I have a chance to buy a Hawes Sauer .44 Magnum revolver for $150. I have never seen or heard of such a thing. The name Hawes Sauer sounds familiar to me but I did not know they made revolvers. The seller says it has a 6" barrel but other than that he does not know a whole lot about it. Does anybody know anything about these revolvers? Do they have a Colt SAA type action or transfer bar ignition? Fixed or adjustable sights? Were these good shooters or junk? I guess I can get a look at it in the next few days but I'd like to know some background on these if possible.

Dave Sinko

They are really J.P. Sauer and Sons. The importer was Hawes firearms located in Van Nuys California. Manufactured in Germany and they filled a void when Colt interrupted the SAA production. Not the top quality today, but they did seem to work well. Action is very similar to the COLT SAA, but there is no transfer bar safety. Be Careful. The CAS game drove the demand up for these in the late 80's early 90's until Italy caught up. Prices vary depending on condition and desirability to local markets. $100 on the low side to possibly $300.00 on the high side. Hope this helps.

I owned one in the mid 80's. Not too bad. Heavily constructed with a fair/good finish. Action & timing were good. Trigger was decent. My gun shot about 4 inches right at 25 yards. My only complaint was recoil against my middle finger. Full power magnum loads would smash the trigger guard against my knuckle. That's when I knew why Ruger designed their trigger guard the way they did.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I have several --including one my dad bought way back when -- and have bought and sold several. Most of my keepers are low mileage box included guns.

I always thought my dad might have done some trigger work on his as it has a light trigger pull. I got one in and the trigger pull was so light it was hard to get your finger in the guard without a bang. My son noticed and commented on the same thing.

I figure they came with a light trigger and then with bunches of use it gets lighter.

If it checks out (usual used gun things) and you try the trigger and it is acceptable ---I say get it.

They made them in blue -ususally labeled Western Marshal, blue with brass frame label (usually only on the box) Montana Marshal, and even a chrome with pearl grips - labeled Texas Marshal ---not sure what that's all about --guess they figured we Texans like the glitter. I've even seen one -forget the name-- with chrome cylinder, blue frame, brass grip....and there is a target model with bigger grips and a raised target sight on the back --labeled Chief Marshal --and I've seen a short barrel version ---maybe Town Marshal

One of mine has the orginal price sticker of $89.95 ---

I believe the J.P Sauer is the same as the later Sig Sauer

also there is a allot of good single action info here --not sure how much Hawes stuff --check out the forum:

Lee Martin Custom Sixguns

Not for sure, but isn't the Interarms 'Virginian Dragoon' .44 mag just an adjustable sight version/sister gun to the Hawes six-shooters?

The Interarms Dragoons had some good press back in the days they wer imported.

I have a Western Marshal six inch in .44 Mag, it's acually a rather nice revolver, shoots well and locks up like a bank vault. Other than the sights not being well regulated, shoots four inchs high and two right. Im happy enough with it. Makes a nice bang about gun. Attached a couple of pics, heck, whens the next time I can do this with a Hawes!

Attached Images

	western marshal left-1.jpg (124.1 KB, 3246 views)
	western marshal right-1.jpg (121.1 KB, 3369 views)

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Stay safe people!

I think they were made by Hammerli. My dad had two with 5 inch barrels and in 45 Colt. They were his favorites.

Until someone broke in and stole them...(I won't mention what I think of whoever did...it would be inappropriate)

I have never found any like them since.

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The Last Standing Knight

Weren't Herter's guns made by the same folks?

My father-in-law had one, the Western Marshall, in 45 colt. I "inherited" it when he passed away. It seems to be pretty well-built and looks good. He was very good with it and used it as his HD gun.

I had one of the J P Sauer & Sons 357 single action revolvers for several years and shot many thousands of rounds through it. Never had a single problem and the gun was quite accurate. I sold it to help pay for my first model 27 and would still have it today if not for the lack of gun collecting funds back in those days. I especially liked mine because it had a larger grip frame than the Colt and Ruger and was more comfortable for me to shoot. And yes, some of the Sauer guns were sold through Herters before the GCA 68 put them out of the retail mail order gun business.

I think they are the same as the Herter's guns. I had a Herter's (made by J.P. Sauer and Sons) in .44 mag. It was a well-made, solid built gun. But the recoil was VICIOUS!! I shoot Super Blackhawks and Redhawks, so .44 recoil doesn't usually bother me. The action on the Herter's (they also had the .401 Herter's Powermag) was like a Colt SA.
For $150.00, I would snap it up.

