Bob Chow Colt Python

[SloChicken]

Wow! All of these pistols in this thread are awesome!

I bought a couple of pistols that were worked by Jim Clark Sr.
I bought a Colt series 70 heavy long slide for $800 and traded a pretty generic AR15 for a Smith Model 41

A paramedic that was occasional part of my crew inherited from his grandpa. He wanted a new stereo for his new (also inherited) Dodge Ram 2500.
I implored upon him to keep them as they were a gift from his now dead grandfather.
Only after he told me "last chance, they are getting put up for sale", did I buy them.
Honestly, I have no idea how they compare to Bob Chow's stuff, but they are pretty amazingly smooth runners.

If any of you all have much of an idea how they compare, feel free to offer up input.

Nice revolver OP, hoping I don't derail this thread too much with my query.

[GW]

That is a gorgeous gun.A beauty.

[blasterp7]

Made in 1960, accurized and converted to SAO by F. Bob Chow in June 1961. Stamped "Chow" on the hammer and on the left side of the frame, under the grips.

Don't ask me how much I paid for it...

This is just stupid! I shot one of his customized 1911's once - just stupid - stupid- stupid

[AdamVIP]

Beautiful gun.

Excuse my ignorance here but why would you change a DA revolver to SA? Is there some inherent accuracy improvement or something?

[ScottsBad]

Very purdy Python. I love the grips.

[javaduke]

Beautiful gun.

Excuse my ignorance here but why would you change a DA revolver to SA? Is there some inherent accuracy improvement or something?

If I remember correctly, the explanation that I was once given is that once the SA trigger job is done, shooting DA may ruin it, because the surface on the trigger rubs against the DA strut. Can't really say if this is true, or just another urban legend.

[AdamVIP]

Seems plausible, but we'll need more glamour shots to confirm.

[nickel plate]

javaduke,
Can you please post a closeup photo of the "CHOW" stamp on the hammer that appears to be on the right side of your Python in your original photo?

[jimmykan]

Bob Chow was before my time... I sure would have like to meet him.

If he were alive today, I wonder what he would think of the resurgence of the 1911's popularity, and especially of these "factory custom" and "semi-custom" models available today.

[javaduke]

javaduke,
Can you please post a closeup photo of the "CHOW" stamp on the hammer that appears to be on the right side of your Python in your original photo?

Here you go.


Anything unusual here?

[Marquand]

Bob Chow turned fine guns into masterpieces of the shooter's art. Javaduke, I am sinfully envious!

[nickel plate]

Here you go.


Anything unusual here?

Your Bob Chow Python just gets more righteous every time I look at it!
I pulled out my 1991 Python to compare hammers and yours appears to have been either milled/reshaped or completely replaced to Bob Chow specs.
Again, great find.

[javaduke]

Your Bob Chow Python just gets more righteous every time I look at it!
I pulled out my 1991 Python to compare hammers and yours appears to have been either milled/reshaped or completely replaced to Bob Chow specs.
Again, great find.

Hm, interesting, I googled for Colt Python Hammer and it looks pretty standard to me. On the other hand, I know that Bob Chow used to lighten hammers often on 1911s, on mine he took quite a bit of metal off. Also I know that on some revolvers (but not on mine) he used to solder a piece of metal to the left side of the spur for easy thumb-cocking during the sustained fire strings (2 strings 5 shots in 20 seconds each string and 2 strings of 5 shots in 10 seconds each string). One of the reasons I could never shoot revolvers accurately is because every time I thumb cock it during the sustained fire string, my grip shifts.

[dfletcher]

Here you go.


Anything unusual here?

Hadn't noticed that in the first photos, but a factory original Python hammer is "in the white" on its sides. That this one is blued may indicate it was reworked and required rebluing? The spur does appear reshaped - a tad shorter and flatter.

[d sauce]

Fantastic lines and all around detail on these fine pieces. Thanks to those who have shared, the community appreciates it!