Yet another "non-Ruger"

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Yosemite Sam

Hunter
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
2,113
Location
Cape Cod, MA, USA
I know, I know... But it was so pretty just sitting there. I had to refinish the grips as originally they were this horrible orange color with a gloss polycoat.

IMG_1270Small.jpg


She's a 1985 S&W 624 Lew Horton Edition 3" .44 Special. The Ruger tie-in is that I fell in love with this caliber by virtue of my Lipsey's BH. While I love that gun too, I'm not quite good enough with a single action to want to use it as a carry gun. This one now fills that role:

IMG_1290Small.jpg


Don't you just love those Jacuzzi-sized hollowpoints? Winchester Silvertips.

Holster is on order from Rob @ Simply Rugged. Can't wait to start wearing it more regularly. Yes, it's a big old N-frame, but it's only a little heavier than my stainless Commander.

-- Sam
 

chutch

Bearcat
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
47
Location
Nampa ID
Love the short barrel Smith 44 specials......

24-6
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Simply Rugged Tribute with pouch for the speed strips. Now he is making a shoulder harness for the Tribute. Note to self , Call Wasilla!
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mm6mm6

Blackhawk
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
511
Location
Illinois
Careful, careful! .44 Specials are an addiction. Next thing you know, you'll have some of these:

My 1982 Colt with Executioner's American Elk handles:

Grashorn003.jpg


My 1962, 2nd Generation Colt with old, old, old Stag handles:

Cookie001-1.jpg


My pair of AWA Peacekeepers:

AWA004.jpg


My Cimarron 1872 Open Top .44 Special customized by Bob Munden:

Cimarron1872013.jpg


1872Munden022.jpg


My S&W 624:

SW624g002.jpg


All of 'em, including my Lipsey's Blackhawk before it became adorned with Cary C's birdseye maple handles:

FourtyFours005.jpg


...and speaking of the birdseye maple handles:

Blackhawk004.jpg
 

Snake45

Hawkeye
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
9,121
Location
+4020
What a shame Smith didn't go ahead and put 3.5" barrels on those things, like the old M27s. Then they could have had full-length ejectors on them, like this limited-run 3" M66 (K frame).

M66a.jpg
 

Yosemite Sam

Hunter
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
2,113
Location
Cape Cod, MA, USA
Yeah, but with .44 Special length cases those 3"ers work fine. I rarely need the ejector on mine anyway, as the cases pretty much drop out.

Nice guns, everyone! I really like that "Open Top". I've been thinking about picking up a 18xx conversion revolver for some time, but this might fit the bill. I sort of liked the idea of the 1861 Remington due to the "Yosemite Sam" tie-in, but I also like the look of the old OT.

What's the accuracy/consistency like? Will it shoot to point of aim with a normal load? I'm primarily a target shooter, and I'm always a bit suspicous of "repro" guns.

-- Sam
 

Yosemite Sam

Hunter
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
2,113
Location
Cape Cod, MA, USA
wixedmords":3c7trqej said:
Love the grip YS. The red or orange grips will darken a bit if stained.

I have an older wooden grip for a Colt V frame that I am going to stain darker.
Thanks! I finally learned the lesson on these that "dark walnut" stain has too many yellow highlights, and never gets dark enough, while "ebony" stain has too many green highlights, and that the two finishes don't mix very well (splotchy coverage). I may have to go with leather dye or ink for my next "dark" grips.

I also used an old folk prep step of vinegar and steel wool to help darken and bring out the grain.

-- Sam
 

Snake45

Hawkeye
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
9,121
Location
+4020
I think the S&W "orange" (goncalo alves) grips are quite attractive. I have several of them. The ones I didn't care that much for were their walnut that was very light, almost a golden color. I recently redid a set of those and stained them to a dark walnut color and they look great.
 

mm6mm6

Blackhawk
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
511
Location
Illinois
Yosemite Sam, when I ordered my Cimarron Open Top in .44 Special, I knew the blue would be dark and beautiful. I knew the one piece walnut grips would fit perfectly to the brass frame and have a handsome appearance.

I also knew the mainspring would be overly strong, the trigger pull terrible, and the timing off.

But I had also wanted to have a revolver's action customized by Bob Munden. I've always enjoyed Munden and I really like his humor on Impossible Shots Wednesday nights on the Outdoor Channel.

The revolver came back with a trigger pull under 2 pounds with a perfectly timed action. It's amazing.

RugerSR556004.jpg


Check out the targets. They were all center hold at 21 feet, one handed, standing. The gun shoots great!
 

cubrock

Blackhawk
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
835
Location
NC
I wanna play the .44 Special game!


My 624 4" - one of my regular carry guns, with leather by Simply Rugged:

sw624withholster.jpg



My USFA 4 3/4" Flat Top Target with leather by Rick Gittlein and Simply Rugged:

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usfaftt44withgittleinleahyleather.jpg




Texas Longhorn Arms Improved Number "Five" in .44 Special. Only one known in that caliber.

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My S&W 1950 Target with leather from Simply Rugged:

1950targetwithfliptopholsterright.jpg




3.5" Freedom Arms Model 97 with Duclos leather:

fa9744specwithduclosholster.jpg




I have a few other "Special" .44s, but don't have pics handy. :D
 

Yosemite Sam

Hunter
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
2,113
Location
Cape Cod, MA, USA
Nice guns, gents (he says, the master of understatement). Now I know where all the .44 Specials go! Some serious investments here.

I'm not sure whether to go Freedom Arms or custom for my next one... I do think I'm at that point, though. I have enough commercial grade firearms to sink a small boat, maybe it's time for something really nice.

-- Sam
 

wickerbill

Bearcat
Joined
Jul 1, 2007
Messages
59
Location
Tullahoma, TN 37388
I can play this game too. Here is my Lipsey 44 spl. with CLC black micarta grips.
1000937.jpg

Here is my
S&W 696 five shot L-frame is my main carry gun.(I love this gun)
1000802.jpg

Here is my 44spl. Colt New Frontier. (This gun dosn't know it's not a rifle)
1000484.jpg

Bill
 

Yosemite Sam

Hunter
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
2,113
Location
Cape Cod, MA, USA
Oh heck, as long as everyone else has done it...

Here's my Lipsey's .44 with a target from the first time I shot it:

IMG_1201Small.jpg


And after I replaced the grips with extended Honduran Rosewood panels from forum member 41 Magnum (bad lighting and all):

IMG_1216_lightened_small.jpg


-- Sam
 

yankee7809

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jan 17, 2005
Messages
197
Location
Powell,TN,USA
You guys have a bunch of special .44s. I never get tired of seeing these kind of beauties. I am at present hunting for a " Lew Horton" 624 for carry. So far no luck but I'll shake one loose sooner or later.
 
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