Club Obi Wan

Need some opinions. What is the most popular Indy gun? And where is the best place to find one (I live in Georgia) and how much should I plan on spending? Note: I want an authentic working gun.

Well the Webley is probably the most popular gun.

OR the Smith. A fair amount of discussing and people getting hold of them going on there too, and a lot more accurate to fire with I've heard. In that way more popular I guess...
Certainly not the rubber Colt M1917, it seems, though I'd like a replica of it some day.

Anyway, I'll let the people that know something about this chime in.

Regards,
Swindiana

Personally, I prefer the S&W. I got mine from here. I paid $400 for mine, and its a great shooter. You'll have to have a local gun store to order it for you. Its really no trouble to do. My store charged me a $25 dollar fee for handling and doing the paperwork.

The only problem is that it will cost you nearly $400 to get the gun "Indy-ized". But personally, if you are lucky enough to get a S&W HE in good condition then I wouldn't do anything to it.

Well,

The Smith and Wesson 1917 is probably the most popular and sought after pistol in this hobby. You will usually find them with the 5 inch barrel and have to have it cut down to 4 inches to be screen accurate.



You will usually see 2 or 3 listed on online auction sites starting at $500-700 USD. A little more discount option would be to find a Smith and Wesson 1937 which is the same parts just made under a Brazillian contract and not a US Gov't contract. Both take the .45ACP cartridge which is a very common shell. You will stumble across some that are chambered for the .455 shell. That cartridge is much less common. The gun would needed to be modified to shoot the .45ACP (as seen below).



The next most popular would probably be the Webley. It too shoots the .455 and must be modified. However, these guns weren't called "Wobbley" for nothing. Even tho they were good for their day, age hasn't been too kind for several of them. And, replacement parts can be hard to find. Usually, you can find one of these for about $400-600.



The next one is my personal favorite. The Browning Hi-power. This one shoots the popular and inexpensive 9mm cartridge and is great. The gun can be a little pricey but that's because everyone recognizes it as a well designed weapon.



Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, don't be afraid to ask.

Cheers,
Pyroxene

Thanks to all of you for the overview, I now know allot more than I did. I would still like anyone that knows about the guns of Indy to chime in!

Regards,

Depends on what you mean by most popular. It probably boils down to your personal preference.

Wrightknife wrote: I would still like anyone that knows about the guns of Indy to chime in!

What else are you interested in knowing? I love talking this stuff. I even have a video around here somewhere.

Wrightknife wrote:And where is the best place to find one (I live in Georgia)

Well, the Smith I own I purchased from a fellow gearhead.

The Webley I own I purcahsed at a gun show. (The guy honestly didn't know what he was selling)

And the Browning I purchased from an online Auction. www.auctionarms.com or www.gunbroker.com

If you are not buying New-in-box (NIB) then you really need to befriend a good gunsmith. Especially if you plan on shooting these guns. A competent gunsmith can look at revolvers and tell you if things like timing and end shake are in tolerance.


Not knowing your history with guns, I'll just list the basic knowledge anyone should be aware of before getting into this hobby.

One REALLY important thing for you to do is famililarize yourself with the gun laws of your state. When researching a new state, I always start with packing.org ( http://www.packing.org/state/index.jsp/georgia ) This site has links to your State's page and any news regarding the transport and posession of firearms.

Another REALLY important thing for you to do is familiarize yourself with basic gun safety rules.

NRA's ( http://www.nrahq.org/safety/ ) basic rules are:

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Whether you are shooting or simply handling a gun, never point it at yourself or others.
Common sense will tell you which direction is the safest. Outdoors, it is generally safe to point the gun toward the ground, or, if you are at a shooting range, toward the target. Indoors, be mindful of the fact that a bullet can penetrate ceilings, floors, walls, windows, and doors.

Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. When holding a gun, rest your trigger finger outside the trigger guard alongside the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. If you do not know how to check to see if a gun is unloaded, leave it alone. Carefully secure it, being certain to point it safely and to keep your finger off the trigger, and seek competent assistance.

Cheers,
Pyroxene

I also wrote a pretty lengthy suggested approach for buying a used weapon in our FAQ section of the mainpage, in case you're interested. Regards! Michaelson

Thanks guys I am a member of the NRA and have 5 or 6 different types of guns and have done a little hunting and had a permit to carry in Alabama. All that said though I am not a gun expert and Love to hear your ideas and suggestions. Please keep me in mind if you see anything out there at a good price.

Regards,

Remind my never to tick you off then Bufflehead!!

Have a great day!

If you want a Webley to collect and shoot, good luck finding a MkVI that has not been cut to .45ACP. They can be found, but with a price of $400-$650. The only company producing .455 Webley ammo is Fiocci. I have to order mine, as I can't find it in any local gun shop. Personally I don't like webleys which are converted to .45ACP, but that's just me. I also have a Webley MkIV in .38S&W with a 6 inch barrel. I know Indy used a .455, but the fact remains that .38S&W is much easier to find than .455, and cheaper too. Plus the MkIV is very similar in size to the MkVI. And as far as looks go, they are exactly alike. In one of the Indy novels (sorry can't remember which one) I remember him carrying a .38 caliber webley instead of the usual .455. Anyway, the MkIV's are usually $250-$350 in price and are much easier to find. They shoot great too, with the same accuracy of MkVIs. Not tack drivers, but not bad either!