dime_novel_hero | Matched Pair (Reply)

Last June I purchased a Model 1873 Single Action Army revolver. It was completely on a whim because I saw it at a gun show and simply wanted to have a Peacemaker. If I had known at the time that I was going to become interested in Cowboy Action Shooting and that it requires two revolvers, I would have held off and purchased a matched pair. Once I did get involved, in addition to having to purchase a rifle and a shotgun, I needed to not only shop for another revolver but find one that matched the discontinued model I already had.

I found one online at a shop in Ohio but held off because I didn't want to make a special trip, didn't want to pay extra to have it shipped and also thought the price was abit high. It was probably a new gun so maybe it wasn't that high but I didn't follow up. I figured that I would be out that way in April for the Steampunk Symposium so I could make arrangements to stop by the gun shop on my way there.

When I got my coach gun from Barlycorn Outfitters, I told him what I was looking for and he started putting of feelers. He found something that was the same artillery model with the 5.5 inch barrel but it had the steel blue finish rather than the matte finish of the gun I already had. I decided against it because I wanted the guns to be the same. I had a few months before the shooting season started and, if nothing turned up in the meantime, I figured it would be easier for me to buy a matched pair outright and then sell off the "extra" gun. It wasn't my first choice, of course, but it was a reasonable fallback.

John Barlycorn found me a used pistol from Enck's Gun Barn near Lancaster. I called them to confirm that it had the matte finish and the brass backstrap and trigger guard that matched the gun I had and had it shipped to Barlycorn. $280 plus tax and shipping.

It is definately a used gun, showing more wear and tear than my gun which had only one box of ammo shot through it before I got it. There is a touch of rust along the ejector tube. It also has the same sharp edge on the trigger that I will need to have filed off.

However, the bad thing is that the previous owner scratched his initials on the side of the frame. Not with an engraving tool but with a simple pointy piece of metal. The scratches aren't deep but they look horribly amateur. More like graffiti than an identifying mark. I will take it to my gunsmith to see if it will buff out.

Haven't had it out shooting yet.

On a related note, now that I am fully armored up and have a bag for my revolvers and assorted gear, I need a way to carry my long guns. I was inspired by Lee Van Cleef from "For a Few Dollars More" and drew up plans for a canvas and leather carryall.

Watch on YouTube

It would be a pretty simple affair. A square piece of canvas with two leather straps to hold the guns in place. It would fold up a bit like a letter in an envelope with two hardwood dowels as handles. I once had a surplus shooting mat that was fairly similar. I looked online to see if I could find something similar that I could just buy instead of make. Something that looked more period. I found this:

It's not what I was looking for and it's not something I could just buy but it looks great. I think I could build something like that but it would be more of a challenge, given my current leatherworking experience, and would be more expensive. Then, I found this:

It's two leather scabbards strapped together and looks fantastic. Just the sort of thing I picture myself carrying when I exit a train to clean up some western town of supernatural horrors. I could make that but it would be yet another step up in price.

Decisions.