I've had this pre 64 winchester for 16 years, but I'm only 23. Came from my grandfather. I made the leather for it recently.
I've had this pre 64 winchester for 16 years, but I'm only 23. Came from my grandfather. I made the leather for it recently.
I have a 1921 German Luger (P-08) which was my first and only firearm for 10 years (I bought it when I turned 21)). I only take that one out to the range once or twice a year now with a friend at Christmas time but I have a 1918 Luger which I tend to use more often (once every month or two) and a WWI era Webley revolver, too.
Here's a photo of my oldest handgun:
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This is my Colt .357. Dad bought it new in 1954 and gave it to me in 1977 when I became LEO. Still locks up tight and shoots great.
That 4-inch Colt 3 5 7 is fully the equal to any Python in trigger pull and action smoothness and is better looking to boot in my opinion. Yours features the really neato fully checkered walnut stocks only used by Colt on their premium revolvers up to about 1960. Those stocks by themselves are worth a pretty penny. Though I have a Python I think its full-lugged barrel is ill-balanced and clumsy looking and the vent rib is over the top. The Royal Blue finish standard on the Python is a bit much as well, giving an over-polished and slightly "melted" look. The Python is reminiscent of the '59 Cadillac with it's over-the-top styling with the soaring tail fins and all the chrome. Of course I'd be tickled to drive a '59 Cadillac despite it's styling excesses. The 3 5 7 is my favorite of the Colt double action .357 Magnum revolvers though and is an uncommonly found Colt model. Very underrated as a shooter or as a collectible.
Oh man! Showing stuff like that here. Now I'm envious. That is one fine revolver right there! Thanks for putting up the photo of it. I'd love to have one and hope to trade into one some day before I'm too old to do any good with it at the range. It is a most excellent companion piece to the 3 5 7 and Colt would have been pleased to know that your family made the purchases. Has those great stocks on it as well. No one makes any revolvers now that approach the craftsmanship of the quality Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers of the era.
I shoot more .22 in a revolver by far than all other centerfire revolver cartridges combined and you're right, it's big fun! I use a Smith & Wesson Model 17 K-22 Masterpiece, acquired new in 1980. It's the long-barreled version and accurate like a rifle though I doubt it can accomplish a thing in the accuracy department that your Colt Officer's Model Match can't do.
I have a 1957 Colt Officer's Model Match .38 Special which of course is the center fire twin to your .22 Officer's Model Match. The external appearance is the same, only the chambering is different. It does slightly beat my Smith & Wesson Model 14 K-38 Masterpiece with the most carefully prepared target wadcutter handloads.
I am always going to be jealous of the American gun laws, in Australia it is restrictive to the point of being an utter joke - yet it does nothing to stop the nightly shootings in Sydney.. funny that.
On topic though, I've got a Winchestor 94 Cherokee edition that my old man bought, and passed on to me and I've still got it. It's a bit beat up and worse for wear, but even though I've sold all my other rifle I'll hold onto that forever.