Not sure where to post this, as there is no "Custom Handguns" forum, but here goes.

I love wheelguns, have always wanted a Fitz Special and now I am having one built.

The base revolver is an old warhorse from WWI. It is a 1917 vintage Colt New Service, originally chambered in .455 Eley, or more correctly, .455 Webley Mk. II, complete with British proofs and markings, a 5½ inch barrel, blued finish and black, “Colt” marked replacement grips.

Made by Colt for use by the British military during the war, at some time in its history the chambers in the cylinder were bored out to accept .45 Colt cartridges. The chambers are still also compatible for use with .455 cartridges, as they have only been slightly counter-bored to accommodate the rims of .45 Colt rounds.

The revolver had been refinished with a somewhat mottled re-blue job that ended up looking more green than blue.

The caliber marking on the left side of the barrel, which originally read “NEW SERVICE 455 ELEY”, was sloppily altered by a nimrod with a buffing wheel to read “NEW SERVICE 45”.

Here it is:







The revolver tears the centers out of bullseyes at 7 yards, so I sent it off to Gary Miglio at Mob Guns to get the full Fitz treatment, including:

1. Barrel shortened to 2½ inches with 11 degree crown and fitted with a shark fin front sight.

2. Grip frame shortened to 3 inches, converted to a round butt and fitted with checkered walnut grips with silver “Colt” medallions.

3. Tune up and action job; trigger nitre blued and hammer polished to bright steel.

4. Nitre blued side plate and crane lock screws.

5. Crane lock ball detent fitted.

6. New style cylinder release fitted.

7. Trigger guard cut away forward of trigger.

8. “NEW SERVICE 45 COLT” laser engraved on left side of barrel replacing the original, buggered roll stamp.

9. All metal refinished in an Old-World soft rust blue.

10. All sharp edges “melted”.

It’s looking good so far:











Stay tuned . . .

Your actually using a cut the trigger guard wow.

Yup. That’s a key element of a Fitz Special. Here’s the one Fitz himself made for Col. Rex Applegate.

Some more progress photos. It's coming along nicely.





Revolver placed on left grip panel to show how much the grip frame has been shortened:



Ball detent crane lock:



Blended underside of frame:



New style cylinder release latch, cut away trigger guard and bobbed hammer:



Shortened, round butt grip frame:



Buggered and faded roll stamp on barrel:



More to come . . .

Neat and interesting.

Can’t say that I would spend the dough to get one, but I’m glad that you are doing it.

Will be interesting to hear what you think of its controllability and on target accuracy once you get done.

As above, I find it interesting that you could find someone who is willing to cut away part of the trigger guard like that. Of course, with most revolver DA triggers, I don’t think it’s unsafe, but that’s certainly the public perception of it.

Are you removing the single action aspect of the sear to avoid the possibility of a cocked hammer and getting the trigger bumped, or is just the bobbing considered sufficient?

I think the fitz specials look interesting… but I’m not enough an affectionado to do what you are.

Nice work, Mike! I have a 1926 New Service in 45 LC that I am keeping original, but I had another one in 455 Eley (I think) that I gave to my preacher to help him out in his divorce. He might still have it, + that would be a great idea. Who is doing the work for you?

The Fitz has a lot of charm and utility, and is an historic arm for sure. There is no way on earth any factory would make it these days.

As far as safety is concerned, trigger travel is a long haul and the double action pull is far from light. Still, like all guns it requires care in handling and it is most certainly not a gun for neophytes.

Interestingly, I have never heard of an AD with one, but I'm not sure that means much.

Many people have used Fitz Specials over the years, and the press has always been good. These include the above-named Col. Rex Applegate, George Nonte, Col. Charles Askins, Jr., Clyde Barrow, Texas Ranger Captain Clint Peoples, Charles Lindbergh and John Henry FitzGerald himself, as well as many not so famous.

The Frank Reagan character in the TV series Blue Bloods, played by Tom Selleck, carried a Fitz Special in the first season.

Just like the originals, my revolver will not be DAO, but will retain single action capability.

I love the whole idea of a DA .45 Colt pocket revolver, although it will need a big pocket! Maybe a fall/winter carry gun?

Mob Guns, run by Gary Miglio, are doing the work. Gary is a great guy.

I will have some new progress photos and will post them shortly.

I think with these new photos I'll be all caught up. The revolver is in for final fitting and finishing now.

