Finally got a Colt Bisley!

PostPosted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:54 am
Thanks Krag...that Ruger IS built like a tank...and the Colt SAA was a gift from my wife upon retirement from the DoD in 2008.

The original Bisley grips on your Colt are much more curved...and though I did handle one at a gun show, I've never shot one with those original grips.

Never had a chance to fire a Trapdoor either...but maybe some day.

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 12:49 pm
I hadn't noticed the difference in the grip curve between the Colt and the Ruger before comparing the pictures posted here. Looks like Colt continued the Bisley front curve into their New Service revolvers a bit later. Due to photo bucket not responding right today, the New Service pic will have to wait.

Well, looks like that wife of yours is a keeper! Mine wouldn't buy me a gun for fear of buying the wrong one, but she does keep me alerted to any yard sale guns and never complains when I bring a new one in. She just feels I'll get what I really want and can't remember what all I'm looking for.

Trapdoors are still what I call a bargain and available. Very cast bullet friendly, but do require a certain amount of bullet fit and loading. Drag one to the range with black powder ammo and the first shot usually draws some comment, and a crowd. The deep, "BOOM" smoke and "SMACK" of the bullet against the backstop makes em wonder.
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:24 am
Yea...she IS a keeper. Knew that I wanted a SAA for a long time...and made it happen.

She was a Sergeant Major US Army CID...and a weapons expert. She carried a SIG M11A1 (P229) ...which is what I presented to her upon her retirement in a wood case with her challenge coin inset in the lid. Her last port of call in her travels was GITMO. She had quite the career.

As far as Black Powder...the only one I shot is a Pennsylvania Long Rifle owned by my brother.
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:41 am
Speaking of Single Actions...and things that go BOOM...I also own this Blackhawk:


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And here's a friends phone video screen shot of me touching off a .44 Magnum round at a range that was in the process of swapping out ballistic panels between the stalls...

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.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 12:55 pm
Boy, oh boy, I gotta get some more pictures up!

Seeing there weren't many old men in the infantry business in the 60's I figured one tour was enough for me and took my discharge. A few years after that adventure I joined a shooting association that combined history with target shooting, the N-SSA. A group that shoots Civil War small arms and artillery in competition. That led me down the slippery slope of casting and reloading, and exploring all sorts of cool old guns. One that I've never been able to live without has been the .45 Springfield "Trapdoor". They're just a ball to shoot! Everything the finest weapons of earlier times achieved to be, but with a centerfire cartridge. Ya gotta do it with cast bullets, or things just won't work out for accuracy though.
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 3:44 pm
Yea...I would imagine the Trapdoor would be best fed hand load cast bullets...a true piece of Civil War history.

{ BTW: Thank You for Your Service to Our Great Country !! }

Speaking of the Civil War...been to Gettysburg a few times...including the 150th Anniversary in 2013. That was amazing...

Also...in my travels with the DoD...visited old forts when ever I could...including Civil War Fort Clinch in Florida:

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One of the only forts that far south that the Confederacy never captured...
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 3:54 pm
And, of course...a trip to San Antonio would NOT be complete without a visit to the Alamo:


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The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836)

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:46 am
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Here's my "shooter" Springfield. An 1884 Model with the Buffington sights and optional, "shall be issued upon request" pistol grip for target shooting. Also in the second picture, a late model Mills belt and .45 Gov't cartridge with a 405gr. LEE hollow base bullet, (an exact duplicate of the original 405gr. 1873 bullet).

There's just some guns you find and can't ever rid yourself of the "bug" to have at least one around, the Trapdoor Springfield is that bug.

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 12:05 pm
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The 1904 Colt New Service.

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 12:31 pm
Another .45 I can't do without, but of a different lineage.

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Here's another of those guns I can't be without. A bit dated, but it's the one I pick if things were to go real bad.

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I have an AR, but the M-1 is still my primary fighting rifle if things get nasty.

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:38 pm
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Here's my S&W 629-3 as it came from the factory.
PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:39 am
Real nice collection Krag...!!

I also own an M1 Garand....a Springfield dated to November 1944:


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:02 am
...And a S&W Model 629-1:

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:04 am
...And a few 1911a1's:

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:06 am
And...an older colt from 1922...a Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless:

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:10 am
What else ya got...!? :mrgreen:

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:30 pm
Photobucket has gotten so bad lately I can't even retrieve my pics! They suck I tell ya!

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:49 pm
Yeah, I've always liked the Colt Pocket Pistols. Dad had one in .32ACP at one time. I don't recall what happened to it, but I guess he sold it.
PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:36 am
Yea...Your Dad's Colt Pocket in .32 caliber was called the Model 1903.

Looked the same as my 1908...which is in .380 ACP.

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 10:45 pm
Dad only ever had two handguns, both Colt self loaders, a 1903 .32ACP and a 1908 .25ACP. When he got dressed to go out, it was a wool suit, gold pocket watch, silver cigarette case and a Colt pocket pistol. The old man had class back in the day.
PostPosted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 10:16 am
Yea he did !!

Got any pics of that .25 ACP Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket...!?

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 11:28 am
Not of dad's. He sold all his guns except for his centerfire rifles back in the 50's. I like the old Colt self loaders, but the gun both I, (and he) wished he kept was his FOX Sterlingworth 20ga. made in Phila.

I bought a real nice new Remington Wing Master 12 Ga. vent rib before going in the Marines in '67, the old man always said it was too heavy, and "A 20 is all ya need!" After coming home and shooting bunnies with the Remington, the old man decided to get back in on the fun and went to the local hardware to purchase a new FOX 20, (FOX had long since closed their doors by '69) and all they had in a double 20 was a Stevens that paled in comparison. Well, for the money, around $85.00 new he decides to buy the Stevens, IF John will throw in a few boxes of bunny loads. John relents and the old man handed over the money. Thing was he had to fill out a 4473 form now which irritated the old man. Ya could see him getting madder and madder with each question John ask him. When John got to the one asking if the buyer had been convicted of a crime punishable by one or more years in prison, the old man gave John a stern look and said, "Not yet, John...not yet." A classic response and look from the old man I'll never forget! All the old man said on the drive home was, "That Son-of-a-&%#@*, LBJ shoulda been the one to get shot instead Kennedy!" He was right, as usual. :lol:

Here's a picture of a generic Colt 1908 just like the old man's.

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PostPosted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:23 am
Yea...I know what they look like Krag.

Lusted after one for years now...still on the bucket list !!

.410
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:15 am
PostPosted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 11:20 am
I never had one, or the desire. I did trade into a little Walther .25 once at a gun show, just something a guy tossed in to sweeten a deal, and a fellow gave me a MAN/MANN .25 auto made in Germany, made the Colt look big.
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