It seems like a long, long time ago (and a galaxy far far away) that this project began.
First the story of the firearm:
This started out as a brand new Ruger Single Six in 32 H&R Magnum. Around 1987/88 this revolver was stolen from a pawn shop in South Carolina. Somehow it walked off without the owner seeing it go. I have my suspicions as to who took it, but no proof. It disappeared for almost 11 years. During a drug raid in south Georgia the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) recovered it totally trashed; missing it's ejector rod, the anodized finish of the grip frame was scarred, several rust pits. It hadn't been cleaned in forever it seemed.
When my friend the pawn shop owner received it back he was not interested in it as a keepsake, in fact he really didn't want it at all. So for a nominal fee. I took it home and it became a resident in the back of my safe.
Now to give credit where it is due it was well known Mississippi knife maker Charlie May who restarted this project many years ago down at a camp out with friends. We were talking about the 32 H&R and he told me about his idea to turn the 6 shot 32 into a 5 shot 38 and what a neat little trail gun it would be. That got me to thinking... However, I decided to keep the caliber as it was and do something different with the old beater.
I basically envisioned a "Sheriff's Model" chopped channeled and refinished... Three years ago I started. I engaged a gunsmith to bob the barrel and send it off to a refinisher. Well off it went. Somewhere along the line the refinisher (who shall remain nameless) "lost" the firearm for almost a year. It was returned to my gunsmith with nothing done. I cast about and found someone far more local and decided on the Diamondkote from M&R Arms Specialties in brushed stainless. Off it went again.
Tragedy then struck in the form of medical problems for my gunsmith. He ended up on dialysis, and having a 15 lb. tumor removed. To further complicate matters, while re- assembling the Ruger a pin broke and became lodged so that only drilling it out would suffice. Finally a few weeks ago "Little Hammer" was delivered...
I tried out some Hogue mono-grip stocks but they were too big, as were a fine set of Herrett Shooting Stars that I was able to acquire. I settled (and proudly) on this set of Acacia stocks from a fellow in PA.
