Anyone like wheelguns?

[thegundude]

Pete, you sure do like your Swiss guns, of all varieties it would seem. Nice collection. And as usual you have some appropriate accoutrements for them.

[thegundude]

Originally posted by HardBaller
But...the one that caught my eye is your H&R Sportsman sitting in the middle. This was the first model I ever got to shoot, my dad had, and still does, it's twin but with factory real ivory grips. All things considered I hope I never get to own it but will never sell it if I do (think about it and you will get it).

I hear ya on that. I managed to get this one from my Dad prior to his demise, may that be many years on the future.

It belonged to his father who bought it new. There's a very nice holster that goes with it, into which it fits like a glove. It's one of my favorite handguns for those two reasons. I rarely shoot it nowadays but when I do, I think of those who have come before me.

[Jim McArthur]

I love wheelguns!

One thing about looking at the collections you guys show: you really do have COLLECTIONS! Most gun buff's I know have a closet full of unconnected firearms that they call their "collection", when its really an "accumulation"!

Jim

[thegundude]

Jim, I sometimes feel that way. That my "collection" is little more than an "accumulation".

I do try to focus in my own way but it's not easy...

Do I buy another Colt Police Positive or another Luger? Decisions, decisions...

[davidkachel]

My "collection" is an accumulation by design. I buy what I like with little regard to future value or the turned up noses of some collectors (not a single person here has done that BTW, a tribute to everyone and one of the reasons I call this "home" even though I own only one Luger).
I own replicas of black powder pistols, Browning Hi Powers (the pre-plastic-safety versions of course), a Bushmaster and a French DAO .25 auto. My only Police Positive is a reblue with a replacement barrel after faulty timing blew it up in my hand. To a collector it has no value at all, but I like it.
My perspective is, if you just can't resist getting each and every gun out of the safe and admiring them from time to time (and shooting them too), you have the perfect gun collection.

[Jim McArthur]

You "collect" much the same as I do, David! I have Colt, Ruger, Smith, North American Arms, Kel-Tec, High Standard: I have revolvers and autoloaders, single actions and double actions, all shapes and sizes and calibers and finishes and barrel lengths.

And I bought them because I managed to convince myself that I "need" them for "protection"! Which is nothing but an excuse to buy another one I don't need.

Jim

[Jim McArthur]

Originally posted by thegundude
Jim, I sometimes feel that way. That my "collection" is little more than an "accumulation".

I do try to focus in my own way but it's not easy...

Do I buy another Colt Police Positive or another Luger? Decisions, decisions...

No, Steve, you're a true COLLECTOR. You just have a couple of different collecting interests.

Jim

[Pete Ebbink]

Hi Steve,

Yep...focused on Swiss during the past 2-3 years.

Once I finish the Swiss revolvers (missing 3...), I will move on to some early SIG pistols to balance out the Swiss guns with Lugers in the middle, revolvers to the left and some early SIG pistols to the right.

[HerbZ]

I've a few S&W revolvers, but my favorite has always been this Model 10-5 with a 6" barrel. It isn't as elegant as a Luger, but I believe it would be the better weapon for self defense. (I bring this up because we've had some home invasion crimes in Ohio and neighboring states in the news recently.)

[Jim McArthur]

Also, long-barrelled revolvers have great intimidation value, besides the fact that the long barrel dampens blast, flash, and recoil: all very important considerations for an up-close, indoor situation.

Jim

[davidkachel]

The two most intimidating sounds in the black of night:

1. A pump shotgun being racked, preferably a model 97 Winchester.
2. The seemingly endless clicks of a Colt Peacemaker being cocked.

There are better guns for defense, but not for intruder intimidation.

[HerbZ]

I must disagree with all of the above choices for the firearm with the most intruder intimidating sound. I believe that distinction must go to John Browning's Government Model 1911 .45 ACP, preferably a M1911A1 with a parkerized finish. The sound of the slide slamming forward as it chambers a round on such a pistol is unmatched. (That sound may also inspire a bit of confidence and resolve in the person holding the weapon.)

[davidkachel]

Herb,
The 1911 will definitely get the job done, but on the soil-yourself-immediately meter, the model 97 always pegs the needle.

[Ron Smith]

My Grandad owned a small rural General Store and Richfield Station. He kept a Lahti M40 9mm that he had been given to pay a debt, loaded in his office desk.

He was there very late one night going over the books when he heard someone trying to jimmy the back door. He grabbed the Lahti, walked up to the door, racked a round into the chamber and yelled, "Plug your ears. This is gonna hurt."

He said he could here someone running through the brush into the woods behind the store. It never happened again.

[HerbZ]

We're getting off the topic of wheelguns, but I just gotta comment that a Lahti 9 mm was also the choice of a small business owner that I knew here decades ago. And also I worked in a small business that kept a Walther P38 under the counter. Certainly 9 mm is a fine round, but I've never known of anyone to keep a Luger for such purposes. Would anyone choose to have a Luger for such circumstances, a really nice shooter (or at least nothing too collectible), say with a Mec-Gar and Wally's white box ammo?

[Jim McArthur]

Herb, that's a great question! I started a topic about it in the "Shooting" section.

Jim

[Ron Smith]

Herb,

Not too many would keep a loaded Luger these days, but back in it's day, it was common. Consider the number of 1920/23 commercials that were purchased. Most were probably used for self, and home defense.

I have always preferred a revolver for a closet gun. They can be loaded and left without worrying about weakened magazine springs. And are in much more potent calibers , in most instances.

I keep a S&W Model 25-3 loaded with .45 Auto rim. Replacing a Sig 220 .45 ACP that I would rotate magazines in every so often.

Ron

[HerbZ]

Ron,

Talking 'bout the S&W Model 25-3, there's a 125th Anniversary one that was for sale here:

S&W 125th Anniversary Model 25-3

Herb

P.S. Just checking, I see the bidding has ended.

[Ron Smith]

Herb,

Just picked this one up a couple of weeks ago. .45ACP/AR





Ron

[HerbZ]

Ron,

Very nice! That looks like a 3 inch barrel with a Red Ramp sight, and being .45 ACP; I'm thinking it might be a Model 25-2. Sort of like a Lew Horton special.

Herb

P.S. Oh but I'd hate to have to discharge that handgun without hearing protection over my ears, and maybe a pair of disposable earplugs in them too for good measure!