On Fri, 24 Jan 2014 12:35:00 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 24 Jan 2014 09:01:15 -0500, Poco Loco
wrote:

On Thu, 23 Jan 2014 23:56:30 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:52:03 -0600, Califbill
wrote:

"F.O.A.D." wrote:


I like single action revolvers except when it comes to dumping out the
casings or inserting fresh rounds.

The S&W I have works SA or DA, but loads like other DA revolvers, with a
cylinder that hinges out.

In the later 1800's I think S&W had top break revolvers. They would shoot
the .44 rim fire cartridge.

One of our family heirlooms is a S&W #3 in.44 Russian. (break top
revolver) It is still up at my brother in law's house in Maryland. I
gave it to my sister years ago and she still had it when she died.
I broke the firing pin off before I gave it to her because she had a
house full of kids and it was just going to be a wall hanger anyway.
(safe ammo is very hard to come by but it will chamber a .44 magnum
...eek!)
I would have brought it home when I was up there after she died but I
did not want the airport hassle.

There were quite a few other break tops around that time but I think
all of them were black powder.
The Webley .455 and sometimes .45ACP with half moon clips is a
somewhat modern break top.
Ye Olde Hunter (the Alexandria Va outlet for Interarnco) sold a bunch
of them for around $20 in the mid 60s but the only ones I saw were in
.,455.
I still thought about buying one a few times but ammo was tough to
find. There was a rumor that a minor milling of the cylinder would
allow the ACP with moon clips. I never pursued it I ended up getting
a Colt Officer's Model Match revolver (with the bull barrel) for about
$40 there. I still have it.

A bit of history:

http://gunlore.awardspace.info/gunknow/interarms.htm

I was in there back in the early 70's. It was like a military arms museum inside, with everything
for sale. But, I was broke.

Before the GCA 68 kicked in that place was a real gun flea market.
They had stacks of old Mauser type rifles starting at $20 or less but
you really needed to know what you were looking at. It was quite easy
to pick up a real nice looking rifle that used very obscure ammo.
A German Mauser was more like $35-40 depending on condition.
Guys were always browsing through there for rifles to "sporterize".

They also had 20mm anti tank guns and other things you can't have
anymore.
I usually bought something every time I went over there. It was just a
short drive away after they built the Wilson Bridge.

My best deal may have been this 1934 Barretta ($40)
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/1934.jpg
This was factory nickel with Italian Army markings made in 1942.
It was probably "never fired and only dropped once" (by an Italian
senior officer). It has all matching serial numbers.
That was my carry piece for many years, hence the wear. It was
pristine when I got it.
I have shot thousands of rounds through it and it points like your
finger. The magazine has a hook that goes under your pinky, combined
with modest recoil so next shot recovery is very fast.
I could dump a whole magazine in the bottom of a coffee cup at 7 yards
in about 5 seconds when I was shooting a lot. I imagine I could hold
it in the saucer right now. That is certainly good enough for a
serious social situation.

Ya, I expect it would be. Nice old gun. Thanks for sharing that.