Clements .32-20s Old and New

[bushog]

It has always hurt to let guns go from my accumulation but unfortunately I've been blessed with good looks and not unlimited $$.

So, a few had to go when the opportunity to pick up these two .32-20s built by David. Remember...before the .327 Federal the .32-20 in a Blackhawk was the highest velocity .32 game in town other than a very few built on Single Sixes and they're limited by overall length constraints. Our old friend Hoover was getting 1500fps from a Blackhawk Buckeye with the .32-20 with a 140gn bullet and I should be able to get real close with these. Honestly I want to see how the accuracy is with the Keith designed Ideal 313445 (p.286 in "Sixguns") that I've been casting over a case full of Trail Boss for about 900fps. Grouse for diner?

In light of the fact that David has removed all work from his catalog that requires a custom cylinder as he slides into retirement I figured I better get while the getting was...well...available.

First gun is a .32-20 built on an OM .357 flat top Blackhawk. This gun came from Larry Caudill, gripmaker in Albuquerque who has done some grips for me before that I found through Mr. Taffin. I talked to David about it and he said this gun was built before he was gunsmithing full time. I'm not sold on the unfinished aluminum grip frame but it balances wonderfully and the grips are nice to say the least and by my friend Larry.





The newer gun is another .32-20 built on a New Vaquero with David's remarkable pre-war S&W rear sight, untapered barrel, crescent ejector rod, bisley hammer and micarta grips by LSCG. A forum member was kind enough to let me shake this one loose from him. Funny, He posted pics of this gun a while back and I remarked that it was exactly as I would have had it built.

[mike454]

Very nice! You're really cornering the market on the 32-20s. Don't you have a Bowen in the 32-20 as well? I recently purged my accumulation of all chamberings I had only one of. I should have followed your example and bought them friends

[jimtx]

I love 32-20 and miss my Buckeye , those are beautiful. Was the barrel lined or new 32 cal barrel done? Ik they had to make the cylinder. But either way they are sweet!

[ddixie884]

Glad you got them............

[kings6]

Very nice Bushog. The first gun of the two would be my hands down favorite. The old model conversion I bought in 32-20 shoots so nice I have never installed the 327 Cylinder since I bought it.

[potatojudge]

Those Caudill grips look as nice as anything I've seen. I guess most would call that marbled walnut- the cost of the blanks identifies it heavily with top dollar shotgun and rifle use.

The LSCG look perfectly fitted as well.

Of the two I'd have to pick the blue one, not that it shoots or functions any different given excellent sights and triggers on both, but I suspect thumbing the action is more satisfying.

That reminds me, I should not have passed up on that Clements rear sight that sold here recently.

[bushog]

The beauty is that I don’t have to pick....

The guns are quite different. We’ll see how different they are when I shoot them and see how they perform.

I too prefer blue guns but it’s mnot going to stop me from owning a fine firearm.

“Contempt prior to investigation is death”.

And...if you get stuck having to blaze through a half mile of cat paws to get down off the mountain like I did on Friday you’ll be glad it was stainless..and I was...

“

[Rimfire69]

Very nice bushog, while not easy to choose I lean slightly towards the blued one. I like your style, secure them both so you don’t have to. Wow, the 140s at 1500 FPS won’t require any hold over at the distance most of our old eyes can see.

[jfs]

yes......

[dougader]

I love the looks of blued steel. Hands down.

But I worry and fuss over blued guns whenever I take them out of the house. One less thing to worry about when hunting (or even shooting in the rain at the range) makes stainless, for me, a real nice proposition.

[princeout]

“Contempt prior to investigation is death”.

Whoa!

Larry's grips are just beautiful! That wood!

I like the 32-20 a lot too!

Tim

[sixshot]

Bush, those are 2 beauties for sure but the blue one gets the blue ribbon! Matt has my Buckeye down in Texas right now punishing the Jackrabbits, I'm guessing he'll bring it back next spring. The 32-20 is a beast on small game & I'm betting both of yours will pound a lot of fur.

Dick