michael thornton
Member
i thought it was a 58 and i think i say pictures of it somewhere, anyone got those?
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Bufford Pusser's .41 Magnum?
- Thread starter Farmer17
- Start date
I thought that the M-58 was designed as a service revolver and was only offered in the S&W mat blued finish. If Pusser had a nickel plated .41 magnum it must have been an M-57 unless he had an M-58 refinished.
The 58 was also made in nickel.
jframe
Member
Thing I've always wondered, is why did he retire the .41 in favor of a .357 after the ambush that wounded him and killed his wife? I would have got the .357 as a backup, and kept carrying that big .41 if it was me. The thing is, his weapons that were with him during the ambush weren't even a factor. He never had a chance to use the revolver, or the shotgun he had with him either.
michael thornton
Member
didnt he get a m16 after that shoot out that he lost his wife in?
jframe
Member
He replaced his 12 gauge automatic shotgun with an M16. I think it was a Colt, and it's hanging on the wall in the basement of his home in Adamsville, which is now a museum. Any of you get a chance to go, check it out. I really enjoy it; great part of the country too. My girlfriend grew up in his hometown, so I get to go more often now.
smith41mag
Member
Buford Pusser
Robertson Trading Post in Henderson, Tn, has records of where Buford purchased guns from Mr. Fred Robertson.
Mr. Robertson started keeping firearms records before the 1968 gun control act.
I looked thru some of the A&D books and found where Buford purchased his guns. I didn't make any copies or anything because that's not what I was looking for.
Mr. Fred Robertson is the one who cleaned Bufords revolver after his wife was ambushed.
Robertson Trading Post in Henderson, Tn, has records of where Buford purchased guns from Mr. Fred Robertson.
Mr. Robertson started keeping firearms records before the 1968 gun control act.
I looked thru some of the A&D books and found where Buford purchased his guns. I didn't make any copies or anything because that's not what I was looking for.
Mr. Fred Robertson is the one who cleaned Bufords revolver after his wife was ambushed.
Groo01
Member
Groo here
As I recall ,, The ammo for the 41mag was custom loaded by one
J.D. Jones who had been at Supervel and later started S.S.K.
As I recall ,, The ammo for the 41mag was custom loaded by one
J.D. Jones who had been at Supervel and later started S.S.K.
The original movie was shot here in Hardeman County and in Madison Co.
The bar that the *bad guys* ran in the movie and that was shown burning at the end is still there, btw. My b-i-l was a bouncer there for several years. That particular bar, The Pine Ridge Club, was never one of THE problem bars in this part of TN - Sheriff Pusser wouldn't have dealt with them anyway since it's in Madison Co.
Back when I was working I was a factory rep and spent a LOT of time on the road. I loved it when Walking Tall came on the TV - Those are the back roads that I ride my bike on.
I also know a few of the extras in the flick (one lives 3 houses down from me) and it's really cool seeing them as they were in 1972-73. Hard to believe that was almost 40 years ago
We were just kids in our 20s.....
The bar that the *bad guys* ran in the movie and that was shown burning at the end is still there, btw. My b-i-l was a bouncer there for several years. That particular bar, The Pine Ridge Club, was never one of THE problem bars in this part of TN - Sheriff Pusser wouldn't have dealt with them anyway since it's in Madison Co.
Back when I was working I was a factory rep and spent a LOT of time on the road. I loved it when Walking Tall came on the TV - Those are the back roads that I ride my bike on.
I also know a few of the extras in the flick (one lives 3 houses down from me) and it's really cool seeing them as they were in 1972-73. Hard to believe that was almost 40 years ago
We were just kids in our 20s.....
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I have stopped using certain rifles due to the ammo is not carried in most stores. While I own a handgun in .41, I have only fired it a few times but even the store where it was purchased does not carry .41 ammo.
We all carry spare ammo in our vehicles. With the late Sheriff, he likely carried more than most. Yet if I were seriously carrying as he should have, the local availibility of ammo in my caliber would be a consideration in what I carried.
jframe
Member
The original movie was shot here in Hardeman County and in Madison Co.
The bar that the *bad guys* ran in the movie and that was shown burning at the end is still there, btw. My b-i-l was a bouncer there for several years. That particular bar, The Pine Ridge Club, was never one of THE problem bars in this part of TN - Sheriff Pusser wouldn't have dealt with them anyway since it's in Madison Co.
Back when I was working I was a factory rep and spent a LOT of time on the road. I loved it when Walking Tall came on the TV - Those are the back roads that I ride my bike on.
I also know a few of the extras in the flick (one lives 3 houses down from me) and it's really cool seeing them as they were in 1972-73. Hard to believe that was almost 40 years ago
Where in Madison County and Hardeman are these locales? My girlfriend is from Leapwood and Adamsville, and used to hang out as a kid in Henderson, so I've seen the courthouse where courtroom scenes were filmed, but neither of us have any idea where the other locations are.
smith41mag
Member
The first movie was filmed here in Henderson, Tn ( Chester County ). Most people here at the time knew Buford. Some where friends with him.
