Lets Not Forget Those High Functioning Ugly Ducklings

Still in service, getting more battered all the time...
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This beat-up old .38 special Hand Ejector was manufactured in 1903, and shipped to Belknap Hardware in Louisville, Kentucky 4/20/04. Apparently, my paternal grandfather bought it there to use as a "store gun," as he was a country store owner in Crittenden, Kentucky at the turn of the century. He wore it in the shoulder holster you see there for 20 years as he took his daily receipts to the bank down the street on foot. It got so worn that he had it re-nickeled. It got very hard use, witness the many dings on it. Hate to say it, but looks like it was used to drive nails at some point. My grandparents moved to Arizona in 1924 for my grandmother's health. On my grandfather's death in 1942, my grandmother kept this gun, loaded, in a dresser drawer as a house gun. On her death in 1975, I took possession of it. I have fired a cylinderful of low-pressure wadcutter rounds through it - it still works. It's not a real safe gun, as this early hand ejector action will allow you to press the hammer forward with your thumb to contact the primer underneath it. A drop on the hammer could discharge it.

It's been used and abused, but I wouldn't part with it for the world. It's been in the family for 110 years now.

John

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Sigh . . . I love "ugly ducklings" . . . . this thread is one of the best gun porn threads I've seen in a long time! Nothing like a good old Smith with honest wear on it . . .

"ugly ducklings" no love and used yes what are firearms for. No safe queens for me. I like well used and loved firearms. I haven't seen any that I wouldn't buy or own if I had the $$$.
 
That is a fantastic "artistic" photo. The multihued grays and browns with the variegated textures really make this photo and it's subject stand out with character beyond description. That revolver is amazingly ruggedly handsome. It's easy to see why you "Love that gun."

John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

Hah, thanks. I wasn't really aiming for that. The light in my greenhouse was just good that day for taking pictures so I took a set of pictures of most of my smiths to have for reference. I was rather pleased at the time with that new Heiser that matched the RM so well, none of the other shots really had that in it: Sixgun Strumpet's S&W Collection - Imgur

Funny thing is that the entire setup for taking those pictures is a $5 tripod I bought at a thrift shop, a $200 Panasonic GX1, and an old 55mm lens I bought for $50 so I could manually focus. The grey thing is a placemat from Ikea leaning against an ammo can. Add in a bright overcast day, a greenhouse, and excellent subject matter and it seems to come together nicely.

I'm certainly not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but since the guns have to be locked up all the time I wanted some way to enjoy them when they couldn't be in my hand. A friend of mine pointed me at that camera and I give that thing all the credit, it's ridiculous what you can buy these days for nearly nothing in cameras.

Here's something you probably didn't know. The photo that Lee uses as his Avatar was actually a real photo taken of him at a Smith & Wesson Collector's Association meeting when someone mentioned to him the possibility that I might dump the gun to someone other than him. Check it out, it's the truth, there were witnesses.

You just said that because, like Steinbach, you want me to incur the "Apes of wrath".

This does not surprise me.

As far as I am concerned that's probably the best RM in private hands, at least that I've seen. I can't imagine better unless maybe somehow Patton's got onto the market place. Anyone with any kind of good taste would be overjoyed to own it.
 
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My ugly duckling is an old colt police positive special. Picked it up from a neighbor at a garage sale that thought it was a model of a real gun. Told him it wasn't and gave him a fair price. Picked it up for a novelty gun and it actually shoots fantastic. Strange caliber being 32-20 but luckily it's popular in cowboy action and having an old west town out here I can find it regularly from my lgs and inexpensive as they are all reloads. Serial number dates it to 1909.
 
I had a dream I owned this gun last night.

It was a good dream.

Well, if it's gone that far, I should give you some new photos to dream on. I just ran out to the patio and shot these. Nothing great. But brand newly taken.

Just laying on the ol' gas BBQ.


A close-up of the engraving Phil had done after the war. You would not believe how many times I had to take this stupid photograph to get one in focus with the camera I have.


Trying to be fancy, I rigged up a towel and shot this with Phil's and my Heavy Duty. Light went all funny, nothing really worked except they're not blurry...oh well. I tried. No guns were damaged in the taking of these photos.


Sweet dreams! Enjoy!
 
Here's the other side. Someone today asked me about the grip adapter. I think we discussed it in another thread, but it shows up well here for it's cracked and battered age. Again, I had to take this photo several times to get one in focus. I'll post these in the original thread instead of taking this one off on a tangent any further.

 
What's left of the grip adapter is a Mershon.


If you have not read the story linked by calmex above, do so .... NOW.

Charlie
 
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beautiful to me

Got this 1968 37 a few years back and carry it when it ain't raining. It has hardly any bluing left on the cylinder and barrel. It is just fine mechanically and shoots good for what it is. Never had a feeding or ejection issue. :rolleyes: It is at least all original with the original numbered, beat up grips. 1968 doesn't really sound that old since that is the year I graduated from high school, but that was 46 years ago.
I do shoot it quite a bit. :p :cool:
Peace,
Gordon
 
I really have only one ugly duckling. My RM looked like someone used it as a hammer, and for such a fine ole piece, I had to redo it….the barrel had already been cut….it was worse than any gun here, save for the .44.
Here is the one gun that is worse for wear… blood stained…


here is the RM:… NOW that it is redone….

 
This old .32-20 has some hours on the job, I rekon.
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I'm glad the 32-20's showed up. The picture of this one makes it look better than in person. It looks like some one cleaned it with a Brillo pad, and it is probably the most accurate revolver I own !! Victory stocks and all.
 

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