that one has always crossed my mind when ever I see an old gun. Did it lay in a sock drawer or did it feel the heat of combat.

Did it ride on the side of law and order or was it carried by a bad guy.

This one has sparked my curiosity for years. According to my Colt collecting friend it is a Colt model of 1902 .38acp. These were produced from 1902 until 1928.



This one was found on the bed of the beautiful White river in North Arkansas just down from the Bull Shoals Dam by a fisherman who gave it to the present owner. http://www.gastons.com/

It hangs on the wall of the lobby of Gaston's White River resort along with thousands of other interesting objects in the restaurant and lobby area.

You can see from the image the old pistol was lost or thrown into the river while still loaded. What tales it could tell.

By the way Gaston's is one of the most popular trout fishing resorts in America.It is worth a trip there just for the beautiful scenery if nothing else.

That is cool!

I have a couple I'd like to hear speak to me. A 1935 .38-44HD and a 1948 Winchester M94 .32 Spl that looks like was used by a hunter and was well taken care of. Then there's Grandpa's Winchester 1897 that he said was an old beater when he bought it in 1925. So what happened between 1912 and 1925?

My twing 7 yo grandsons like anything old and rusty. So I bought myself a metal detector for Christmas to use with the boys. I can think of a lot of places where a guy might find stuff. Looking forward to warmer weather when we can get out!

Beautiful place that Gastons. Great place for food, cabins, fishing, exploring or just relaxing.

I've flown into Gaston's airstrip many times in the past. They have a very 'intresting' landing strip that got a lot of use by pilots flying into their restaurant for Sunday 'Brunch'. The view from the restaurant's glass wall overlooking and above the White River is Spectacular.
Their cabins were very cean, fronted the river and if you were a guest, they had 4 or 5 maxi vans that you could use to go to town or just sightseeing. The keys were always supposed to stay in the van when parked at the resort. You just got in & went if you had a cabin.

Thanks for reminding me about one of my Very favorite fly-in places.

Art

BTW lawandorder, if this is thread drift, remember, you started it.....:-)

A subject near and dear to my heart. When I see an old gun with honest hard useage evident, I cant wait to examine it. This world is full of new shiny guns with no history. It burns my biscuts to hear someone want to refinish a gun with honest wear. These inperfections are this guns history, its service stripes. Just the other day I got to shoot an original 1863 Sharpes carbine, that may very well have been with General Bufford on the first day at Gettyburg. After that is was refitted to a metalic cartridge gun and went out west to fight the plains wars, then sold or given to the Texas Rangers, as well as settlers, scouts, freighters, and other. Every scratch dent or ding could tell a story. When I put that old battle scared rifle to my cheek and looked down the sight, I actually felt a shiver. What a true piece of history that some future ower may see fit to "restore" and destroy it story.

I once owned a M1842 Austrian Carbine of the type pressed into service by the Union during the early days of the Civil War. Many of these that saw service with the Union had brass Federal shields installed on the wrist. The example I had the shield had been removed and the Stars and Bars stamped in it's place. I always felt the mark was authentic because I think someone trying to fake Confederate use would have used the 2nd Naval Jack that is more closely associated with the South in most peoples mind.

I have several old firearms, The one that I want most to tell me what it saw is an Italian Velletti rifle that was convertided to 6.5 Carcano, or maybe the 1888 8mm Label carbine that has all seven of the update modifications(can you say forign legion). Or would it be the Winchester 92 Walnutred told me about- an American rancher found it on his property, a rust ball, no wood left, in the middle of the jungle in Beelize (former British Houndarus) If the guns could talk, we would never get anything done for listening. Ivan
P.S. Do firearms speak the national language of their manufactre or do they just speak "Gun"?

That'll clean up!

Your Colt friend is correct, it's a 1902 "Military" model. They also made a 1902 Sporting, but it had a rounded backstrap at the bottom.

The nickel plated brass makes me think it's loaded with .38 Super ammo. The 1902's and 1903 Pocket Hammer were chambered in .38 Rimless Smokeless (.38 Auto), which is dimensionally identical to the Super only loaded to much lower pressures. If it is Super ammo, it was dumped in the drink no earlier than about 1930. With only a wedge keeping the slide from coming off the back of the frame, It's a really bad idea to shoot Supers out of one of these ... unless you want a slide stuck in your forehead!

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"I also cook."

When I pick up an M1 Garand, I feel that the rifle is filled with history. I'd like to know who carried it and where it was used. In the Pacific at Iwo Jima? In Europe at D-Day? I wish the rifle could talk to me.

Since it went into the drink with what looks to be less than a full magazine, you have to wonder what the missing rounds may have been used for . . .

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Qui plantavit curabit

I've got a 2nd Model .44 HE that lettered as being shipped to the Joplin, Mo Police Dept Jan 22, 1924. I can only imagine what tales it could tell.

Art you owe it to yourself to head up there to Gaston's He has a new Chef and the grub is better than it has ever been before.

Maybe Bonnie or Clyde dropped it in the river. If so I can't possibly imagine why.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I have several that I wonder about. Since this is a s&w site here is my most interesting, a american. Serial # 4730. I belive that would date it 1870 or 1871. Thats close to 3 or 5 years before a civilian could get their hands on a colt simgle action army. This one had the barrel chopped back makeing it somewhat interesting as it might have been to conceal in the pocket of a duster or greatcoat. It was a western gun, found in a barn that was being tore down in montana. More interesting, the barn had been a old stagecoach stop.
A friend and co-worker of mine was given it by a elderly couple from his church, they knew he liked guns and wanted him to have it. Evidently he liked a nice old marlin mountie I had and we swapped. Whatcha think?

Here in New Yorkistan it would say "put me back under the rock you found me under. I'll take my chances here rather than in Gov. Cuomo's smelting pot".

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paws for friendship

This is a remington new model army. Serial # 120630. I see in my old notes some guru on another site claimed the gun was delivered in december 1864. Maybe it seen action in the civil war? Who used it after that?
The gun has been refinished many years ago. A front king red post sight was installed and the rear hog wallow was nicely squared up. I have shot it and it is accurate as most any modern cartridge revolver if you take pains with it. I have owned it about 35 years.

This oddity is a maker unknown .50 caliber double barrel pin fire. I suppose it dates back to the 1840s. It has two screw holes on the other side that looks like could have been for a clip to wear in a sash or belt. My old mentor gun collecting friend "Duke" duvall gave me the gun when I frist met him in 1969. He thought the gun could have been a sailors or pirates "boarding pistol". The secound picture is all three guns together to give a perspective.
Fine condition old guns are nice to own, but think about it. These old relic,s have actualy seen history. The safe queens that someone shows you that they hand you a pair of white gloves first havent!

If the gun could talk it would say "Butterfingered fool".

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

not so sure ... it looks to be a round or two short of a full mag which might add to interest

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it just needs more voltage

Construction began on bull shoals dam began in 1947 until 1952. Maybe it was a moonshiners or revenuervers pistol?

it probably belonged to a S&W forum member, im always reading about you guys losing guns in boating accidents

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the rules? there are no rules

A high school friend found a 19th century European, large bore revolver in a stream. Rusted solid, clearly 3 chambers were loaded and 3 had fired cases. THAT might have been a story.

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No life story has happy end.

a friends' parents found an old enfield in northern alberta where the army was known to practice maneuvers ,it was rusted solid.
probably not a life or death struggle but i bet a soldier got a ration of poop for losing it.

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the rules? there are no rules