John Phillips - A Fast Draw Legend
By Greg Custodio
John Phillips passed away on January 5, 2007. Anyone with even a casual interest in the 50+-year
history of Fast Draw knows his name and understands what a significant loss this
is for the sport. The Cambridge Dictionary defines legend as a noun describing
someone or something very famous, usually because of their ability in a
particular area. That definition is fitting, as John Phillips is truly a legend
in the world of Western Fast Draw. Many consider him one of the best Fast Draw
gunsmiths that ever lived and today a Phillips Fast Draw gun still commands a
price of $1000 or more if you can find an owner willing to part with one.
One of my personal Fast Draw mentors, Jim Martin, wrote me when he heard the news of Mr. Phillips
passing:
“John was a good friend to me for more years than I care to remember. He was a unique man. When I moved
to Arizona he gave me a welcome present, a stainless steel cylinder that he
built for the Colt SAA that I won at the 1961-1962 California State Fast Draw
Championship. I still shoot that gun today. I always thought that he knew more
about Rugers than Bill Ruger did. I remember a phone conversation I had with
John about 10 years ago when he was in his 80's. He was complaining that he had
been to a Fast Draw shoot and what bothered him was that he was having trouble
getting below .39”.
The January 1979 issue of the World Fast Draw
Association Newsletter featured John Phillips on the cover and it was
accompanied by a brief story:
“Featured this month is
one of the most noted members in the sport…. From Phoenix, Arizona, meet John
Phillips. I’ve known John a number of years, and yet…. I don’t know much about
him other than he’s quite proficient in all styles of shooting, and if you ever
compete against him he’ll give you a run for your money. John’s been involved in
Fast Draw since 1970. I use the word involved because not only is he a fierce
competitor, and a darn good gunsmith, but he also makes and designs the best
Fast Draw equipment around. In short, John’s one of the few shooters that is not
only a competitor, but a contributor as well.”
And contribute he did.
He manufactured custom gun parts - cylinders, barrels, hammers, triggers, and
springs that he and many other Fast Draw gunsmiths used to build their guns. To
the best of my knowledge he was the first Fast Draw gunsmith to build guns using
one of the most difficult materials to machine, titanium, to build cylinders and
barrels because of their lightweight and superior strength. He built targets and
custom stainless steel shells for wax shooting that accommodated shotgun primers
and .22 blanks. With the help of his son in law, Dan Lindsey, he built a
competition Fast Draw timer that you still find in use today.
Always innovative and
looking for maximum performance he constantly tinkered with guns to eek as much
speed out of them as possible. In 1978 Bob Arganbright wrote in his book The
Fastest Guns Alive – The Story of Western Fast Draw, “The latest development is
the conversion of the Ruger Single Six to 9mm Parabellum caliber. Custom fast
draw gunsmith John Phillips of Phoenix, Arizona, first makes a new stainless
steel cylinder. He then replaces the original barrel with a 357 Ruger barrel
turned to fit. The firing pin assembly is removed, the frame is welded up, and a
new center firing pin is installed. This gives one a beautiful, small,
lightweight, single action revolver in the potent 9mm Luger caliber.”
In the April 1993 issue
of The Newsletter the Official Journal of the World Fast Draw Association, Inc.
V.R. “Bob” Huber Sr. wrote John Phillips –Gunsmith, Machinist, Competitor:
“I’ve known John Phillips for over 20 years. My son and I have had the honor and pleasure of
owning several Phillips built Fast Draw guns. I’ve had the pleasure of spending
some time with this man. Recently I was invited to watch this “super machinist”
work in his two car garage, which is crammed with 10 to 15 machines, lathes,
drill presses, etc. John had his 80th birthday in November of 1991, and to watch
him run these machines like a young man 1/3 his age leaves me amazed beyond my
comprehension. If that wasn’t enough, to see him shoot Fast Draw pulling .32’s
and .34’s, Traditional Style, is beyond compare, and he can still twist fan in
the upper 20’s. John has been having quite a bit of pain from arthritis the past
few years and due to injuries throughout his 80 years I’m sure he has many
reasons to quit the sport of Fast Draw but I’m more likely to quit before he
will!!! During my visit with John in his shop he continued to amaze me with his
micrometers, checking the different measurements on my gun before every cut or
grind. He kept every cut or grind clean by blowing the shavings away before they
could cause any slight change and then re-oiled before the next cut. John is
very fussy about his work and to show how fussy he is, I made the mistake of
sending him one of my guns that wasn’t as clean as he thought it should be, and
let me tell you, I still have the letter of reprimand I received. I’ll never
make that mistake again. I don’t remember the first time I met John but it had
to be at a contest, probably with another amazing gentleman by the name of E.L.
“Pop” Warner of whom most older shooters will remember with great respect and
love. Bless Him!! John has been very helpful in promoting the sport of Fast Draw
and has probably started more shooters in the sport than any other shooter in
one way or another. I started Fast Draw in November of 1957 and still learn
something when I shoot with or against John. I can’t think of anyone I would
rather shoot with. John was born in Burly, Idaho where he lived for 17 years,
then he moved to Oregon and then to California before settling in Arizona. He
has more than a year left on his latest endeavor as a missionary for the Mormon
Church. Lately, he has time for little else since he puts as much into this
project as anything else he puts his mind to. We’ll all look forward to seeing
John and his wife, Helena, back on the Fast Draw circuit when he has finished
his task. We miss him.”
A six-gun salute to you Mr. Phillips. The sport of Fast Draw is forever in your debt.
