Fred Biffar & Co. Secret Service Special

[AndyUSMC1107]

Good Morning! Wondering if any of you have come across/heard of this Fred Biffar & Co. (Chicago, IL.) trade marked (had nothing to do w/the Secret Service), merely his marketing ploy...SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL top break wheel gun?

He contracted w/ Iver Johnson/Meridian to produce a (roll-marked) SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL. Unique to and sold only by his large Hardware Store. Other than the SSS roll-mark on the barrel, the safety patent date, caliber and serial #, there is no manufacture’s name roll-marked.

What’s unique about this old revolver is the May 22, 1917 patented push button hammer block safety button (visible on the right side of the frame [patent date marked]). Caliber is 38 S&W 5 “beans.” Mother of Pearl grips. 5” barrel Nickel plated The 2 blade M of P pocket knife is also roll-marked Fred Biffar & Co. /Chicago Illinois. The Fred Biffar “GOOD LUCK trade token is seen at the top of the Display Case. Interesting factoid: reverse of token has a mirror image of the latter Nazi Swastika. Reversed Swastica (for lack of a better descriptor) was a Native American symbol for “good luck). This neat old “SSS” is pretty cool. Before I came across this “would be mine nìche” bit of wheelgun history, I’d never seen/heard of one before (not that my firearms knowledge is much past the 4th Grade...) Still only ankle-deep in the “wadeing (sp) pool...

An aside ?: I wonder why so many old revolvers came in the Nickel “flavor” standard (w/blued finish extra)? A little early 19th C. “flash” in the pocket...a little better corrosion resistance against the powders of the day...Anyone out there have a “knowledgeable” answer?

 

[Col. Harrumph]

I believe a nickel finish was thought to be more wear-resistant and better protection against sweat, esp. before the advent of air conditioning. Here's a pic of what's left of my great-grandmother's S&W hand ejector. It left Springfield wearing a blue dress but wound up in muggy southern Illinois in the 1920's:

So someone had the nickel applied after it left the mill.

Also according to Goforth's book on Iver Johnsons, a blue finish was extra. Probably because it demanded a higher polish, I'm guessing.

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

I believe a nickel finish was thought to be more wear-resistant and better protection against sweat, esp. before the advent of air conditioning. Here's a pic of what's left of my great-grandmother's S&W hand ejector. It left Springfield wearing a blue dress but wound up in muggy southern Illinois in the 1920's:
View attachment 996624
So someone had the nickel applied after it left the mill.

Also according to Goforth's book on Iver Johnsons , a blue finish was extra. Probably because it demanded a higher polish, I'm guessing.

Col., Neat old S&W HE! What flavor does it digest. I recently acquired a nicely (?) re-blued S&W 1905 HE 6” 32-20 WCF.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Interesting factoid: reverse of token has a mirror image of the latter Nazi Swastika. Reversed Swastica (for lack of a better descriptor) was a Native American symbol for “good luck).

For future reference, a less awkward and established moniker for that is "Rolling Log".

Todd.

 

[dennis g]

This is a Howard Arms, another Fred Biffar Co.

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

For future reference, a less awkward and established moniker for that is "Rolling Log".

Todd.

Todd, I’m pretty old and even more slow-witted...don’t know what you mean RE: “Rolling Log...”

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Todd, I’m pretty old and even more slow-witted...don’t know what you mean RE: “Rolling Log...”

Here's a write-up on whirling or rolling logs in Native American art as an example.

https://nativeamericanjewelrytips.w...native-american-symbol-whirling-log-swastika/

Todd.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

First I have heard of "rolling log" also. Buddhist also use said symbol.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

First I have heard of "rolling log" also. Buddhist also use said symbol.

They did and still do -- I saw temples in Viet Nam with swastikas running all around the edge of the roof.

One explanation is that the sign represents a bull-roarer. That's a flat piece of wood with a string stretched from end to end. It's attached to a longer string, and the shaman whirls it around his head. The resulting sound has a strong Doppler effect -- WHOOOooom WHOOOooom. It's supposed to be whirled clockwise or "sunwise."

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

They did and still do -- I saw temples in Viet Nam with swastikas running all around the edge of the roof.

One explanation is that the sign represents a bull-roarer. That's a flat piece of wood with a string stretched from end to end. It's attached to a longer string, and the shaman whirls it around his head. The resulting sound has a strong Doppler effect -- WHOOOooom WHOOOooom. It's supposed to be whirled clockwise or "sunwise."

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

Vern, I had forgotten that during my extended visit to Sunny/Rainy/Hot SE Asia between 1967 and 1969...Semper Fi!

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

I believe a nickel finish was thought to be more wear-resistant and better protection against sweat, esp. before the advent of air conditioning. Here's a pic of what's left of my great-grandmother's S&W hand ejector. It left Springfield wearing a blue dress but wound up in muggy southern Illinois in the 1920's:
View attachment 996624
So someone had the nickel applied after it left the mill.

Also according to Goforth's book on Iver Johnsons, a blue finish was extra. Probably because it demanded a higher polish, I'm guessing.

Col., a neat gunsmith trick I learned: if you rub the edge of a Nickel coin (nickels won’t work...no-to-to-very-little nickel content [especially post 1964 Nickels]). I bought a 1 oz .995 Nickel round. The pure Nickel is softer than the barrel. A little vigorous rubbing deposits Ni. on the barrel or other location thats been “drawer-burned.” Doing so followed by light Semi-Chrome/Flitz polishing results in a near perfect match.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern, I had forgotten that during my extended visit to Sunny/Rainy/Hot SE Asia between 1967 and 1969...Semper Fi!

