Field use

[The Kid]

Just out of curiosity how many of you guys carry and use your pre 1961 guns out in the weeds?

I have a 38/44 Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty that both see regular trips afield when I'm hunting pigs or deer, or when I'm just out kicking around mushroom hunting or going to the fishing hole. I also have an original finish 2nd Model Hand Ejector Target 44sp that I pack quite frequently on the same kind of adventures. I carried my 4" Heavy Duty stoked with 38/44 level hand loads once on a brown bear hunt on Admiralty Island in SE AK.

I carry my newer Smiths from the 60's through the 80's too but I really enjoy using them all. Countless snakes, porcupines, pigs, and other varmints have met their demise when one of them has spoken. My future goal is to kill a deer with the 2nd model but the stars haven't aligned just yet.

Just nothing like a good revolver in a good piece of leather when you're out in the hills.

 

[SAFireman]

I have everything from the turn of the century forward....

 

[lihpster]

Got an M&P with a 1904-1905 born on date that goes in the woods with me on occasion. I also have a Winchester pump .22 made in the '20s that I take out alot. One of the most accurate rifles I own. I also sometime carry my Stevens 16GA external hammer double barrel. But my favorite gun that fits your timeline is also the one I use the most. Pre-64 Mod. 70 in .270. Used to be my dad's and then my brother's but now it's mine. Counting back, we figure it's taken about 130 deer. You tell me I have one chance to make a shot at 100-400 yards, this is the gun I'm grabbing.

 

[The Kid]

I have a very nice, not pristine but pretty close considering it's age, Remington M30R in 30/06. It's never been drilled for a scope and I prefer it wears just it's factory peep. It makes it out on nice days during deer season. Haven't shot a deer with it yet, could have just wasn't the right situation, but I did kill a pretty big pig with it a couple years ago.

One of my favorite hunting rifles is a 1949 production Savage 99 EG in 300 that my wife gave me for our anniversary one year. It too hasn't been drilled and wears a Redfield peep. I've taken many blacktails on Kodiak island with it.

I'll admit that when the chips are down and I feel pressured to fill a tag, IE high dollar out of state hunts, I'll grab a more modern scoped rifle or my Bisley Super Blackhawk. But for most of the time when I'm just out enjoying the hills I enjoy carrying my more collectible classic firearms.

 

[StrawHat]

I have a Model 1917 that I installed a 4" barrel and used as an EDC.

Kevin

 

[merl67]

Well my deer rifle is a sporterised 93 Mauser in 8mm. I have hunted squirrel with my Savage 311 12ga. I also carry a S&W Military & Police 38 spl. From around 1910 if I am hiking.

 

[The Kid]

How about some doves with one of my Prewar Ithaca 37s, a 16ga of course.
A pig that met the M30.
Firewood cutting revolver.
M99 still hunting in a fresh snow in the Mtns of Colorado, sadly the biggest buck we crossed paths with that day was a forkie so he got a pass.

 

[StrawHat]

Firewood cutting revolver.

Judging from the small rims visible, a Heavy Duty?

Kevin

 

[The Kid]

Judging from the small rims visible, a Heavy Duty?

Kevin

Yes sir, a transitional gun. Sadly the week I bought it I had a chance at a 6.5 HD and passed as I liked the 4" better and already had it. Now I'm wishing I'd have bought both.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

All my guns get carried in the woods .Most of what I own is pre 1950 and most before 1930. I see no sense in owning things and not using them.

 

[Kinman]

With exception to few, everything I own is pre-number and gets moved around in the vehicle or on myself. The real nice stuff just gets a trip to the range but a couple are my favorite carry pieces. I have a 24-3 L.H. Special that is probably my favorite and gets the most mileage, this cut down 1917 is my second favorite. I had my original Remington Rolling Block down to the range today putting it through its paces. I shoot three days a week and run just about everything through a box of cartridges in the course of a year, black powder stuff sees more action. I cast and reload just about everything I own and am slowly but surely cleaning out all of my jacketed bullet rifles.



I picked this old girl up awhile back, 1863 Aston Martial Pistol...first percussion Army piece, last smoothbore. Took it to the range and let the crew try it out, everybody shot it reasonably well, good horse pistol.

 

[StrawHat]

Yes sir, a transitional gun. Sadly the week I bought it I had a chance at a 6.5 HD and passed as I liked the 4" better and already had it. Now I'm wishing I'd have bought both.

Yep, the small rims, old hammer but lack of hammer stud had me guessing transitional. Everytime I come to this site, I learn something.

Kevin

 

[wvs&w]

Great post Kid, I took my 2nd Model 5" HE 44 Spc. to the farm Tuesday, and had to shoot a stump. Mine has been reblued about 25 years ago and locked away until last year, it is a good shooter. No safe queens here, all shooters. Thanks for posting yours!

 

[The Kid]

Here's my 2nd model out sunbathing next to the full flap that it rides in most of the time.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Only my stainless ones!!!!

 

[BAM-BAM]

Now the rest of the story....................

I only have a few...... my Dad's duty guns and a couple of big $$$$$ , 99% collectable ones.......

So no..... why would I , when I have stainless 60s,66,686s in various barrel lengths.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Yep, the small rims, old hammer but lack of hammer stud had me guessing transitional. Everytime I come to this site, I learn something.
Kevin

Same here!
Kid, would you please share the first few digits of the serial number of your transitional HD? I examined five transitional .38-44 HD/OD's in my possession and all but one have a threaded and beveled hammer stud. That one is a 4" HD, S72xxx, shipped 4/28/49. I've been shooting and collecting S&W's for a long time and never gave a thought to the evolution of the N frame hammer stud. Now I know.

Here's a post by 1Aspenhill (Bill, our resident HD expert), from a 2014 thread (http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...mmer-stud-question.html?393861=#post138106815) discussing hammer studs:

"The first N frames shipped were in late June/early July 46 and they have the beveled hammer stud. It is not until later that you see the flat hammer stud. Our theory, unsubstanstiated, is that there was a problem with the hammer studs on these guns-loose, broken etc, that prompted their return and we have noticed that the specimens we have seen have the flat hammer stud and that the blue matches the rest of the gun, which indicates they had someone really good to match the color of the gun. The range of serial numbers on these is from S65K to S71K. I have an idea on when they went to the new hammer stud but do not have my notes with me."

Thanks for sharing your vintage Field Guns, everyone! Pictured is my 1926 .44HE 2nd Model 5". It's actually lighter than a modern 4" .44 Mountain Gun!

 

[petepeterson]

I'm assuming you mean S&W revolvers, so in that case- no.
All of my hunting guns are older than that, though.

 

[The Kid]

I'd be happy to post the serial number on my HD as soon as I get home this evening. I'm always amazed at the variations and of the knowledge of them on this board.

 

[The Kid]

Just checked and my HD is serial S75186.