Barbecue gun pics!

sgt127 said:

629. Grasshorn stags. Name, rank and department engraved. El Paso saddlery rig. About as fancy as I've got.

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Nice. Do you look forward to a promotion as an opportunity, each time, for a new gun? lol

I deleted my silly post, I should have been more considerate.

Speedo66 said:

Nice. Do you look forward to a promotion as an opportunity, each time, for a new gun? lol

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I just retired as a Sergeant. 32 years. I made a killing in the free gun department. It used to be that every dept award came with a gun. Bought by the Police Association. I was blessed.

Rookie of the year S&W 66 engraved 1986

Officer of the year Colt Govt .380
Stainless 1987

Another officer of the year S&W 65 1990

Supervisor of the year Ruger 22-45 2004

When I retired, the association bought my duty gun (all members get that perk)
Glock 22

My Officers bought me a NIB model 10 engraved.

And my best friend, who retired a few years before me, gave me an engraved Sig P229. He also gave me the 629 when I had 25 years on. I gave him a nickel 29 for his retirement gift.

(None were scroll engraved or anything, just name rank dept badge and award)

It was a tremendous run. If I could reset the clock, I'd do it all again.

Now, I got a very laid back job at a university PD for a few more years and, I can carry my Colt 1911 again. Life ain't bad.

Sounds good, I worked 40 years as a LEO for a state agency in NYC, and they gave me........nothing. Well, maybe a little grief. lol

We got an equipment allowance and had to buy our own weapons. Since it was ours, we kept them at retirement. Glock 26, nothing you'd want to take to a BBQ.

I really don't mean to heckle but no one has explained what a "BBQ gun" is. Is it just one of your shiniest most prized pieces or what?


BTW a lot of nice looking guns so far...

Good enough question ..

Good Ol' Boy said:

I really don't mean to heckle but no one has explained what a "BBQ gun" is. Is it just one of your shiniest most prized pieces or what?


BTW a lot of nice looking guns so far...

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I quickly found this ...

BBQ Gun
An old term from the Southwest that refers to a gun that is not worn daily. It won't have the scratches, wear marks, etc a daily wear gun would have. These guns were not something that were never used or "useless." In the time the term came about they were functional guns (sometimes, heavily modified for better accuracy/reliability/etc) that might have some custom engraving, polishing, or custom grips. They didn't make many guns purely for show - they made guns to use and users modified them for show. They were normally worn in tooled leather holsters as opposed to daily wear holsters - which were plain.
In the revolver days (before semi-auto pistols) a church gun was a normal firearm as described above. After the semi-auto pistols arrived on scene this term applied to mostly Colt 1911's. Current times this can apply to any firearm that has custom work designed to enhance mainly appearance and, much of the time - functionality.
However, this should not be confused with a (today's term) "bling gun" - which can imply that the gun is more for show than effectiveness. Or that the user is not proficient in its use because it is only worn on special occasions.
In the Southwest BBQ's could be at a casual get together, a special event, wedding, or a different/very formal affair.
Also known as a "Church gun," a "Court Gun," or "the 4th of July gun" (in Wyoming) for obvious reasons.

"I'm wearing my BBQ gun to the wedding."
"He's wearing his Sunday best and his BBQ gun."
"The Sheriff showed up to court wearing his BBQ gun."

^ Informative. Basically what I assumed.

Am I the only one who finds the the term "church gun" even more amusing than "bbq gun"?


I digress. Back to the pics....

I don't have any engraved handguns. A couple of these might let me into a BBQ event if folks didn't look at them to hard.

two S&W 60,s with square butts and three heavy barrels. with full engraving and one has real ivory in .38 special. eastbank.

Cocked & Locked said:

I don't have any engraved handguns. A couple of these might let me into a BBQ event if folks didn't look at them to hard.

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I don't think that you would be embarrassed attending any BBQ with any of those.

Cocked & Locked said:

I don't have any engraved handguns. A couple of these might let me into a BBQ event if folks didn't look at them to hard.

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Saps, revolvers, 1911's, stags and carved holsters.

I think you'll be ok.

Very nice grouping.

Point to remember is that, in days of old, out Texas way, especially west of the Colorado River, a barbecue was a bit different than inviting the neighbors over for a few brats and a steak or two. A fellow might be celebrating a daughter turning 15; or perhaps making her debut (becoming a debutante) , or perhaps a son entering (or graduating) college.

So it would be all the neighbors, and a social "do" of some scale. Which could encompass a bit, especially out where people owned and worked spreads of 100-200 Sections (a Section ins a square mile, or 640 acres). So, folks would have their Sunday clothes on.

There was a parallel tradition where Trustys in the jail would hand-make holsters for the LEO, particularly if they had a "court gun" (the pretty one since you wore your good suit to court).

So, that's kind of where we get the idea of a pretty to look at yet perfectly functional BBQ gun.

Okay cocked&locked,
Those are some pretty impressive credentials for any bbq.

eastbank and Cocked & Locked ...
Wow-zer !
Nice grips on beautiful handguns.
I like those eastbank revolvers but had to make the pic bigger for him here since they should be seen.

Well you can heat a sheet of flat steel over a cotton wood fire along the Wind River. When the metal is branding iron hot throw on some thick fresh cut steak.
"Flat Iron" steak in a grove of old trees in Wyoming. Carry a badly worn Colt. You are home Cowboy.

dh1633pm said:

When in New York, you have to do the Dino.

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What location is that? Is that the original Syracuse location? Sure looks like it, but I haven't lived there in 20 years. I used to eat there when it was still just a tiny breakfast and lunch joint in that little corner space.

Last time I was there Andy's Cycles was still upstairs. Looks like they took over the whole S. end of the building?

Best freakin' food EVER!!!!

I don't have a BBQ gun, but thanks for the photos of these beautiful rigs.

Colt Combat Commander 1972



tipoc

Cocked & Locked said: ↑
I don't have any engraved handguns. A couple of these might let me into a BBQ event if folks didn't look at them to hard

Wowser. I think you could go to the BBQ all month long with any of those. What an group you have put together.

tipoc

Very nice! Just enough engraving to make a classic design like the Combat Commander look all the more elegant.

I don't own any engraved handguns, either. In fact I don't own anything that could be called "really nice". But an old friend with a couple of refinements would be my choice. It's a working man's revolver and it has worked a lot.

Just an OM Ruger .45Colt.

Nice looking Ruger 3-screw!

Mine is a mediocre somewhat boring new model .45 : (

This Lipsey Ruger is a .45 Colt/.45 ACP is the best Ruger I own. I have more than 20 Ruger SA revolvers. Many dating to the 1950s. This one is built on a 1961 .357 frame. It is very close to a Mdl. P Colt.

I probably won't get into a BBQ with this, but maybe a weenie roast.