My first Abilene

[ginco]

I just received my first Abilene: United States Arms Riverhead, NY 44 Mag with 8 1/2" barrel S/N 50-00170X Excellent condition with grip frame, ejector housing, & ejector starting to turn a dark plum color. I will try to post some pictures soon (1st time)

Please comment on any information you may have or know about this gun type: apr. manufacture date & point in history, barrel length, quality, etc. Thanks.

[Boge Quinn]

Required reading, an excellent article by our own Lee Martin:
www.singleactions.com/files/SevilleArticle2007.pdf

Welcome - I remember my first Abilene............

[ginco]

I have read the article several times. I was hoping to find out if the S/N indicated early, middle, or late date of manufacturer. As I remember from Lee's article, Abeline production models started with 50-001000. I also read somewhere that the early guns assembled by Sig & Forrest had the best actions.

[vonfatman]

Cool! I have not had mine all that long. Mine is pretty much as you describe...not a ton of plum, but some.

Mine has an 8 9/16" barrel (lets say 8 1/2") and Lee suggested he's not heard of another...maybe yours is the second!!

Looking forward to seeing your pics!!

My gun's s/n is a bit later...50-0040xx

Congrats!!

Bob

[cubrock]

Jul 14, 2010 23:53:34 GMT -5 ginco said:

I have read the article several times. I was hoping to find out if the S/N indicated early, middle, or late date of manufacturer. As I remember from Lee's article, Abeline production models started with 50-001000. I also read somewhere that the early guns assembled by Sig & Forrest had the best actions.

Compare your serial number with the one in the article and you will have your answer. Sounds like an early one, to me. Is the base pin held in by a cross-pin/plunger or is the plunger in the front of the frame? The early ones had a cross-pin set-up.

[edk]

I have s/n 50-0043xx and another 8-1/2"

[Lee Martin]

This is an early one, likely from around 1975. Sig and Forrest had already left to form United Sporting Arms, but this was still a high quality Abilene.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[ginco]

The base pin (plunger) is in front of the frame like a Ruger Blackhawk & the Seville's that I have seen.

Thanks to everyone for the great input.

Thanks again Lee for the great articles & the time that you have invested in developing the history of these great firearms.

Hope to get pictures this weekend.

Dan

[cdcash]

Mine is 50-422X and was bought new by my brother around 1979. It still has the Transfer Bar but I'm betting this was close to the time that they switched over to the anvil system. My Abilene is the finest pistol I own. Congrats on yours!

[shadow]

This is my firstAbeline, purchased it new in 1979 with a 7.5" bbl in .44 mag, with the rare Magnaloy (brushed chrome) finish. See my string on this web site entitled "Abeline LNIB ................ Part II. In my opinion, it's a beautifully constructed, top notch, high end revolver. Here's a few photos.
Shadow

[ginco]

Beautiful beautiful gun & I especially like the grips. Great pictures.

My grips need some work.

I also just recently received a Seville with no sights & some super Blackhawk grips in what I believe is in the Magnaloy finish. I have found some sights that are on the way & I will probably install some Super Blackhawk Pachs.

The outward appearance is excellent but the action is not near as smooth as the Abilene.

[cdcash]

Beautiful pistol Shadow. If yours was from 79, mine(serial 50-422x) must be from an earlier period and I am mistaken about a 1979 date. My brother must have bought it used and didn't realize it.

[edk]

Jul 16, 2010 20:30:45 GMT -5 ginco said:

I also just recently received a Seville...

The outward appearance is excellent but the action is not near as smooth as the Abilene.

I saw this thread back in July but never noticed this particular comment. I find it significant because in reading Lee's article the Abilene's were targeted at the Blackhawk while the Sevilles were of a higher quality. I'm sure Lee is correct on this but I find your observation very interesting. Interesting because my Riverhead Abilene is so finely fitted that it compares favorably with my Freedom Arms model 83. To be honest it is hard to believe that a Seville could be much better although again I understand that was the design intent. It doesn't hurt that the only other handguns on the market with a polish/blue finish to rival it are Colt Pythons, etc.

I've had mine about 10 months now and am really sold on these firearms. I only wish I had learned about them some years back before their resurgence in popularity. That brings me to a general price check comment/observation/question: to the best of my ability, scouring this and other forums, the concensus is clean Abilenes are worth $250-300 and Sevilles $400-500. I'm having a real hard time finding any to buy at those prices. Are these figures realistic or a little low?

[ginco]

I am a newbie to Abilenes & Sevilles, and am rather confused myself. I think it may be that Sevilles & El Dorados are much more collectable. From what I have read, some people believe that the Riverhead Abilenes may have been better made than the AIG guns, this may explain the quality that you & I both enjoy.

I paid 375.00 for my Abilene but is very clean & was shot little and I simply love the 8 1/2" barrel length. From what I have observed, some Abilenes are listing for $400 to 450 but are not selling at those price levels.

I will probably sell the Magnaloy or Stainless Seville. It is in excellent conditon with a brand new sight. I would also be interested in trading for a 10" silhouette Riverhead ???Abilene. I am not certain that the silhouette models were even made in Riverhead.

I too wish that I had discovered these guns 5-10 years ago. I just recently purchased a Virginian Dragoon silhouette. I have only fired it at the range once. It appears to have great potential as my first group measured less than 1 1/2" at 65 yards. I received a custom base & rings with the gun.

Good Shooting. Ginco

[Lee Martin]

The Seville was intended to be a mass produced gun with custom grade quality. Though the fit and finish of most Abilenes is on par with Sevilles, their actions weren't as slick (drop the hammer on a Seville and you'll see what I mean). The Seville line also used match grade barrel and included many unique chamberings (357 Max, 375 SuperMag, 454 Casull, 9mm Win Mag, 45 Win Mag, experimental models like the 41 B&M, 375 Special, 218 Bee, etc). Abilenes only came thru in 357, 44, and 45. No stainless Abilenes either, only hard-chrome Magnaloy.

Now if you want the pinnacle of these models, find a Chimney Rock, NC El Dorado.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com