Bob Barbasiewicz barrels

The North Hollywood guns were the next production run of Auto Mags after the Pasadena bankruptcy.  B & B Sales in North Hollywood, California distributed these El Monte and Rosemead manufactured guns.  Bob Barbasiewicz was Harry’s production manager and head of engineering at the time.  He was one of three employees that Harry retained from the Pasadena factory.  Bob lost his own personal mill to the Pasadena bankruptcy auction, and perhaps because of this Harry allowed him to produce his own line of custom barrels.  Bob sold these unmarked, un-ribbed highly polished barrels through B & B Sales.  The lack of markings was probably due to the fact that, for warranty and liability reasons, the owner of TDE, James C. Thomas III, did not want his company’s name on Bobs’ barrels.  These barrels used Pasadena receivers (barrel extensions), accelerators and rear sight assemblies.  The front sight was an early machined, stand alone version of Bob's design that was pinned onto the barrel.  Harry authorized the manufacture of these barrels and they were sold through the appropriate distributor.  It would be accurate to call these barrels “factory custom barrels.” 

Occasionally a Barbasiewicz barrel is found to have Pasadena or North Hollywood markings.  If the guys in the back room marked one of these barrels, then the barrel should be considered “made to deceive.”

Bob threaded most of these barrels.  You can tell by the whiteness mark on the front of the of the receiver just above the dovetail area.  

Bob usually made a radius cut on the front of the rear sight mounting rib on the receiver.  He also might make a matching radius cut on the rear of the front site. 

The radius can be seen in your pictures.

Bob set the front site back from the muzzle to provide a crown on the front of the barrel.

Bob made these barrels in 357AMP and 44AMP.  He made them in 8.5 and 10.5-inch versions.  I have seen 6.5-inch versions that Bob told me he didn't make.  He also made two 10.5-inch barrels in 45 Win Mag that I know of.  

Beautiful work Bob !    

Bruce