Great Western .22 revolver

[Waldo]

Saw a Great Western .22 single action revolver yesterday. It appeared to be made on the full size single action frame. The .22 chamber holes in the full size cylinder looked tiny. It needed a good cleaning, but probably had about 80% of the finish remaining. It was priced at $599.99. But he came down to $400.00 with out me asking. I have not seen many Great Western revolvers, and even fewer for sale. Is any one familiar with them and what they are worth? I have heard conflicting reports on their quality. I have no need for another .22 revolver, but it sure looked neat.

 

[JcMack]

Virtually everything is on the internet. If you do a search on it you'll see they are asking pretty big bucks for them.
http://www.greatwesternfirearms.com/htm/body.htm
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=129737493

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I recall the "Great Western" Revolvers from the 1950s. Manufactured in West Germany and sold by a California Gun Firm "Goldern State Arms". These Revolvers were Blued with Stag Grips. These Revolvers came in various calibers .22LR, .32, .357, .44, .45acp, and .45colt.
I owned one in .22LR and was very pleased with it.
Jimmy

 

[Muley Gil]

Yes, quality was spotty on the Great Western revolvers. As I understand it, towards the end of production, assemble yourself kits were sold, in addition to finished guns.

I had a good one once, a 5 1/2" .45 Colt with plastic stags. Sure hated to sell that one, but money was tight in 2002. Funny, it's tight in 2009 too.

 

[Bat Guano]

I remember the ads for them as a kid. Elmer Keith mentions them in "Sixguns", and there is also a picture of John Wayne with a pair of presentation GWs there as well. Rumor has it that they were used in the movie "The Shootist" but I am not certain of that.

...Seems like money has always been tight and guns priced pretty high. At least to me.

 

[Photog]

James Arness used on in Gunsmoke. I also seem to remember that they offered one in .357 Atomic. Have no idea what that was.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Check the mechanics, lock up,timeing, ect, if good grab it!

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

I had the opportunity to look at one recently when a neighbor asked me to "look at this old gun and tell me what you think?"

Well, yes, it is resembles a Colt SAA, but I don't think it is the same. The one I handled had some problems and the
fix didn't seem evident.

It was one of these things that I would have told any buyer to "pass" on. It just wasn't a first class revolver.

To me it wasn't a $500.00 gun...but maybe...only maybe a $50.00 gun...at the most.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi, Me again:
$400.00 seems high to me for an "Off Brand" .22 revolver, but more knowledgable Forum Members can offer better price advice.
Jimmy

 

[OFT]

A friend found one last year in fairly good shape for $100.00. It turned out to be a decent shooter, not great but okay.