Lee Jurras customized Model 180 project

I posted about this gun/project on the new Automag site, but Pantera Mike recommended posting it here for the vintage crowd. This gun has some pretty interesting provenance. Based on the receipts, it looks like it was purchased from Lee Jurras and Associates in March 1976, along with an extra magazine and a box of 180 grain Super Vel JHP’s (I already posted about the ammo). It was customized by Lee Jurras with 11 different modifications and a test firing. The upgrades include a magna ported barrel and a 4.5 pound trigger job. (See list of mods).  It came with an original manual from 1975 that included an insert indicating no accelerator was included, as it was only needed for very cold weather and was dangerous to use one with an 8.5 inch barrel assembly. It came with a few hundred spent cases and a full set of reloading dies. I thought I had gotten an amazing deal on it, until I received it and realized there were some broken and missing parts. A receipt from 1976 (and hand written letter from Lee Jurras) were included for a new bolt hold open assembly and rear sight windage screw. On inspection of a gun, the bolt hold open assembly was broken and missing the spring, while on the other side of the gun, the safety plate, spacer and retaining ring were missing.  The best I can put it together is that the owner partially disassembled the gun in hopes of being able to change the bolt hold open assembly himself, but found it to be difficult and likely abandon the project and put the new bolt hold open assembly and disassembled parts into some baggie that disappeared into oblivion.  The rest of the gun was near perfect, which isn’t surprising since it seems that he was only able to shoot it for about a year and a half. I contacted the seller, who gave me a sizable refund, after checking with previous owner’s son who stated his father’s shop was a complete mess and there was no way the missing parts were going to be found  Realizing how difficult it would be to find the necessary parts, I instead put the refund towards the purchase of a Model 160 off of  gun broker. I got a great deal on it as the previous owner had the bright idea to drill a hole and put an unsightly screw below the barrel latch. With the exception of the screw, the rest of the gun was in excellent condition. With great care, I managed to completely disassemble the Model 160 down to the bones. I had nothing to go off of but slowly and surely worked out the disassembly sequence, and managed to get it completely apart without some spring or other small part, taking flight for some dark corner of my shop. With slight fitting and much patience, I was able to successfully install all the necessary parts on the Model 180 to bring it back to a usable condition. Both the 8.5” 44 AMP and 6.5” 357 AMP barrel assemblies fit and cycle well.  I’ll keep the Model 160 frame and spare parts to use as back-ups for the Model 180 but if I am ever been able to find the necessary parts, I will try to restore the Model 160 to working order.  I’ve loaded up some 44 AMP rounds using Win 296 and Missouri Bullet Company 240 gr RNFP Hi-Tek bullets but I haven’t had a chance to test them at the range yet. I will post the results.