Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted August 28 Posted August 28 (edited) Bought these in ’08 from Silver Sam, SASS, Cowboy Action Shooter from Texas. He had them engraved by Larry Hopewell in a Nimschke style Colt pattern. Larry is a retired Weatherby engraver, living in Texas. Sam’s remarks about Larry. “Wow, is the first word that crossed by lips when I saw Larry at work. He uses only “old world” hand tools and to watch him work, you would think he was carving butter. He engraves with the grace and skill few possess. The way they did over 100 years ago. The finished product has a look that is the epitome of authentic, absolutely stunning. A true artisan and Master Engraver These Gen III Colts have almost iridescent case colors and with the engraving, they are special. I sent them to Nutmeg for real elephant one piece ivory grips. Nutmeg was founded by Jim Alaimo, former head of the Colt Custom Shop. They fitted one piece ivory grips, made them slimmer than factory with less bevel at the base, using a pattern I sent. They have old style, deep dish Colt Medallions, which were Gen I, OEM from 1912-1924. Nutmeg current cost is $100 per set. Nutmeg no longer does Elephant Ivory due to the law. You can’t ship new Elephant Ivory across state lines, but you can ship a gun with real ivory across state lines. Nutmeg’s price for used ivory grips is in the $1,000 to $1,200 range in premium condition and I’m thinking they’ll have to be pre 1990. These guns show very little wear, were lightly used by me and Silver Sam. They probably will have to go FFL to FFL. I’ll ship the pair in factory boxes for $4,750. Dirtfarmer . Edited August 28 by Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 6 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted August 28 Posted August 28 Jim Alaimo's son Chris used to work for me over 25 years ago! Jim's gun shops were in the area where I grew up in Vernon/Tolland. Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted August 28 Author Posted August 28 (edited) Impressive guys. I somehow tripled my text while fighting with this site. How do you edit? DF Edited August 28 by Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted August 28 Author Posted August 28 Answered by question on line, I guess AI. Said to click on the three dots at the upper right corner and hit "edit".... It works. DF Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted August 28 Author Posted August 28 48 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said: Jim Alaimo's son Chris used to work for me over 25 years ago! Jim's gun shops were in the area where I grew up in Vernon/Tolland. I love their work. But, the new ivory law sure did crimp their style. To me synthetic ivory feels different and once you use the real deal for a while, just not the same. Would appreciate other opinions on that. DF 1 Quote
Mudflat Mike, SASS #20904 Posted August 29 Posted August 29 Do they have fixed or removable cyl pin bushings? Quote
MBFields Posted August 29 Posted August 29 There is a line I need to stick with. "Lead me not into temptation". 😜🤠 1 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted August 29 Posted August 29 Beautiful pair of Colts. Are you sure they’re not .357’s? I wasn’t aware that Colt made .38’s. I have 4 Colts, 3 third gen’s and one second gen and they’re all .357. Quote
Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104 Posted August 29 Posted August 29 2 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said: Beautiful pair of Colts. Are you sure they’re not .357’s? I wasn’t aware that Colt made .38’s. I have 4 Colts, 3 third gen’s and one second gen and they’re all .357. Shows right on the barrel. Single Action Army 38Spl Cal. Maybe time for some new specticles? Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted August 29 Posted August 29 13 minutes ago, Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104 said: Shows right on the barrel. Single Action Army 38Spl Cal. Maybe time for some new specticles? Yep, I just didn’t look hard enough. I see it now. 👍 Quote
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted August 30 Posted August 30 (edited) DF, How on earth are your doing. Been a long time.. I shot with you a time or two at Grand Ecore Vigilante's matches. Heck, I believe I even had you in a RO class I gave there. Those are beautiful revolvers. Larry's awesome work is of course exceptional. I met Larry probably 27 years a go at a EOT in CA. We became friends. I believe he did a knife for me there then thru the years a coupe of FA mini revolvers. Super nice guy. Last time I saw him he was living down around Fredericksburg. That has been probably 5-6 years ago and have thought of him when down at the Texican Rangers club. Hope you are well. Edited September 1 by Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted September 1 Author Posted September 1 On 8/30/2026 at 3:03 