I really should know better...

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Sometimes I just like to stop in at my favorite gun store and poke around; I've found some odd things in there... but this might be the oddest.



Ten years before the Taurus Judge there was the MIL Thunder Five, the first commercial .410/.45 Colt revolver. Made from '92-'98, this 42 ounce behemoth of a snubby is a genuine oddball- from it's front-locking system to it's size to the manual safety, this was not at all a normal revolver. It takes 3" .410 shells or .45 Colt, but since the gun wasn't California compliant they made a version in .45-70. (!!!) Did I mention that this gun is built like a tank? They've got a really, really good price on it and I am perversely tempted...

They had another gun that did more than tempt me- a JC Higgens Model 20 12 gauge in about 95% condition. (This is a High-Standard re-badged by Sears.) Price? $100. It seemed to be in beautiful condition and to function as it should. I had to ask, 'What's the deal?' The deal, as it turns out, is that people no longer recognize the brand and don't want them. If it said 'High Standard' instead of 'JC Higgins' it would sell for 2-3 times the price. SNAG

I really should know better than to casually drop by that place...

 

[Malamute]

I think you made the right choice between the two.

Somebody elsewhere just confessed to impulse buying 3 smith model 66s on gunbroker. Now he has one for every member of his family.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

My wife actually offered to by me the Thunder V for Christmas... Gonna have to think about that...

 

[bannockburn]

Wow I had forgotten about that gun! Gave new meaning to the term "handcannon"! That's one I would definitely use a gun vise and a lanyard cord on first. If you do decide to get it range report and photos are a must.

 

[psyopspec]

The gun also made a somewhat memorable appearance in the David O Russell film Three kings.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think a Thunder V would make a great gag prize at a shooting match. You know, either NMC shot at 50 yards or IPSC with 32 round field courses.

I recall the old Second Chance matches. One year the shooter in 303rd place - they had a LOT of entries - got a Lee Enfield .303.

 

[entropy]

JC Higgins, Western Field, Western Auto, & Ted Williams all are usually good buys on Savage/Springfield/Fox, Mossberg, High Standard, and even a couple WInchester models.

The Thunder Five was an interesting beast back in the day. Not sure I'd want to pull the trigger on the .45-70 version...

 

[chicharrones]

Sweet find!

I wanted a Thunder Five back in the day, but never had the cash on hand. Kinda like my hankering for a Timberwolf carbine back in the same era.

 

[FROGO207]

Take it to the range now! You know you want to.

 

[Manny]

I used to work gun shows for a friend back in the day and I can remember Thunderer's on the tables. I thought they were turds then and I doubt they would appeal to me any more today. They only one of these type guns to ever appeal to me whatsoever is S&W's Governor. YMMV

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'd have bought the Thunder 5. I passed on one with the .45/70 cylinder about 10 years ago, been kicking myself ever since.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Sometimes I just like to stop in at my favorite gun store and poke around; I've found some odd things in there... but this might be the oddest.



Ten years before the Taurus Judge there was the MIL Thunder Five, the first commercial .410/.45 Colt revolver. Made from '92-'98, this 42 ounce behemoth of a snubby is a genuine oddball- from it's front-locking system to it's size to the manual safety, this was not at all a normal revolver. It takes 3" .410 shells or .45 Colt, but since the gun wasn't California compliant they made a version in .45-70. (!!!) Did I mention that this gun is built like a tank? They've got a really, really good price on it and I am perversely tempted...

They had another gun that did more than tempt me- a JC Higgens Model 20 12 gauge in about 95% condition. (This is a High-Standard re-badged by Sears.) Price? $100. It seemed to be in beautiful condition and to function as it should. I had to ask, 'What's the deal?' The deal, as it turns out, is that people no longer recognize the brand and don't want them. If it said 'High Standard' instead of 'JC Higgins' it would sell for 2-3 times the price. SNAG

I really should know better than to casually drop by that place...

Michael, a little off topic but are you the well known sword maker by the same name?

Mike

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Michael, a little off topic but are you the well known sword maker by the same name?

Mike

Yep- that's me.

 

[JTHunter]

Yep- that's me.

Interesting!
Did some searching of your name and ended up on your FB page (cute Scottie).
Would you mind some metallurgical questions about your creations?

 

[200Apples]

I really should know better than to casually drop by that place...

I can say the same about my local gun shop. It's the only game in town, literally... on the west side of Los Angeles, that is. Seems when folks pass on, their spouses or children bring in their dearly beloveds' collections.

I've managed to acquire some pretty cool firearms. The most recent previously-owned firearms purchases were two excellent-condition, unconverted, 3-screw Blackhawks. (Don't ask about the new guns...)

Every time I think I'm just going to go in and say hello to the counterfolk, something catches my eye. This weekend another unconverted 3 screw Single Six will come home to live. Then there's the .44 Special Colt SAA (3rd Gen, that is...) that I have a hefty deposit on...

I really should know better than to just casually drop in to that store! Wait... what?

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Interesting!
Did some searching of your name and ended up on your FB page (cute Scottie).
Would you mind some metallurgical questions about your creations?

Not at all- but we should do it by PM.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Everyone should have at least one abomination in their collection.

 

[tactikel]

A .45-70 revolver?...HELL YES!! That is one cool .410/.45! A nice S/D option.