The most perfect revolver is NOT a Smith and Wesson!!!
I figured since I was moving to a bonafide Ks cow town I needed a single action.
Did some swapping and came up with this.


Premier Grade Freedom Arms 83 4 3/4"
The best part is it came with 3 cylinders 454, 45 Colt and 45acp.
IMHO there is no finer revolver made.

Not many things make me envious anymore, but I'm feeling a little envy now. Beautiful catch!

Congratulations on your new acquisition, Curtis - As you know, there is a gun for everyone, based on personal opinion, I'm glad you like yours.

Pete

Curtis,

I agree on that. There isn't a Smith made that is as finely constructed.

While we are talking on the phone, I figured I'd post this one. Like I told you, I'm having the barrel cut down to 6" as soon as I can.

This one's a .475 Linebaugh for those who don't already know-

No argument here Curtis, no finer gun available anywhere.

Tim, you sending it back to FA?





I visited the factory in June. Nicest bunch of folks you'd ever meet



Out in the field hunting






Here's the "factory"

Mike,

Yea, that's my plan right now. Shorten the barrel to 6", action job, and black micarta grips, and a couple of extra front sight blades in different heights.

I was going to have my barrel cut down too. When I bought it in '94, options were limited.
The more I think about it, I may just get another Was thinkin' of 5 inch, but the upcharge in custom length gets me thinkin' of 4 3/4.
The 41 mag version is interesting also.
Btw, did you ever get the Pach's you were lookin' for?

No doubt the finest single action made , and I would love to add one to my collection.

BUT!

That grip has got to go! Doesn't fit my hand worth a hoot!

Mike,
if you get tired of those Pachmayr's, send 'em my way. I have looked all over God's green earth, and can't find any. Lyman/Pachmayr doesn't make them anymore, and F/A no longer has any.

I didn't see your post because I'm on the phone with Curtis, and I can't do two things at once

Count me in with a Model 97 in .357 Mag...

Attached Images

freedom arms 97.jpg (26.8 KB, 57 views)

One of those just like that in .44 special is on my list of must have's.

Yes, I would have preferred the .44 Special and would buy one if it came along at the right price. I got the .357 for just under $1,200 but have not seen the .44 Spl at less than about $1,450.

One sold on this forum about a year ago in .44 special for $1100 or $1200. I looked long and hard, but didn't have the gun funds at the time.

I have never handled one of these, but I believe what y'all say about the quality and fine-ness of these guns. I am surprised, though, that a firearm that costs this much from the factory would be in need of an "action job." I thought these were more or less one-at-the-time-handcrafted pieces that would leave the factory with as optimum a trigger and action as possible.

I would love to have one.

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Georgia On My Mind

I agree with Redlevel - What is the "perfect" barrel length, for these beauties, in your opinion... and I too would be interested in a .44 Special, although I never owned a single action revolver.

Pete

redlevel-

I would think so too, but it isn't the case. The trigger that comes on them is pretty good as it is, but when you get into serious testing, or are trying to take long range shots (especially with a handgun), a very smooth and light trigger is essential. One that is even more so than the stock trigger. Many guys would never know or think that mine is stock, or needs lightening up. I just happen to be very fussy about my guns, and I spend enough time trying them from the bench that I prefer a lighter trigger yet than the one that comes from the factory.

The gun is built by a single individual, not on a production line. Line boring the chambers, all the tight tolerances and meticulous hand fitting, etc all add up to the cost. The extra work required for an action job would just drive up costs even further (over an otherwise good factory trigger) for those who will be highly satisfied with a stock gun and don't want to spend anymore than they already have to.

oldfella-
For the model 83, I very much prefer the 6" for overall looks, feel and balance.

For the model 97, either the 5.5" or the 4" would suit me fine as this gun is markedly smaller than an 83, and is an awesome packing gun.

I would actually prefer a 5.5" but they dont make it in the 83, so the 4 3/4 is the next best thing

Mr Curtis,

Since you have that new shooter and you are about to relocate, I will be happy to take all those old worthless S&W guns off your hands.

Allowing me to take them will prevent your having to pack them away and lighten your load.

I will be happy to drive up there to pick them up but only to help you out

Well 45 that is right generous of you...lemme think on it and I'll get right back to you

I have never even heard of Freedom guns. I will say that the statement that they are the best handguns in the world, is a very big statement. Are they really? I guess I'll just have to check that out. Probably have to mortgage my place to get enough money to buy one. I guess I just need to get out more.
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked

Gordon
They are that and then some. The cylinders are line bored with the frame to keep everything perfectly straight. They are fitted to the degree there is absolutely no play in the cylinder whatsoever. Even Colt cant build a SA gun this good and they have been at it a few years.
Dont get me wrong I love my S&W's, but a production line gun cant even compare to one of these.

