Let's Have a Great Western Arms Thread!...I'll Start

[Goony]

Great Western Gallery

Showing many less common variants along with other info: Models – Great Western Firearms

Be sure to also click on the "History" tab at the top of this webpage.

 

[Goony]

Great Western Serial Numbers

General serial number and markings info: Great Western Arms Serial and Marking Guide | Great Western Arms Collector

Year of manufacture: When was it made: GWA production by year | Great Western Arms Collector

 

[Goony]

A Very Fancy Pair

Sold at auction a few years ago: Pair of Great Western Arms Frontier Six-Shooter Single Action Army Revolvers (icollector.com)

One gun has the extra "0" in the serial number that normally denotes its having been sold in kit form while the other doesn't. This leaves it rather up in the air as to whether the embellishments were done or commissioned by the factory or a customer.

 

[RetCapt]

Goony,

Somewhere in the historical account referenced in the web page you cited, it says that the Great Western frames were forged.

Sometime back I read another historical account, which I have no way to retrace, which said the frames were investment cast. IIRC it even named a local SoCal firm that made them.

So, can you clarify, forged or investment cast?

Tnx

 

[Goony]

Goony,

Somewhere in the historical account referenced in the web page you cited, it says that the Great Western frames were forged.

Sometime back I read another historical account, which I have no way to retrace, which said the frames were investment cast. IIRC it even named a local SoCal firm that made them.

So, can you clarify, forged or investment cast?

According to the article that appeared in the May 1955 issue of Guns magazine: "Instead of making a forging for the frame, [Wilson] uses an invested chrome-molybdenum casting of aircraft quality steel."

 

[RetCapt]

According to the article that appeared in the May 1955 issue of Guns magazine: "Instead of making a forging for the frame, [Wilson] uses an invested chrome-molybdenum casting of aircraft quality steel."

Got it. That is probably the same article I had read. That does seem to be the more efficient means to produce them.

Tnx.

 

[Goony]

Here's an American Rifleman article regarding the Great Western revolvers, in which the supplier of the frames is identified as Arwood Precision Investment Casting: This Old Gun: Great Western 'The Deputy' Revolver | An Official Journal Of The NRA (americanrifleman.org)

 

[Goony]

Here's an early (1954) Great Western advertisement plus an interior shot of the Hy Hunter's shop in Burbank. At the far left is what appears to be a pile of Great Western SA's atop the display case. The fellow in the cowboy hat smoking a cigar is identified as "Carbine" Williams.

 

[Papa Lee]

Great Western Arms 22 CAL Revolver

4 3/4" .22LR Recently sold on GB for $888.88.
Just a moment...

 

[gunbarrel]

Get this $40 book...

 

[Goony]

4 3/4" .22LR Recently sold on GB for $888.88.

A hardcore Great Western collector might want it as the .22's were (at least early on) supposedly only available with 5½" barrels. This will turn out to be a rather poor buy if the barrel's been cut down at some point. Too bad the auction listing didn't provide the serial number.

 

[Papa Lee]

GW .22 on GB

The frame appeared to be blued instead of color case hardened. So that's another red flag.

 

[Goony]

The frame appeared to be blued instead of color case hardened. So that's another red flag.

I concur this was the proverbial "pig in a poke" as what if that finish indicates it was somebody's DIY project made up from one of the kits? That's where knowing the serial number could also be really important in assessing just what it represents. I'll also fault the photos, which just repeatedly show each side of the gun. To help verify the originality of that barrel I'd really like to see shots of the muzzle and front sight.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Great thread. All new to me. If you are not careful, you learn stuff all the time here.

 

[boykinlp]

I was watching “Tales of Wells Fargo” on INSP TV earlier today and happened to notice main character Jim Hardie’s revolver. To me, it looked like it might have the grips of a Great Western gun. Not a bad show either.
Larry

 

[bill-in-texas]

Get this $40 book...

And have the author, Jim Hoobler, sign it!
He’s a wealth of knowledge, too, if you give him a phone call.
Very interesting gentleman and a “been-there, owned-that” collector.

-Bill

 

[0le]

Am I correctly reading "Audie Murphy" also inscribed on that backstrap?

It is my understanding that MOH Recipient, Audie Murphy was a shareholder in the Great Western Arms Co.

 

[handejector]

If I remember correctly Great Western also marketed a copy of the Remington Derringer chambered in .38 S&W. Anyone know the story on them?

I only know what the book says.
I sold this one on GB in 2022 for $380. The wood grips were a "Factory Extra" according to the book.

 

[Goony]

One in a less common chambering that was sold at auction earlier this year: Great Western Arms Co. Single Action Army Revolver | Rock Island Auction

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Both of these GWs were my dads from the late 50s when I was born. The serial number on the chromed .22 serial # starts with a “0” meaning it was bought as a kit gun and put together. The action is whacked out as you can see. 30 years ago I asked my dad if he wanted the .44 Special reblued for his birthday which it was by Frank Leaman who also made the curly maple grips and engraved our last name on the back strap. Action rebuilt by the great Jim Martin of AZ about 12 years ago. My son gets that one as soon as he moves back to the states.