This is a new (June, 2007) section which is intended to show, thru a pictoral essay, the restoration of a featured handgun from beginning to end. The major points in the restoration are shown, with imbedded comments.

The featured guns will be chosen based on some special set of criteria that should be of interest to those who are considering a restoration, and one of these criteria will be a gun in poor condition.

This 1903 Colt, owned by Ron Campbell, is the first in this series. Others will be added from time-to-time.

Scroll down to view the series of pics

The original Colt 1903 Hammer Pistol:

Macro view of the left slide:

Right side view:

Left side after minimal sanding (pitting removal):

Right side after minimal sanding:

Right slide after re-lettering:

Left slide after more sanding:

Left slide after re-lettering:

Left slide Before and After Composite:

Left side after 1st phase of bright-polishing:

Left side after final bright-polishing:

The 1903 completed:

Left side lettering close-up:

Right side Lettering close-up: