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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 12-27-2005, 03:19 PM
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Geoff, you asked for a picture of FBI Special Agent Campbell with his gun on his hip. I've spent a couple of hours trying to scan it in - it kept taking up 32 Mb of disk for some reason. I finally reduced the DPI to 75 and got this pic.

If it's not clear then tell me and I'll try again at higher resolution.

This is SA Campbell, one of the original Melvin Purvis gang-busting 'G Men'. It's taken circa 1938 and he's demonstrating how to cling onto a Thompson on full auto. In the original pics you can see the cases...

Clearly visible, at least in the original pic, is his 4" Registered Magnum #3094 in the SD Myers holster on his right hip. I have both the gun and holster in my collection. I also have his 1940 "fancy engraved" 4" Non-Registered.
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Old 12-27-2005, 03:36 PM
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Thanks!
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Old 12-27-2005, 04:03 PM
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Now Dave, that's a very cool photograph.

Thanks for taking the extra trouble to be sure that it was presented carefully with the respect it deserves, and that we could all share....

To have this G-Man's sidearm and holster, you are a very fortunate collector.... (how about the Thompson to round out the display?)

Thanks again for such a fine photo and the work required to put it up so well....

Drew Sr.
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Old 12-27-2005, 05:18 PM
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Sorry it was difficult to scan Dave but MAN WAS IT WORTH IT!

The idea of having the actual gun and holster is ming blowing!
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Old 12-27-2005, 05:25 PM
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Dave,

Great post. I enjoy your very informative & well documented posts about guns you have in your collection.
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Old 12-27-2005, 05:45 PM
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Dave, that's a GREAT photo! Thanks for posting it.

Now, I have 4" RM, and I have a fedora like that, too.

(Hmm. I gotta shape the back end of the crown like that.. That is way cool. He is a bit -- well, actually a lot -- slimmer than I, and, uh, perhaps a tad shorter, but, heck, we do share some general racial and gender characteristics. And I do look just like that on the inside, for sure. In short, he could be my long-lost twin brother!)
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Old 12-27-2005, 07:16 PM
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I'm afraid he is violating several OSHA regs here....No hearing protection, no shooting glasses. Maybe things were more simple then.

What? I can't hear you....
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Old 12-27-2005, 07:22 PM
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dave, thanks for sharing that neat piece of history with us. lee
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Old 12-27-2005, 07:23 PM
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Thats pretty cool
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Old 12-27-2005, 07:43 PM
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That's tops Dave absolutely tops.
DW
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Old 12-27-2005, 07:45 PM
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We've had a few nice historical pictures posted here lately. That is very nice to see.
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Old 12-27-2005, 08:11 PM
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Dave, great job locating the picture! Did this come in the documents with the other guns.... ?

Also, lets see the other guns!

Regards, Lyle
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Old 12-27-2005, 08:16 PM
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Dave that is beautiful. Now to find the Thompson
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Old 12-27-2005, 08:23 PM
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Dave,

Add me to the chorus: neat picture. Do you have any others?

Kevin
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Old 12-27-2005, 08:46 PM
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Also was that at Quantico, VA (FBI Academy) where the photo was taken?
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Old 12-27-2005, 08:52 PM
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That is so cool, thank you again for that pic.

Joe
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Old 12-27-2005, 09:16 PM
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Thanks for the kind remarks guys.

Only kidding Geoff. I've been meaning to transfer the photographs that came with the guns onto my PC. This gives me an excuse to start getting it done.

Bruce - if I could find the Thompson... I'm not sure about Quantico, it might be.

Kevin - in terms of other pics the guns (pictured below following Lyle's request) came with so much material it's going to take me weeks to go through it all. There are dozens of pics of all sorts. I'm going to do an article for the S&WCA Journal when I get it all sorted out.

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Old 12-27-2005, 09:35 PM
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Dave, thank you for the family photo of Campbell's guns! This is the kind of stuff that really gets me going. Great guns with even better provenance. I cannot wait until the article is complete! Also, with all of the photo's and documentation, you will be able to make an award winning display!

Let me know if you need any help wiping the guns down. I still have room in one of my safes to "protect" them!

Regards, Lyle
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Old 12-28-2005, 12:04 AM
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Thank you.
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Old 12-28-2005, 05:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by BruceHMX:
Also was that at Quantico, VA (FBI Academy) where the photo was taken?
Bruce, yep, Quantico.
Chuck
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Old 12-28-2005, 09:34 AM
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Dave,

Is the RM on the bottom right the same gun in the previous photo? Has it been refinished? Because it sure looks good for being holstered and carried.

Jared
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Old 12-28-2005, 09:40 AM
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Dave,

Thanks for sharing the original photo and story. I love seeing old guns and photos from LE with a history.

Do you know anything about the serial number on the Thompson. I have a friend at Quantico who could check to see if it is there. Unfortunately, they can't dispose of anything there except by destruction or to another unit. You should hear about some of the great stuff just sitting there and also about some of the stuff that was ordered destroyed under the Clinton admin.

email me off-line.

Best,

Ray
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Old 12-28-2005, 10:49 AM
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Campbell must have had either a lot of influnce or enough years to retire... having his picture taken withough his coat on would not have pleased Mr. Hoover... who believed one should look his best to shoot criminals...

V/r

Chuck

Quote:
Originally posted by merlindrb:
Geoff, you asked for a picture of FBI Special Agent Campbell with his gun on his hip. I've spent a couple of hours trying to scan it in - it kept taking up 32 Mb of disk for some reason. I finally reduced the DPI to 75 and got this pic.

If it's not clear then tell me and I'll try again at higher resolution.

This is SA Campbell, one of the original Melvin Purvis gang-busting 'G Men'. It's taken circa 1938 and he's demonstrating how to cling onto a Thompson on full auto. In the original pics you can see the cases...

Clearly visible, at least in the original pic, is his 4" Registered Magnum #3904 in the SD Myers holster on his right hip. I have both the gun and holster in my collection. I also have his 1940 "fancy engraved" 4" Non-Registered.
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Old 12-28-2005, 12:07 PM
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Thanks for posting that great picture - any idea where SA Campbell was stationed during his time with the Bureau?

As far as the Thompson goes, there are still some at Quantico, and each field office has a few for "demonstrations". I checked out one from my headquarters city and shot the bejeebus out of it. It had three 20 round sticks and one 50 round drum - what an absolute hoot to shoot! All I had to feed it was 230 grain Ranger SXT hollowpoints, but it shot them without a hitch, once I got the hang of loading the drum. It was a great liaison gun - I'd show up at one of the PDs or SOs in my territory with that bad boy, break out a case of ammo, and make friends for life! The cocking knob on the top finally cracked, and I had to send it back.

Once at Quantico I saw some desk sets they were making up for visiting dignitaries - a wooden base with the Thompson veritcal foregrip mounted on it, with a cylinder from a Model 13 attached for a pencil holder! Our tax dollars at work!
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Old 12-28-2005, 04:17 PM
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Dave here is a tidbit out of one of the books I reccomended to you,"Oklahoma Justice" by Major (ret)Ron Owens..."Shortly before 2:00pm on Oct 17 1932 the police dispatcher broadcast a call for officers to respond to a shooting scrape at the corner of Frisco and Robinson (Oklahoma City). When officers arrived they saw a 1932 Chev coupe that had wrecked. Detective George Baker had E.A. Perry in custody. His partner Detective Charles Gerald "Jerry" Campbell was standing next to the wrecked car with a gun in each hand and blood all over his shirt. The blood was not his, it belonged to the dead man slumped in the driver's seat of the wrecked car,his head and body pierced by several bullets"....In May of 1934 Campbell and Clarence Hurt were given a one year leave of absence to "go hunting with the FBI".Campbell was issued FBI badge #278 (They reissue so it my well be still in service in the credential case of a SA today)........ This set is one of the true treasures ofAmerican Law Enforcement history....Congratulation on aquiring it and thanks for sharing with us..Tony.. Ps the book also has a photo of D. A. "Jelly" Brice on the cover with a RM in his hand.
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Old 12-28-2005, 04:22 PM
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This thread just keeps getting better. I look forward to the article, Dave. I hereby award you an official Melvin Purvis badge.
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Old 12-28-2005, 05:43 PM
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Ray - I wish I did know the serial # of the Thompson, but suspect it wasn't his personal gun. I believe he was probably demonstrating it's use with a weapon out of the armoury.

