What is your favorite antique revolver to shoot?

762mm

762mm

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Hello,

Let me start off by saying that I already have my RPAL and that I own 9 restricted firearms (most of them semis, two of them are revolvers).

I was thinking for a long time that it'd be really cool to have an old-school antique-status revolver that uses cased bullets that I can easily reload (preferably .38) and shoot at the range, or one that uses current rimfire .22 ammo. I was just looking for ideas... what is the best revolver for that, in your opinion? I was looking in the EE and the Nagant-types seem nice, but they're slightly out of the price range I'm looking for...

I will be looking to buy one in about a month or so and the price I'd be interested in would be approx. 700$ max for the finest antique revolver that I can afford these days :)rolleyes:), but wouldn't mind paying less for a basic one that works well to start my antique collection. I also wanted to know if I can legally import an antique revolver from the States? I would do it by mail (in case I buy it online at gun broker or something), so is there any American or Canadian procedures or paperwork to fill out first?

Thanks for any help guys... I'm a newbie to the antiques, but I find them more and more appealing and I think it'd be really cool to own at least a couple of them (with time, of course).

:cool:

P.S. If anyone has an offer to make on something that fits the bill, you can always PM. Thanks!
 
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It doesn't matter how old it is. If it is .38 or .22 cal it's still a retricted weapon. Check the Antique Fact Sheet for info on calibers that are considered antique. Most antiques are .32 rimfire and almost impossible to get ammo for. (If anyone has any please PM me)...
 
tactical870 said:
It doesn't matter how old it is. If it is .38 or .22 cal it's still a retricted weapon. Check the Antique Fact Sheet for info on calibers that are considered antique. Most antiques are .32 rimfire and almost impossible to get ammo for. (If anyone has any please PM me)...
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Allright, thanks... the link is bad in the sticky, here's the updated one:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/antique-historique-eng.htm


Seems like we're not allowed to have much of a shootable antique with all these bs restrictions. Another good reason why people living in the States are better off... :mad:

Anyway, the question still stands... which revolvers (preferably fairly commonly found) can be purchased as antiques and reloaded easily (center-fire)? Thanks!

:)
 
Rounds that use heeled bullets (e.g. .41 Colt) are less reloader friendly than ones using conventional bullets. In the easy to reload category would be 8mm Lebel, 11mm German revolver, .44 Russian, .44 American, .450/.455/.476. There are others. Just look for a revolver in a calibre that was not manufactured or altered to use any of the cartridges on the list. For ease of preparing ammunition, forget rimfires or pinfires.
 
tiriaq said:
Rounds that use heeled bullets (e.g. .41 Colt) are less reloader friendly than ones using conventional bullets. In the easy to reload category would be 8mm Lebel, 11mm German revolver, .44 Russian, .44 American, .450/.455/.476. There are others. Just look for a revolver in a calibre that was not manufactured or altered to use any of the cartridges on the list. For ease of preparing ammunition, forget rimfires or pinfires.
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Perfect, thanks for the info. One last question: if I happen to find a revolver in the States and it's made in one of the calibers you stated and before 1898 , do I still have to take any particular steps with customs in order to have it delivered? Thanks, your help is much appreciated!
 
Make sure that you can establish that the revolver qualifies for antique status. You basically have to be able to prove that the piece was made prior to 1898. This can sometimes be difficult. If production ended before then, its easy, or if there are known serial number/year of production charts. Or proof marks can help. Military revolvers may have production dates. But some guns were made before and after the cutoff date, and there is no way to establish which side.
As an example, there are three main variants of Remington derringers - one group can only be antique, one group only modern and prohibited, one group that you cannot prove either way.
 
tiriaq said:
Make sure that you can establish that the revolver qualifies for antique status. You basically have to be able to prove that the piece was made prior to 1898. This can sometimes be difficult. If production ended before then, its easy, or if there are known serial number/year of production charts. Or proof marks can help. Military revolvers may have production dates. But some guns were made before and after the cutoff date, and there is no way to establish which side.
As an example, there are three main variants of Remington derringers - one group can only be antique, one group only modern and prohibited, one group that you cannot prove either way.
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I hear you... so if you can't prove it, does it mean it's automatically restricted or prohibited, or does it mean it still qualifies as antique on a per model-basis?

