levi littleton

1873 Winchester shipped in 1886 as a 26", set trigger, 32wcf. Winchester letter included with the sale. $1500 firm plus what ever the USPS priority mail shipping is.Gun is currently in 19.5" half mag gun that looks to be professionally done at some time in its life. Comb of the stock has a relief cut for a peep sight. Gun functions fine. Set trigger does not. But can be repaired. It is a project I am not likely to finish so it is for sell. I love half mag tube guns and the 32wcf. 19.5" barrel, half mag holds 6, with one in the chamber 7. Clean chop job on the barrel and the to put it back together. Bore is as expected for a black powder gun built in 1885. Wood is original and pretty good. Only one major ding where someone cut a notch in the comb for a tang sight. Every original I've owned has had a really nice trigger even without use of the set trigger. No exception here. Barrel still has some blue although likely a reblue when it was chopped. Rest of the metal is pretty much in the white. Gun reminds me of the '73 Paul Neman used in "Hombre".

In the FWIW category.. I did some testing last summer and had no predisposed opinion other than may be I'd rather keep shooting 45 Cowboy Special and a 165 gr bullet. (or lighter if I could find one) I did all my testing with 4 3/4" SAA guns. I used a pair of 32-20s, same in .38 Specials, and of course .45s. Weight of the guns go up as the caliber gets smaller in a SAA. Frankly I was pretty shocked by the difference a light loaded 165 gr. C45S compared to a 115gr. 32-20. Not much powder in the 32-20. A similar lack of recoil ( but still not in the same league) from a light loaded 38 Special. But the gun's weigh change between calibers if hand and arm strength are an issue. By comparison 32-20 is neither cheap or as easy to reload for as the 38 or 45 but the advantages shooting a 100 or 115 gr bullet with small powder charges are pretty clear when you try them all side by side even with the heavier guns in .32-20. My pair of 32-20s on top here. No excuse to miss shooting them! Bottom SAA is a 44-40.

Light guns generally have snappy recoil. Gonna be a balance. I'd try a bunch of combos before I went light. I went to heavier guns and lighter bullets. Wasn't totally convinced that combo was a good idea until I went back and shot several combinations side by side. FWIW I am shooting Uberti SAAs, 4 3/4", in 32-20 and a 115gr bullet. Likely one of the heavier guns for a SAA. A lot more comfortable for my arthritic hands shooting gun fighter. Issue would likely your ability to hold/shoot the heavier guns and be comfortable doing so. Less recoil from the ammo choice, the easier all that is for me.

sold

No box or papers, early 3rd Gen, black powder frame, removable bushing. Unfired, no turn line. True one piece walnut grips.

7.5" Colt, unfired, $1800 shipped to your FFL CONUS.

Don't recommend them for shooting, dress up or costume wear. Aint good for walking, running or dancing. Made to use on a horse, if you have a clue. If you have a clue you don't need spurs on a horse. If you don't have a clue more than likely just help you to get bucked off. Bigger the rowel, more points on it, duller the points are, the easier the spur is on a horse. Nickel silver, Don Ricardo's from the early '40's with a bronc tie down under the heel. Bruce Haener's coin silver inlays on blued steel, silver concho. Cord tie down on these. Engraved nickel silver Ricardo's from the mid '50s. No tie down. Montana XIT Cowboy, just in from Texas, Califonio spurs and saddle, late 1890s. Leather tie downs. Spur chains are not "tie downs". Chains are there to add rhythm for your horse. Small diameter, 12 point, sharp pointed rowels. Pretty harsh spur for a horse. Crockett's from the early '30s.

Most all the early guys were ISPC shooters prior. They'd already seen what the games could or would become. So the answer was...almost no one. But it didn't stay that way long. Once it started to actually get really fun the folks from other venues wanted to play cowboy and arms race was on. I like shooting 2 six guns per stage and especially like dualist and gun fighter. But have to say I really liked shooting one hand gun and having a reload required. Slows things down match wise but sure was fun when you could wear a truly historical rig and still play the game.

Still in the '80s think. Don't even remember where. Long range side match with a 45/70 Browning and Buckhorn sights. Red when just one handgun was needed. "To the sunny slopes of yesteryear!"

what a great photo and reminder of the early days.

Thanks McCandless. That was how I remembered it as well. Just glad I wasn't totally loosing my mind. I skipped a few years and by the time i came back everyone was SASS affiliated. Flew into Vegas for a match shooting dbl dualist, which was a new category at the time. Had to be 91 or 92. First time I actually remember shooting two hand guns....but must have prior. Again, great thread. Thank you. Fun to see the photos of a bunch of folks I recognize from BITD.

Great thread. In 1984 Gordy Davis was trying to get us in the NW to shoot SASS. This at a IPSC state match mind you. Gordy was a great guy! We did eventually start shooting something similar to SASS in the late '80s but usually using just one six gun and many times the lever gun was a 30-30. When did SASS events mandate a second handgun for most stages?