Ohio Deputy
Member
I spoke to the historian for the museum and he was kind enough to give me the serial number and model of the gun. It was a nickle plated 4 inch model 57. According to Smith and Wesson the serial number dates the manufacture date late in 1963. My understanding is that this gun was given to a family friend after the Louise Hatchcock shooting. Out of respect for those that own this weapon I did not inquire as to whom they were or where they resided.
badguybuster
Member
Now this has been a fascinating bit of history
In the first movie the Lucky Spot bar is played by The Pine Ridge Club, which is located on TN-18, north of Bolivar (Hardeman Co.) and is just into Madison Co. Here's the Google Map of the area - The white box at 18 & Swink Rd is the bar.
If you ride east on Swink and zoom about some of the roads shooting off of it you'll see some sights that may be familiar to you. They shot the movie on a lot of roads here about including south of the bar location in Hardeman County. They are mostly very nicely paved now as opposed to what you see in the movie
As Smith41Mag points out they also shot in Henderson (great gun store in Henderson, btw) in Chester Co. There are roads in the movie that I'm not familiar with which may well be near and around Henderson. Henderson is at the junction of US-45 and TN-100.
A really nice motorcycle ride to Henderson from the bar is to just follow Swink (it keeps changing names) south/ south/east to TN-100 and turn left on 100.
If you ride east on Swink and zoom about some of the roads shooting off of it you'll see some sights that may be familiar to you. They shot the movie on a lot of roads here about including south of the bar location in Hardeman County. They are mostly very nicely paved now as opposed to what you see in the movie
As Smith41Mag points out they also shot in Henderson (great gun store in Henderson, btw) in Chester Co. There are roads in the movie that I'm not familiar with which may well be near and around Henderson. Henderson is at the junction of US-45 and TN-100.
A really nice motorcycle ride to Henderson from the bar is to just follow Swink (it keeps changing names) south/ south/east to TN-100 and turn left on 100.
PUSSER'S 41 MAG.
S&W brought out the Model 58 in July of 1964. The beginning serial numbers started for the first production year (S-prefix) #S-258032 to S-260632 first production run started started July 10 1964. Months later the guns would have started appearing on gun shop shelves. (Fact: Pusser was carrying a .41 mag Smith in 1964 the first year of his first term as Sheriff of McNairy Co.) This info on the production dates is in S&W's Factory Book by S&W historian Roy Jinks. The Serial number listed here in this blog is NOT correct.
Deputy Petie Plunk , Buford's deputy for several years, told me that Pusser's nickel .41mag had fixed sights consistant with the model 58. Plunk also confirmed Pusser's Nickel .41 magnum was stolen from his home during a burglary and was never recovered. Maybe thats why (IF, someone does possess Pusser's 41mag.)they do not wish to be identified.
I always try to get facts straight before I speak. There have been numerous curators at the museum thru the years passing out less than accurate information. I have lost track at how many (curators) have come and gone. The Moffett girls were usually on top of the facts when they were there. Their father Jim, served under Pusser as a Deputy.
S&W brought out the Model 58 in July of 1964. The beginning serial numbers started for the first production year (S-prefix) #S-258032 to S-260632 first production run started started July 10 1964. Months later the guns would have started appearing on gun shop shelves. (Fact: Pusser was carrying a .41 mag Smith in 1964 the first year of his first term as Sheriff of McNairy Co.) This info on the production dates is in S&W's Factory Book by S&W historian Roy Jinks. The Serial number listed here in this blog is NOT correct.
Deputy Petie Plunk , Buford's deputy for several years, told me that Pusser's nickel .41mag had fixed sights consistant with the model 58. Plunk also confirmed Pusser's Nickel .41 magnum was stolen from his home during a burglary and was never recovered. Maybe thats why (IF, someone does possess Pusser's 41mag.)they do not wish to be identified.
I always try to get facts straight before I speak. There have been numerous curators at the museum thru the years passing out less than accurate information. I have lost track at how many (curators) have come and gone. The Moffett girls were usually on top of the facts when they were there. Their father Jim, served under Pusser as a Deputy.
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Cherokee Slim
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The question is who murdered Buford Pusser
The truth will come out...
The truth will come out...
jframe
Member
Really cool thread; it's been going two years. I'd like to learn more about the whereabouts of that .41, and other interesting facts about Pusser. I actually emailed A&E, and told them I'd like to see a true Buford Pusser documentary. No response, but hopefully, someone will read it, and give it a try.
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i too have his daughters book....good stuff...i worked with a LEO in the 70's that knew him well...
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