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This was posted a couple of years ago, and I learned how to research the history of this handgun. Mr. Jinks responded to confirm that this is one of 74 made in the early 1900's. This 38 was shipped with 6 ½" barrel, checkered grips, and adjustable target sights on August 9, 1904. The model was not very popular in the 38-40 version.
This handgun came into in my family when my great grandfather saw this dandy in action. He was in the process of dragging out a nice buck along a desolate river in Maine, when he met another hunter setting up camp. This man had just cut some pole timber to make a shelter, when one caught into another tree. This hunter retrieved this revolver from his pack and proceeded to shoot the top off the tree to allow it to fall. Needless to say, my great grandfather knew a good thing when he saw it, and bought it. He carried it with him in the woods for years.
The 38 was passed down through family to my Dad many years ago. He has hunted with this, and quite successfully I might add. When I was a kid we would spend some cold winter's nights shooting this in the kitchen. Wow you might say, but when it was loaded with paraffin balls and just a primer for a charge it kept four boys entertained. Mom wasn't impressed with the residue on the back of the stout kitchen door.
We haven't fired this for maybe thirty years now, and have tried to figure out what to do with this piece of history. I got a response from Mr. Jinks about the background of this handgun (letter attached). The original owner was living nearby and we suspect that there was the "hunter in the woods" as the only other owner before it came into the family.
What would you do with this gun? Sell it and move on; keep it in the family, even though hunting traditions are on the wane; get it into a museum; or leave it tucked under the mattress?
This handgun came into in my family when my great grandfather saw this dandy in action. He was in the process of dragging out a nice buck along a desolate river in Maine, when he met another hunter setting up camp. This man had just cut some pole timber to make a shelter, when one caught into another tree. This hunter retrieved this revolver from his pack and proceeded to shoot the top off the tree to allow it to fall. Needless to say, my great grandfather knew a good thing when he saw it, and bought it. He carried it with him in the woods for years.
The 38 was passed down through family to my Dad many years ago. He has hunted with this, and quite successfully I might add. When I was a kid we would spend some cold winter's nights shooting this in the kitchen. Wow you might say, but when it was loaded with paraffin balls and just a primer for a charge it kept four boys entertained. Mom wasn't impressed with the residue on the back of the stout kitchen door.
We haven't fired this for maybe thirty years now, and have tried to figure out what to do with this piece of history. I got a response from Mr. Jinks about the background of this handgun (letter attached). The original owner was living nearby and we suspect that there was the "hunter in the woods" as the only other owner before it came into the family.
What would you do with this gun? Sell it and move on; keep it in the family, even though hunting traditions are on the wane; get it into a museum; or leave it tucked under the mattress?
Kyle
