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Post by Encore64 on Aug 3, 2024 16:50:38 GMT -5
While looking for the BFR 454 Casull, I did run across a killer deal on an Early Shorty FA 454 Casull.
This one predates the Premier/Field Grade Models and is not marked as an 83.
I went ahead and grabbed the gun as it's hard to go wrong.
More after Tim posts pictures...
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Post by tdbarton on Aug 3, 2024 16:51:50 GMT -5
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Post by Encore64 on Aug 3, 2024 17:01:41 GMT -5
This one was returned to Freedom Arms and updated(not by me). New Grips, Action Job and Bushed Firing Pin.
It took a couple hours to disassemble the gun and clean it. It had grime caked throughout the gun.
Using Emory Boards, I refinished the whole gun before reassembling.
The gun had New Premier Sights, but I switched to the Express Sights. This gun should be quick to unholster and get on target.
Bore and Forcing Cone look New. Gun had been fired with 45 Colt ammo, so cylinder was soaked and cleaned.
I need to pick up one more Emory Board that's been out of stock. Once I get it, I'll put the final touches on the finish.
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Post by seminolewind on Aug 3, 2024 17:46:07 GMT -5
Very nice. Looks like a new gun with that finish job you did.
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Post by leftysixgun on Aug 3, 2024 17:52:24 GMT -5
Boy, I like the contoured front sight base! Nice FA Huey
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Post by Encore64 on Aug 3, 2024 17:55:26 GMT -5
Very nice. Looks like a new gun with that finish job you did. I appreciate that... It took well over four hours to clean and apply the new brushed finish. But, I'd give it 99% Condition at this point. |
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pleadthe2nd
.327 Meteor
Enter your message here...
Posts: 952
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Post by pleadthe2nd on Aug 3, 2024 18:04:09 GMT -5
It does look great, I kinda want one in that barrel length now, well done Huey
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Post by Encore64 on Aug 3, 2024 18:04:11 GMT -5
Boy, I like the contoured front sight base! Nice FA Huey Thanks Steve... It was the dirtiest non military gun I've ever bought. But, at a Ruger Price, it was worth the chance. It came in the original box with all the paperwork. Unusual for someone to keep all that, but allow a gun to get so dirty. I soaked in 91% Alcohol before cleaning and refinishing. I can't say it's my cup of tea. But, very nice and locks up rock solid. Bet it shoots good too... |
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Post by pacecars on Aug 3, 2024 19:14:16 GMT -5
Nice! I would have taken the chance too! Are you trying to corner the market on .454s?
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Post by Encore64 on Aug 3, 2024 19:23:33 GMT -5
Nice! I would have taken the chance too! Are you trying to corner the market on .454s? No, but I have a added several lately. I don't plan on anymore. But, if I wasn't overloaded with them, there's one listed I'd buy. It's the most flexible revolver cartridge I've ever handloaded. |
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Post by bearskinner on Aug 3, 2024 20:48:08 GMT -5
How do you go wrong with another FA in 454??
Especially with any of the other 3 cylinders
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steve
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,547
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Post by steve on Aug 3, 2024 20:51:42 GMT -5
Nice score....that'd be almost impossible to turn down!
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Post by sixshot on Aug 4, 2024 2:17:52 GMT -5
You sure did a dandy job of cleaning up that gun, well done! Now you have me wondering about the used one I bought in 1986 or 87. It was a 10.5" with fixed sights. Bought it out of a pawn shop for $800. No way to know now if it was marked model 83 or not, I didn't know some of them weren't marked.
Dick
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Post by Encore64 on Aug 4, 2024 6:16:05 GMT -5
Thanks Guys...
It's really not a hard job. But, is really time consuming. At least it is for me. A better qualified person could likely do this faster.
But, I've never seen a mass produced finish that would match the tedious hand finishes.
I can understand why the Field Grade Finish was implemented to cut expense.
Hopefully the future will lead me to other guns like this one, but different calibers.
It's fun to see guns that were given up on or unappreciated come back to life...
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Post by bradshaw on Aug 4, 2024 6:36:03 GMT -5
Huey.... agree, seems odd that an owner would have Freedom Arms retrofit an early Casull with the spanner-wrench firing pin, then crud up the gun. The old bolt-on mainspring makes disassembly, and replacement, easier.
Dick.... think it was 1986, John Taffin and I leaned on Wayne Baker to produce a silhouette model. I asked Wayne, What can you do to reduce cost without compromising quality?
Wayne thought for a moment... “The finish. A lot of time and skill goes into the finish.”
That was when the Field Grade was born. And the brushed finish became the Premier Grade. After initial resistance to chambering the Casull revolver in anything other than .454 Casull, Wayne relented. I received the first non-.454, in .44 Magnum; John received a .454 Casull. Both with 10-inch barrels, back-drafted target front sight, and Bo-Mar rear sight in stainless steel base. John immediately set to his usual encyclopedic load development, while I honed silhouette loads. Those Casull frames had the serial number in the traditional Colt Peacemaker location----on the bottom strap in front of the trigger guard, and two patent numbers on the left side of the bottom strap. The frame has no model or caliber marking. Reckon you could say this two were prototypes and had the brushed finish, not bead blast. These guns predate the spanner nut firing pin bushing (mine was later retrofitted).
Freedom Arms remains the tip of the pyramid for consistently precise manufacturing.
David Bradshaw
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