We might have crossed paths. On my second tour, '68-'69 I was in the1sr Bde, 5th ID, which was OPCON to 3 Mardiv.

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

We might have crossed paths. On my second tour, '68-'69 I was in the1sr Bde, 5th ID, which was OPCON to 3 Mardiv.

2/5, way up N. Along the DMZ, Camp Vandergriff, Con Thien, Hue (TET) and in the “tall grass” who knows where. I humped a PRC-25 (actually have a working specimen today should the Zombies show up...)

 

[Risky buisness]

Dang AndyUSMC, I had almost forgotten what that thing looked like..... I had one too, just a couple years later. Semper Fi pardner

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

Dang AndyUSMC, I had almost forgotten what that thing looked like..... I had one too, just a couple years later. Semper Fi pardner

RT! Risky...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

View attachment 996660
2/5, way up N. Along the DMZ, Camp Vandergriff, Con Thien, Hue (TET) and in the “tall grass” who knows where. I humped a PRC-25 (actually have a working specimen today should the Zombies show up...)[/QUOTE
I was there -- Quang Tri, Dong Ha,. Cua Viet, Con Thien, LZ Sharon, Khe Sanh (after the "siege" on the Remagin Operations). From the South China Sea to the Laotian Border.

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

Here's a write-up on whirling or rolling logs in Native American art as an example.

https://nativeamericanjewelrytips.w...native-american-symbol-whirling-log-swastika/

Todd.

Apache...Plz ID the WWII bomber you’re using as your THR meme (?) is that the proper tech-savvy term? If you don’t mind, what’s the significance? Not nosy, just have loved the old WWII bombers since I was a kid. My Dad was a B-17 door gunner after he resigned from AAC Pilot School.

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

Welcome Home Brother! “And Once We Were Young...”.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Apache...Plz ID the WWII bomber you’re using as your THR meme (?) is that the proper tech-savvy term? If you don’t mind, what’s the significance? Not nosy, just have loved the old WWII bombers since I was a kid. My Dad was a B-17 door gunner after he resigned from AAC Pilot School.

A B-26 I came across while researching my Browning Leige shotgun. I was so impressed by the *office* photo that it seemed a shame to not share it around a bit.


Todd.

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

T

A B-26 I came across while researching my Browning Leige shotgun. I was so impressed by the *office* photo that it seemed a shame to not share it around a bit.
View attachment 996670

Todd.

The old guy across our pond (now deceased) piloted a Marauder in WWII Europe. Guy’s name was McClung. I thought it might be one, but nose-on it was hard to tell. At one time “many moons ago” one flew into Arlington (TX) along with a B-17 and a twin seat Mustang as part of the then Confederate Air Force flying exhibit (name’s not P.C. these days & not sure what the current organizational name is now).

I was teaching H.S. US History at the time and offered my school kids a test waiver replaced by a 100 if they brought back a B-17/Marauder “walk-thru tour ticket stub.

As a kid growing up in Fort Worth, I remember my Dad’s old shearling lined high altitude overalls hanging on a nail in the garage. I still have 2 B-17 high altitude oxygen tanks he made away with in 1945. I wonder how many of the WWII fighters/bombers are still air-worthy today. I’m in the flight path of a municipal airfield, and every weekend a C-47 SkyTrain wearing D-Day stripes flies over my house...I always find a clear patch of sky...

Same with the old Vietnam era USMC Sea Knight twin rotors...air frame older than the pilots.

 

[Speedo66]

As a kid growing up in Fort Worth, I remember my Dad’s old shearling lined high altitude overalls hanging on a nail in the garage. ..

I found a pair marked Army Air Corp in the late '60's down in an East Village second hand store in Manhattan. Used them as winter motorcycle gear for several years, great item.

 

[AndyUSMC1107]

I found a pair marked Army Air Corp in the late '60's down in an East Village second hand store in Manhattan. Used them as winter motorcycle gear for several years, great item.

WHAT A GREAT FIND!

 

[Gordon]

View attachment 996660
2/5, way up N. Along the DMZ, Camp Vandergriff, Con Thien, Hue (TET) and in the “tall grass” who knows where. I humped a PRC-25 (actually have a working specimen today should the Zombies show up...)

I carried a crypt key attachment to that , which requiured a Crypto TS clearence at the time and a Uher recorder and batteries . I had grunts as my guards who were told to shoot me before I was captured ! I only did that a few times. Latter I once had to strap on a captured Czech portable radio back back with weird alkalie add water before using batteries , and the Uher mini tape recorder and it's batteries, on a mission along DMZ. But here I am today

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I carried a crypt key attachment to that , which requiured a Crypto TS clearence at the time and a Uher recorder and batteries . I had grunts as my guards who were told to shoot me before I was captured ! I only did that a few times. Latter I once had to strap on a captured Czech portable radio back back with weird alkalie add water before using batteries , and the Uher mini tape recorder and it's batteries, on a mission along DMZ. But here I am today

I know Ive asked before about the book before, Gordon, but seriously I hope youve jotted down a few notebooks worth of recollections of your service.......