Category Archives: Historical

Since I posted the photo of Chip McCormick with his 1988 Steel Challenge pistol, I figured you might want to look at another example by Jeff Wassom from the same era. It even has the signature welded-up “rat tail” grip safety like McCormick’s own pistol. McCormick’s previous winning pistol in 1986 had been built byContinue reading “Jeff Wassom “Shooting Star Industries” Pistol”

I’ve previously posted an ugly Colt prototype budget revolver, so now it is Smith & Wesson’s turn. During the late 1970s, the Director of Research and Development, Dwayne W. Charron, was tasked with examining new methods and materials. The goal was to produce parts to near finish configuration with a minimum of machining. Ideally, employeesContinue reading “Prototype Smith & Wesson XR-357 Budget Revolver”

Other than Dave Westerhout’s 1977 IPSC World Shoot win, the classic Browning Hi-Power hasn’t made much of a dent in the reign of the M1911 and CZ75-pattern pistols’ dominance of practical shooting competition. That said, this still hasn’t kept some gunsmiths and competitors from tilting at windmills. Today, we are going to show some classicContinue reading “Browning Hi-Power Raceguns”

I always find it amusing to see firearm companies attempt to turn their basic staid service pistols into a competition-worthy configuration. Witness how Llama tried to turn the basic M82 into the M87 Comp Gun. At its heart, the M82/M87 was a Beretta 92 clone with an enclosed slide, steel frame, and configured frame tang.Continue reading “Drama Llama – The Llama M87 Racegun”