29 A...I have to ask..you dont have to answer..What did you trade.and how much did your F.A. cost with the two extra cylinders?That thing is FINE.....

No doubt about it, fine craftsmanship producing a beautiful handgun. I'd love to own one in .44 Special but I too have the problem with the grip just not fitting my hand.

I accept that no one makes a better single action revolver, but that Freedom Arms sign looks like it was designed by a graduate of the George Leonard Herter School of Advertising Hyperbole. ("None finer at any price. The most advanced design made of the world's finest revolver materials. Makes other revolvers seem like they were designed and assembled by indifferent schoolgirls.") George Herter was a heck of a lot of fun back in the Sixties.

if ya gotta go the numb thumb route ... you'd be hard pressed to do better.

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it just needs more voltage

I did trade off a pretty nice pre-29 for the gun and cash.
Suggested retail of the gun is $2300 and $295ea for the extra cylinders if you order them with the gun. $350 if you get them after the fact. They are expensive, but not really any more than a Bowen conversion or a custom 1911 from one of the big name builders

The 83 frame is similar to a Bisley Ruger. I will probably have the grips thinned a little on this one or have a set made. I have been discussing having a set made out of Holly wood as it comes out looking just like Ivory. The FA97 is a smaller frame and may be more to your liking.

I find I am a little recoil shy in my old age, so the additional cylinders will see a lot more use than the 454. But it is nice to know it's there if I need it.

Same here. I own a bunch of S&W's, but only the one F/A right now.


Not only do they do all the things that Curtis mentioned during production, but they are made from state of the art materials for strength, then heat treated to even higher standards (the treatment process and level is a company) secret). These guns will take loads far, far above what any other gun will take. Far above what you will ever see in a handloading manual, and do it in stride. They used to advertise that their guns couldn't be blown up with any smokeless powder available to handloaders at that time. Shooting Times (IIRC) decided to put that to the test, and loaded a .454 case full of Bullseye under a standard bullet ( again, IIRC it was a 240 gr) and fired the gun remotely with a long string while hiding behind a safety barrier. The gun went off, and while they had to pound the case out of the chamber, the gun was otherwise unharmed.

If anyone knows anything about handloading, more guns have been blown to pieces with accidental double charges of Bullseye than probably any other powder. In this case it would have been more like a quaddrouple charge, or even heavier!

All their chambers are cut to minimum specs, and polished very finely. Brass last virtually forever with one of these guns (or at least until primer pockets become too loose from full power loads).

I like it,great revolver.

Back when they first came out I bought one. This was before the field grade, only better and best quality and one caliber available - .454.

I got the replaceable forcing cone, ebony grips, V notch and gold bead sights and it's 7.5". I labored over the barrel length, really liked and wanted the short barrel version, @ 4 5/8" or so, but velocity won out in the end and I got the long tube with porting and hard points for a sling.

Its been said, and I believe, the three best factory handguns are...

Sig P 210 for semi automatics

Korth for revolvers

and

Freedom Arms for a single action.

I hate you...

WANT!

S Oooo Wildey was not the frist to come up with the .475. Interesting. Some nice hardware pictured in this thread.

I'm not sure what year the Wildey version came out, but the Linebaugh version was developed about 1987, and announced in an article in '88 in Guns and Ammo by Ross Seyfried.
They are both powerful rounds, but they Wildey gets its FT LB rating from using lighter bullets (250-300 gr) at fairly high velocity (1700-1600fps respectively), while the Linebaugh version does it with much heavier bullets (370-440 grain) at slightly lower velocities (1500-1400 fps respectively), which makes it more effective on really large or dangerous game.

A Freedom Arms is on my short list. Passed one up a few years ago for $800 when me and the wifey were both in college, and had two daughters. It was a .454 Field Grade as I recall.

But, the SIG P210 will probably come first!

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I hope I copied that right

Nice!

I don't own a single action and have thought about Freedom Arms.

Are all of their cylinders unfluted?

I realize unfluted is stronger, but I like the elegance of the flutes, and have no intention of ever hunting large game with a revolver or experimenting to see if I can blow one up....

