Custom Colt Government Model by Austin Behlert (ca. 1980)

In spite of that anachronism, a very nice, well done Colt.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

VERY nice! My .38 Super now looks pretty much like that except that it has a standard mag release and an arched MS housing. Everything you need and nothing you don't.

I simply can't abide duckbutt safeties and FCS grooves on the front, or most of the other "enhancements".

Is that a bobbed hammer? Looks pretty nice for sure

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Reheating pizza – sheesh. Totally destroys the delicate flavor.

A Smith and Wesson beats 5 aces...

Woodswalker AKA AaronE

I would bet you money I had my hand on that gun. J.Michael

Perfect, although I prefer the stock release button.

I bobbed it myself using only files and abrasives (no power tools). It took a while, but I was pleased with the result.

That was one of two permanent changes I made since acquisition: the other was dehorning the thumb safety, which I then painted satin black à la Krylon (no bluing tank handy). That turned out rather more cheesy, of course, but it was absolutely necessary and you kinda have to look hard to tell.

Other changes included the grips and trigger, the bushing from collet to solid, and the MSH from factory arched to Pachmayr flat.

The gun also came equipped with a buffer system consisting of a captive spring-loaded steel plunger mounted in the recoil spring guide. I removed that assembly and replaced it with a GI-type part.

(To be continued...)

I was also prepared to remove-and-replace the mag catch, and planned to, but I found it no problem so I kept it.

The BIG BEHLERT BUTTON is kind of a 'trademark' item in any case (it was a pretty common feature, even on the Mini Combats).

I realize it looks funky, but you can ask around: That's called panache.

R&G Firearms. He collects Behlert guns but let this one go several years ago.

The S/N is prefixed with "SM," if that sounds familiar. (Note the gun also came with the original box with bar-coded label.)

Gary is also still showing the gun in its 'original' configuration here (see third pic up from bottom of page).