Lyle - nice offer, but no thanks!

Chuck - thanks for confirming the Quantico question. He must have been demonstrating how to fire the Thompson to recruits. Training FBI recruits to use firearms in actual combat situations was one of the things he and the other 'Tri-State' peace officers were hired to do. That's why all of those recruited via this route had to have been responsible for at least one fatal shooting as an LEO - apparently that was a pre-requisite insisted on by Hoover.

Jared - same gun but the condition doesn't come across clearly in the photo. In actual fact (as you'll see when you visit me later this week) it's only 75% with lots of holster wear. Good honest use (definitely no abuse!) just as you'd expect from a man who really new his guns.

SigP220 - he spent the first part of his career as a member of the 'Major Crimes Unit' that sped around the country trying to apprehend (kill?) the highly mobile gangsters of that era. He spent some time in Washington DC as his Registered Magnum was delivered to FBI HQ in DC "care of Jerry Baughman and marked for the attention of Jerry Campbell" - how cool is that? This is probably the period when the picture was taken at Quantico. At the very end of the 30's (I have the exact date somewhere) he settled in Palo Alto, just outside San Francisco. He stayed there until his retirement 30 years later. I believe it was a one man office? Perhaps put out to grass by a grateful Hoover...? Lots of unanswered questions about things that happened during that era, and this guy was often there when they happened

Tony - would you believe I have several of the actual press cuttings of that 1932 case in my acquired files. Apparently the wreck happened after Campbell killed the driver Ogglesby, a fugitive wanted for murder and several bank robberies. Campbell and his partner were detectives on the 'stolen car squad'. They spotted a stolen car and approached. As they did so one of the occupants took off running. George Baker went after him and arrested E.A.Perry after a chase. Baker and Perry then made their way to headquarters separately. Meanwhile Campbell arrested the driver, Ogglesby and made him drive them both to OCPD HQ. One the way Ogglesby picked up a Colt handgun that had been lying under his seat on the left side and shot Campbell, but only slightly wounded him. Campbell knocked the gun away with his left arm and drew his own revolver (4 inch 3rd Model 44 HE) with his right and emptied the gun into Ogglesby at point blank range. Bullet wounds are typical of point blank 'stress' shooting - they start with a bullet in the waist and move up to the neck and head. Needless to say Ogglesby died immediately and the car then crashed - thus your picture. The .44 HE he used that day is the gold plated one in my picture above. I even have press articles and actual photos of him holding the gun 30 years later showing it as the gun the killed murderer and bank robber Ogglesby. I believe this is the incident that later got him Hoover's nod of approval. Both he and Jelly Bryce (plus another OCPD officer) were recruited into the FBI by their previous OCPD supervisor Clarence Hurt. Hurt was a senior detective in the Oklahoma City PD and was himself recruited by Hoover. He then went on to take personal roles in the apprehension (and deaths) of Dillinger, Ma Barker and Baby Face Nelson, to name just a few. It's a great story.

The guns Ogglesby was carrying that day (the 2nd gun Campbell had in his hand, which was a Colt revolver, plus a Remington Pump) were also in the auction that I picked up 4 of the above guns from. I didn't bid on them and they are still for sale as they didn't reach their reserves (roughly 4,000 and 5,000 respectively - higher than the Smiths!! - go figure). The 5th gun, the Registered Magnum service weapon, I picked up from Gary Garbrechts auction earlier this year. It's great to re-unite them.

