Randy Lish Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 In the fall of 2003 I sent my West Hurley 1928 A-1 to P.K. for some changes that I wanted done. Although I own a 1921 Colt serial # 289, I wanted a 1921 style gun that I could shoot the hell out of and not cry too much if something happened. Other than squaring up the frame, welding up and then recutting the blish lock slots ( a real problem with West Hurleys ), I had him make some other changes too. He cut ( 2 ) 1928 actuators into the '21 style actuators ( one as an extra for backup ) and installed a Diamond K Hybrid 21/28 pilot. A Colt '21 buttplate and slide assembly were installed on the buttstock. A Lyman rear site, Savage knurled selectors and a Colt ejector were also installed on the gun. The lower internals were all NOS A.O.C. parts that I aquired just for this project. The barrel is a Doug Richardson 1921 style barrel and the front sight was made by P.K. for this particular gun because the point of impact was too high. The drum slots were also reshaped & contoured into the 1921 style. The metal was finished & blued well beyond what West Hurley had originally done. The wood was completed by Dan Block and it also was finished in the 1921 Colt configuration. I will say that after many trial and error ( because I am an anal retentive kinda guy ), Dan was up to the task and his customer satisfaction guarantee is 5 stars!!! The gun shoots as good as it looks ( approx 925 rpms ) and it is the most accurate Thompson that I own. I was expecting a difference in muzzle climb because of the lack of a compensator and it's faster cycle rate, but that was not the case. A slight push back and up a couple of inches and it stayed still. I have sent my Class III work to others in the past, but P.K. has my business for as long as he's around. His work is just incredible!!!!! Best Regards Randy http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/1.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/2.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/3.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/4.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/5.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/6.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/7.jpg http://mywebpages.comcast.net/iannamico/mgbsite/lish/8.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colt21a Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 randy its a fooler, and a keeper..........and you can shoot it.and keep the colt ratholed away.........now thats a way to go!!!nice pic's nice gun....take care,ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The1930sRust Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 Randy, I hereby relinquish the reins of 'Most Beautiful West Hurley'. Wow.......I won't sleep tonight. Paul, this is what I want in the winter.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Crow Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 Great Gun, Photos and Work!!!! You gotta admit "Now" that it was well worth the wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Very nice work indeed. I like that '21 look on the Westy. Maybe I'll call this guy up I met today and buy another Westy to play with. Great job to all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Lish Posted June 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Ron, You betcha on keeping that Colt '21 hidden away; it's money in the bank! Chris, Thanks for bequeathing the honor of the " Most Beautiful West Hurley " I will do my best to keep it unsullied, it is a beauty! Jack, This beauty may belong to me now but the work and honor goes to P.K. and Dan. The pictures are courtesy of normandy 123 ( he posts here occasionally and took the picures for me at the gun store I work at on my days off from my real job ) and Nick Iannamico. Without Nick's help, I wouldn't have been able to get them on this board. Thanks to all you folks! Mike, Get the Westy now and have P.K. give it a '21 makeover, I know you won't be sorry!!! This nifty auto resides in a Greg Fox case with a Herigstad '21 cleaning rod and metal parts kit ( filled with all the original springs, brushes, etc.,etc. ) and all together it's just the cat's pajamas!!!! Best Regards Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerslayer Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Randy, A lot of thanks can go to you too. Folks, Randy loaned me a set of his original colt wood a while back (We had done an ebay sale or two, but can you imagine just sending some ebay contact your colt wood to borrow???). That and the input of a couple other people helped me along the way. It does help to work for a perfectionist as they point out small details in fit and shape that are easily overlooked (at least by me). Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Beautiful Weapon! You and Deerslayer-Dan should be proud! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif Norm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Hey, that is a "corker" gun mate! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif What a great job Randy. Dan is making me a couple of sets of funiture for some of my 21's and I am really impressedwith the contacts with him and his help thus far. That gun is too good to take out of the box Randy! