Connoisseurs of fine custom single-action revolvers might lament that we are losing famed revolver artisans at a rapid pace. They are correct in this assessment. Many of the greats have passed away or retired from building custom sixguns.
While these losses are real, there is no need to feel despair. There are still some of the best craftsmen who have ever picked up a file or tuned an action at work these days, and they are making custom revolvers as good as they have ever been.
The Craftsman
Two of these artificers are Bobby Tyler of Tyler Gun Works (TGW) and Ronnie Wells of RW Grip Frames (RWGF). Knowing both men well, I can attest that they are two of the best.
Tyler nurtured TGW from a one-man show and has grown and expanded his business to employ dozens of folks skilled in firearms finishing, gunsmithing, engraving, and grip making.
Wells’ resume is impressive. He’s been involved in manufacturing everything from oilfield equipment to rocket engines and aircraft parts. He even assisted in pacemaker development at one time. For fun, he built guns and raced Nitro Funny Cars. The man is a mechanical genius, and we are fortunate he has now focused his talents on single-action revolvers.
Tyler and Wells work with one another a lot on various gun projects. Now they have combined forces to build 250 custom revolvers called the “Brasshawk.”
Makings of the Brasshawk
The Brasshawk is built on the stout Ruger Blackhawk frame. This is a two-for-one revolver that comes with .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders.
Dual-cylinder revolvers offer a variety of options for shooters. The .45 ACP cylinder can be used for inexpensive plinking while remaining plenty potent for self-defense and short-range hunting with stout loads and good bullets. Same goes for the .45 Colt, while upper-end hunting loads from this Ruger allow for hunting a variety of larger game animals.
The name of the revolver is derived from the brass grip frame supplied by RWGF. Blackhawk + Brass Grip Frame = Brasshawk! This particular design is called the Bo Ty and was named after Tyler for his ideas in designing this grip frame. Savvy sixgunners will recognize it as a similar grip profile to Elmer Keith’s famed No.5.
Tyler included the dimensions of Keith’s revolver’s grip frame and lengthened the grip a bit. He suggested a contoured butt and slightly subtle changes to the geometry that keep the grip compact yet enable the shooter to obtain a full grip on the gun. The slightly arched backstrap espouses the benefits of taming recoil as well.
Hand engraving by Ricky Sharp adorns the grip frame of the gun, as well as the shelf above and aft the trigger and bottom of the trigger guard. This adds to the classiness of the piece. Dark walnut stocks are hand-fitted to the frame. They look and feel great, and the brass-to-wood fit is impeccable.
The hammer is made by RWGF. It is a fine rendition of Colt’s Bisley hammer. The hammer, trigger, and frame of the gun were color case hardened at TGW. Ruger’s Bisley trigger was used for this gun. The barrel and cylinders are set in a deep polished blue finish.
The cylinders can be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise with the aid of a Power Custom free-spin pawl. This is a handy accessory for speedy reloading or for remedying a bullet that jumps its crimp under recoil, should that ever happen.
The cylinder rests on a Skinner Sights Belt Mountain Base Pin. The pin is included with a little insurance by way of a tiny set screw to keep it put during recoil. The hourglass head design allows for a secure grip when removing the pin during the cleaning process or when swapping out cylinders.
The five-inch tapered octagonal barrel is another RWGF production that looks as good as it shoots. The top of the barrel is serrated for reduced glare and a custom appearance, and the muzzle has a nice crown.
Having shot the gun many times now, I can see the desired lube star that has formed at the end of the barrel. This tells us from firing lead bullets that the lubricant in the grooves of the bullet forms a perfect grease seal between the lead bullet and the barrel of the revolver and indicates correct revolver tolerances.
The lube star goes hand in hand with accuracy, and this gun is very accurate with both cylinders. A full-length ejector rod adds to the good looks of the revolver.
The rear sight is the good RW 2 Dogs adjustable that Ronnie Wells and Fermin Garza collaborated on. Garza is a revolver sight maker par excellence.
Next to a good trigger is the importance of good sights for accurate shooting. Over time we discover what works best for our eyes, and these guys can save a shooter a lot of time and money by providing bold sights that ensure a good sight picture on targets and wild game. They are tough and well-thought-out.
The front sight on this earlier prototype gun is a pinned serrated Patridge blade, and it’s a good sight. The one that will be on the remaining guns will be held by a screw that enhances the simplicity of changing it out for another design preferred by the shooter.
Essentials of a Crisp Trigger and Good Sights
The trigger breaks crisply and measures 2.5 pounds on my trigger scale. A clean-breaking trigger pull is essential to accurately shooting a handgun, and I find this one to be perfect. Team TGW performed a full accuracy package and action work on this sixgun, and it’s excellent.
Good sights, good trigger, tuned action, custom barrel, custom grip frame, and custom stocks. Now, will it shoot? The short answer to that question is, YES!
At 15 yards, the Brasshawk chewed ragged holes in paper with just about every load I shot through the .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders. Any that landed slightly outside of the tidy clusters were contributed to me. My 25-yard groups stayed well inside the area of the size of my clenched fist, and that is about as well as I can shoot with open sights on most days. Younger eyes will likely yield even tighter groups.
Good ammunition from Black Hills, Buffalo Bore, Hartland Arms & Ammo, High Desert Cartridge Company, Hornady, and Lost River Ammunition Company has all shot well from the Brasshawk.
Top-Shelf Quality
The Tyler & Wells Brasshawk is a perfect example of sixgun quality through collaboration. These artists envisioned what many will consider to be a perfect limited-run custom revolver, then they built it.
A lucky crowd will soon own an heirloom-quality revolver that showcases some of the best gun work available today. They are not cheap, but they are an investment that can be carried and shot with pride and passed along to the next generation of handgun enthusiasts.
These revolvers make excellent field guns. They are tough and beg to be hauled on adventures in good leather holsters and shot with enthusiasm.
A Chance to Own One of a Few
Only 250 of these guns will be made, and they will be released in small batches over time. That leaves 249 up for grabs, but I wouldn’t wait if I were you.
Several guys I know will purchase one as soon as they hit the shelves. If you don’t, it will be one of those guns you’ll wish you had bought when you had the chance! MSRP for these custom revolvers is $3,799.99, and they are available on the Tyler Gun Works website.
