" A pair and a spare."

GF

GF

SWCA Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
4,528
Reaction score
4,201
Location
Southern Indiana
I read a good article in this month's issue of "Guns' magazine written by John Taffin.
One of the references was to an old gun writer named Kent Bellah who wrote about "a pair and a spare" which meant for those that use a sixgun one should have two "working" guns plus one as a back-up.

That struck me as a novel idea. Who would keep three guns of any kind as a pair and a spare?
Some times we collect three models in different finishes, barrel lengths or dash numbers...
A 17-4, A 17 and a -2
HPIM3085.jpg


Four inch K frames in three finishes
HPIM3606.jpg


But I wonder who would keep three of a kind for self defense or hunting or... whatever?

Can you think of a reason for a "pair and a spare"?

GF
 
Last edited:
I've long thought it was a good idea to have a duplicate copy of your primary self defense weapon to have as a "spare" in case something went wrong with your main pistol (breakage, sent out to be refinished, etc.). I like the idea of having a third even better!
 
I do. Let's say that some disadvantged youths do a home invaision on your house. You prevail with your concealed carry weapon.

Of course, in most states you'll loose your piece for a spell, maybe it'll come back, maybe not.

So you go to your safe and pull out it's twin only to find out that in the years that it's been in the safe the (fill in the blank) _______ on your backup is no good anymore. But following the "pair and a spare" rule your still good, you grab # 3 while you get #2 back up and running.

It's the old 'one is none, two is one and three is peace of mind.

Your mileage may vary.


Cat
 
Sir, I can see that reasoning for really high-round-count competition guns. You have your main gun, your backup in case the main gun goes down, and the spare in the shop getting rebarreled or rebedded or something. The three guns work in rotation. Once the "spare" comes back from the shop, the backup goes in for work, and the former main gun becomes the backup.

FWIW, I never actually went to this extreme when I was more active in high power, though I knew people who did. I just had a main gun and a backup. "Two is one" and all that.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
In the days before the semi auto became the normal carry weapon, a spare revolver was the fastest reload. This was also before speedloaders and speed strips can into being everyday items.

I knew a bunch of oldtimers that carried their revolvers in pairs.

Very few of the men that were around when I was growing up carried just one pistol. Most carried 2, a couple carried 3 and I know of at least one that carried 4.
 
I have a matched pair of S&W 2" SB #36's; 3" SB #31-1's, 4.5" FS #622's, #2213 & a brushed nickel #2214, 3" RB, HB #64 & #65 (near miss) and DAO TT Sig P225's. I had a pair of HK P7 PSP's but my son took one when he graduated college and moved out. I like a nice, matched pair, even if I can't hit squat with my left hand.
 
I have three S&W Bodyguards, two M649s and an M38. I carry one most of the time and have the other two in reserve. Occasionally, I have carried two of the three.

I also have a bunch of Colt .45s and Smith .41s but no real pairs in those groups.
 
Catshooter said:
I do. Let's say that some disadvantaged youths do a home invasion on your house. You prevail with your concealed carry weapon.

Of course, in most states you'll loose your piece for a spell, maybe it'll come back, maybe not.

So you go to your safe and pull out it's twin only to find out that in the years that it's been in the safe the (fill in the blank) _______ on your backup is no good anymore. But following the "pair and a spare" rule your still good, you grab # 3 while you get #2 back up and running.

It's the old 'one is none, two is one and three is peace of mind.

Your mileage may vary.


Cat
Click to expand...

I have three Centennials, just for that reason. Two 642-1's and a 342 ti.
 
Another thought struck me in answer to your question here.

In a very dangerous time, such as a Katrina event I would conceal two pistols. This is of course assuming a rifle would get one in trouble.

I can carry two Shorty 45s in inside the waistband at 11 & 1 o'clock comfortably. The idea isn't to shoot both at the same time (life isn't a western), it's to have a quick backup and they function identically and take the same ammo/mags.

A Shorty Forty Five is just a beautiful thing, and more than one is way better than not. :)


Cat
 
When I first started shooting trap, an old head told me this:

If you're going to shoot trap, you need a trap gun. In the event of trouble with your gun, you will need a spare.

If you have three, you're a collector.

Buck
 
I have a pair of auto pistols that are non S & W. I shoot them regularly, rotating them out every thousand rounds when I change recoil spring. I bought two cause I knew I would be cranking on a high round count and now you guys got me thinking about a "spare".
 
keith44spl said:
Curtis,

I'll Call ya three of a kind...I's got me a full House,;)
















1911s005.jpg



Wait a dadgum minute there that ain't no Smiths in that picture...:eek:


I'll be right back!!!!


Su Amigo,
Dave
Click to expand...

Show off...now I am going to have to take another pic:rolleyes:
 
I have three parkerized Colt Agents. Two for carry and one for spare. Was told that carrying two is called a New York Reload in some circles. I like the agents because their alloy frames make them light to carry, plus they hold six rounds instead of the five in a J frame. Also, the parkerized finish is low maintenance.
 
Somehow in my "collection without direction" I ended up with these 6'' Model 27s.
IMG_0600.jpg
 
Pair of #36's, 31-1's, 622's with a 60, 30-1, and 2206 for spares.
0376.JPG


Pair of DAO, two-tone, Sig P225's and a traditional DA/SA P225 for a spare.
DSCN3519.JPG

0286.JPG


No spare for this pair of HK P7 PSP's, but I am always looking for another.
27892pspbuck.JPG
 
If I were carrying/using handguns for serious work I'd have at least four (I don;t like odd numbers and two would not be enough.) and they would be the same in all aspects, including action work.

But in my case I have more than one of several types just because I like them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

V
Colt Official Police vs S&W Model 10
Replies
19
Views
966
SnidelyWhiplash
S
B
Laugo Arms to Introduce a New Model Alien
Replies
0
Views
526
BEEMER1
B
cmdrcody
Built a pair of Revenant Arms (P226/P229)
Replies
0
Views
404
cmdrcody
cmdrcody
M
Picked Up A Winchester Model 62
Replies
14
Views
730
Mainsail
Mainsail
abigails&w
New SIG Sauer P210 Carry model
Replies
8
Views
1K
ridewv
ridewv

Latest posts

Back
Top