awp101
.401 Bobcat
TANSTAAFL
Posts: 2,634
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Post by awp101 on Jun 8, 2020 14:02:13 GMT -5
I've been turning over the accumulation recently to finish projects and to focus on the things that really interest me. I knew I was going to be near a shop I don't normally frequent so I packed up a couple of things to see if I could get close to my asking price. In true guncrank fashion I ended up trading them plus a little cash for a very nice, numbers matching 5.5" .44 Special that I didn't know I wanted until I started checking it out.  It's blued with the later CCH, cylinder, cylinder frame and both pieces of the grip frame are numbers matching (14,XXX no prefix), looks like the factory plastic "bone" grips. The only real "dings" I can find on it is a 7 digit number that's been engraved on the left side of the frame but it's small and hopefully it can be removed without needing the CCH redone. If not, I may try dabs of cold blue. The other is the loading gate spring is broken or otherwise bad, the loading gate doesn't stay closed. Since parts are probably unobtainium are Colt parts suitable replacements? I know to stick to SAA pressures, is there anything else I should know or be aware of? I've been reading up on the site sackpeterson put together Great Western Arms Collector and I'll get pics as soon as I can. |
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Post by sackpeterson on Jun 8, 2020 16:05:45 GMT -5
Cool - I wish I had a decent GW .44 Special.
I have been pursuing Great Western's for more than 10 years now and I continue to refine my thoughts.
Your's is a 56 gun. Last half off 55 and to say 12/31/56 is the quality sweet spot. Yours is in there. The machining is very good, and the parts are well fit. They were doing a very high quality furnace cch finish then also, its better than the 54-55 guns. I expect yours has that.
A lot of Colt parts work, yes. Triggers, gen 2 hands, most screws, cylinders, barrels, base pins, sear springs. Some things are kinda funky. I am going through this thing consistently in the last couple years where Colt cylinder bolts seem to require laborious fitting.
I have zillions of gate springs and the little piston, message me your address, I'll put a set in an envelope and have it on its way.
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Post by Aeroscout on Jun 8, 2020 17:33:16 GMT -5
Looking forward to pics. GW's are interesting!
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Post by bobwright on Jun 8, 2020 17:39:10 GMT -5
Where are you located to find such a jewel? I live in west Tennessee and have seen only two or three Great Western Single Actions. At one time a Great Western and an Interarms Virginian (Not the Virginian Dragoon)were high on my want list. Not so much now these days.
Bob Wright
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 8, 2020 17:49:49 GMT -5
Looking forward to pics. GW's are interesting! Agree and this will be all learning for me. My knowledge of Great Western Revolvers is nil... |
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Post by x101airborne on Jun 8, 2020 18:09:37 GMT -5
I have zero knowledge of GW revolvers. I only own one Virginian Dragoon that someone handloaded for and cracked one of the chambers on the cylinder. I epoxied a steel plug in the cracked chamber and use it as a rat shot only gun. One day I might get lucky and find another 44 magnum cylinder for it. BTW... I got the firearm for free with full disclosure that it was cracked. I never even tried 44 special style loads figuring I like being able to type and all.
Interested to learn about your new GW. Keep the knowledge coming.
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Post by taffin on Jun 8, 2020 20:03:47 GMT -5
SPECIAL SPECIAL BUNTLINE WITH COLT BARREL  |
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Post by taffin on Jun 8, 2020 20:04:30 GMT -5
I've been turning over the accumulation recently to finish projects and to focus on the things that really interest me. I knew I was going to be near a shop I don't normally frequent so I packed up a couple of things to see if I could get close to my asking price. In true guncrank fashion I ended up trading them plus a little cash for a very nice, numbers matching 5.5" .44 Special that I didn't know I wanted until I started checking it out. It's blued with the later CCH, cylinder, cylinder frame and both pieces of the grip frame are numbers matching (14,XXX no prefix), looks like the factory plastic "bone" grips. The only real "dings" I can find on it is a 7 digit number that's been engraved on the left side of the frame but it's small and hopefully it can be removed without needing the CCH redone. If not, I may try dabs of cold blue. The other is the loading gate spring is broken or otherwise bad, the loading gate doesn't stay closed. Since parts are probably unobtainium are Colt parts suitable replacements? I know to stick to SAA pressures, is there anything else I should know or be aware of? I've been reading up on the site sackpeterson put together Great Western Arms Collector and I'll get pics as soon as I can. ALL .44 SPECIAL GWs ARE SPECIAL AND HARD TO COME BY. |
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Post by taffin on Jun 8, 2020 20:08:21 GMT -5
THE RAREST OF THE RARE--GW DEPUTY .44 SPECIAL--ALAS NOT MINE.  |
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awp101
.401 Bobcat
TANSTAAFL
Posts: 2,634
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Post by awp101 on Jun 8, 2020 20:15:20 GMT -5
Time constraints kept me from getting any better pics, sorry everyone!     sackpeterson , thanks for the info and the offer! If there's more pictures, measurements, etc I can provide to help with the research just let me know! Where are you loaded to find such a jewel? I live in west Tennessee and have seen only two or three Great Western Single Actions. Almost smack in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I don't think I'd heard of Great western before joining this forum, unless they were discussed on Paco Kelly's levergun forum and if they were it didn't stick with me. Since I read about them here sometime in the past 9+ years I think I've seen two, maybe three. A .357 for sure in a pawn shop and the other one or two were probably .357s either at shows or pawn shops. Fortunately the manager is the one who has to evaluate incoming purchases and he kept getting called away to handle various issues so I had time to do enough quick research to convince myself it was worth taking a chance on. |
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Post by sackpeterson on Jun 8, 2020 20:45:03 GMT -5
^ That's a real nice Great Western from 1956. It has the nice attributes I was mentioning. That is their very nice CCH job, it is much better than the cyanide bath cch they did 54-55. I grade that at almost 100%, I would not do a thing to it. The engraved number doesn't really diminish it.
GW .44 specials are pretty hard to come by. Not exceedingly rare, but quite hard to come by.
There is one on GB right now that's not as good a gun as yours, and he wants a bit for it.
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Post by Frank V on Jun 8, 2020 20:49:26 GMT -5
Those are nice.
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awp101
.401 Bobcat
TANSTAAFL
Posts: 2,634
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Post by awp101 on Jun 8, 2020 21:04:51 GMT -5
^ That's a real nice Great Western from 1956. It has the nice attributes I was mentioning. That is their very nice CCH job, it is much better than the cyanide bath cch they did 54-55. I grade that at almost 100%, I would not do a thing to it. The engraved number doesn't really diminish it. GW .44 specials are pretty hard to come by. Not exceedingly rare, but quite hard to come by. Thanks! I prefer the balance of shorter barrels and adjustable sights are so much easier on my eyes so I was planning on a 4 5/8" .357 Blackhawk (OM or early NM) as my next single action with a 4 5/8" .44 Special BH after that. These are uncommon enough I was willing to jump. There is one on GB right now that's not as good a gun as yours, and he wants a bit for it. The one with the box? I think he'll have that one listed for a long time. This one was less than half of his starting price. |
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Post by x101airborne on Jun 8, 2020 21:22:01 GMT -5
I would bet money the number engraved was the original owners drivers license number. My Grandfather did that to a couple firearms. Might also be a Service Serial Number. Hard to say for sure. Beautiful weapon!
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Post by rjm52 on Jun 9, 2020 8:09:31 GMT -5
Have been looking for one of those adjustable sight GW Deputy models since seeing one in SIXGUNS 50 years ago...have never seen one in person or for sale...
Wonder how many were made...
Bob
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