On Tuesday, December 27, 2022, the Cylinder & Slide page on Facebook posted an announcement. “Cylinder and Slide would like to announce that after 44+ years of business, we are ceasing operations. We would like to thank our countless customers and fellow industry partners for all their support and assistance throughout all these years … Please congratulate Bill on being able to finally retire!”
While Fremont, Nebraska is a bit of a ride from my location, it was still the “local custom shop” for many of us over the decades. Shooting pard Mike Rafferty was known to purchase parts from Bill Laughridge at the Cylinder & Slide booth at the Wanenmacher Tulsa Gun Show – and to discuss the application of the parts as well as gaining knowledge from the crafty gunsmith.
My exposure to his craft had largely come from reading about it. That ended in 2004. When I turned fifty, my lovely bride – who puts up with me still to this day – purchased a 1981 model nickeled four-inch Python for me. It needed a little work and, after some correspondence, off to Cylinder & Slide it went.
I wanted a target sight setup (not the Accro and ramp, but an Elliason and patridge front). Mike Rafferty had a front sight that had originally been destined for an Officers Model Match in his toy box. He passed it on to me. I committed a relentless search for a Colt Elliason rear sight. It was fruitless. Bill told me to check with Keng’s Firearms Specialty, Inc. They offered a “Drop-In Replacement Sight for Colt® Elliason® and Accro® Sights.”
When the gun arrived, I was told the timing was slow and the cylinder had end shake. The headspace was oversize at .013 (should have been .007” - .008”). The hammer was striking the rebound lever.
The Cylinder & Slide wizards removed the endshake and retimed the piece. They also increased firing pin protrusion to make up for the open headspace. A “Super Action Job” was done and they corrected the hammer strike on the rebound lever.
The Champion Gunsights and the original Colt partridge front sight were installed. Bill noted that the crown on the barrel was slightly crooked, but didn’t correct it due to the original nickel finish. The gun was test fired with two boxes of Winchester ammunition, 158 grain JHP (which yielded an extremely tight group) and 125 grain JHP (which was shot during sight-in). Both groups were fired double action.
My new-old Python came back with a 3 ½ pound single action pull, down from nearly six pounds. The double action trigger exhibited no stacking, and pulled straight through smoothly at 7 ¼ pounds, an even three pounds less than original.
The gun was then re-wrapped and shipped to Pat Hogue to be fitted for new stocks while leather goods artisan Mark Garrity set about producing an “Enforcer” Belt Scabbard. Made with the 1 ½” belt loops my belts require, the exterior front of the holster is genuine python. Flashy looking, Mark told me that shark or stingray is more durable.
Pat Hogue installed and fitted a smooth stock made of Goncalo Alves. The precision-fitted Monogrip had an “accent stripe” separating the contrasting butt cap from the rest of the stock. The “Monogrip” was smooth, devoid of any grip enhancing checkering. The Hogue hardwood stocks were precision inlet on modern computerized machinery (CNC) then hand finished on my actual revolver frame, assuring a proper fit.
Bill Laughridge was the winner of the 2005 Pistolsmith of the Year award. Bestowed by the American Pistolsmith Guild, Inc., this is a prestigious award that given in appreciation of Bill’s “contribution to the profession of pistolsmithing.”
At that time, Bill had been involved in gun work for around 35 years. He started out in general gunsmithing. “It started out as a hobby, then I worked part-time on guns to support my gun hobby.” He went full-time working for a sporting goods store that was trying to build its gun trade.
Why did he become a pistolsmith, as opposed to general smithing? “It’s what I really like. Handguns are my real interest. I shoot and work on rifles and shotguns, but I really like handguns.”
Cylinder and Slide, as the name reveals, was always a pistol shop.
I did a piece for a print publication in 2005 about a match-built M92 Beretta. Cylinder and Slide prepared it for military match competition. Some high adjustable sights, a custom-fitted Bar Sto stainless steel barrel, a Cylinder and Slide trigger pull kit and stippling on the grip frame make a match ball gun out of the M92 Beretta. The front sight was a “cap” that fits atop the trimmed factory front sight. It’s pinned in place.
That’s innovation. And that was Cylinder & Slide.
Happy retirement Bill – it’s been a swell run.
In the ‘current events’ department, friend Bill Wilson – founder of Wilson Combat – was named the recipient of the 2023 National Rifle Association Pioneer Award.
Starting as a revolver and pistol competitor, he set about to customize factory guns to help win trophies. As he progressed, he was asked to take in the guns of others. Before long, he had a thriving parts business to boot. From there, it was ammo development (something that’s recently continued with the acquisition of Lehigh Defense) and fabricating his own guns, frames and all.
At the top of his game, his company is the “custom shop to beat” – if you can. His success is at least partly because he’s a seasoned trigger puller and shooting enthusiast. A hunter, competitor, a gunsmith, a designer, a business owner, a founder of IDPA and a database of firearms knowledge, Bill richly deserved this award.
Congratulations, pard.
-- Rich Grassi