The Makin' of An Outdoorsman

keith44spl

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Working guns have always held a special place with me.
I grew up at a time and place where firearms were tools. Owned and used by ranchers, oilmen, merchants and lawmen.
Used to gather table fare, defend the homestead/headquarters or to bring some outlaw to justice before the Courts.

Be it a carbine, rifle, shotgun, six shooter or semi automatic pistol. Each one had a purpose and no matter how
worn the finish of steel or wood, each scratch, gouge or whittled notch made it a cherished possession.

Back about the time when they were blackin out the bottom of the tv screen when Elvis did his numbers,
I was defining my own style as to the tools of the trade that suited me. A single action revolver and a double action
or two, a couple of lever rifles purty much rounded out my little remuda.

I developed a fondness for the large bores in the late 60s and early 70s. Having made the acquaintance of a firefighter
and master gunsmith who turn me on to the conversions of Smith .38/44 frame revolvers to .44spl and 45 long colt.
Having built a gaggle of 'em over the last 40 years, it jest whetted my appetite for other custom creations of working handguns.

As I near the homestretch of this race, I find myself longing for the older revolvers of my youth and those of my father.
Dividing my time between bendin leather for friends and family, to scourin' the web for prospects for my latest projects.
Handguns not worthy of the purest of collectors, but not ready to be turned out to pasture or gone to seed jest yet.

Although I might refinish one to suit myself...Where as I can put my own wear or tear on 'em.
Other times I jest roll with what's left of the original finish.
Of course the proof is in the puddin, it's got to shoot where's I'm lookin'. And this'n sur nuf does that.

Here sometime last year I uncovered a treasure trove of virgin 38 Special brass along with a couple of syrup buckets full of lead swc bullets.
So, I've been workin on my using revolver inventory in that chambering.

What with a 5" Outdoorsman bring prices that would break a banker...I's jest built my own-self one.

As they say, I believe I've purty much come full circle on this'n.

Mabee, jest mabee, I'll take 'er along on a lit'l date in the tall and un-cut someday soon...





http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_0428.jpg

Till Next Time....From Out There

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
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Dave, Man, that's nice...

Stoke up that smokewagon with a big dollup of 2400 powder under one of them heavy lead sharp-shouldered slugs and have at it!...

Drew
 
Dave that's a good'n!:)

I'm with you on the workin' guns, old pals that go with you same as they did with Dad and Grandpa. Every scratch is a story.

Now... where's the purddy holster for that piece that I KNOW you're workin' on (or already got made) !?!;)

GF
 
A great project. You even found a McGivern gold bead front sight to put on that "McGivern-esque" five inch OD!

If I ever get a serious gunsmithing bench set up, and if I can find a proper donor OD with a barrel whose last inch is bad, I may try something like that myself.

Envy and inspiration at the same time!. My heart is full.
 
Drew,
That thar 2400 is jest the ticket...A feller can go right down town with that load.


Yea Tom,
She's still a 38 Special...Fer now anyways.
Got a sharp .357 reamer around here sumwheres.


Ya know Gale,
I need to be thinkin about cobblin me own-self a carved rig,
for sportin' that'n around in.


David,
What with the price of gold and us jest been po folk and all...
Any-hows, Misses chased me off'n her jewelery box, whilst I was searchin for scrape gold.
She sez she don't have anything scrappy enough for your's truly.

So just had to move on the the next best thing...100 year old Ivory !

IMG_0711.jpg



Been asked 'bout this Scapegoat Mountain thing.
Wells it a place dear to my heart. I like takin my gals there.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/92205-44-spl-scapegoat-mtn-bull.html


Su Amigo,
Dave
 
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Dave ol boy...that is goin to be one fine shootin irn....what did she start ofn as?


It was an Outdoorsman 6 1/2" 85-90% or so.

Had been converted to a short throw hammer...With as slick a double action as I ever squeeze on,
a single action that's crisp, lite and clean breaking.

Y'all know me, them 4 & 5 inch ones jest rides right
ahorseback or in the pickup truck, for a workin revolver.

Su Amigo,
Dave
Dave
 
On Horseback I would think that an old Brauer Bros pattern shoulder holster under your duster would be just the berries for keeping hemlock needles and chaw juice off've your gat...
 
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Dang Dave, that ol lady is durn near enough to tempt me into takin' a hacksaw to the Outdoorsman I snagged at the auction last fall, and I ain't even managed to put a round through it yet.

That's purentee a classy lookin' shootin' iron.

Was glad to see the link to the Scapegoat mountain story too. That there is a classic tale of the good ol days.

Thanks for sharing.
 
On Horseback I would think that an old Brauer Bros pattern shoulder holster under your duster would be just the berries for keeping hemlock needles and chaw juice off've your gat...


Ya know Drew,
That ain't no half bad idee :D

I may just do that very thing...When leadin pack stock or workin ahorseback in general,
I slide my sidearm around my gunbelt to the crossdraw.

Just to keep a lead rope or catch twine from hangin up on 'er handle and jerkin it out on the rocky ground.

As far as the smithin bench goes...It don't hurt none to be invested in a tool & gage shop ;):D:D

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
My suit maker tells me that I have the body of a stump. I ain't worked many beef creatures nor spent near as much time on the back of a pony as you, but when I did, a sidearm with a tube longer than 4 inches always reminded me how big my kidneys really were...
 
Iggy;
Dang Dave, that ol lady is durn near enough to tempt me into takin' a hacksaw
to the Outdoorsman I snagged at the auction last fall, and I ain't even managed to put a round through it yet


Ah, wells thar Iggy,

You know me...I can't discard nothin'!

So, I got this old nickeled 5 inch HD that I lift'd off'n this ol bandit I know.

Switched her out with a nice 4" .45 Long Colt tube. Got a picture of 'er sumwheres here.

De-nickeled the 5" barrel, milled that half moon key sight off, slotted the little base for a
patridge kinda sight and pin'd 'er on.

And Shazam, I dun got 'er done as that southern comic sezs.





Oh yea, picture of the HD...Still gotta have her re-nickeled.

(I'll be look fer that picture)

Found it! My goin' to town pistola ;)

[URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_0447-1.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_0447-1.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_0447-1.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_0447-1.jpg"] [/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]


Out on the Trail Sumwheres.

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
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Dave

I really do like your think'n firearms are ment to shoot and be used. If you can make what you like even better. Got a couple I had revamped. I can say your threads are full of new adventure and good stories.;):D

RB
 
Dang Dave, that ol lady is durn near enough to tempt me into takin' a hacksaw to the Outdoorsman I snagged at the auction last fall, and I ain't even managed to put a round through it yet.

Thanks for sharing.

Hey! Before you go cuttin' up that OD ya better be givin' me a call!
 
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