H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619

Yep. I guess the fact that Colt didn't make all that many of them has caused them to go up in value.

I recently saw a couple of Colt Cowboys in 2 different gun shops. One was unfired and the other still looked brand new. The shop owner said the previous owner had only fired it once. But what shocked me was the price. $1200 for the hardly used one and $1500 for the unfired one. I never thought I'd see the day when these things could command such a price, but wowzers, they apparently can. Wonders shall never cease.

As far as taking physical possession, yes, that is probably the best way to do it. When it get's here, well, that's up to him.

In Massachusetts, since it was made before '98, it's an antique. One of the few areas where this state has not screwed things up. HOWEVER, once it gets here, the new owner may or may not need to register it. There is a box to check on the registration form for an "antique firearm." [online here https://mircs.chs.state.ma.us/fa10/action/home?app_context=home&app_action=presentTrans] You are supposed to register any gun bought out of state via this form as soon as you bring it back into the state. But you can not, for example, buy a gun that is not allowed in Mass [like an AR] and then use this form to register it. On the other hand, if you purchased a gun that is not Mass compliant legally while you lived in another state [like an SAA] you can bring it with you when you move here. There is some question as to if you legally need to register them when you move here, but you do need to get a state gun permit to prevent from unlawfully possessing a firearm. It is also unclear if you can ever sell them to someone else in the state. But even if the gun is not allowed, if it's on the Curio and Relic list, you can import it into the state legally, as long as you have the C and R Licence. Still need to register them at link above. There is also some "debate" as it if you need to register the antiques, or if doing so is voluntary. I do know that if you buy an antique in the state, depending on the dealer, they may or may not make you fill out the state and federal paperwork, and as such they may or may not ask for your gun permit so that they can fill out said forms. Basically some dealers are over cautious. Oh, and you can't fill out the reg form with out the Mass permit. All of this is based on my best understanding of the very confusing rules here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and what I have had to do at local gun shops and with my C and R licence. I am not an attorney. Just a gun owner here in Mass. Confusing? Welcome to Massachusetts. I think one possible solution is to contact a local FFL dealer and ask them for guidance. Getting word from the Commonwealth might just be more confusing than anything else. My personal favorite local gun shop is http://collectorsguns.com/ They've not asked me to fill out any paperwork on the few antiques I've purchased from them. A GI surplus Spencer and a First Gen Colt are the two most recent ones that I recall.

With all do respect, with the exception of the last sentence, I disagree 100% with everything in the above statement. I do not dispute that most folks shoot short barrel shotguns with no choke. But, I am one of the 20% that does otherwise. My original Main Match shotgun was a 20" no choke 97. Occasionally I would for fun use me 18" Parker, again no choke. I often had to reengage targets that failed to fall. One day I got myself a 30" full choke 97, just because I wanted to have one in that configuration. After using it once, it quickly became my primary main match shotgun. I also recently obtained a 30" FF Parker. I almost never miss or have to reengage with the longer barrel and tighter choke. For me at least, the longer barrel just naturally points at the target better. And the tighter choke concentrates the pattern a bit more on the target, assuring that it goes down. So when all is said and done, try different chokes and barrel lengths and use what works best for you. I have a feeling that a lot of people use the short no choke shotguns because they've been told that it's the best, as evidenced by the fact that it is the overwhelming favorite. As such most folks never even consider an alternative configuration. But I'd be willing to bet that if more people actually tried the longer barrels and the tighter choke that a lot of people might switch to it. Just my opinion and guess.

I have a Rossi 92 in .357 Magnum. Long story short, it won't work with Long Colts or Short Colts.

When I use my Spencer, it's cock, lever, shoot, repeat. I was always worried that levering it uncocked could cause it to slam fire, and as stated above, apparently it can. I don't know if it is safe to do that, and I tend to think not. I think next time I use it, I'll pair it with my Spencer revolver.

All of the reproduction 97s are "solid frame" models. Some of the originals were, but most of them were actually take downs. In fact, I only know that non take downs exist through pictures, I've never actually seen one. My first main match shotgun was a 20" Winchester with WPD stamped on the stock. I like to pretend that it stands for Winchester Police Department. It served me well for my first few years. At one point I decided that I wanted to get one with a long barrel, just to have one. I eventually found a 30" full choke one, and after trying it once, just to try it, it quickly became my primary main match shotgun. I find that I can get on target more quickly than with the short tube, and I hardly ever miss, something I could not say with the 20" gun. For me at least, the longer barrel gives slightly reduced recoil and I think it has a better balance. It can be tricky on closely cramped stages, but you quickly learn to deal with it. This is, I freely admit, the exact opposite of what most 97 shooters will tell you. Most will say the shorter the barrel the better. Still, even if you want a short barreled one, they are fairly easy to find. I always say don't cut a long barrel. You can't go back, and they are getting harder to find. Better to buy 2, or just wait till you find a short one. When you get that very rare stage description that allows you stoke up the magazine on the clock, [I've encountered it twice in about fifteen years] it is a real hoot to load it up and go to town. The oft repeated "You need three. One to shoot, one for back up, and one out for repair," call has not been my experience. Maybe I've been lucky. That being said, many of these gun have been run hard for many decades, so the condition you find them in will vary greatly. Some are more worn that others. Much of that wear and tear CAN be repaired, my long barrel one needed to have some work done, for example, but now it is fine. But in any case, you do need to pay attention to your gun and make sure it is in proper working order. Once it is, unless you are somehow abusing it, it should serve you just fine. Big Boston mentioned the chamber length, so I won't revisit that. If you load your own, you can trim plastic hulls back to a shorter length and then put in an overshot card to prevent them from spilling the contents when the incomplete star crimp is created. And you don't need to modify your press in any way. Just put the wad into the hull by hand and then proceed as normal. I figured this out the hard way. Or, you can go with Magtech 2.5" all brass shells. I do both. Good luck

For the Garand, I tend to use GI surplus, and it's not been a problem. Both times! Of course, that's generic stuff. For some reason they would not let me use the ones that had black paint on the tips of the bullets.... I had some red tipped stuff once too, (one round) but it would not cycle the action. If memory serves, I shot that off my back porch back in the days before houses were built behind me and there was no anti-discharge law.

I always enjoy shooting my Krag at these things when everyone else is using a 1903. I don't win, but I get a surprising number of "Where'd you get it?" type questions.

Oops

I think someone asked about them not too long ago. The given answer was no.

Oh, I don't poo poo the foreign copies. They are a valuable part of our game. I just very literally consider the Norinco made 97 to for all practical purposes, Winchesters. They are a copy of that design, not an all new one. In addition to two real Winchester 97s and one 93, I also one a Chinese 97 Trench gun and a 93/97 To say nothing of various Uberti and Pietta revolvers. Although my real Colts outnumber them.

I pine for a revolver in 56-50 Spencer