Kevin - thank you for the award. I shall treasure it!
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Old 12-28-2005, 05:56 PM
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Man, those are some great stories. How about some book suggestions for a fella who would like to more about these guys and their times?
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Old 12-28-2005, 06:20 PM
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Onomea the above quoted book is Oklahoma Justice by Ron Owens, it is a history of the Oklahoma City Police Dept. Probably the best dept. history on any PD in the US. It is ava. from Turner Publishing Co. 1800-788-3350. Another general work on the bad guys of the 30s that is outstanding is Public Enemies by Brian Burrough on the shelves at Barnes and Noble. If you need other email for other suggestions.....Tony
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Old 12-28-2005, 06:47 PM
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To All: I will take a pic of that range tomorrow and post. Also a shot of the FBI building from that time. You won't believe it.

The range no longer exsist as it's on the main side of base.

Has anyone contacted Walter Walsh yet? He was an agent from that time frame and knew Jelly personally. Walsh was the agent who got the Al Brady gang in Maine.

Anyone here know that story??
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Old 12-28-2005, 07:23 PM
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Thanks, Lawandorder. Just snagged both books off the internet. Got the Ron Owens book, first edition and signed, for $36.

Bruce: Walter Walsh and the Al Brady gang in Maine? Story? Don’t leave a guy hangin’ like that! C’mon. Let’s hear it!
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Old 12-29-2005, 06:24 AM
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http://bangorinfo.com/Focus/focus_brady_gang.html

Walter Walsh was the agent who was in the gun shop when Brady's men came in.

He is still listed in the local phone book. Got to be in his 90's by now. Too rainy today to take any photos. Will get them on the first clear day. Walter Walsh still owns his Registered Magnum. At least he did two years ago when I saw it.
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Old 12-29-2005, 01:17 PM
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Good stuff -- thanks! The store clerk, Hurd, sounds like he musta been a pretty nervy guy. (And the gang, posing as hunters while trying to buy tommyguns... Hmmmm.)

I was in Bangor in 1989 or so, Had no idea of this history though.
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Old 12-31-2005, 05:08 PM
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I thought I would reach my one hundredth post on this interesting subject. Beyond all the Regestered magnum stuff which is very cool I wonder if anyone has recorded a conversation with any of these retired agents. It seems like a link to the past that will not be there forever and maybe lost to history. I think all of us have thought this about someone in our family that we lost. The neat thing to me is seeing and reading about men who lived through that era using the guns we now seek out as collector items. Except to them it was a tool to save the bacon. Just a thought. Keith
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Old 01-06-2006, 10:38 AM
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Walsh carried a 1911 in preference to the Colt Police Positive 38 Spl he was issued by the Bureau. In '36 he got 2 RMs consecutively numbered. He sold one to another SA (a sale he regrets to this day). During the Bangor, ME incident, he carried his remaining RM and a 1911, both of which he used. His partner, Bill Nitscke, wielded a Thompson, "I could feel the hot muzzle gases as Bill fired over my shoulder..." Sure would like to know where that other RM is today...


Quote:
Originally posted by BruceHMX:
http://bangorinfo.com/Focus/focus_brady_gang.html

Walter Walsh was the agent who was in the gun shop when Brady's men came in.

He is still listed in the local phone book. Got to be in his 90's by now. Too rainy today to take any photos. Will get them on the first clear day. Walter Walsh still owns his Registered Magnum. At least he did two years ago when I saw it.
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Old 01-06-2006, 06:26 PM
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wrw, since we don't know you..yet.. welcome to the forum. Are you also a member of swca or Joe Millers group? If you know the serial number in question, you can either post it or tell one of us and we can look in the survivors files. Thats a table of serial numbers we know still exist (and most likely in the hands of dedicated collectors.) We also have a poster here, Kevin Williams, that keeps a second list.
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Old 01-07-2006, 11:56 AM
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It really would be interesting to have both Walsh's Reg Mag numbers. Can you let us have them wrw or tell us where to find them?