I know that our firearm laws are completely opposite of logical, but I guess common sense would dictate that a revolver model of 1895 which happened to be manufactured in 1899 is still of the same design & caliber as the first one that rolled off the assembly line in 1895, no? It makes sense, but I still have a feeling that I'm wrong though, lol..

:confused:
 
The revolver must have been made prior to 1898, and if centrefire, cannot use one of the cartridges on the list.
Colt Single Actions can be antique, restricted or prohibited depending on date of manufacture, calbre and barrel length.
 
There are a lot more US legal antiques than Canadian.

If you have your R-PAL and want to get into antiques it is a lot cheaper to get a good quality restricted than one with antique status and an RCMP letter.
A antique legal revolver that uses a cartridge that is findable or reloadable is going to be expensive. For example Tiriaq mentioned that some SAA's are antique and some restricted.
Suppose you had 2 SAA's exactly the same except one was a year older so antique.
That one could cost as much as double the cost.

If you find a gun in Canada that is restricted here but antique in the US it might be a good investment as they are starting to really worry about their second amendment rights. 20/20 was spewing propaganda an hour ago so i had to turn off the tube.

Cut barrels can be a good deal because they are cool but not collectible.
 
tiriaq said:
The revolver must have been made prior to 1898, and if centrefire, cannot use one of the cartridges on the list.
Colt Single Actions can be antique, restricted or prohibited depending on date of manufacture, calbre and barrel length.
Click to expand...

Perfect, thanks once again for all the info. You have helped me in narrowing the options I will soon be seeking, as far as my antique venture goes. ;)

Much appreciated!
 
Unsub said:
If you find a gun in Canada that is restricted here but antique in the US it might be a good investment as they are starting to really worry about their second amendment rights. 20/20 was spewing propaganda an hour ago so i had to turn off the tube.

Cut barrels can be a good deal because they are cool but not collectible.
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Good point. Quite honestly, I am a little concerned about my 'second amendment' rights too... despite the fact that we never had any (which makes it even worse). I want to have a nice old school pistol & ammo that's not gonna be seized whenever Wendy's wet dream becomes reality. Plus Ilive in Quebec, which means I'm royally f*cked if/when S-5 comes to life.

I know there are other 'options' on how to get something off the books, but I want to stay legal... as it hasn't gotten bad enough YET to seek other alternatives. That, plus I want to have a piece of history I can shoot at the club. A nice shootable antique would definitely make a nice conversation piece among he guys there (most of whom would be in disbelief & jealous).

:D
 
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I do not have one, but high on my wish list would be a S&W double action .44. Or a Webley WG. Have been fortunate to acquire a few antiques without paying the prices that you often see these days.
A friend recently bought a Reichs Revolver, and it is a dandy shooter. Uses slightly shortened .44 Sp. or Magnum cases. The Italian 10.4mm revolvers are fun to shoot, and ammunition is reasonably straightforeward.
 
Nice... I will be keeping an eye out for these then. Too bad that there aren't too many antique stores around here that may carry some of these items. I guess the EE section or gun broker will be my best options when time comes.

:cheers:
 
I like the remington 1875 Army myself. strong great action.
Colt SAAs or any 455 Webley thats pre 1898 are great guns to.
 
i still like 32's 38's and 41's rf you cant reload them but i got lots of ammo.
also i picked up a new yes new. S&W No.2 OLD ARMY in 32 rf for 700.00 !!!
i got this off gunbroker 3 months ago for $125.00 works mint@!

n657550701_5858104_560.jpg
 
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The thing about antique handguns is that if they are cheap, they're in a cartridge that is heinous to reload for, or if they are in a cartridge that is easy to reload for, the antique handgun is heinously expensive. My favourite antique handgun to shoot is a S&W 2nd Model American in 44 Russian, but you'd have to be pretty lucky to find a decent shooter for less than $US 3,000, and you're more likely to pay at least $US 4,000 and up. You can get antique S&W first model DA in 44 Russian for maybe $US 1,500.
 
Thanks guys for all the input... All the guns mentioned look real nice, I wish I could get one now, lol.

Now that I think about it, I would also consider a solid black-powder Colt revolver as well. Kind of a nostalgic Clint Eastwood style gun... Like in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", lol!

:D
 
1892 41 long colt

I do not have as much experience as most of the folks here but I like the 41 long colt model 1892.
Colt_1892_41LC_3.jpg


Dies and molds are scarce. But after a few months of searching you will have a pretty modern antique. It can even use 38 special K frame speedloaders.
 
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