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NRA Life Member

IIRC the Interarms Virginian was made by Hammerli (?) was a Colt SAA size frame in .357 and 45 Colt, the Virginian Dragoon was a US made revolver with the frame upgraded and enlarged to acoomodate the 44 Magnum.

I worked on a couple of the Hawes/Sauer guns a long time ago. Seemed like decent guns as best I can recall. Both had trigger pulls that were too light for the owners likeing but were easy enough to fix.

Here's a rundown on the Interarms Virginian revolver history FWIW
http://www.singleactions.com/VADragoons.pdf

!50.00? I'd be on it. Had a 357 mag and it was a great gun, no problems.

I'd be all over that as well. I had a .357 Hawes about 20 years ago and traded it off for something I long forgot. Wish I had it back, it was a nice pistol.

I have never heard of one. But I would buy it for the money. Anyone have a picture of one?

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It is what it is.

Still have my Herter's .401 Powermag.



This is a Hawes in .45 Colt.




Yes , made by the highly respected old world firm of J.P.Sauer & Sohn , Germany. They were well made but a bit , odd , in some design aspects.The original Virginian was indeed made by Hammerli but later Dragoons were made in Virginia by a company owned by Interarms.

mkk41,How did the 401 powermag come to be?
What was it derived from or was it its own design?

I remember those from Herters as a kid.Your's looks great.
Thanks,
D.G.

Thanks , it had exactly 25rds thru it when I bought it from the original owners grandson. It came with half a box of original ammo , listed on the original bill of sale.

It's a true .40 mag. Case lengths are the same as .357 , .41 or .44 Rem Mag. I use hard cast SWCs of .401 dia bullets , or 180gr JSPs for the .38/40 when I can find them.


Here's a good article on it. http://www.singleactions.com/files/4...agsUpdated.pdf

I've got a Hawes blued frame in .44 Mag and a brass frame in .45 Colt, both shoot fine and have never had any trouble with either one. I paid more than $150 each for mine and that was a number of years ago. I'd jump on that deal !

A guy on E-Bay and GunBroker, I think it's Tombstone Grips, makes a Faux Ivory grip that fits them rather well and if anything does break there are usually parts to be had on GunBroker. I've never had anything break so I've never bought any of them but I see them for sale.

I've probably got a couple of thousand rounds apiece through mine and I bought them used. Most of that is reloads and I typically don't load to hot rod specs. As mentioned, these guns could probably shoot loose before a Ruger would but what the heck, a Colt probably would also !!

Dan R

mkk41,
Thanks for the link.
D.G.

Old thread re-visited...I recently found and bought a JP Sauer/Hawes Western Marshal SA revolver in .44 Magnum for the huge sum of $250. This is the 4th JP Sauer SA revolver I have had, and this one will be with me till I'm gone. It's in extremely good condition, tight and a good, accurate shooter. It's an oversize SAA - maybe a Dragoon size - with a frame mounted firing pin, but NOT safe for 6. As posted above they were made in Germany by JP Sauer who made great and expensive hunting rifles as well as Mauser military rifles for many decades, and later became part of SIG.

I see reports from JP Sauer SA owners who have 20,000 rounds through their guns with NO problems at all. I have never had any trouble with any of mine except for a broken extractor, which was broken when I bought it and replaced with a slightly modded Ruger BH extractor assembly...worked just fine.

I love these old SA revolvers, and if you should happen on one in your gun shop browsing, I highly recommend you consider it. Great, rugged, accurate revolvers, still very underpriced.
I am a fan.

mark

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Liberals made the USA

Sauer built fine double barrel shotguns and for a few years they built the Weatherby rifles for Roy Weatherby, they were high quality or Weatherby would not have used them. Jeff

I have a Herter's Power Mag in 357 Mag, which is made by J.P Sauer. It is a fine revolver with a great trigger and smooth action. I prefer it to my Ruger Blackhawk.

If you don't mind a heavy revolver, I'd suggest you jump all over it for $150.

They have a transfer bar setup similar to late model Rugers.

I also have had several Ruger SA revolvers in various sizes and calibers. I really like the Sauer s better - I like the flat spring trigger feel and the build quality is outstanding. the one I have now is my 4th, and I will keep it as long as I'm around...and If I see another one, it will be mine, too.

I hope that long ago poster actually bought that gun, too.

mark

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Liberals made the USA

Hi:
Decent weapon. Good asking price. BUY IT !
Jimmy