I know Kevin's listening in to this so I'm sure he'll also record them for future posterity.
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Old 01-07-2006, 08:11 PM
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Dave check Larry Ws. new post on Oklahombres. You need to get in touch with him. I think he has more Campbell info. he is a great guy to visit with. Tony
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Old 01-07-2006, 09:20 PM
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WRW,
That wouldn't be the initals for Walter R. Walsh would they?
Bill
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Old 01-11-2006, 10:57 AM
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Thanks for the kind welcome, Dick! I am not a member of any other SW group - just a guy who has and loving cares for a number of SW revolvers. I will send you the serial number of the RM in question to see if the whereabouts of the two adjoining numbers is know - that might be a start. Again, thanks for your note. I look forward to future contacts

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Originally posted by rburg:
wrw, since we don't know you..yet.. welcome to the forum. Are you also a member of swca or Joe Millers group? If you know the serial number in question, you can either post it or tell one of us and we can look in the survivors files. Thats a table of serial numbers we know still exist (and most likely in the hands of dedicated collectors.) We also have a poster here, Kevin Williams, that keeps a second list.
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Old 01-11-2006, 11:01 AM
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Hello, Bill. Thanks for the note. the initials are for W jr. My Dad is a great guy and one of a kind. Thanks for asking.

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WRW,
That wouldn't be the initals for Walter R. Walsh would they?
Bill
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Old 01-11-2006, 11:07 AM
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Dave - I left a post for Bill and Dick. I'll forward the number of the one so someone can do a little investigation. I'd love to know if the other one's whereabouts is known. Thanks for the communication... WRW

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Originally posted by merlindrb:
It really would be interesting to have both Walsh's Reg Mag numbers. Can you let us have them wrw or tell us where to find them?

I know Kevin's listening in to this so I'm sure he'll also record them for future posterity.
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Old 01-11-2006, 04:53 PM
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This is getting interesting.
Dw
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Old 01-14-2006, 12:04 AM
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Mrelindrb: Do you what kind of holster the RM is riding in? I think I would like to have one of those for a 3 1/2, if they can still be found. (or replicated)
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Old 01-14-2006, 08:54 AM
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Nightowl,
Until Dave gets back to you, I'll speculate that it is a "Tom Threepersons" holster by S. D. (Tio Sam) Meyers. Threepersons was a contemporary lawman. The holster is still available from El Paso Saddlery and possibly others. One caution, guns carried in a Threeperson's have a completely exposed trigger. That isn't considered "Kosher" today so be very careful carrying a doubleaction firearm in one.

Bob
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Old 01-14-2006, 09:17 AM
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Bob is spot on right. It's a Threepersons style holster by S.D.Myres.

I've not seen one on the internet, in fact you don't see much at all by Myres.

I have the original holster and matching 6 round belt loop 'ammo carrier' if you need pics.
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Old 01-14-2006, 10:49 PM
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Pics would be great and surely would add to the already interesting history presented. I thougt it might be one of the Threepersons type. FWIW, I personnally like the the exposed trigger guard and think there is little need to cover the trigger guard with all that excess leather! It just makes the holster ugly and heavier. Political correctness has not been my strong suit. Thanks for the information. Really cool history.
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Old 01-15-2006, 07:24 AM
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Nightowl,

My comments about the exposed trigger guard had nothing to do with "political correctness" but simply with the realities of life today. I also like the looks of the exposed trigger on the Threepersons. I also like the looks of a "Fitz" modified M1917 with the trigger guard cut away and I like the feel of a Jordan modified M19 with the trigger guard narrowed thinner than the trigger, or a trigger shoe that extends a quarter inch wider than the trigger guard. The manual of arms for handguns during those days also dictated that you put your finger on the trigger as soon as you gripped the gun. But, the reality is that all of those things DO increase the likelyhood of an unintentional discharge. In the middle of the last century, if you had a UD, you were mainly concerned with the hole in your own leg. Today, the liability is endless.

My comments were not meant in a derogatory manner about either you or the holster. Since I don't know you or anything about your handgun skills and you asked about the holster, I felt a duty to point out one of its charactistics...I love 'em too.

Bob
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Old 01-16-2006, 12:24 AM
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Oops. Took no offense at all, didn't even enter my mind. I was just expressing my opinion on the state of revolver holsters today! And I like the looks of the holster. I checked and S.D. Meyers no longer exists, but El Paso makes them now.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.
PS I carried a revolver for over twenty years and still prefer shooting them.
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Old 01-16-2006, 01:23 PM
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Here's the pics. Final one is with the pre-war magnum he carried for 27/8 years - fits like a glove.



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