Oddnews SASS# 24779

I'd want to consult the reference books but that's hugely over-priced unless it's identifiably rare in some way. I own only one Parker, a 16-gauge field grade I acquired "by accident" at Rock Island Auction Co., about two years ago. I've always been a fan of L.C. Smith shotguns, but I'd never owned one, and there was a nice 16-gauge Smith being offered as an auction lot with the Parker. Both had been refinished at some point by someone who was over-generous with the buffing wheel, and then hot-reblued. Serviceable enough shotguns, but they don't look like much. I got the pair for $650, and figured I could sell the Parker -- until I touched it. It's simply the nicest handling little upland gun I've ever owned. The L.C. Smith, which is nice, is a club by comparison. But I have $325 in my Parker, not $8000.

My brother has one in .45 he had customized about 20 years ago, and loves it. I think that the barrel might be marginally heavier than a plain round barrel, but it looks cool and it probably damps recoil a bit.

That is super cool. I have a pair of 1860 Army's with conversion cylinders, but not a "built that way" conversion like this. I like the idea of using Scholfield to duplicate the original ballistics. I'm planning something similar with C46S cartridges in the 1860s.

Pretty cool builds, IMHO. I once new a fellow who had a pair of OMVs, but it was before Ruger had introduced the Vaquero. They were in 38-40. His wife had them built for him -- a gunsmith converted them from 357 to 38-40, rechambering and rebarreling, and welded up the top straps to make a "Colt style" groove rear sight (oddly, I don't remember how they did the front sights on them). I thought the build on those was cool, too (but really, more than that, I thought "where can I find a woman like that ). Someone spent quite a bit of time and effort converting these New Frontiers to .38-40, is my guess.

In 2000 I shot a stage in Fayette Mo where you engaged targets around a large pond from the deck of a moving pontoon boat. I think that was about the most fun I've had on a single stage. You shot it as a team, with you and your partner trying to clear all the targets. What a blast.

I think "Tombstone" is a better Hollywood movie. "Wyatt Earp" is a better historical representation. I like both films.

I had one, let it lapse, and plan to renew it. It gets you access to some cool firearms, and makes it more convenient to get them.

Ms. Ruby -- thank you so much for the prompt response.

Is there an email or some way other than calling to get in touch with SASS membership services? In the past I've called, but I'm in Germany and the time difference doesn't work out for me. I'm wanting to upgrade to life membership, which I should have done several years back. This is definitely not a complaint. Love SASS and it's a great organization -- I'm proud to be a member. I'm just a bit stuck.

Thanks to all for the information. Sounds like he's no longer doing this sort of work. That's sad, as they were supposed to be the best. But I get that it's hard to compete with mass production.

Shot in the St. Jude match with her and Spur several years ago. Nice people. Saddened to hear of her loss.

It turns out that one to a gun shop in western Pennsylvania -- a nice inventory but not a link to the arms made by Larry Romano.

Well, thanks to all and especially to Mr. Miles -- I had a bad link. This one opened right up. Now, scratch together the money and ...!

I just found out I can access Ebay if I change browsers. I think those are the grips I read about. I'd buy a pair, as an experiment, but the guns are in the U.S. and I'm in Germany, it'll have to wait until next year.

That may be it. My PC here in the office won't let me access e-bay, so I'll have to check at home. I appreciate the help.

I've always wanted to do an "early guy" outfit with a Spencer and a pair of 1860 conversions. I have the pistols, and I know the Spencers are readily available from a couple of the companies that service CAS, but part of me wants the high-end Spencer that I know was once offered by Romanos. It isn't clear to me that the Romano Rifle Co. is still in business -- I can't access the website from my current location. Does anyone know if they closed their doors? If so, bad on me for snoozing and losing.

I have real Colts I'd like to fit out with real ivory, but real ivory has become a pain in the backside to acquire and own. Thirty years ago you could get read-made paper-micarta grips in an ivory color -- I have a pair on a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone know where those are available? I'm told there is an even higher-quality ivory substitute available now, but I don't know it's name and I don't know where to buy it. Any and all advice cheerfully accepted, here or via private message. And I didn't see a single set of ugly grips on this thread -- y'all have some beautiful sixguns.

I pray the neurologists can help you. Good luck and please keep us informed.

No, mine has a safety, but it's not on the hammer. Mineis a small knob on the base pin, and a small handle on the end of the base pin next to the ejector rod housing. Turned one way, the knob on the base pin fits into a small hole on the hammer, and allows it to drop. Turned the other, the knob in theory blocks the hammer's fall. In reality, what it does is shoot the base pin forward about a half an inch. I think this would slow the hammer's fall enough to keep the gun from going off, but I haven't tried it. I keep the chamber under the hammer empty and make certain the base pin is in the "fire" position at all times. I think you have the second model and mine is an earlier one. (BTW, if anyone has one like mine in a 5 1/2-inch barrel, .45 Colt, I'm looking to buy one).

Very nice -- artwork you can use!

I first shot a CAS match in 1991, and at the time my gear consisted of a Ruger Blackhawk .44 Magnum and a Army-Jager Dakota in .45 Colt, and the rest of what I used grew up over time around those guns. By shear fate, the next gun I acquired was a Winchster Trapper in .45 Colt, and from that day forward I shot .45 Colt. If I'd run across a .44 Magnum carbine instead, things might gone a different direction. Today, unless I wanted to shoot in a caliber restricted category, I'd shoot .38/357. Slightly lower shooting costs, and it seems to be easier to get components in that caliber (allthough it seems all handloading stuff is hard to acquire right now). But you have to suit yourself. A real traditionalist using .44-40 loading with blackpowder is bound to be having fun (at least they sure look that way). They guy running tuned up race guns with light loads in .32 H&R? Also sure looks like they're having fun, from where I sit.

I shot a match in Illinois a few years ago where they had "clay" popper that instead of throwing a clay, launched a beer can. The beer used as targets was donated by the local police who had confiscated it from underage drinkers. If you really centered the pattern, there'd be a big foamy cloud, and then most of an aluminum can would sort of float to the ground like a falling leaf. It was a lot of fun.

In 2000, I shot in a three-day match in Branson that was connected to the 2000 Missouri State Games (Olympics). It was a fabulous shoot. If this is the same club, I wish I could shoot in this match. If this is NOT the same club, I wish I could shoot in this match. I'm in Germany now, but hopefully in '23 my poor eyesight and slow hands will be back in the game.