Muzzle and unfinished shark fin front sight:



New laser-engraved nomenclature on left side of barrel - same exact size and font as the original roll stamp:



With rough-fitted new grips:



Sliding into home plate now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Your pants pocket comment reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes story when he asked Inspector. Lestrade if he was armed, + his reply was, I've got my trousers on, haven't I? + If I have my trousers on, I have a pocket + if I have a pocket, I'm armed! Several of us have used that phrase over the years when asked if we were armed. The reply was always, "I have my pants on, don't I?" BTW, your piece is coming out really fine!

Thanks! Speaking of trousers . . .

It is said that Fitz himself regularly carried two .45 Colt Fitz Specials, one in each of the front pockets of his trousers, both of which he reportedly had lined with leather!

I need to have a talk with my tailor.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Thanks! Speaking of trousers . . .

It is said that Fitz himself regularly carried two .45 Colt Fitz Specials, one in each of the front pockets of his trousers, both of which he reportedly had lined with leather!

I need to have a talk with my tailor.

He would need both a belt and suspenders to carry that load around in his pants.

Unintentional discharges were not the only problem with the open trigger guard.

They could bend and render the the handgun inoperable. By not allowing the trigger to move properly.

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Thanks! Speaking of trousers . . .

It is said that Fitz himself regularly carried two .45 Colt Fitz Specials, one in each of the front pockets of his trousers, both of which he reportedly had lined with leather!

I need to have a talk with my tailor.

He would need both a belt and suspenders to carry that load around in his pants.

A belt with suspenders is still a good idea when carrying heavy belt guns.

Yes indeed, however, the belt + braces has been the standard of the man who thinks ahead for quite some time.

Fitz had specific recommendations on proper gun-toting attire and accessories.

His book, Shooting, originally published in 1930, is still in print, in facsimile form, and available on Amazon.

It is dated in some respects, but amazingly comprehensive and still relevant, and makes for fascinating and entertaining reading.

https://aoghs.org/oil-almanac/...aullas-texas-ranger/

Lone Wolf used the “Fritz”

Interesting article; thanks for sharing.

I’ll second that thanks. That was an interesting read.

Some .38 Special Fitz revolvers, including one in action from the TV series Blue Bloods.

In the box. Ten grand would not buy this vintage example:



On the book. Nice shot of another vintage Fitz, this one well-used but still a high-dollar collectible:



Tom Selleck as Commissioner Frank Reagan pointing his Fitz Special with bad intent. Touch of classic class:



I still prefer the .45s!

Looking good after polishing:



But I am thinking I may need to have the rampant colt re-cut.

It is an American icon and should not be faded.

Mike, that's an interesting project and it's progressing nicely but I have one concern.

The front sight, although unfinished, looks like it might have a tendency to snag or hang up on the pocket if the revolver is not in a holster.

The original ones you posted all have typical rounded contours. Thoughts?

Good Luck. Have fun with it.

RCG - good eye.

The front sight will be rounded off for just the reason you note. Don't want a sharp edge there.

Do you have an idea what load you are going to regulate the sights for.

I will try to handload something like this load from Buffalo Bore for practice.

I will probably just buy and use this load for business, since I'm not sure I can achieve the low flash element that they do with available powders.

Buffalo Bore .45 Colt ANTI-PERSONNEL Standard Pressure, Low Flash 225 gr. Soft Cast Hollow Nose, Gas Checked Bullet @ 850 fps from 2 Inch Barrel

They are getting an actual 850 fps out of a 2 inch barrel at standard pressure. I have shot a lot of Buffalo Bore ammo. It is good stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I will try to handload something like this load from Buffalo Bore for practice.

I will probably just buy and use this load for business, since I'm not sure I can achieve the low flash element that they do with available powders.

Buffalo Bore .45 Colt ANTI-PERSONNEL Standard Pressure, Low Flash 225 gr. Soft Cast Hollow Nose, Gas Checked Bullet @ 850 fps from 2 Inch Barrel

They are getting an actual 850 fps out of a 2 inch barrel at standard pressure. I have shot a lot of Buffalo Bore ammo. It is good stuff.

Sounds like a good plan

It would be nice to have a "custom handgun" forum. It might help to bring together some of the posts that don't fit into all of the primarily rifle forums.

I have asked. Not a bad idea, I think, if there is enough demand.

Custom Handguns Forum?

I was kind of surprised that there was no such forum.

Weigh in if you think it makes sense.