PM, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said: DF, How on earth are your doing. Been a long time.. I shot with you a time or two at Grand Ecore Vigilante's matches. Heck, I believe I even had you in a RO class I gave there. Those are beautiful revolvers. Larry's awesome work is of course exceptional. I met Larry probably 27 years a go at a EOT in CA. We became friends. I believe he did a knife for me there then thru the years a coupe of FA mini revolvers. Super nice guy. Last time I say him he was living down around Fredericksburg. That has been probably 5-6 years ago and have thought of him when down at the Texican Rangers club. Hope you are well. Yeah, Billy. I remember you. Seems you were shooting a pair of Freedom Arms revolvers. Hope you're doing well. DF 1 Quote
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted September 1 Posted September 1 Yep. Still shoot them. Headed to Hot Springs this week. 1 Quote
Red River Rudy, SASS #8490 LIFE Posted September 1 Posted September 1 DF, If the deal falls through, I would like the Colts. Thanks 1 Quote
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted September 1 Posted September 1 Thank you . I was getting weak in the knees. Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted Wednesday at 02:43 PM Author Posted Wednesday at 02:43 PM 18 hours ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said: Yep. Still shoot them. Headed to Hot Springs this week. Did you have them slicked up? I have a FA M-97, .357. It's really tight and really accurate. But, it's not what I would call CAS slick. DF Quote
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted Wednesday at 04:17 PM Posted Wednesday at 04:17 PM I do some work with springs especially hammer spring. I keep lots of parts and know internals well. I have a pretty good share of FAs, mostly M-97s. Beside parts, I have several pair with extra round grip frames. Seems some years I will run "ploys" then up and decide to do rounds. Other than FA factory gunsmiths only couple friends have been inside my FA. Those being Bob Baker (FA) a time or two and my dear, and missed friend Wes Flowers in about 2000 when I first started shooting 97s. I started shooting BP in the 97s around 2004 and still continue to do so at a few majors each year. 1 Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted Wednesday at 05:34 PM Author Posted Wednesday at 05:34 PM That's interesting, Billy. You're an interesting dude, shooting interesting guns.... Don't remember seeing anyone else with a brace of FA revolvers, but I haven't been in CAS circles for some time. You see others shooting them? DF Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted Wednesday at 05:37 PM Author Posted Wednesday at 05:37 PM Here's my 97 in .357. I was shooting 180 gr. bullets, had to get a taller front sight from FA. They knew exactly what I needed and sold me one, IIRC for $35. I swapped them out with an Allen wrench. Impressive guns, impressive company. DF Quote
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted Wednesday at 07:25 PM Posted Wednesday at 07:25 PM 1 hour ago, Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 said: That's interesting, Billy. You're an interesting dude, shooting interesting guns.... Don't remember seeing anyone else with a brace of FA revolvers, but I haven't been in CAS circles for some time. You see others shooting them? DF Nice 97 for sure, some SASS categories and certainly good hunter with those 180s. I know a few SASS shooters that own them but know none who compete with them. There was a couple that did in my early SASS days but those do not to my knowledge anymore. Truthfully they are really not a real competitive two-hand shooters choice as they can easily drop to half cock for those speedy guys. If one's hands like them, they can be excellent for gunfighter and dullest. I know Fireball tried them but he could just outrun them and found a real hassle to have to return for any fix. He could fix many things I suspect but cautious to maintain warranty. Some that own FAs might surprise you, but even guys who are dedicated Ruger shooters in our game can know FA is about "the finest" even for fun revolver for recreational shooting (examples being Jimmy Spur, Taco B, RR Rudy, OLG). And, of course great hunting revolvers. The 97 w/UltraDot is good for pigs around here and I have taken many a Bull elk with one of the 83s. The octagon pair of 97s are with 38 sp cylinders. 1 Quote
Dirt Farmer, SASS #59817 Posted Thursday at 03:32 PM Author Posted Thursday at 03:32 PM Nice collection. No doubt, the FA is the ultimate single action, as far as solid, well built, tight and accurate.... But, for just speed as in CAS.... Looser may actually be faster. And CAS is not so much about match accuracy.... You seem to make them work and for sure they get style points. They do attract some attention. DF Quote
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