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Regards Murray http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFalGuy Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Geee...Whiiiizzz who do I seeend da bill for treating my new speeeech impedimentttt Gorgeous- Makes me think about sending mine to them before I even shoot it to fix everything West Hurley are know not to have done "just" right. Does PK have a webiste to contact him for suggestions? for that matter Dan also? Wonderful job by all, very impressive. Mark still sttuuterring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Crow Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 PK dosen't have a site YET! But you can e-mail him at pkNOSPAM@gwe.net **Remove NOSPAM Dan does have a site at http://home.rconnect.com/~danlaura/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM76 Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Great job PK did on the WH, I think this winter I'll talk to PK about doing my WH . Your WH is beautiful . My WH shoots great,and I have had no problem with it ,the lower is a little tight to get off,but no big deal. I wasn't going to send this at first to PK, because I was going let the next guy who gets my WH do it. But the temptation is to great now. See Ya Tino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Dan, Did you stain the wood on this gun? It looks great! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimFromFL Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 From a far it looks like the real deal. Great piece. Just wondering...what does " The drum slots were also reshaped & contoured into the 1921 style." mean? I was not aware of 21 style drum slots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21 smoker Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Randy,.. great looking Thompson!... I feel like I just hit the lottery,cause I too sent my WH28 to P.K. in the fall of 2003 and was told 2 weeks ago I was next on the list,so I`m really lookin` forward to having mine look similar except with a comp...gotta love that checkering P.K. does on the controls,very authentic looking...Dan`s wood will be added next...thanks for the post...keeps me going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waffen Und Bier Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Nice piece. Dan writes: (We had done an ebay sale or two, but can you imagine just sending some ebay contact your colt wood to borrow???). I've actually met some nice people on ebay. I bid on some piddly military items from a nice lady. When I went up to Knob Creek one year, I drove to her house about an hour away from there to pick up a fragile item I won from her on ebay. She and her husband welcomed me into their house (real Kentucky hospitality). They had about 400 acres teaming with horses, wildebeasts, and llamas. They ended up showing me their warehouses which were stacked floor to ceiling with all manners of antiques and military stuff. More like museums. They had at least a dozen original 16th through 19th century naval cannons from Spain, Holland, England, etc. (just the metal, no wood), a 37mm Gatling gun. You name it, it was there. Spent a couple hours there and bought some nice things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Crow Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 JimFrom FL What they are referring to is the outer edges are beveled "funnel like" to allow the drum rails to enter the slots easier. I believe that on the originals though that they were actually bumps protruding out. But the concave shape is easier to accomplish. PK please correct me if I am mistaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Lish Posted June 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 Just an additional note as to the quality of P.K.'s and Dan's work. A few weeks ago I took the "P.K. '21 Special " out to do some shooting with some friends. We used only 20 rd mags and one West Hurley 50 rd drum ( cleaned up & tuned by Merle Bitikofer ) and the weapon performed flawlessly. Today I took it out to the range with 500 rds of ammo, (2) West Hurley 50 rd , (1) West Hurley 100rd ( cleaned up & tuned by Merle ), (1) Colt 50 rd and (1) Colt 100 rd drums. I wanted to see if this particular firearm was sensitive to certain makes and model of drums and I found that it is not. That gun ran like a Singer Sewing machine and did not miss a beat once! After each full run of the 100 rd drums, the outside of the barrel was just a tad bit hot and smokin' like an expectant father. Prior to sending my West Hurley to P.K., it was a very sensitive gun that would do o.k. with West Hurley Drums ( even after they were tuned by Merle ), but preferred Colt Drums and only certain 20 & 30 rd mags. While I was at the range several shooters came by to see what was making all that racket. They commented numerous times as to the smooth metal finish and how beautiful the wood looked. Even after all that range time today it still looks great! I am now in need of two things, a digital video recorder to share this fun with you all and a Dillon 1050 press to keep up with all this fun range time! Best Regards Randy Lish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Jr Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 Beautiful work. I wonder why Arthur F does not comment on such beautiful work? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 Wonderful job! It's refreshing to see one without the comp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The1930sRust Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 QUOTE (John Jr @ Jun 20 2004, 12:28 AM) Beautiful work. I wonder why Arthur F does not comment on such beautiful work? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif Though the answer is obvious, why play stick ball with that hornets nest? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 Rust-- You have the words of a poet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 Rust, to take a great line from Slim Pickens, Slim Pickens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 Mike, That's just disturbing! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/tongue.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/laugh.gif Norm http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter63a Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 What would our 'Thompson World' be without the likes of P.K., Dan and Merle? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif Regards, Walter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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