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Post by needsmostuff on Aug 29, 2010 9:24:21 GMT -5
Ok , spank me for not paying attention in class here before. I know I've seen them discussed before but as I did not have one I did not pay enough attention. After an unexpected bonding at a gunshow that has changed.( Warning , don't touch things you not looking for)
After reading Lee's history of same it seems to indicate some early problems but no real chronology of how to determine age. Also most accounts seem to refer to case colored receivers but no ratio of ch vs blue.
This one is blue, 6" ,44 mag with a ser# of 432xx and a liberty for ever butt.
Any info helps, thanks.
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COR
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,522
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Post by COR on Aug 29, 2010 10:13:29 GMT -5
Lee seems to have a good handle on these guns and their history. He'll chime in here. my 2cents worth is I had a SS Liberty Forever variant and I believe if it has the Swiss Safe on it (mine did), it was produced in Va in the late 70's but that info was given to me about mine through a source that I had never really verified. The ratio question is a great one that I hope someone can answer. Mr. Martin please correct that info if it is incorrect, although I recently sold it, it was a great gun and locked up nice. I'd buy another if the time came and the price was right. Nice guns.  |
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Post by Lee Martin on Aug 30, 2010 9:53:38 GMT -5
My article outlines most of the history. The only two issues with early Virginians were: 1) The barrels were often rough from the factory....this caused leading early on, but eventually fire-lapping smoothed them out, and 2) The 45 Colt models had oversized throats; usually between 0.455" and 0.458". The barrels were standard 0.452". Other than that, these were very stout and well built single-actions. Lock-up is as good as any mass produced revolver I've encountered, short of Freedom Arms. -Lee www.singleactions.com |
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Post by needsmostuff on Aug 30, 2010 22:11:29 GMT -5
Kinda amazing a gun this well made is mostly overlooked. I too paid little attention till I picked it up and checked it out. The real kicker is it was 150 bucks cheaper than the worn out clone gun it was next to . The down side is now I got to find one in stainless, and one in 45,and one in?  ??, You know. |
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Post by Lee Martin on Aug 31, 2010 8:44:20 GMT -5
My favorite Virginian is both 45 Colt and stainless:  BTW, the 6" Virginians seem to balance the best. -Lee www.singleactions.com |
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??, You know.