Sold on Rock Island Auction for $450,000.
WOW !
WOW !
John Wayne's Colt SAA
- Thread starter jimmyj
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It would just be fine to see on display. Actually it belongs in the Smithsonian next to Archie Bunker's chair
usmc2427765
US Veteran
Jimmy, were you top bidder?
mattallamerican
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any pics id love to see it
They used to have some of his guns from the movies at the Cowboy Hall tFame on Oklahoma City, but I'm guessing this was a personally owned gun?
squidsix
Member
Since the auction is ended, I dont think I am breaking any rules:
John Wayne'''s Colt Single Action Army Revolver | Rock Island Auction
John Wayne'''s Colt Single Action Army Revolver | Rock Island Auction
One heck of a price for SAA with the wrong cylinder and grips!
It is interesting to read about this gun. A .45 Colt barrel, a .44-40 cylinder, and aftermarket plastic grips.
I was about to inquire of the knowledgeable gun-cranks here how in the world one would shoot .44-40 out of a .45 caliber barrel, then it hit me that the bullet would I guess exit the barrel because the barrel is of a larger caliber than the round.
Then I thought about it some more and realized it would not matter if all one was firing was blanks! I wonder if this gun was ever even fired with live rounds?
Even as a kid, I always thought the grips looked too yellow for aged Ivory. I guess I was correct.
It is interesting to read about this gun. A .45 Colt barrel, a .44-40 cylinder, and aftermarket plastic grips.
I was about to inquire of the knowledgeable gun-cranks here how in the world one would shoot .44-40 out of a .45 caliber barrel, then it hit me that the bullet would I guess exit the barrel because the barrel is of a larger caliber than the round.
Then I thought about it some more and realized it would not matter if all one was firing was blanks! I wonder if this gun was ever even fired with live rounds?
Even as a kid, I always thought the grips looked too yellow for aged Ivory. I guess I was correct.
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I seem to recall the studio used "5 in 1" blanks and the .44-40 was one of the five in which they would chamber.
The grips/stocks are Catalin, mentioned here often as a "phenolic resin". Popular with dishware and radio enclosures during the mid-20th century also.
The grips/stocks are Catalin, mentioned here often as a "phenolic resin". Popular with dishware and radio enclosures during the mid-20th century also.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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I have read he was not a real gun guy, hence having an SAA that was just a prop seems right.
Now the Nock Volley Gun that "Jim Bowie" (Richard Widmark) carried-THAT I'd like to have!
Now the Nock Volley Gun that "Jim Bowie" (Richard Widmark) carried-THAT I'd like to have!
NFrameFred
Member
Not so . . . >clik< >clik< at least once in the scene in Big Jake when John confronted Fatty of Richard Boone's gang and had to resort burying a pitchfork in his belly . . .
Story goes that JW "tea stained" the grips to get that color
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Well, pilgrims, I actually handled that gun back in '09. Didn't wash my mitts for a week after...
John
John
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Wayne must have owned 2 SAA's........BECAUSE he carried a Great Western in many movies.
DWalt
Member
I have intentionally fired .44-40 cartridges in a .45 Colt revolver. They work, at least well enough to keep all shots on the paper at 10 yards. And no keyholes. I have read that the use of .38-40 and .44-40 cartridges in .45 revolvers was not that unusual back in the Wild West days. They used what they could get, so long as they fit into the chambers.
Indeed the grips were Catalin (like Bakelite). Catalin grips, like many other Catalin items, are highly desirable to collectors.
Some years back, there was a feature article about the JW Colt in the American Rifleman.
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When reading the auction listing, it says lettered (shipped) as a .45 Colt and later modified with a .44 WCF cylinder and barrel.
So the gun is now a 44-40.
Not sure why all the talk of mismatched chamberings and using .44s in a .45 Colt. Doesn’t seem to be the case here.
So the gun is now a 44-40.
Not sure why all the talk of mismatched chamberings and using .44s in a .45 Colt. Doesn’t seem to be the case here.
I apologize, I misread the auction listing and thought it still had the .45 colt barrel. That was 100% my mistake.
