diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -156,6 +156,15 @@
   [histedit]
   linelen = 120      # truncate rule lines at 120 characters
 
+The summary of a change can be customized as well::
+
+  [histedit]
+  summary-template = '{rev} {bookmarks} {desc|firstline}'
+
+The customized summary should be kept short enough that rule lines
+will fit in the configured line length. See above if that requires
+customization.
+
 ``hg histedit`` attempts to automatically choose an appropriate base
 revision to use. To change which base revision is used, define a
 revset in your configuration file::
@@ -248,6 +257,8 @@
 configitem('ui', 'interface.histedit',
     default=None,
 )
+configitem('histedit', 'summary-template',
+           default='{rev} {desc|firstline}')
 
 # Note for extension authors: ONLY specify testedwith = 'ships-with-hg-core' for
 # extensions which SHIP WITH MERCURIAL. Non-mainline extensions should
@@ -480,8 +491,11 @@
         <hash> <rev> <summary>
         """
         ctx = self.repo[self.node]
-        summary = _getsummary(ctx)
-        line = '%s %s %d %s' % (self.verb, ctx, ctx.rev(), summary)
+        ui = self.repo.ui
+        summary = cmdutil.rendertemplate(
+            ctx, ui.config('histedit', 'summary-template')) or ''
+        summary = summary.splitlines()[0]
+        line = '%s %s %s' % (self.verb, ctx, summary)
         # trim to 75 columns by default so it's not stupidly wide in my editor
         # (the 5 more are left for verb)
         maxlen = self.repo.ui.configint('histedit', 'linelen')
diff --git a/tests/test-histedit-commute.t b/tests/test-histedit-commute.t
--- a/tests/test-histedit-commute.t
+++ b/tests/test-histedit-commute.t
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
      summary:     a
   
 
+
 show the edit commands offered
   $ HGEDITOR=cat hg histedit 177f92b77385
   pick 177f92b77385 2 c
@@ -76,6 +77,33 @@
   #  r, roll = like fold, but discard this commit's description and date
   #
 
+
+test customization of revision summary
+  $ HGEDITOR=cat hg histedit 177f92b77385 \
+  >  --config histedit.summary-template='I am rev {rev} desc {desc} tags {tags}'
+  pick 177f92b77385 I am rev 2 desc c tags 
+  pick 055a42cdd887 I am rev 3 desc d tags 
+  pick e860deea161a I am rev 4 desc e tags 
+  pick 652413bf663e I am rev 5 desc f tags tip
+  
+  # Edit history between 177f92b77385 and 652413bf663e
+  #
+  # Commits are listed from least to most recent
+  #
+  # You can reorder changesets by reordering the lines
+  #
+  # Commands:
+  #
+  #  e, edit = use commit, but stop for amending
+  #  m, mess = edit commit message without changing commit content
+  #  p, pick = use commit
+  #  b, base = checkout changeset and apply further changesets from there
+  #  d, drop = remove commit from history
+  #  f, fold = use commit, but combine it with the one above
+  #  r, roll = like fold, but discard this commit's description and date
+  #
+
+
 edit the history
 (use a hacky editor to check histedit-last-edit.txt backup)
 
@@ -142,6 +170,7 @@
      summary:     a
   
 
+
 put things back
 
   $ hg histedit 177f92b77385 --commands - 2>&1 << EOF | fixbundle
@@ -184,6 +213,7 @@
      summary:     a
   
 
+
 slightly different this time
 
   $ hg histedit 177f92b77385 --commands - << EOF 2>&1 | fixbundle
@@ -225,6 +255,7 @@
      summary:     a
   
 
+
 keep prevents stripping dead revs
   $ hg histedit 799205341b6b --keep --commands - 2>&1 << EOF | fixbundle
   > pick 799205341b6b d
@@ -276,6 +307,7 @@
      summary:     a
   
 
+
 try with --rev
   $ hg histedit --commands - --rev -2 2>&1 <<EOF | fixbundle
   > pick de71b079d9ce e
@@ -326,6 +358,7 @@
      date:        Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
      summary:     a
   
+
 Verify that revsetalias entries work with histedit:
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH <<EOF
   > [revsetalias]
@@ -355,6 +388,7 @@
   #  r, roll = like fold, but discard this commit's description and date
   #
 
+
 should also work if a commit message is missing
   $ BUNDLE="$TESTDIR/missing-comment.hg"
   $ hg init missing
@@ -384,6 +418,7 @@
      date:        Mon Nov 28 16:35:28 2011 +0000
      summary:     Checked in text file
   
+
   $ hg histedit 0
   $ cd ..
 
@@ -440,6 +475,7 @@
   @@ -0,0 +1,1 @@
   +changed
 
+
   $ hg --config diff.git=yes export 1
   # HG changeset patch
   # User test
@@ -453,6 +489,7 @@
   rename from another-dir/initial-file
   rename to another-dir/renamed-file
 
+
   $ cd ..
 
 Test that branches are preserved and stays active