Reference documents provided by Den Robinson, Pat
and Charlene McMahon
By Greg Custodio
John Phillips passed away on January 5, 2007. Anyone with even a casual interest in the 50+-year
history of Fast Draw knows his name and understands what a significant loss this
is for the sport. The Cambridge Dictionary defines legend as a noun describing
someone or something very famous, usually because of their ability in a
particular area. That definition is fitting, as John Phillips is truly a legend
in the world of Western Fast Draw. Many consider him one of the best Fast Draw
gunsmiths that ever lived and today a Phillips Fast Draw gun still commands a
price of $1000 or more if you can find an owner willing to part with one.
One of my personal Fast Draw mentors, Jim Martin, wrote me when he heard the news of Mr. Phillips
passing:
“John was a good friend to me for more years than I care to remember. He was a unique man. When I moved
to Arizona he gave me a welcome present, a stainless steel cylinder that he
built for the Colt SAA that I won at the 1961-1962 California State Fast Draw
Championship. I still shoot that gun today. I always thought that he knew more
about Rugers than Bill Ruger did. I remember a phone conversation I had with
John about 10 years ago when he was in his 80's. He was complaining that he had
been to a Fast Draw shoot and what bothered him was that he was having trouble
getting below .39”.
The January 1979 issue of the World Fast Draw
Association Newsletter featured John Phillips on the cover and it was
accompanied by a brief story:
“Featured this month is
one of the most noted members in the sport…. From Phoenix, Arizona, meet John
Phillips. I’ve known John a number of years, and yet…. I don’t know much about
him other than he’s quite proficient in all styles of shooting, and if you ever
compete against him he’ll give you a run for your money. John’s been involved in
Fast Draw since 1970. I use the word involved because not only is he a fierce
competitor, and a darn good gunsmith, but he also makes and designs the best
Fast Draw equipment around. In short, John’s one of the few shooters that is not
only a competitor, but a contributor as well.”
And contribute he did.
He manufactured custom gun parts - cylinders, barrels, hammers, triggers, and
springs that he and many other Fast Draw gunsmiths used to build their guns. To
the best of my knowledge he was the first Fast Draw gunsmith to build guns using
one of the most difficult materials to machine, titanium, to build cylinders and
barrels because of their lightweight and superior strength. He built targets and
custom stainless steel shells for wax shooting that accommodated shotgun primers
and .22 blanks. With the help of his son in law, Dan Lindsey, he built a
competition Fast Draw timer that you still find in use today.
Always innovative and
looking for maximum performance he constantly tinkered with guns to eek as much
speed out of them as possible. In 1978 Bob Arganbright wrote in his book The
Fastest Guns Alive – The Story of Western Fast Draw, “The latest development is
the conversion of the Ruger Single Six to 9mm Parabellum caliber. Custom fast
draw gunsmith John Phillips of Phoenix, Arizona, first makes a new stainless
steel cylinder. He then replaces the original barrel with a 357 Ruger barrel
turned to fit. The firing pin assembly is removed, the frame is welded up, and a
new center firing pin is installed. This gives one a beautiful, small,
lightweight, single action revolver in the potent 9mm Luger caliber.”
In the April 1993 issue
of The Newsletter the Official Journal of the World Fast Draw Association, Inc.
V.R. “Bob” Huber Sr. wrote John Phillips –Gunsmith, Machinist, Competitor:
“I’ve known John Phillips for over 20 years. My son and I have had the honor and pleasure of
owning several Phillips built Fast Draw guns. I’ve had the pleasure of spending
some time with this man. Recently I was invited to watch this “super machinist”
work in his two car garage, which is crammed with 10 to 15 machines, lathes,
drill presses, etc. John had his 80th birthday in November of 1991, and to watch
him run these machines like a young man 1/3 his age leaves me amazed beyond my
comprehension. If that wasn’t enough, to see him shoot Fast Draw pulling .32’s
and .34’s, Traditional Style, is beyond compare, and he can still twist fan in
the upper 20’s. John has been having quite a bit of pain from arthritis the past
few years and due to injuries throughout his 80 years I’m sure he has many
reasons to quit the sport of Fast Draw but I’m more likely to quit before he
will!!! During my visit with John in his shop he continued to amaze me with his
micrometers, checking the different measurements on my gun before every cut or
grind. He kept every cut or grind clean by blowing the shavings away before they
could cause any slight change and then re-oiled before the next cut. John is
very fussy about his work and to show how fussy he is, I made the mistake of
sending him one of my guns that wasn’t as clean as he thought it should be, and
let me tell you, I still have the letter of reprimand I received. I’ll never
make that mistake again. I don’t remember the first time I met John but it had
to be at a contest, probably with another amazing gentleman by the name of E.L.
“Pop” Warner of whom most older shooters will remember with great respect and
love. Bless Him!! John has been very helpful in promoting the sport of Fast Draw
and has probably started more shooters in the sport than any other shooter in
one way or another. I started Fast Draw in November of 1957 and still learn
something when I shoot with or against John. I can’t think of anyone I would
rather shoot with. John was born in Burly, Idaho where he lived for 17 years,
then he moved to Oregon and then to California before settling in Arizona. He
has more than a year left on his latest endeavor as a missionary for the Mormon
Church. Lately, he has time for little else since he puts as much into this
project as anything else he puts his mind to. We’ll all look forward to seeing
John and his wife, Helena, back on the Fast Draw circuit when he has finished
his task. We miss him.”
A six-gun salute to you Mr. Phillips. The sport of Fast Draw is forever in your debt.
Reference documents provided by Den Robinson, Pat
and Charlene McMahon