My 'close enough' collection... so far

The Pilot · Post by **The Pilot** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:17 pm

Just thought I'd snap a photo of my Indy-era handguns. They're not SA, but they're the same type as would have been used at the time.

Widdershins from top-left:

S&W Hand Ejector Second Model, .455 modified to .45 AR/.45 ACP
Webley Mk.VI, .455
S&W Hand Ejector, .38 Special
Colt 1991A1, .45 ACP
Mauser C96 'Red 9' Broomhandle, 9mm

The holsters are IMA, and WWII-issue (marked 1942) Webley.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:21 pm

Nice set!

The Pilot · Post by **The Pilot** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:03 pm

binkmeisterRick wrote:Nice set!

Why, when I saw this, did I immediately think 'I'm over here!'?

tnitz · Post by **tnitz** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:50 pm

What are you shooting out of your Webley? You list .455 so is yours uncut?

Am looking for someone loading a gentle .45AR that won't tear up my revolvers.

The Pilot · Post by **The Pilot** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:57 pm

The Webley is uncut. I haven't had a chance to take it to the range yet. (A bit cold and drizzly around here recently, and snow last month.) But I've got a couple of boxes of Fiocchi .455 for it (a few rounds pictured next to it). That's the only brand commercially available, and I don't have any reloading gear... yet.

The S&W has been modified for .45 AR/.45 ACP. I've got it loaded with cheap FMJ (Winchester) in moon clips (also pictured).

The Pilot · Post by **The Pilot** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:05 pm

Another gun.

There was a S&W HE2 in .455 (not converted to .45 ACP) over at GB. It had been listed at least three times. The Reserve price would not be met, so it didn't sell. It was listed as 'Good'. The finish on the frame was good, but the bluing had worn off of the muzzle. Bore is Excellent. I looked it up in Standard Catalog Of Smith & Wesson. It listed a price of $285 for a Fair example and $325 for a Good example. I would prefer better bluing on the barrel, but I haven't seen a lot of uncut .455 S&Ws on offer; so I offered $325. Reserve not met.

This time I thought I'd see if anyone would bid up to the Reserve price, so I bid $300. Sellers often set a high reserve and see how much buyers are willing to pay, and then reduce their reserve price when they've judged the market and are ready to sell. My bid met the reserve. (I concluded that the reserve price was $300, else my recorded bid would have been less than my maximum bid.)

Since I'm looking for some other collectible things (reproduction RAF flying boots, possibly an original RAF 'Irvin' jacket) I decided I would not go to the auction or check my email for fear that someone would outbid me and I'd be tempted to bid again. Out of habit I did go to my email, to find that I had won the auction.

So now I'll be getting another Hand Ejector, Second Model with British proofs. Only this one will use the same ammunition as my Webley. I'm not going to cut the barrel, but I may have it refinished if I can find a gunsmith who will not obliterate any markings with polishing. ('Good' allows professional refinishing.) Now that I have a 'spare', should I cut the barrel of the .45 ACP conversion? No. But if I can find a 4" barrel I may 'temporarily' convert it.

Andymac84 · Post by **Andymac84** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:04 am

Hey,you have a very nice collection.I'm still looking for a nice IndyGun...I see,it's time to begin my quest

Indiana Max · Post by **Indiana Max** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:01 am

Great collection, the Mk.VI

I envy you

JEEP · Post by **JEEP** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:20 am

Beautiful collection indeed

Is the Mauser an original?

/Jakob

The Pilot · Post by **The Pilot** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:21 am

Andymac84 wrote:Hey,you have a very nice collection.I'm still looking for a nice IndyGun...I see,it's time to begin my quest

There's a Mk.VI with a 4" barrel over at AuctionArms with no bids yet.

Indiana Max wrote:Great collection, the Mk.VI

Thanks. When I saw its condition I just couldn't pass it up.

JEEP wrote:Is the Mauser an original?

Yes, but it's been refinished. The markings on the right (WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER / OBERNDORF ^ NECKAR) are pretty much obliterated by the polishing. But I wanted a shooter. Would've been nice to have the markings, but whaddya gonna do? It seems that 'Red 9s' are not quite as available as the .30 cal (but not actually 'rare'), so I thought I'd better get it. Being refinished, it's not as desirable as an 'unmolested' one so I don't have to worry about damaging a collectible.

The Pilot · Post by **The Pilot** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:00 pm

The Pilot wrote:
Andymac84 wrote:Hey,you have a very nice collection.I'm still looking for a nice IndyGun...I see,it's time to begin my quest
There's a Mk.VI with a 4" barrel over at AuctionArms with no bids yet.

That auction has ended. However there is a Mk.IV with a 4" barrel and three 6" Mk.VIs on GunBroker. There's a guy there who sells uncut .455 cylinders and barrels. You could buy an extra barrel and cut it, and keep the original for collector purposes if you ever decide to sell the gun.

S&W Hand Ejectors show up there frequently in .45 or .455 caliber. Unfortunately, S&W do not sell short barrels for them. I emailed them to ask if their Model 22 Model of 1917 barrel would fit on my originals (plural, because I've just bought another one -- this one still in .455) and they said they wouldn't fit.

So for anyone looking for a functioning 'close enough', the auction sites either have what you're looking for or will have eventually.