Frontier style handguns for the modern backwoods home

Backwoods Home ^ | 10-9-06 | Massad Ayoob

[SJackson]

The year was 1873. Samuel Colt had invented the revolver

[PoorMuttly]

The Muttly Compound is also now protected from the NAZIS....even more than usual.

I just got a 1944 marked Russian Mosin-Nagant carbine in 7.62x54R, with hinged bayonet intact. This is the rifle which I had used to "drill" a hole in a steel barbed wire fencepost when the drill's battery ran down. It seems to want to live here.

...and who could blame it..???!!!!!

[PoorMuttly]

Oooooo....Krag.

Muttly need.


1) What is that spur at the top of The Poncho's revolver grip. Is that a Schofield? It looks like a non-SAA grip...

2) I would probably be able to figure it out if I could concentrate my vision on it for longer. Can't, though. Keep wondering A/ how they stuck the end of that Poncho there, like that.....and B/ if I could get a job like that when I grow up.

[Tijeras_Slim]

That might be a S&W 3rd Model with a spur like that. I think Robert Ryan carried one in "The Professionals" with Lee Marvin, but for some reason I can't concentrate on that photo nearly as well.

My dealer got two interesting items today. A pre 64 model 70 in .257 Roberts and a Smith 29 no dash. The 70 was out of my range, but the 29 is coming home.

[PoorMuttly]

Nice purchase...er....adoption.

Pre-64s are not cheap, so I stay with Mausers mostly, and of course Springfields. Never had a Krag.

I do have Krag-Envy, though. So at least my sights are set.

[PoorMuttly]

"S&W Model Three Lore –
If you count all variations, the S&W Model 3 has a legitimate claim as the most popular big bore cartridge revolver of the nineteenth century. S&W production was spurred primarily by some large Russian military contracts, and Colt’s SAA models did not catch up in numbers produced until the early years of the 20th century. Furthermore, the S&W design was widely copied - supposedly under S&W license by the Russian Tula arsenal and the German firm of Ludwig & Loewe, and bootlegged by Spanish & Belgian firms. If you count these foreign copies, the fast loading S&W Model 3 top-break design definitely was the most prolific full sized cartridge sixgun design of the era!

In the US, judging by photographic records and historical accounts, the rugged Colt SAA had an edge in popularity in the American West in the 1875-1900 era. The S&W had it’s partisans too, however. Among the noted individuals reported to carry one of the various S&W Model 3’s were Frank & Jesse James, Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, Texas Jack Omohundro, Dallas Stoudenmire, John Wesley Hardin, Charlie Pitt, Pat Garrett, Cole Younger, Bill Tilghman, Belle Starr, Frank McLowery, Theodore Roosevelt, and Virgil Earp.

Still more Model 3 Lore – The S&W Mod. 3 variations saw extensive military service. The 1,000 Americans purchased by the US Army were the first cartridge revolver adopted by the American military, and most saw service in the Indian Wars, as did many of the approx. 8,000 US purchase Schofields. New Model #3’s were bought for the State of Maryland militia and the US Revenue Service (Coast Guard predecessor). Foreign governments purchasing variations of the Model 3 included Russia, Japan, Turkey, Argentina, colonial Cuba, and colonial Australia.

S&W New Model Number Three -
In 1878, S&W discontinued production of it's other Model 3's – the American, Russian, and Schofield – in favor a new improved design called the New Model Number Three. Standard chambering was .44 Russian, although other calibers were offered on special order or in related models such as the .44-40 Frontier Model, the .32-44 & .38-44 Target Models, and the very rare .38 Winchester Model. The New Mod. #3 was arguably the pinnacle of 19th century revolver design. Their accuracy was such that they were used to set most of the target records of the era."

http://armchairgunshow.com/Mod3-info.html

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I haven't looked it up, but I bet that a .44DA is what Doc Holliday often carried (illegally, arrested for it once when he challenged Johnny Ringo to "ten paces out in the street"), and used to perforate several saloon walls, floors, a hand and a toe of two gentlemen he wasn't aiming at. I heard it was "a .38" so perhaps a .38-40.

Well, just goes to show that having a good gun is still no actual guarantee of success, just as, to paraphrase Wyatt Earp's letter to William S. Hart in 1920, which I always think of when I behold The Poncho..."a good quirt was made by a bad woman."

About your 29, a beautiful instrument, nicer than the 629, after much consideration on my own and with buddy Squantos, I believe that the 29/629 is the most practical and useful all around Utility Handgun one could choose. Snakeshot, serious self-protection, Specials, Magnums, hunting Garretts, widely distributed ammunition, it serves every purpose including reasonable concealment, and is effective at very long ranges. Capacity is limited, but each round is much more formidable than any 9mm certainly, and the only available auto round that approaches it is the 10mm.

[PoorMuttly]

Chief Threadkiller Muttly has to do what he has to do, so, even though you and pal Covenantor may be all that's left, here's my Today report:

Hoage grips and McCormick 10 rd. magazines seem O.K. in this new Rock Island .45, no problems yet, after it basically stopping to work after around 200 rounds or so...got really dirty in the slide rails, wouldn't send the slide all the way back. After deciding to not pitch it over the fence, field stripped same...O.K.now. Will never use Blazer Brass ammo again though, suspect it burns dirty. So, other than my innate love for the 1911/.45ACP, and my distaste, shall we say, for imported clones....any word on Rock Island will be greatly appreciated, since the Muttly Adoption Center is presently stuck with it, and always strives to make the best of things. It's a learning experience, don't cha' know. It wasn't it's fault it was born this way, and hey, here it is. Works for me.....so far.

Next is a worn to the brass "Benjamin Franklin" underlever pump pellet pistol, evidently .22 caliber....or .20...but evidently before Benjamin's acquisition of Sheridan, so I figure .22. Could be from the 1960s or '50s. Worn to the brass, lever hanging down...but a great gun! I BELIEVE......!!!!!...and that's all that Tinkerbell needed...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, the 200 yard distant (and 20+ yards down) Coyote which was apparently stalking the Jackrabbit which distracted my .357 contribution eluded the Rock Island (not in my hands) too, although we drew dust at its feet....proving the efficacy of 230 grains of slug in the field once more...but not claiming the furry and fleabitten prize this time. Remarkable how the young bull whose nose we shot over didn't even care a whit, so we sent a few more downrange, but to no avail save function proving, which was our initial purpose for taking afield.

[Tijeras_Slim]

No experience with foreign 1911 clones, but have a dim view of Taurus revolvers.

I'm off to the skeet range today, it looks (unlike most days in NM) to be fairly calm.