Let's Have a Great Western Arms Thread!...I'll Start

[bill-in-texas]

Originally Posted by Goony

Would anybody like to opine on why this example ought to have commanded the sort of price it did? Sold last year: Great Western Arms Co. Single Action Army Revolver | Rock Island Auction

We see this quite often in auctions, don’t we?
Two bidders want something beyond it’s reasonable value (i.e. better examples can be had for less, if proper homework had been done, first) and the price gets bid up.

That’s my opinion.
I paid roughly that for all three of my Great Western Arms, by the way.
-Bill

[Goony]

Here's an interesting Great Western variant I wasn't aware of: Great Western Arms Fast Draw Model Single Action Revolver

[pmanton]

Looking at where Great Western came from, I'll bet I have visited the place. In 1954 I was 16 living in Burbank. The was a gun place I used to hang out at drooling over the stuff. I lived off Magnolia which was 2 blocks from Burbank.

I wanna go back. My wife was a beautiful Valley Girl, and I was young and strong.

[sackpeterson]

"Would anybody like to opine on why this example ought to have commanded the sort of price it did? Sold last year: Great Western Arms Co. Single Action Army Revolver | Rock Island Auction"

That one is a very early serial GW. Presumably it has a Colt type hammer. And it presents well.

[old tanker]

If I remember correctly Great Western also marketed a copy of the Remington Derringer chambered in .38 S&W. Anyone know the story on them?

[Muley Gil]

I had a friend who ran a pawn shop. He got in a 5 1/2" .45 Colt GW with the plastic stag stocks. I bought it, for $80, but the owner decided to redeem the pawn, so I took it back to the shop.

It went back into pawn again and this time the original owner waited too late to redeem it. I bought it the second time for $70!

A number of years later, I needed money so it went down the road. I did sell it for $250, so I did OK.

[Goony]

Actor Guy Madison in the role of Wild Bill Hickok, wielding what are most likely Great Western revolvers.

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Here are the Great Westerns presented to John Wayne and used in the movie The Shootist. These are actually the second set presented him...these are 4.75" barreled revolvers and the case is made for 5.5" barrels. The original set was stolen and these revolvers were built as replacements.


There are replicas of these made by Pietta through EMF. I've considered buying one but haven't "pulled the trigger" yet to do so.

[SnidelyWhiplash]

While not an original Great Western...this is a Great Western II by Pietta. A couple of years ago I picked this up with a Taylor's & Co. Cattleman both NIB in a local auction for short money.

[boykinlp]

This is a really COOL thread. When I hear of “Great Western” guns, the very first thing that comes to mind, of course, is Matt Dillion, imitation stag grips, and Gunsmoke! Good memories.
Larry

[Goony]

Showing many less common variants along with other info: Models – Great Western Firearms

Be sure to also click on the "History" tab at the top of this webpage.

[Goony]

General serial number and markings info: Great Western Arms Serial and Marking Guide | Great Western Arms Collector

Year of manufacture: When was it made: GWA production by year | Great Western Arms Collector

[Goony]

Sold at auction a few years ago: Pair of Great Western Arms Frontier Six-Shooter Single Action Army Revolvers (icollector.com)

One gun has the extra "0" in the serial number that normally denotes its having been sold in kit form while the other doesn't. This leaves it rather up in the air as to whether the embellishments were done or commissioned by the factory or a customer.

[RetCapt]

Goony,

Somewhere in the historical account referenced in the web page you cited, it says that the Great Western frames were forged.

Sometime back I read another historical account, which I have no way to retrace, which said the frames were investment cast. IIRC it even named a local SoCal firm that made them.

So, can you clarify, forged or investment cast?

Tnx

[Goony]

Originally Posted by RetCapt

Goony,

Somewhere in the historical account referenced in the web page you cited, it says that the Great Western frames were forged.

Sometime back I read another historical account, which I have no way to retrace, which said the frames were investment cast. IIRC it even named a local SoCal firm that made them.

So, can you clarify, forged or investment cast?

According to the article that appeared in the May 1955 issue of Guns magazine: "Instead of making a forging for the frame, [Wilson] uses an invested chrome-molybdenum casting of aircraft quality steel."

[RetCapt]

Originally Posted by Goony

According to the article that appeared in the May 1955 issue of Guns magazine: "Instead of making a forging for the frame, [Wilson] uses an invested chrome-molybdenum casting of aircraft quality steel."

Got it. That is probably the same article I had read. That does seem to be the more efficient means to produce them.

Tnx.

[Goony]

Here's an American Rifleman article regarding the Great Western revolvers, in which the supplier of the frames is identified as Arwood Precision Investment Casting: This Old Gun: Great Western 'The Deputy' Revolver | An Official Journal Of The NRA (americanrifleman.org)

[Goony]

Here's an early (1954) Great Western advertisement plus an interior shot of the Hy Hunter store.

[Papa Lee]

4 3/4" .22LR Recently sold on GB for $888.88.
Just a moment...

[gunbarrel]

Get this $40 book...

[Goony]

Originally Posted by Papa Lee

4 3/4" .22LR Recently sold on GB for $888.88.

A hardcore Great Western collector might want it as the .22's were (at least early on) supposedly only available with 5½" barrels. This will turn out to be a rather poor buy if the barrel's been cut down at some point. Too bad the auction listing didn't provide the serial number.

[Papa Lee]

The frame appeared to be blued instead of color case hardened. So that's another red flag.

[Goony]

Originally Posted by Papa Lee

The frame appeared to be blued instead of color case hardened. So that's another red flag.

I concur this was the proverbial "pig in a poke" as what if that finish indicates it was somebody's DIY project made up from one of the kits? That's where knowing the serial number could also be really important in assessing just what it represents. I'll also fault the photos, which just repeatedly show each side of the gun. To help verify the originality of that barrel I'd really like to see shots of the muzzle and front sight.

[HOUSTON RICK]

Great thread. All new to me. If you are not careful, you learn stuff all the time here.:-)

[boykinlp]

I was watching “Tales of Wells Fargo” on INSP TV earlier today and happened to notice main character Jim Hardie’s revolver. To me, it looked like it might have the grips of a Great Western gun. Not a bad show either.
Larry

[bill-in-texas]

Originally Posted by gunbarrel

Get this $40 book...

And have the author, Jim Hoobler, sign it!
He’s a wealth of knowledge, too, if you give him a phone call.
Very interesting gentleman and a “been-there, owned-that” collector.

-Bill