Robert Ables Catalog

[Retired W4]

A buddy found this at an estate sale and I thought you would get a kick out of seeing it. No date on it but judging from the newest guns it was published right after WW II. Mr. Ables had hand drawings of hundreds of guns and edged weapons. These are the two pages with some S&W guns Enjoy.

 

[Greyman50]

My Dad left me a couple from the 30's when he was collecting old Colts.

 

[Blue dog]

I’ve researched San Francisco back to the 1906 earthquake. Believe it or not there were 37 gun related Major Distributors in San Francisco just prior to the Earthquake in 1906.
After the quake and fire they numbered 17 with hobbyists type gun dealers showing up in the early 1920’s.
This original catalog is from 1933. I have some that date to 1926. Smith & Wesson Schofield revolvers were dirt cheap then.

 

[Retired W4]

I have a S&W that was shipped to Pacific Hardware & Steel 10 months after the big earth quake.. PH&S managed to escape the fire that ravaged the warehouse district in the aftermath of the quake and went on to be one of the largest gun dealers in town. Everyone wanted a gun to deal with the looters

 

[Blue dog]

After the 06’ EQ and Fire the rebuild included major gun influence. The history is very rich up until the 1960’s when the Hippies infested the area. I know because I was there.
Prior to that the town was rich with hunters and gun people. The coastal area has some of the biggest deer I’ve ever seen.
Pacific Gunsight was located in the tenderloin district that is now a Ghetto.
Pacific Gunsight actually made the first Commercial bench loader in 1924.
Sold nationwide followed by the very first C press in 1932. I have one and still use it reloading small caliber pistol.
A lot of great gun related history actually took place and actually originated in San Francisco.

 

[Blue dog]

The very first C press manufactured in the United States was made in San Francisco.



After 1933 with patent approval the press will have the patent number cast into it.
Prior to 1933 it has PACIFIC cast into the left side and SF CAL on the right. Rare press and the first one made in the USA