My visit with RonC and Tip Burns, Gunsmith (w/ pics)

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:31 pm

During my lunch hour, I made a trip out to visit local gunsmith Tip Burns & meet RonC for the first time.

When I arrived, we immediately started talking guns and started with the show-and-tell.

He got to see first hand my Smith & Wesson 1937. It was pretty funny seeing all the different part of the same gun there on the counter. It had the feeling of being in a movie prop shop. (Notice the additional barrel on the counter.)

Ron had with him his Browning Hi-Power. He says he has the walnut grips for it. Ron, next time, I would like to get a good shot of the gun with the lighter colored grips.

Here it is open

And, here they are together.

Ron was having his S&W .455 reamed out to take the colt cartridges. Here's an interesting shot of S&W taken apart. (Notice the ramped sight on the barrel.)

Here is a photo of Tim reaming out the chambers in the cylinder. It suprised me that he was doing it by hand. He said he could have set it up in a machine. But, by the time he had everything set just right, it would have been finished by hand.

One thing about Tip Burns, the guy is an artist. In his shop, there are some amazing things he does and has done with long guns and pistols.

Just like other great vendors in this hobby, RonC has been able to take stills from the movies to Tip and he has been able to make some very close replicas.

Ron brought along some other guns from the period. I'll let him explain in detail what they are. (Notice RonC's MKVII bag.)

Here's the first one.

And the second one.

Afterwards, Ron and I went for lunch and discussed Indygear.

It was a short meeting but great to meet up with another gearhead.

Thanks to RonC and all his knowledge. He has some cool things in the works. He has his eye on some guns that will complete his gear collection.

Thanks to Tip Burns. He let us invade his shop and sharing his knowledge with us.

Cheers,
Pyroxene

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:47 pm

Nice looking Remington 1875 and Colt. I'm guessing Uberti's? Hey Bill, why no pics with you and RonC?

Now THIS looks like it would have been an afternoon that I would have enjoyed immensely!!!

Regards. Michaelson

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:58 pm

Michaelson wrote:why no pics with you and RonC?

That didn't occur to me until I was heading back. Well, it give us an excuse to get together again.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 6:13 pm

Humm. With RonC's background, he's probably one of those spooky folks whose image won't appear on film.

Regards. Michaelson

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:26 am

Michaelson...I know..."If I tell ya, I'll have to..."....you know the rest!!!

....Truly, I'm NOT as camera shy as I used to be back in the days when I was "on operations", as they say!

It just never crossed our minds yesterday while we were discussing gear to actually take any photos of US (does anyone actually WANT to see photos of a 50 year old former commando with a lot of strange-looking weaponry!?!)!!! I do wish you could have been there...we had a GREAT time discussing gear. Pyro is VERY knowledgeable about Indy's fedoras, jackets (and their nuances), boots, et al....I learned more about Indy's clothing yesterday than I could imagine! Thanks, Pyro!

The 1875 Remington and the Colt are both Uberti "clones." Of course, the Remington is a reasonable copy of the Remington '75 Barranca is carrying in "Raiders"...when he tries to plug Indy in the back as he peruses the map. The Colt clone is close to what the one henchman of "Fedora" is wearing after they catch up with young Indy on the circus train at the beginning of "Last Crusade."

We did have a great time yesterday...and Pyro & I will be sure to take some photos of us next time!

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:49 am

Very good! High regards. Michaelson

Renderking Fisk · Post by **Renderking Fisk** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:28 pm

Does anyone actually WANT to see photos of a 50 year old former commando with a lot of strange-looking weaponry!?

I would actually pay to see someone 13 years older then you kick some asp while looking for treasure... so you can guess the answer.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:29 pm

RK...I get the point!!!

Trebor · Post by **Trebor** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 3:32 am

Nice pics, thanks for sharing. Love that pic of the S&W lockwork.

Ron's Hi Power is a relatively newer model with a round hammer and external extractor. In real life, Indy's gun would have had a spur hammer and internal extractor, but I don't know what vintage the movie gun was. Any ideas anyone ? (Michaelson, I'm talking to you...)

Rob

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:30 am

Trebor, I beg to disagree. The Early Hi Powers all had the "ring" hammer. The spur hammer is a relatively new addition to the Hi Power line. Go to this link to see an original 1937-built Hi Power:

http://www.fnhipower.com/modules.php?na ... e&artid=16

Mine was manufactured in 1969, and has the forged slide and receiver. On the site link I placed above, there is a wealth of information regarding the Hi Power. In a past thread, I talked about "owning" a Congolese Browning Hi Power when I worked in Angola. It was a '73 model ,with a ring hammer.

Trebor · Post by **Trebor** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 10:49 am

RonC wrote:Trebor, I beg to disagree. The Early Hi Powers all had the "ring" hammer. The spur hammer is a relatively new addition to the Hi Power line. Go to this link to see an original 1937-built Hi Power:

http://www.fnhipower.com/modules.php?na ... e&artid=16

Mine was manufactured in 1969, and has the forged slide and receiver. On the site link I placed above, there is a wealth of information regarding the Hi Power. In a past thread, I talked about "owning" a Congolese Browning Hi Power when I worked in Angola. It was a '73 model ,with a ring hammer.

You may be right on the hammer issue. That '37 in the pic definately had a ring hammer. I'll have to dig my reference books out now and see if all early Hi Powers had ring hammers or if there were any variations between the FN built guns and the Inglish built guns. If it was a universal switch from ring to spur hammer, I wonder when exactly FN made the switch, and why? The Ring hammer definately looks more "modern", at least to my eyes.

I agree that FNHipower.com is a great sight. I lurk there quite a bit, but don't post much.

You should post some (unclassified) details of your adventures on the site. Sounds like they'd make for interesting reading.

Rob

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 11:44 am

The hammer ring was introduced with the gun in 1935. Bear in mind that the P-35 was originally sold and intended as a military sidearm first and foremost. The standard spur hammer was introduced in the 1950's when they began going after the commercial market and began selling them to the public after WWII and the reconstruction of Europe. Regards. Michaelson