CraigC
Sixgun Nut
We all have guns we lust after but for whatever reason, it takes us time to actually procure one, if we ever do. It's often a "nice to have", rather than a "gotta have". Sometimes we want to hold out for one with nicer than average wood. They often cost more than standard guns and/or take some effort to hunt down. Not low hanging fruit, so to speak. Of course, it's not the low hanging fruit that's the sweetest! Here are two of mine.
I have one of those rimfire magazines from the `90's that had a High Grade, engraved reissue of the Winchester model 63 on the cover (no text inside!) and I've lusted after them ever since. Apparently the standard grade is not exactly growing on trees and the high grade is more akin to hen's teeth. Last year for my birthday, I decided to treat myself to one. Low and behold, my patience paid off because I found one that was not only still new in the box but also had much better than average wood! Most of them have the plainest, straight grain walnut I've ever seen. I topped with an older Leupold rimfire special 4x. It may look odd the way it's mounted but it's pretty much the only way to make it work. It is a wonderful rifle and just writing this makes me want to get after the local squirrels.
The second is actually a substitute. For years, probably going back to my teenage days, I have wanted a Winchester 1894 Chief Crazy Horse commemorative, in the far-more-interesting chambering than the .30-30, the .38-55. I've always looked at the Winchester and Colt commemoratives less as collectibles and more as a less expensive way to get a nice shooter with fancy wood and/or finishes, in a configuration and/or chambering that hasn't been available in a long time. Three years ago I decided to start looking intently. What I found was the Legendary Frontiersmen model, which is the same basic configuration and chambering (straight grip, 24" round barrel, full mag and .38-55) but with a different finish and engraving on the receiver. The receiver is actually silver plated that has turned to gray. What drew my attention should be obvious, it has spectacular wood! It's been fitted with a Williams Foolproof receiver sight. It's been fired but has yet to be fully wrung out and today is the first time I've taken a picture of it. I have a whole slew of cast bullets to test out of it.
I have one of those rimfire magazines from the `90's that had a High Grade, engraved reissue of the Winchester model 63 on the cover (no text inside!) and I've lusted after them ever since. Apparently the standard grade is not exactly growing on trees and the high grade is more akin to hen's teeth. Last year for my birthday, I decided to treat myself to one. Low and behold, my patience paid off because I found one that was not only still new in the box but also had much better than average wood! Most of them have the plainest, straight grain walnut I've ever seen. I topped with an older Leupold rimfire special 4x. It may look odd the way it's mounted but it's pretty much the only way to make it work. It is a wonderful rifle and just writing this makes me want to get after the local squirrels.
The second is actually a substitute. For years, probably going back to my teenage days, I have wanted a Winchester 1894 Chief Crazy Horse commemorative, in the far-more-interesting chambering than the .30-30, the .38-55. I've always looked at the Winchester and Colt commemoratives less as collectibles and more as a less expensive way to get a nice shooter with fancy wood and/or finishes, in a configuration and/or chambering that hasn't been available in a long time. Three years ago I decided to start looking intently. What I found was the Legendary Frontiersmen model, which is the same basic configuration and chambering (straight grip, 24" round barrel, full mag and .38-55) but with a different finish and engraving on the receiver. The receiver is actually silver plated that has turned to gray. What drew my attention should be obvious, it has spectacular wood! It's been fitted with a Williams Foolproof receiver sight. It's been fired but has yet to be fully wrung out and today is the first time I've taken a picture of it. I have a whole slew of cast bullets to test out of it.
