Post by majorKAP on Oct 14, 2012 7:21:31 GMT -5
The VIRGINIAN is the gun which was manufactured by the Hammerli company in Switzerland. Size wise, it is small and petite, like one of Colt's. They were offered in 357 and 45 calibers with 4.75, 5.5 or 7.5" barrels. If other lengths were available, I've never seen one. All had fixed sights, bright nickeled grip frames, one-piece wood grips, and color-cased receivers. It was imported into the states by the once huge distributor, INTERARMS of Alexandria, Virginia. Back in the day they sold for around 200 bucks.
The other gun in question is much more robust. It is more in size like a full-size New Model Ruger Blackhawk, perhaps larger still. It's called a VIRGINIAN DRAGOON. It was made later, right here in the USA, by the same folk's mentioned above. That is, INTERARMS of Alexandria, Virginia. You see, they decided to begin making their own line of single-action revolvers.
The VIRGINIAN DRAGOON's were offered in various calibers, including but not necessarily limited to 357, 45 Colt, 41 and 44 magnum. They could be had in barrel lengths up to 12". Some versions had fixed sights, others came with an adjustable rear. In addition to blue steel and case-color, they were also available in stainless. As far as I know, all of them had some sort of clever patriotic sounding quote engraved on the bottom of their grip frame. That engraved quote didn't make it a separate, different model.
Again, the USA manufactured VIRGINIAN DRAGOON's are great big heavy things, compared to the svelte and petite little Swiss-made Hammerli VIRGINIAN. Apples, and oranges. Well, maybe apples and tangerines.
Much confusion about the differences comes up often on this site, as well as in the description of the guns listed on various auction sites. The misinformation and confusion is self-perpetuating, it seems. Lot's of well intentioned but misinformed gun guys out there. Often times, I find that I am one of them.
It's easy to understand why folk's get confused, in that the names of the two different guns are similar. And, the company INTERARMS is involved with both, either as the importer/distributor or as the actual maker. Also, both types of guns utilized the so-called Swiss Safety. That is, the cylinder base pin with two detents. The pin could be pushed further into the receiver, thereby by limiting the hammer's forward movement which effectively prevented the firing pin from striking the primer on a loaded round.
To add to the confusion even further, INTERARMS also imported a small-framed stainless steel 22 caliber single-action revolver made by UBERTI in Italy. It is called the VIRGINIAN 22, and is so-marked on it's barrel. Nice little gun to shoot, in case you happen to run across one some day.
Here's a few pics that might serve to point out the differences.
Note: Hammerli VIRGINIANS came in nice cardboard boxes with a red velveteen lining and a huge weird plastic bag lettered on both sides with the instructions and other interesting stuff.
Some of the VIRGINIAN DRAGOONS came in cardboxes with that sorta wood grain look. Others came in nice sturdy, black pebbly-grained cardboard boxes. At the end, Interarms started packaging them in classless brown plastic boxes.
I hope what I've written is accurate, and I hope it helps.
The other gun in question is much more robust. It is more in size like a full-size New Model Ruger Blackhawk, perhaps larger still. It's called a VIRGINIAN DRAGOON. It was made later, right here in the USA, by the same folk's mentioned above. That is, INTERARMS of Alexandria, Virginia. You see, they decided to begin making their own line of single-action revolvers.
The VIRGINIAN DRAGOON's were offered in various calibers, including but not necessarily limited to 357, 45 Colt, 41 and 44 magnum. They could be had in barrel lengths up to 12". Some versions had fixed sights, others came with an adjustable rear. In addition to blue steel and case-color, they were also available in stainless. As far as I know, all of them had some sort of clever patriotic sounding quote engraved on the bottom of their grip frame. That engraved quote didn't make it a separate, different model.
Again, the USA manufactured VIRGINIAN DRAGOON's are great big heavy things, compared to the svelte and petite little Swiss-made Hammerli VIRGINIAN. Apples, and oranges. Well, maybe apples and tangerines.
Much confusion about the differences comes up often on this site, as well as in the description of the guns listed on various auction sites. The misinformation and confusion is self-perpetuating, it seems. Lot's of well intentioned but misinformed gun guys out there. Often times, I find that I am one of them.
It's easy to understand why folk's get confused, in that the names of the two different guns are similar. And, the company INTERARMS is involved with both, either as the importer/distributor or as the actual maker. Also, both types of guns utilized the so-called Swiss Safety. That is, the cylinder base pin with two detents. The pin could be pushed further into the receiver, thereby by limiting the hammer's forward movement which effectively prevented the firing pin from striking the primer on a loaded round.
To add to the confusion even further, INTERARMS also imported a small-framed stainless steel 22 caliber single-action revolver made by UBERTI in Italy. It is called the VIRGINIAN 22, and is so-marked on it's barrel. Nice little gun to shoot, in case you happen to run across one some day.
Here's a few pics that might serve to point out the differences.
Note: Hammerli VIRGINIANS came in nice cardboard boxes with a red velveteen lining and a huge weird plastic bag lettered on both sides with the instructions and other interesting stuff.
Some of the VIRGINIAN DRAGOONS came in cardboxes with that sorta wood grain look. Others came in nice sturdy, black pebbly-grained cardboard boxes. At the end, Interarms started packaging them in classless brown plastic boxes.
I hope what I've written is accurate, and I hope it helps.
