Most Interesting
Back in the 1970's I had purchased a Blackhawk convertible 45, "Made in the 200th Year of Amrican Liberty". It was a really good revolver and those that knew me well, knew about it as I shot it a lot. So one day, one of my tree planting buddies, a Yurok fellow from up on the Klamath River, tells me he has an old 45 revolver I might be interested in. Well I was, a little. Next time he comes over he brings me a true basket-case of dirty, rusted, and severely pitted revolver parts that had probably lain in a state of disassembly and forgotten neglect for decades. It truly looked like junk. I asked him what he was going to do with it. He figured maybe he would sell it to me for 25 dollars if I was interested. I said, "OK", without haggling and the sack of corroded metal junk became mine. I cleaned it up a little and realized it needed some professional help or professional advice to grow it away. So I put it away for several months but eventually took it to a gunsmith in Medford, Oregon. 90 bucks later I had a a shootable 1873 Colt Single Action 45. The gun had matching serial number and was all original with well worn, black, hard rubber grips, no eagle, but correct for its 1902 vintage. All metal surfaces were pitted from corrosion and the barrel-cylinder gap was both large and uneven. But it was shootable. I have never shot any other handgun, before or since, that handled so naturally, and was so predisposed hit what you pointed it at. It was like it lived up to the legend. It looked very similar to Driftwood's picture, but without the eagle in the grips, the front of the cylinder was a bit more beveled, and it was more pitted. I kick myself for letting it go at a time before such items escalated dramatically in value. I can't afford anther like it now. All the ones I see now of similar vintage and condition are priced around $3,500. About 3 times the cost of a new one. Alas, my Vaquero will have to do.