"Bob" Chow was famous "back in the day" for pure target 1911's and combat pistols.
Along with Armand Swenson and Jeff Cooper he was famous in the target and combat shooting matches.
His shop was a San Francisco landmark for shooters.

I didn't know he did revolvers.

 

"Bob" Chow was famous "back in the day" for pure target 1911's and combat pistols.
Along with Armand Swenson and Jeff Cooper he was famous in the target and combat shooting matches.
His shop was a San Francisco landmark for shooters.

I didn't know he did revolvers.

The photo of the Python shown above was made in 1960 and was accurized and converted to SAO by Mr. Chow in 1961. "CHOW" is stamped on the hammer and on the left side of the frame under the grip.
On the 1911s, Mr. Chow would stamp these markings on the inside of the slide for work done:
B barrel fitting
S stippling
BS Bomar sights
FA fully accurized

 

A fellow over on another forum just posted that he has acquired an F. Bob Chow Python. Bob who has since passed on, owned a gunsmith shop in San Francisco for many years where he worked on Colt Pythons and 1911s for competitive shooting events. He was the son of Chinese immigrants and was ironically born in 1911. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic Pistol Team and competed at the 1948 games in London.
I've never heard of Bob Chow until now-but that isn't saying much. His Colt past creations are fetching big dollars at least out here in California. Does anyone here own one?
CHSSC 2009 Honorees-Bob Chow

Pretty neat information, i never knew of Bob Chow or Armand Swenson and Jeff Cooper that dfariswheel mentioned but i'm always intrigued to learn some history.

Thanks for sharing...

 

Sorry I don't own one, interested though. Love to learn more myself about these great gunsmiths.
A friend who is not a shooter nor collector received a Smith K38 Chow from her father a year or so ago. He used to target shoot when stationed near San Fran while in the Navy. She asked her dad for a home protection piece and that's what he pulls from his collection.
I promised to take her shooting, shame on me for not doing so yet but this post reminds me to make a date that even my wife will understand.

Not to hijack the post, but can some comment on what they have seen Chow 1911's sell for? Comparable in value to a good example of a USGI National Match?

 

I have read of Chow as related to 1911s, never Pythons though. Armand Swenson of course was perhaps even more highly regarded with the 1911.

 

Yes, a friend of mine owned one of his bullseye target 1911s and it was quite a shooter. I believe most(all) Chow guns are marked with his name on the frame. There are a number of Chow collectors, and the guns are high prized and sought after. A Chow Python is quite a find. I believe that Bob had his shop in the Mission district.

 

I contacted the owner and requested a close up photo of the "CHOW" stamp on the hammer and he obliged. I have no idea how many more Chow Pythons are out there, if any,
but if there are, here is a quick way to initially ID one.

 

Cary Chin was a close friend and apprentice to Bob Chow. In this link he wrote several interesting posts about his experiences and private times shared with Bob, his wife Bobbie and other close friends. Some good history and humor-a great read. Enjoy.

Chow .45 - Page 3

 

I found this article in the 1970 Guns and Ammo Annual while researching my George Mathews gun.

 

Would love to shoot a Python done by Bob Chow, he did an action and trigger job on a S&W model 17-4 for me in 1984. His work made a night and day difference to the pistol, still have it and it still shoots well. If I could afford a 1911 he did I would buy it in a heart beat. His shop was located in San Francisco on Mission street just south of what is now Cesar Chavez Blvd.