This year’s S&WCA Symposium made me realize that I’m dealing with a contradiction.
On the one hand, I’m fond of big-bore revolvers. I’m especially drawn these days to blued 4″ guns, like the Wolf and Klar revolvers, mostly because I have several 6″ examples. But I wouldn’t turn my nose up at something like this, either. (The gunshop near me had a 4″ Mountain Gun in .45 Colt for a long while that I was seriously considering pulling the trigger on. But I think it finally got sold to someone who wasn’t me.)
I think a nice blued big bore 4″ gun, with a good looking holster, would make a fine barbecue gun. Put some good looking grips on it (perhaps real vintage ivory if I can find it), maybe get some tasteful engraving done when I can afford it…
On the other hand, I’m also developing a fetish for small-bore handguns. I’m not talking .22 rimfire here: first off, I already have more than a few of those, and secondly, no man needs to apologize for or defend his collection of .22 rimfire handguns. There are very few things better than a nice .22 pistol: I think if I was limited to one revolver, I’d keep my Kit Gun.
No, what I’m talking about is the weird centerfire smallbore stuff. The XP-100 in .221 Remington Fireball. The .224 Harvey Kay-Chuck. And yes, I want to pick up a Model 53 in .22 Jet, even though I realize how impractical the Jet cartridge is, and I’d have to start handloading if I wanted to shoot it. (Though there is someone who makes the rounds of the gunshows selling remanufactured .22 Jet ammo.)
(And I probably need to start handloading anyway. For reasons.)
Even though I’m a Smith guy, the idea of a Blackhawk in .256 Winchester Magnum appeals, too.
If I ever win the lottery, I have a plan to commission the S&W Performance Center to build some Kit Guns based on the Model 51 frame, but chambered in .17 HMR. I just need to figure out if you can put enough of a twist in a 4″ barrel to stabilize the .17 round. If that works out, my next project would be to commission some X-frame revolvers in .221 Fireball. I wouldn’t do a whole lot of them: maybe ask them to build about 10 of each, give some to the family, and donate the others to the S&WCA auction.
I’m sure you’re all hoping I don’t win the lottery now.