Book - top break revolvers

davidkachel · 03-31-2007, 08:25 PM

Does anyone know of a book an the top break revolvers of the late 19th and early 20th century?
i.e., S&Ws Iver Johnsons, H&R's, etc.
I'm looking for a single authoritative source and am drawing a blank.

Jim McArthur · 03-31-2007, 10:24 PM

David, what types of pistols are you NOT interested in?

I don't know about books in this area. I'm thinking about buying a .32 "lemonsqueezer", though. My wife and I started Cowboy Action Shooting but have little time to practice with the medley of guns involved, plus she doesn't like shoulder guns (though she shoots a .32 SA Ruger Vaquero well; is even good with her tiny North American Arms .22 Magnum!)

I was thinking it might be simpler to concentrate on the pocket pistol side matches.

Jim

azlaw · 04-02-2007, 12:50 AM

We fooled around with the Iver Johnson/H&Rs for CAS pocket pistol side matches. I have a .32 and a .38. I am unable to keep them in running order. Both are currently broken, needing unavailable parts. The bottom line with these things is that they were not made to shoot very much - true "Saturday Night Specials". Parts are a real problem because they changed dimensions without hesitation anytime they felt like it, very small batches of guns assembled by poorly paid immigrant workers under pretty much sweat shop conditions. They were certainly not made in contemplation of competitive use by lunatic CAS shooters.

I have, however, found a way to make Nagant revolvers work nicely with 32-20 cases, giving rise to the soon-to-be-infamous "Mad Russian" class.

H

davidkachel · 04-02-2007, 10:26 AM

tac
I have severly injured myself laughing. My second will contact your second.

Ron Wood · 04-02-2007, 11:49 AM

Tac,
I hope you spent at least a little time composing that engaging bit of lunacy. Because if you dashed it off from the top of your head, I am in awe, but have severe concern for your mental state (i.e. you may be as crazy as I am).

davidkachel · 04-02-2007, 12:32 PM

On second thought, none of the foregoing is funny.
THIS is funny: http://www.tomfolio.com/bookdetailsg...b=029672&m=516

davidkachel · 04-02-2007, 01:04 PM

I just bought one new from amazon.com for $35.
I guess that makes this guy (http://www.tomfolio.com/bookdetails...29672&m=516) one of those words we're not supposed to use on a family forum.

davidkachel · 04-02-2007, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by azlaw
We fooled around with the Iver Johnson/H&Rs for CAS pocket pistol side matches. I have a .32 and a .38. I am unable to keep them in running order. Both are currently broken, needing unavailable parts. The bottom line with these things is that they were not made to shoot very much - true "Saturday Night Specials". Parts are a real problem because they changed dimensions without hesitation anytime they felt like it, very small batches of guns assembled by poorly paid immigrant workers under pretty much sweat shop conditions. They were certainly not made in contemplation of competitive use by lunatic CAS shooters.

I have one S&W lemon squeezer and two H&R's, one in 99% condition just bought a few days ago.
Though I shoot them sparingly, I've had no problems with them to date. These old break tops played a significant historical role and I find them fascinating. And if you're lucky enough to find one in near new condition, they're actually quite beautiful.

azlaw · 04-02-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davidkachel
And if you're lucky enough to find one in near new condition, they're actually quite beautiful.

This is quite true, as the standard of workmanship of the day was very high. My little .32 is a very well finished piece, very pleasing to look at, but the parts are too fragile for any substantial amount of use.

An American "Saturday Night Special" ca 1900 was most likely to "cheap out" on thickness of metal and other materials costs, and not on finish or other labor costs, since labor cost about nothing back then. (Belgian and Spanish guns were another matter) Today, the reverse is true. materials are cheap, labor expensive. Today we have injection molded plastics and massive investment castings to avoid expensive forging, machining and finishing.

H

Hugh · 04-03-2007, 01:08 PM

Jim,

Forget the Iver Johnson & H&R's and get a S&W in good condition. You will not be sorry. I picked up a virtually unused nickel New Departure with pearls recently for $275.

davidkachel · 04-03-2007, 01:13 PM

Hugh,

Want to make a quick $20 on that nickel S&W?
Or how about $40 on both of them?

Damn!

Jim McArthur · 04-03-2007, 09:59 PM

One's pretty, the other one's really beautiful!

Jim

03-31-2007, 08:25 PM	#1
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Book - top break revolvers Does anyone know of a book an the top break revolvers of the late 19th and early 20th century? i.e., S&Ws Iver Johnsons, H&R's, etc. I'm looking for a single authoritative source and am drawing a blank. __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

03-31-2007, 10:24 PM	#2
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yer a collector! David, what types of pistols are you NOT interested in? I don't know about books in this area. I'm thinking about buying a .32 "lemonsqueezer", though. My wife and I started Cowboy Action Shooting but have little time to practice with the medley of guns involved, plus she doesn't like shoulder guns (though she shoots a .32 SA Ruger Vaquero well; is even good with her tiny North American Arms .22 Magnum!) I was thinking it might be simpler to concentrate on the pocket pistol side matches. Jim

04-02-2007, 10:26 AM	#4
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	tac I have severly injured myself laughing. My second will contact your second. __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

04-02-2007, 11:49 AM	#5
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	Tac, I hope you spent at least a little time composing that engaging bit of lunacy. Because if you dashed it off from the top of your head, I am in awe, but have severe concern for your mental state (i.e. you may be as crazy as I am). __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

04-02-2007, 12:32 PM	#6
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	On second thought, none of the foregoing is funny. THIS is funny: http://www.tomfolio.com/bookdetailsg...b=029672&m=516 __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

04-02-2007, 12:50 AM	#3
azlaw User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 207 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	We fooled around with the Iver Johnson/H&Rs for CAS pocket pistol side matches. I have a .32 and a .38. I am unable to keep them in running order. Both are currently broken, needing unavailable parts. The bottom line with these things is that they were not made to shoot very much - true "Saturday Night Specials". Parts are a real problem because they changed dimensions without hesitation anytime they felt like it, very small batches of guns assembled by poorly paid immigrant workers under pretty much sweat shop conditions. They were certainly not made in contemplation of competitive use by lunatic CAS shooters. I have, however, found a way to make Nagant revolvers work nicely with 32-20 cases, giving rise to the soon-to-be-infamous "Mad Russian" class. H

04-02-2007, 01:04 PM	#7
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I just bought one new from amazon.com for $35. I guess that makes this guy (http://www.tomfolio.com/bookdetails...29672&m=516) one of those words we're not supposed to use on a family forum. __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

04-03-2007, 01:08 PM	#10
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	Jim, Forget the Iver Johnson & H&R's and get a S&W in good condition. You will not be sorry. I picked up a virtually unused nickel New Departure with pearls recently for $275. __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

04-03-2007, 01:13 PM	#11
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Hugh, Want to make a quick $20 on that nickel S&W? Or how about $40 on both of them? Damn! __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

04-03-2007, 09:59 PM	#12
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice pair! One's pretty, the other one's really beautiful! Jim