Custom Colt Commander built by D&B Co. Tulsa

[HiredHand]

D&B was located at 18th and Boston downtown.
In the seventies there were very few gunsmiths advertising in the phonebook
several part timers operating out of their houses.
In 1975 there was basically
D&B 18th & Boston
The Gun shop (next to Thrashers carburetors on Admiral)
21st st. Gun shop (across from sears)
Tulsa firearms (11th & Sheridan)
Sportsworld (newly opened at 58th&Lewis)
There was a pawnshop about 3rd and Cincinnati/Detroit that did smithing
I opened my place in 1980 and this was still basically all.
Then Spartan school of Aeronautics opened a gunsmith school and dumped 100 or so gunsmith students into the Tulsa area.
Steve Vanaidis (the Greek) first burst onto the scene Big at 21st and Sheridan @ Howard Gibbles "Gibbles Great Outdoors" then, opened at 11th & Harvard, then Admiral and Harvard
Joe Mac Cool graduated from Spartan. Joe first opened at Tulsa reloading/ Tulsa shooters supply on 31st
then moved to current location on southside of 31st.
Nowlin was from Claremore and was unknown till late 80's

I was hoping you’d chime in. Do you know who the ‘smith was at D&B? If I remember right, he might have done some early work for Bill Wilson.

I remember going to the D&B shop at 18th & Boston when I was either in elementary or middle school. It wasn’t very long before they moved out to 61st and Sheridan.

 

[HiredHand]

Your pistol looks a lot like a pistol a buddy had years ago. His was built by Steve Vanaidis a.k.a. The Greek. Though I don’t know if The Greek was ever associated with D & B.

Yeah, it does. But the owner doesn’t believe that is and another 1911 aficionado also think it’s The Greek’s work either.

Oh, the current owner is interesting in selling it. But I’m just curious about who might have built it.