Pre-Range Report (or Getting Ready)

Sorry it's been a while between posts.  I've been getting ready for a big outing to a shooting range.  A bunch of work friends are coming so I'm pretty excited.  Ordered a bunch of 7.62x39 (or as I like to call it, "AK ammo").  Scrounging up whatever .22lr ammo I can find (ie. begging on Armslist).  And reloading a ton of .38spl with a hammer (Lee Classic Loader, baby!).  Still have to clean my new-to-me .22s: the bolt action Marlin 25N and the Hawes/JP Sauer sixshooter.  Can't wait to try them out!  But yeah, it should be a good time. 

To update my earlier post about the 15rd magazine for the Beretta Jetfire: It still hasn't arrived yet.  I'm hoping it arrives in time to try it at the range.  But I'm starting to wonder if I didn't get ripped off.  The guy has over a 1000 positive feedback on Gunbroker, so maybe I need to be more patient.  Maybe it will arrive in time.  Maybe pigs will fly.

And maybe we are out of time.  Big range report coming up.  Should have some posts about my new-to-me guns and what not.  And hopefully, maybe, a post about a certain 15rd Jetfire magazine.  Hey, I think I saw a pig flying.  Oh well.  Order up!        

Hawes Western Six-Shooter Is HERE!!

This post is going to be short (a rarity for me, I know).  My Hawes Western Six-Shooter by JP Sauer & Sohn is here!! 

I picked it up from my transferring FFL dealer this afternoon.  The gun is beautiful.  Full size, pretty heavy (heavier than the Ruger Single Six I used to own).  It goes without saying that I can't wait to shoot it but I'll say it anyway.  I can't wait to shoot it.  Anyway, this has got to be short.  So that's it for now.  Order up!

Deep Fry of the Day: 1971 Hawes Catalog

Kentucky Fried Firearms traveled back in time and returned with this fine catalog from 1971.  (Google Translation: Bought it on Ebay.)  As you can see, Hawes sold a lot of guns made by JP Sauer & Sohn.  On the used market today, the Western Marshals are most common.  But I have seen a Montana Marshal and a Texas Marshal for sale before.  I think I saw a Chief Marshal on Gunbroker that wasn't labeled as such (the adjustable sights and short hammer look familiar).  The Virginia City Marshal is new to me.  I'll have to keep my eyes open for one (as if I wasn't obsessively checking Gunbroker and Armslist already).

The catalog itself contains five pages.  It's interesting to see what Hawes had to offer in '71.  I'll be honest.  I'd like to collect (and shoot) all the variants.  (Google Translation: Time to take out a 2nd mortgage.)

The most fascinating thing for me is on the bottom left corner in the orange box.  It looks like the .357 version (Model #6357C) could've been purchased with a optional 9mm cylinder.  And for whatever reason, shooting 9mm out of a cowboy six-shooter sounds so wrong, it's got to right.  You know what I mean?  I feel I've got to try it.  So yeah, add 9mm cylinder to the list of things I'll obsessively check for online.

Well, it looks like this deep fry is just about done.  Order up!     

UPDATE: Numrich used to sell a replacement 9mm cylinder (blue/nickel) for $58.85 but it looks like they sold out a long time ago.  I'll keep watching GB and Armslist.   
  

Update: Hawes Western Six-shooter (made in West Germany by JP Sauer & Sohn)

Just wanted to update my previous post.  The Hawes Western Marshal in .22lr has been shipped today!

It's coming Second Day Priority, I think, or something like that.  (Whatever USPS calls their 2nd Day Air.)  But anyway, by this time next week, it should be in my hands.  Very cool.   

Going to Hell in a Hand Basket

This is my inaugural You Kids Stay Off My Lawn...Geez The World Is Going To Hell In A Hand Basket post.

If you couldn't tell from this post, I'm a fan of the old six-shooters made by JP Sauer & Sohn (imported by Hawes).  And I recently won an auction for a Western Marshal in .22lr.  It will be my first JP Sauer six-shooter (and 2nd six-shooter overall).  Since I was trying to get a feel for their prices, I've been watching every Hawes/Sauer auction on Gunbroker for the past month.  Most examples in good to very good condition have been selling between $280-$340.

This is a big part of the appeal for me.  Being able to collect quality pieces at fair prices.  It's one of the few guns made by JP Sauer that I can afford.  (Don't believe me?  Check out the prices for their double barrel shotguns or drilling guns.)  That said, I'm watching this one auction that ends in an hour.  It started at a penny.  It's now at $680!!  Six hundred and eighty dollars!! 

                             http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=370543006
Unsure if the Hawes Montana Marshals were made out of gold or something, I did a quick google search.  But didn't find anything out of the ordinary.  Most people paid around the same price as the Western Marshal.  So yeah, what the hell?  I have no idea, but that gun is going for almost $700.

Going to hell in a hand basket.  No doubt about it.     

Hawes Western Six-shooter (made in West Germany by JP Sauer & Sohn)

Let's get to the skinny.  Last night I won an auction on GunBroker for this fine looking firearm.

It's a Hawes Western Marshal in .22lr.  Never heard of Hawes?  It's okay.  Hawes was the importer.  JP Sauer & Sohn made it--the same Sauer & Sohn that partnered with SIG to become SIG SAUER--and hopefully you've heard of SIG SAUER.  If not, you've got some googling to do.

These cowboy six-shooters are faithful reproductions of the famous Colt Single Action Army so it's the same size (unlike the scaled down Ruger Single Six).  And like the original SAA, it also lacks any safety features so DO NOT carry this gun with a round under the hammer.  It could fire if dropped.  If you are dead set on wearing one on your hip, make sure the hammer is resting on a empty chamber.  These six-shooters were available in .22lr/.22mag, .357mag, .45Colt, and .44mag.  From what I've read, the Hawes/Sauer & Sohn six-shooters are well made, good shooters, but thankfully lack collector value right now.  "Thankfully" because I plan on collecting all the calibers.  Yes, ALL OF THEM!!!  One in .44mag is pretty high on my wishlist.   

Mine is like-new in box which is pretty cool because these guns were made in the late 60's/early 70's.  Needless to say, this gun will never see the inside of a holster.  I'm a little nervous about shooting it since I'd hate to scratch it up.  But the best part about collecting guns is shooting them, and that's what I intend to do with this one.  Expect some follow up posts once I get it and have a chance to shoot it.

Hawes Western Marshal by JP Sauer & Sohn.  What's not to like?