Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Grail Gun?

If I have a grail gun it would be a S&W .38-44 Heavy Duty, 4 or 5 inch, blue or (preferably) nickel. The same configuration of a Model 28 as well. Neither is really impossible to find, just a matter of spending the time and money. Not a good time now, as we are getting ready to get out of this God-forsaken state and move South, also sending a boy off to college in the fall and his brother right behind him the following year.

I'm not a collector, so my "grail" is the right gun with some history and the cosmetic blemishes to prove it, plus a perfect bore and mechanicals.

I'm not an automatic guy at all--all five-speed and six-speed "manuals" for me.

So far my best buys are a 4" round butt S&W 651 "Stainless Magnum Kit Gun" w/red ramp front, and a Colt "New Service," 44-40 w/7 1/2" bbl. and old stags, made in 1914. Outside has character; inside is pristine. And she shoots the same loads as my '92 short rifle very well. Now I'd like a .38-40 NS or Bisley to go with my Win 1885 High Wall in that caliber (that's right, HIGH Wall).

In spite of my general aversion to autos, the First Model Colt "Woodsman Sport" that "Huntsman22" showed is one of the best small carry pistols ever made. I have a plain, worn one that is a great companion when I'm wandering and just feel like carrying "something." The only caveat I have for those is that they need to have the marking on the front strap that has parallel lines on it, NOT the earlier one with crosshatched lines. The latter are too early for modern high velocity .22 LRs, not to mention Stingers or Velocitors.

Sorry, I'm picher illiterate.

1) Triple Lock 44 special.

2) S&W #3 in 44 Russian

3) Freedom Arms 44 Mag.

I'ld even throw a SAA 44 special on the list...

Probably in that order, and I'm poor enough, blue or nickel wouldn't matter, sights, or barrel length. Would just like to have a decent example in condition to shoot occasionally.

LOL Doc, I noticed that at the Tennessee pig shoot, if you'd have mentioned it, you may have wrote a check and left with that 303 Brit double rifle, my Colt SAA 45 and that A5 Belgian light twelve that you couldn't miss clay birds with.

I found my two grails; 1957 Smith 4" pre 29's in both colors:

I'd take a pair, but without the dairy cow.....

That's a damn nice hand cannon Mart, congratulations! I'd love to shoot it.

Yessir. You’ve a knack for finding ‘em and appreciating them, clearly.

There are quality guns, high condition guns, rare guns, but they’re just guns in the end. Then there’s working art like that .303, likely traveled the world, built in dim lighting with tooling that’s considered antiquated today, by a small cadre of committed craftsman of modest stature but extraordinary commitment to say nothing of astounding talents. Belt-driven machinery. Hand to cutter, to file, to graver, to scraper. 6 months gestation to get there, maybe a year, and even then there will be minute dimensional “shortcomings” you’d never find in say a modern Blaser shotgun, whose cnc tolerances are so stringent every single part is plug-n-play, is perfect.

But the latter is just a machine money can buy, that’s all it’ll ever be. Scratch it, it’s worth 50% less. The first example, however, is live art and will always feel alive, and perfect in it’s own skin, and be a touchstone to craftsmanship and history worth reflecting on. Yes, a wealthy shiek can order one up today new from Holland & Holland for $400-500k - but won’t be the same. I’d save my pennies for the 120 year old version.

Haven’t quite put a finger on what that would translate to in a handgun, yet. Different bird. Still, lots of sweet handguns on folk’s grail list. Provenence is interesting amongst handguns i think, not because of scarcity but for the history and story attached where someone previously held that grip. And why.

Dang Doc, that was deep, and oh so true.

Lots of nice guns here. Sandcritter, that’s very succinct and I feel the same way. I have a shop full of old tools and machines. There’s just something different about them. If only they could tell stories.

Thank you sir. It's a handful with full throttle loads. I've been playing with some Trailboss and some 440 grain SWCs. Only about 750 fps but they ring steel with some surprising authority.I wouldn't be surprised but what that load would traverse a deer lengthwise. I did use it last year with a heavy load to finish off my bull moose, but that's the extent of its game getting so far. Anyone who is a single action revolver fan should, once in their life, own a custom by one of the big names: Linebaugh, Bowen, Huntington, Clements to name a few. They produce using works of art.

There comes a time when cost and ability doesn't matter. I've wanted a 41 for 30 years and finally got one a few years ago. I was always a very good rifleman but only an average pistol shot. I woke up one day in my mid 50's and said, I want one whether I can shoot it to its ability or not. I've never regretted it. I used to have a 625 Mountain Gun and loved it but ended up selling it. If a gun (or anything else) doesn't serve a purpose, I send it down the road.

Nice, glad you got to use it for a moose finisher, I don't doubt 440grs at 750 fps will punch a deer lengthways, were I to ever get one, the 440's would be loaded at a reasonably comfortable 1250 fps, with that I think I could call it all good, agreed on the Craftsmen, I've never had any of their work in my hands, need to change that.

Uphiker,
If I "sent unneeded guns down the road" I would have to buy a 41 and a 625 MG and......
to spend the money.

I only buy guns i get great deals on, or that I "really can use" now days.
Nothing leaves.

well if money was no object it would be a s&w registered mag in 3.5" barrel. one in blue and one in nickle. but i settled for a superb 27-2 in 3.5" instead. love that gun. shoots like a laser and hardly kicks.

As far as pistols go, I have 2 out of 3....................I'm still missing a '60's-early '70's vintage S&W 41; I've passed on a few but will have to break down soon. I still have my Hi-Standard Trophy Match 22, which is better than all but the very best 41's but there's just something about the fit & finish & blue of the old Smith's.

Rifles..........now that's a whole 'nother story.

MM


Wilson 1911




Christensen Custom 1911 Commander

Love the 41. Get one and you won't regret it. It can be shot without worrying about wearing it out.
Bob

I got mine, the Colt Anaconda

Didn't know there were any 29-2 guns out there with full lug.

I'd be tickled pink with that one. I came close to a very nice one in .45 Colt, 5.5". I was too ignorant at the time to understand that the price I was being offered in the last hour of a gun show was actually a good price.