Actually, that is an old myth about non fluted cylinders being stronger. They simply add a tiny bit more weight to the gun. The flutes are between chambers, and so are the stop notches. The edges (let alone the deeper center section) of the flutes are far enough away from the chamber that they never come factor in at all where strength is concerned- even on a normal 6 holer like an S&W.

You can have a Freedom Arms either way now, or buy one that is non fluted and send it back (usually just the cylinder needs to go back) and have it fluted.

Thanks, 4 Fun. That's good to know!

Here's a link to their site-
FREEDOM ARMS INC

And here's a direct quote for the flutes on either a new cylinder, or an existing one.-


order# 784-1530 Flutes added to Model 83 cylinder

Very very nice gun Curtis .....but.....
Curtis, hey Curtis...wake up. It's me, your alarm clock. It's almost time to got to work in cow town and you were having a nightmare.

Smith and Wesson Pre 29 .44 Magnum

Yeah I know D, but beyond 44 magnums I DO have a weakness for a fine single action. I have a dozen or so of the big Smiths, and will own only one SA. I gave up on Colts when they far surpassed my bank account. With this gun I figure I have the SA monkey off my shoulder so now I can concentrate on keeping the rest of you from getting all the good Smiths...no hard feelings

dnonac-

What's the story with that nickel .44? I don't see the ends of front sight pins, and I assume the front blade and ramp are black, but just look nickeled in that pic?
Was that one re-finished at some point?

I have this 6 1/2" er (but it still ain't a Freedom Arms)-

Tim, I think that is a blue gun

G4F...
Interesting story (at least to me). The Pre 29 is blue...it's just the pic. It was a very cloudy overcast day outside when I took the picture. I'm pretty darn certain it hasn't been refinished. It's a shooter with some light muzzle wear from a holster and the markings are deep and sharp.

I picked it up from an older gentleman in Louisiana. After I bought it, he told me he bought it from an auction of guns belonging to Hank Williams Jr.

I haven't been able to prove that (unlikely that I will) but it's an interesting story anyway. I remembered a song by Williams ("I've Got Rights") where he sings about going to the Mary Carter store and buying a S&W .44. After researching a bit, it turns out Hank lived in Cullman Ala. and there was an old bldg. that housed a Mary Carter paint store and a hardware store that sold guns. The bldg. is locally well known as the Mary Carter building. The owner of the bldg. mentioned that Hank used to buy guns and ammo there. Maybe he bought this pre 29 (used) there in the 70's before he wrote the song. Like I said, unlikely, but a good story anyway.
Craig...
S&WCA

Curtis, I think you're right now that I'm looking at it in the daylight

Craig,
that is interesting, and enough so, that I think I'd persue it as far as I could.


Hank JR is a gun buff (though more so with Ruger's), and I bet he'd answer you if you wrote him about it. He may be interested in finding out about the whereabouts of one of his past guns, or if it is in fact one of his.

Those old shooter grade guns are the ones I find most appealing.

G4F...I agree.
I actually mailed a letter to him (and his agent) last week. If I hear anything, I'll do a post on it for sure. I also wrote to the gun store that supposedly sold the group of Williams guns at auction but haven't heard anything from them either. I've tracked down the owners of the Mary Carter building but records from the old hardware store that sold guns are long gone.

I realy hope you get something back from him-one way or the other on it.

I have never owned anything special that I know of, but I enjoy reading about it when someone else does.

I need to letter that nickel .44 above. Maybe it went somewhere worth noting.

I have an 83 in 454, and had it changed over to 45 Colt. For some reason Freedom Arms says not to shoot 45 Colt in a 454 Casuul cylinder. I got the action work and a fiber optic front sight installed while it was there. I also have an 83 3 inch barrel, round butt 44 magnum. There is no ejector, so the rounds come out with a pushrod.

She sure is purdy

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Dyin ain't much of a livin

Where's the pics? We like pics here!

They don't want you to shoot .45 Colt ammo in a cylinder chambered for .454, because most people are too lazy too scrub out the powder fouling ring left at the case mouth of the Colt round before going on to the hot stuff. Then they fire their high pressure .454 rounds, and since the chambers are cut to minimum specs, there's no room for the .454 brass to expand at the fouling ring to release the bullet, and pressures skyrocket.
If you thoroughly clean your chambers after shooting the shorter rounds in them, you'll never have a problem.

The conversion to .45 Colt required a taller front sight. The holster is an El Paso Saddlery tanker holster. The short barreled gun is a .44 magnum.