Mike, this is a fabulous project and I can't wait to see the revolver finished and sorted out at the range.
Taltexan, I also appreciate the link.
I am told that Borger, Texas, was mighty wild and woolly in the early oil boom era as well.
My great-granddad served a term as a "judge" of Hutchinson County in the late teens -- before the "fun" started.

Thanks! I will post more photos as the project progresses.

I have an old Gun Digest book with quite a good article on Fitz and his 'specials'. Some good photos of him with various well known dudes and doing his fast draw pose, apparently his wife was an accomplished shot too.

I have that issue of Gun Digest, too. Good article.

On closer inspection, after some more work on the side plate, I have decided to leave the Rampant Colt as is.



I think he looks pretty good. I think he may even be smiling.

quote:

I have an old Gun Digest book

What issue is it.

There has been a spate of writing on the Fitz Specials recently, which is what rekindled my interest. The article I was referring to is in the 2018 issue of Gun Digest. It was written by Rick Hacker and is entitled: Fitz Special - One Man's Legacy.

I think we have worked out the front sight.

We have decided to stick with the "shark fin" shape, with a front-slanting 30 degree angle on the trailing edge of the "fin" to prevent snagging.



The sight presents from the rear as a wide, Patridge-style post, with squared but not knife sharp edges.



Gary has also widened the rear notch quite a bit, in order to get a good sight picture that can be acquired rapidly and will work well for both fast and fine shooting.



I am confident that with the widened rear notch and this front sight, I will be able to achieve that.

Mike, that's one helluva fine, fun project!

quote:

Originally posted by Norman Conquest:
Nice work, Mike! I have a 1926 New Service in 45 LC that I am keeping original, but I had another one in 455 Eley (I think) that I gave to my preacher to help him out in his divorce. He might still have it, + that would be a great idea. Who is doing the work for you?

A Texas preacher needing a gun to help out with a divorce reminds me of Walker Railey!

https://www.texasmonthly.com/t...ns-of-walker-railey/

Interesting story, but my reference was to my giving him several guns to sell to see him + his sons through their crippling time of no income while dealing with the lawyer fees; not to mention that somewhere along the line, they might want to eat.

quote:

Originally posted by Norman Conquest:
Interesting story, but my reference was to my giving him several guns to sell to see him + his sons through their crippling time of no income while dealing with the lawyer fees; not to mention that somewhere along the line, they might want to eat.

I assumed that was your point. As a lawyer, I quit dealing in family law cases. It was stupid from a business standpoint, but it was correct (in my mind) from an ethical perspective.

I hated seeing, and being a part of, arguments over a $500 lawnmower for two hours when both sides are charging $300 an hour. That’s just one small example.

I still take on the occasional case if they are smart enough to realize his/her shit goes to him/her and the standard possession order is the law of the land, unless one party is a danger to the child. I have taken young kids away from mothers, if warranted. I’ve done adoptions and those are special. Rarely is there a dry eye in the courtroom.

I also suppose it comes from when my parents divorced and “we” lost a ranch, houses, and other assets.

quote:

hated seeing, and being a part of, arguments over a $500 lawnmower for two hours when both sides are charging $300 an hour. That’s just one small example.

Some times it far more important to hurt the other side then to divide things equally.

Sounds like my ex. After she got all the money by my having to sell damn near all my guns, she reappears 6 months later since her + her unemployed shack job went through all the money + now she needed more. Wanted another $2500.00. I 1st knew of this when I got a call from a "Judge Judy" kinda show that said they would even pay her themselves + fly me to the studio in Houston. I told them NO Fxxxing way. So then I am informed that she wants to take me to small claims court, so I call my lawyer + ask if she can do this. He says, yes, unfortunately, she can, but I ask you this. This will not happen tomorrow, might take 6 months or longer. Do you want to be thinking about this every day for all that time or just pay her? I said, I'll just pay her, but under one condition. Do you have some kind of form that says in "legalize" that once she gets that money, she can never fuck with me again? He did. I took him the cash + she had to go down + get it after signing the form, + thank GOD, I have never had to see her ever again, + although it's been a long time ago, + I don't think about anymore, I am eternally grateful that I never had any kids with that woman.

Getting back on subject.

When you get it finished we need pictures of the fine handgun.

And pictures of the groups it can shoot and point of aim.

I would suggest regulating it to be just a tad high at 25 yards 1/4 inch or so is about perfect.