My first handgun, purchased as a 21st birthday present to myself in 1991, was a blued steel, 6" GP100.  I had many good times with that gun and put a lot of rounds through it.  As a dumb kid, I even managed to wear out the forcing cone with some ridiculously hot 158 grain loads with 2400 powder.

Anyway, the gun was looking as beat up and worn out as it's owner, so I figured I'd rehab it.  The 6" barrel seemed like a great idea when I bought it, but it's too long for practical belt carry or for use in competition, so trying to figure out what I was going to do with it.  I was on the phone with Hamilton Bowen, asking some questions about his truly excellent iron sights, and he asked me about my project.  I told him what I was thinking about doing, and he said he had a barely used 4" stainless steel barrel laying around, he'd sell me for cheap, along with the sights.  Mr. Bowen is a fine gentlemen, by the way.  Putting a stainless steel barrel on a carbon steel gun isn't a big deal anymore, because there are so many modern finishes available that will go over both kinds of steel and look the same.

So, I turned the gun over to Andy Horvath and he started working on it.  Andy is a true master and artist of sixguns.  He's in his 70s now, and still working, but I'm sure that won't last forever.  If you want this old school master to work on your guns, I wouldn't dilly dally.

So here is the original gun:

I look forward to seeing the finished product.

While you wait it's a good time to consider leather.