put together, probably sometime before we go to SHOT. I know Jason could never stand the wait if I didn't!

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

TR

Wow. That's an interesting coincidence since Jason and I spent a good part of the day discussing this very topic. We agreed on just about everything except that I leaned towards Bomars for sights, and Jason was more fond of old-pattern Heinie's.

So Mr. Yost, without posting any pictures or ruining any surprises, how would you spec a PCS in 2005? Specifically, I am interested in what grip and thumb safeties you would use to look traditional, yet be ergonomic.

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Wayne Miller

Well, Some Jason would win, and some he'd lose

In my opinion, Slant-pro Heinies offer every bit as good a sight picture as the old style, and keep the gun's lines cleaner.

Top to bottom, my choices would include

Sights as above - I favor the gold line front sight though.
Flatten and serrate slide top
Frame/slide fit, slide rear serrated to match the wrapped rear sight
Interrupted borders, because we can
Kart barrel and nicely fit, but hand removable bushing

Modern beavertail gripsafety
Modern tool steel hammer, sear, and disconnector
Extended thumbsafety
30 lpi sharp checkering, front and rear - 20's a bit much for sissies like me
Detail all the frame's lines, especially in the vicinity of the frontstrap and above the front of the trigger guard
Handfiled bevelled magazine well - a mag funnel would be a little too much

Polished flats and matte edges on the slide, deeply blued

Satin matte hardchrome on the lower end, with a set of reddish cocobolo grips - I'd use smooth, pin covered, and hand profiled.

Gosh! Sounds a lot like Jason's gun!

_________________
Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

TR

Okay Theo... now you've got me really excited!!!

I figured mine would look a little like this.




I have seen the guns Ted is talking about and to say they are nice is like saying the Space Shuttle is a nice airplane. I have put quite a few rounds through this one and it is a pleasure to shoot. Golt Dot, ball, whatever. In a class not to long ago in Anaheim we were shooting in an almost no light scenario using only small hand held lights and I was hitting the popper at 20+ yards with no problems. So for me....it's good.

Pisses me off Jason's gun will be nicer than mine, but that is the way it goes for about oh.........fifteen to twenty more years.

_________________
Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

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

Ted:
Your version sounds a lot like the gun Wayne Novak just built for me. The only differences would be serrations rather than checkering on the front strap and MS housing (because you guys have been showing that off, and I wanted something a little different), a gold bead in the front sight, and, of couse, a Novak rear sight. The two-tone look brought back memories from the guns I had in the 80's.
A great look, and interesting thread.

Ted, I have just recently acquired the perfect candidate for said PCS project. I can't wait to see the pics!