I'd bought the Ruger .44 at a show in MI, probably 25 years ago now. It was an early Three Screw with a four digit serial number.
I'd used it around my little farm but the 7 1/2" barrel really didn't sit well in my hand.
A short time later I found myself getting divorced for the first time. Mr. Bowen had been in the
magazines of the time constantly and I decided the ole SBH with little finish left, but an outstanding action could use some of his
special attention. After speaking with Mr. Bowen, he said that sounds like it will make " A dandy of a revolver". He couldn't have been more right!
That .44 Magnum went just about everywhere with me.
Fast forward about a dozen years and I'm in a medical coma in the ICU of the Cleveland Clinic and my family has been told multiple time that I wouldn't be coming home.
My organs were shutting down and they were just waiting for my heart to stop.
it just wouldn't however. They failed to take my Viking Heritage into account. They believe
that it was some form of mold ( an occupational hazard) had gotten into my lungs and started shutting things down.
By pure luck, when they had put me on dialysis after my kidneys had shut down, the filtering of my blood was also removing the infection that was trying to end me.
I'd been unconscious for 28 days and in and out for weeks after that. When my dad decided that I was in good enough condition he gave me some bad news.
Not having enough life ins to cover what they thought the they would need, my family sold off a large part of my collection.
Most of which I didn't care about except my 1911s and my prized Bowen .44 Magnum!
It was my own fault though. Not having enough insurance and not telling anyone how important that .44 was to me.
About three years later, I'm at one of the shows that most of my collection had been sold. Just kind of walking around,
I spot my Bowen on the table of one of the officers of the collectors group. He's having a conversation with a friend and I don't want to Interrupt,
but he looks up and sees that I'm in a bit of distress ( wasn't sure if I was going to cry or wet my pants) and squeak out how much he wants for the Ruger.
He gave me a price, I handed him the money and headed back to my table. My dad saw my face and asked me what was wrong.
I held up the .44 and said that Mr. Snyder has had it all this time.
Fast forward another few years, the mistakes of my younger days have be overly remedied and everyone I know understands what that revolver means to me.
A year ago, I'm looking at my second divorce ( apparently I have better taste in guns than women), I started looking for another Three Screw SBH with a four digit SN to commemorate the divorce from the Bimbo. I found one on Gunbroker that hadn't been converted but had been refinished at one point.
Not finding what I'm looking for on the Bowen Classic Arms website I saw a note from Mr. Bowen. He's retiring and will not be taking any more orders that can't be finished by July. I completely understand and I'm looking forward to retiring myself in a couple years, I need some help from you all.
Can anyone recommend a gunsmith that's capable of BCA's class of artistry?
Jason
Here's a picture of my first one. For some reason the new project revolver won't upload. I'll add it shortly.
