I was just cleaning up some old photos today, and came across this one from 2009, about 12 years ago. I was at the NRA annual meeting (held in Phoenix that year), and had the opportunity to see and handle a couple of guns that John Wayne used in a number of his western movies.

In my right hand is the Great Western single action revolver that he wore at the 4 o'clock location pretty much consistently, except for the standoff ride in "True Grit" where it was tucked in his belt. In my left is an 1892 Winchester carbine with a large loop lever that he also employed. My understanding is that there were more than one of these that he used in his movie work.

At any rate, getting to handle these national treasures of the firearms world brought a huge smile to my face; a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I thought I'd share the picture.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Just WOW!

wyo-man

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Live free or die

'Fill yer hand you........'

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Classic John Wayne movie. The "newer" one doesn't compare at all.

Awesome pieces of Americana. From an Icon and Patriot. Thanks for sharing them with us! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Large loop short barreled carbine with a weathered stock!

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Cling Peaches in Heavy Syrup

Thanks so much for sharing. I green with envy. I saw one of the rifles at Warner Brothers but couldn't touch it. Thanks again.

Thanks for sharing. I figured many of those look alike Colt SAA were actually Great Western produced guns. Heard James Arness used them on Gunsmoke. I would imagine a lot cheaper than using real Colts even back in the 50s-60s.

Looks like you "FILLED YOUR HANDS YOU SON OF A...."

(paraphrasing from "True Grit")

Okay, didn't want to curse at you, great movie line or not.

Thanks for sharing the memory. Cool pics.

That is really neat thanks for sharing

Since you didn't specify what information you were interested.the basic information others gave, except the Great Western remark, is correct. Those guns were personally owned by John Wayne himself.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Cool!

True Grit was a good movie, but as talented a musician as Glen Campbell was, he could NOT act!

Amazing. I can't even imagine holding those guns in my hands. They are pieces of history.

Eric300, you left out a line: "that's mighty bold talk for a one eyed fat man" Lee

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VFW, NRA, VVA, S&WCA 1758

Now, it's a rat writ writ for a rat, and I'm here to see that it's duly served...BLAM!

Very cool!

His entire personal collection (in the 1000's) were purchased by some guy who owns a or some truck stops and are all displayed in one of them. That is one impressive collection!

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Thanks for posting the photo's ... I enjoyed them !

Having grown up watching westerns , big and small screen, last Sept. I bought a Ruger Wrangler to scratch the short barrel single action gunslinger six-shooter itch I've had for 50+ years , not a 45 Colt but at 71 i'm sure the 22 LR will do the job in a Tin Can shootout . It has that barrel cut even with the ejector rod !
Thinking about getting a "Duke" holster & gunbelt ... like the one he carried that revolver in all those years !
Thanks again ,
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Five years ago I picked up this GW .44 Special. Case hardening and bluing is mostly gone but mechanically it’s solid and the plus was the price - $300.
It’s a good shooter with “ Skeeter” loads. But then even if it wasn’t how can you not love a gun with 4 clicks?

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I was watching that last night! Great film!

Goose bumps!
I like the pair of engraved smoke wagons he uses in “The Shootist”, which was filled about 5 minutes from my place in Carson City.

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213th FBINA

AMEN!!!!!!

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Servin some papers.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Could that be Jimmy Haslam, who owns the Pilot/Flying J truck stops? He also owns the Cleveland Browns.

They have a couple of his guns at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in OK City. Or did at least. One was a 4 3/4" SAA with ivory or gutta percha grips, I forget which. That's been a lot of years ago.

I seem to recall that Wayne's guns were .38/40 WCF caliber. Is that correct?

Ya know, it's kinda corny, but that Heritage guns sells cowboy-lookin' holsters for their single-action Rough Riders, in large or small bore, and belts with the neat little loops to put yer "bullits" in and leather things to go around your wrists. Not the same as the John Wayne stuff, but a lot of leather products. Not top of the line, but not garbage. Funny, I bought Sarah, my 20 year old, a .22 LR/WMR revolver for Christmas when she was just short of 16 years old, and the belt, holster, and pink grips cost more than the gun. 'Course, now she's just not into the cute little girl with the cool rig thing, but she's still good with the gun.
Just a suggestion for an inexpensive rig. Their .45s and .357s, and the .22s, actually shoot pretty good for the money.

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Waiting For The Sun.

The Model 1892 Winchesters were chambered in .44/40, while his single action revolver was a .45 Colt item.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Great photo, thank you for posting it.

John, you never stop surprising me with your photos and your stories, thanks for sharing.

Well, in the movies .38-40; .44-40 and .45 Colt fired the same 3-in-1(also called 5-in-1) blanks.

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Expect the unexpected

In John Wayne's early "B" movies he used a Colt SAA with 5 1/2" barrel in .38-40 with Ivory grips. A lot like one of mine.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

Yes Sir. He did. This one.

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Expect the unexpected

Yeah and in Red River (1948) he was using a 5.5 inch with wooden handles.

He adopted the famous yellow bakelite finger groove 4.75" SAA some time in the mid to late 50s and carried it on for most of the rest of his career.