Author Topic: Great Western (Read 1428 times)

Cleburne · « **on:** August 20, 2010, 10:03:07 AM »

It's a bit late to ask the question now, especially since I've offered a price to the seller, but I think $350.00 should be a fair price for an old Great Western single action from the '50s. Finish is virtually gone, but it comes with genuine stag grips. Lock up is tight and bore and chambers are clean.
Caliber is .38 Special. Barrel length is 5-1/2 inches.

Any info from the experts will be much appreciated.

Cleburne

44 Man · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2010, 05:00:16 PM »

That would be a great price, if you get it, let us know. I would think that $500 would be a good price for one of those. I think they passed the $350 area some 15 years ago, but I could be wrong. I would not pay over $350 for a .38, but the good thing is if you re-bored the cylinder and and screwed on a $50 barrel (45 colt) from gun parts, you can have a different caliber. That's part of the beauty of a Colt style gun, it's easy to change to something different if you prefer. I think that is a good price and I hope you get it and enjoy it. A .38 is a fun gun. 44 Man

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2010, 01:09:21 AM »

there is actually collectors interest in them now. My buddy just sold his 357 atomic and got a thousand bucks for it so the prices are comming up. Id say that any shootable example ought to be well worth what you paid. There actually one of the closest clones of a colt and many part interchange. Keep in mind that theres also the newer great western II that doesnt have the collectors interest the old guns do. Just watch an old western movie and about 90 percent of what you think is colt is actually a great western.

44 Man · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2010, 03:33:07 AM »

Watch the hammers on the old tv westerns. Great Western's had the firing pin in the frame (ala Hawes from the same era) while Colt's is in the hammer. I believe that Matt Dillion used a GW. 44 Man

Hank08 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2010, 05:01:59 AM »

.44man, A friend just inherited an old Great Western from his father, .45 Colt. He showed it to me because he thought the firing pin was bent. It was pointing up a bit but was going thru the hole in the frame. All this to say this one had a firing pin in the hammer ala Colt.
I thought they all did or at least the early ones.
H08

44 Man · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2010, 12:24:06 PM »

I stand corrected. But I know on some of those old tv westerns you can see guns without firing pins on the hammer? 44 Man

Hank08 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2010, 05:51:49 AM »

The Hawes had the frame mounted pins and I think the Hy Hunters did too, both used a lot in the movies.
H08

Cleburne · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2010, 04:03:30 PM »

Well guys, I picked up the Great Western yesterday afternoon. Haven't had chance to try it out yet, but it seems to be as tight as any other production single action I've used. Although the original finish appears to have been color casehardened and blued, it's now an overall gray patina. I can see glimpses of irridencent colors on some parts of the frame when holding it just so. Bore and chambers are sharp and clean, no trace of rust. Genuine stag grips, yellowed with age. Firing pin is in the frame. The gun greatly reminds me of the Hawes' I've seen in the past. The hammer reminds me of the late Taurus Gaucho. And WOW! what a light, sweet action and trigger. These guns are sleepers. At first I had my doubts about how wise a choice I was getting ready to make, but those doubts have been dispelled.

Thanks for all the helpful info.

Cleburne

Ak.Hiker · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2010, 08:56:25 PM »

Who knows perhaps John Wayne use it in one of his westerns. Sounds like you got yourself a good deal.

44 Man · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2010, 03:55:41 AM »

Great! I love a gun with a good, honest worn finish! It just gives it a character that nothing else does. Congratulations on your purchase. (I was right about the hammer) Enjoy that gun. We are all jealous! Please get us some pictures! 44 Man

guzzijohn · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2010, 03:55:56 AM »

I had a Hawes .22 SA in high school with the stag grips, a couple of years later a Colt .22 SA. For whatever reasons I could always shoot the Hawes better.
GuzziJohn

gcrank1 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2010, 04:33:20 PM »

My Colt's Frontier Scout was only 'tin can accurate', so you are probably right about the Hawes (though now I wish I still had the Scout).
Good for getting the GW! and nothing wrong with a .38 in my book for all round fun, though it may be a tad heavier than the bigger bored model.
Keep us posted on your trials.

44 Man · « **Reply #12 on:** August 24, 2010, 03:25:34 AM »

If you wish to, in that gun you can run heavy duty 38-44 loads almost to .357 velocities. You need to get the book 'Loading the Peacemaker Colt' by Dave Scoville. It has a treasure of info in it for loading single actions to get the best from them. I consider it the best book I have ever purchased. 44 Man

Frank V · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2010, 04:34:21 PM »

Cleburne, I don't have any experience with the Great Western, except hearing they were strong & accurate.
I have loaded thousands of .38 Specials though, from light target loads to heavier than I'd put into print loads. The later were usually shot in a magnum gun.
The middle .38 loads are where you would probably want to be. All manuals have tons of data on the .38 Special. the lighter target loads are usually very accurate, fun to shoot, inexpensive to shoot, & powerful enough for small game hunting. You are going to like the .38 Special, it's a great cartridge.
Frank

Hank08 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2010, 08:29:44 AM »

.44man ,Here's the one I mentioned before. Check out the firing pin.

Hank08

44 Man · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2010, 09:03:47 AM »

Ok Hank08, now we have them both ways! Go figure. If I had my book by John Taffin, I know he talks about and has pics of the GW's, but alas it's on loan to a friend. 44 Man

Hank08 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2010, 05:55:20 AM »

I would guess that this is one of the 1st ones but the serial # is GWxxxxxx, didn't think they made that many if they started from 0.
H08