Bianchi Cup Winning Pistols With 1980 and 1982 Bianchi Cups, as won by Mickey Fowler along with his champion’s buckle and 1900 Club buckle, framed American Handgunner cover (originally in Mickey’s house), two letters of authenticity signed by Mickey Fowler, a complete copy of American Handgunner covering the 1982 Cup with a picture of Nygord custom Colt in this two-gun lot and a letter of provenance from American Handgunner former editor Cameron Hopkins
In the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s, the growth of “combat shooting” types of competition took root and began to standardize with rule books and procedures. The first was IPSC which, before the invention of the electronic timer, was run with stop watches. Bowling pin shooting was conceived as a way to test power and accuracy with time taking care of itself with the last pin to be knocked off a table to stop the time (again with a stop watch). This sport demanded powerful loads, which gave rise to the “pin gun,” or a weighted 1911 barrel without ports (compensator). The Steel Challenge took the opposite route, looking to find the fastest shooter with power not being a consideration. Meanwhile, traditional PPC shooting was drawing police officers to their form of “combat shooting.” Out of this stew of shooting disciplines, John Bianchi conceived the idea of a match that drew them all together. It would be called the Bianchi Cup. The first was held in 1979. The Barricade Event came from PPC where shooters utilize a standing rest. The Falling Plates came from steel shooting. The Practical Event came from IPSC. For something representing bullseyes shooting, John Bianchi added The Moving Target Event based on a running boar event shot with .22 pistols. This unique course of fire would determine who from all these disciplines was the greatest all-around handgunner.
After finishing second in the inaugural 1979 Cup, Mickey Fowler won three Cups in a row, 1980, 1981 and 1982 with three different pistols, a Jim Hoag Long Slide, followed by a Devel Gammon (pin gun style, not compensated) and finally a Don Nygord compensated pistol. All three were .45 ACP in caliber. [Note: Charles Kelsey of Devel retained ownership of the Gammon Mickey used to win in 1981; only the 1980 Hoag and 1982 Nygord are in private hands today.]
Included in this lot is a 1900 Club belt buckle which John Bianchi had made to honor anyone who shot a score of 1900 out of a possible 1920, considering it major marksmanship accolade. Mickey did not win a 1900 Club buckle until his last victory in 1982 (1903-145X).
Mickey’s 1982 winning pistol built by pistolsmith Don Nygord remains a handgun of great historic significance in practical shooting. It is the last .45 ACP to ever win a Bianchi Cup and also the last to win with iron sights. In 1983, Brian Enos shot an Aimpoint sighted Smith & Wesson .38 Special built by Frank Glenn, and no one has won ever again without a red dot sight or a sub-45 caliber.
98384G70 Colt With National Match Slide NM7791435
Jim Hoag Long Slide built on a slant-groove Colt National Match slide in .45 ACP with Bo Mar rear sight, Bar Sto barrel, squared and checkered trigger guard, Swenson ambi safety, Hoag extended slide release. Mickey shot a score of 1879-85X to win his first of three consecutive Cups.
99402G70 Colt small letter Mk IV Series 70
Don Nygord compensated .45 ACP, Wichita rear sight, unmarked barrel, squared and checkered trigger guard, Breskovich Advantage weighted grips, Hoag beavertail, winning score of 1903-145X.
Click here to view high resolution photos
Click here to view high resolution photos
Bianchi Cup Winning Pistols With 1980 and 1982 Bianchi Cups, as won by Mickey Fowler along with his champion’s buckle and 1900 Club buckle, framed American Handgunner cover (originally in Mickey’s house), two letters of authenticity signed by Mickey Fowler, a complete copy of American Handgunner covering the 1982 Cup with a picture of Nygord custom Colt in this two-gun lot and a letter of provenance from American Handgunner former editor Cameron Hopkins
In the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s, the growth of “combat shooting” types of competition took root and began to standardize with rule books and procedures. The first was IPSC which, before the invention of the electronic timer, was run with stop watches. Bowling pin shooting was conceived as a way to test power and accuracy with time taking care of itself with the last pin to be knocked off a table to stop the time (again with a stop watch). This sport demanded powerful loads, which gave rise to the “pin gun,” or a weighted 1911 barrel without ports (compensator). The Steel Challenge took the opposite route, looking to find the fastest shooter with power not being a consideration. Meanwhile, traditional PPC shooting was drawing police officers to their form of “combat shooting.” Out of this stew of shooting disciplines, John Bianchi conceived the idea of a match that drew them all together. It would be called the Bianchi Cup. The first was held in 1979. The Barricade Event came from PPC where shooters utilize a standing rest. The Falling Plates came from steel shooting. The Practical Event came from IPSC. For something representing bullseyes shooting, John Bianchi added The Moving Target Event based on a running boar event shot with .22 pistols. This unique course of fire would determine who from all these disciplines was the greatest all-around handgunner.
After finishing second in the inaugural 1979 Cup, Mickey Fowler won three Cups in a row, 1980, 1981 and 1982 with three different pistols, a Jim Hoag Long Slide, followed by a Devel Gammon (pin gun style, not compensated) and finally a Don Nygord compensated pistol. All three were .45 ACP in caliber. [Note: Charles Kelsey of Devel retained ownership of the Gammon Mickey used to win in 1981; only the 1980 Hoag and 1982 Nygord are in private hands today.]
Included in this lot is a 1900 Club belt buckle which John Bianchi had made to honor anyone who shot a score of 1900 out of a possible 1920, considering it major marksmanship accolade. Mickey did not win a 1900 Club buckle until his last victory in 1982 (1903-145X).
Mickey’s 1982 winning pistol built by pistolsmith Don Nygord remains a handgun of great historic significance in practical shooting. It is the last .45 ACP to ever win a Bianchi Cup and also the last to win with iron sights. In 1983, Brian Enos shot an Aimpoint sighted Smith & Wesson .38 Special built by Frank Glenn, and no one has won ever again without a red dot sight or a sub-45 caliber.
98384G70 Colt With National Match Slide NM7791435
Jim Hoag Long Slide built on a slant-groove Colt National Match slide in .45 ACP with Bo Mar rear sight, Bar Sto barrel, squared and checkered trigger guard, Swenson ambi safety, Hoag extended slide release. Mickey shot a score of 1879-85X to win his first of three consecutive Cups.
99402G70 Colt small letter Mk IV Series 70
Don Nygord compensated .45 ACP, Wichita rear sight, unmarked barrel, squared and checkered trigger guard, Breskovich Advantage weighted grips, Hoag beavertail, winning score of 1903-145X.
Click here to view high resolution photos
Click here to view high resolution photos
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