Special .44 Specials

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JimT
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Special .44 Specials

Post by JimT »

In past years The Shootists commissioned two .44 Specials. The first was from USFA for the 20th Anniversary of The Shootists Holiday and the other was from Ruger for the 25th Anniversary. Both are well-made, accurate sixguns.

The USFA .44 Special
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The serial numbers begin with "SH" and mine is SH003 since I was the 3rd Chairman of The Shootists. John Taffin was first, Deacon Deason was second, I was third, Paco was 4th .....
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The guns came from USFA with hard rubber stocks. I still have them but replaced them with a nice one-piece walnut by Persinger.
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The Ruger .44 Special
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I had moved to Mozambique when these were offered and I did not have a chance to get one. However my son-in-law knew we should have one in the family and he bought it, along with 1000 rounds of new brass headstamped "SHOOTISTS".
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The Ruger .44 Special came with the Belt Mountain base pin. The front sight did not work for my son-in-law so he sent the gun to Gary Reeder and had a bead front sight installed.
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The .44 Special in these two sixguns will handle most any chore you give it.
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Old Savage
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Old Savage »

Very nice, interesting guns both.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

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GunnyMack
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by GunnyMack »

Nice Jim, however here is my special 44 special.
John Gallagher and I were in school together, he was getting deep into single actions and we collaborated on this.
It started life as a 32 H&R Single Six, I was able to scrounge a box of 32 S&W before it was disassembled and re-engineered so at least it was used first.
New barrel, cylinder, lots of fitting & shaping of internals to become a 5 shot. Shown with a Model66 for scale
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JimT
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by JimT »

I have seen some photos of that gun before Gunny ... and have always been a little jealous. :)
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GunnyMack
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by GunnyMack »

JimT wrote: Mon May 29, 2023 11:20 am I have seen some photos of that gun before Gunny ... and have always been a little jealous. :)
Kinda why I posted it :lol:

I lost touch with John after school, I'm sorry I did and next I knew he had passed away! From what I know his wife, Bev is running the business and his son ( was in diapers last I saw him!) is doing the work. From what I know, John didn't do any 44specials on the single six frame but I believe a few 41s were...?

I don't shoot it enough but being a 'one off ' I don't want to over work it :D

I made the grips from lacewood, I really need to go try them out as they are probably still too thick.
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JimT
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by JimT »

Yes, he built some .41 Specials. I have seen a couple of those. Neat stuff. He did nice work.
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Mine is Number 30. I had Dustin Linebaugh cut it down ant replace the front sight. Finished it off with Elephant ivory.

They have yellowed nicely with age and handling. I think they look much better today.
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

I carry it when I’m in the mood to carry a sixgun
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Last edited by Scott Tschirhart on Mon May 29, 2023 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bill in Oregon
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Gosh what a bunch of handsome .44 Specials!
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

JimT wrote: Mon May 29, 2023 11:20 am I have seen some photos of that gun before Gunny ... and have always been a little jealous. :)

Me too! What a cool gun!
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GunnyMack
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by GunnyMack »

I think if I could go back to school and do it over again I'd do a 41 special, why you ask?
Cylinder wall thickness!
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Walt
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Walt »

Gentlemen, you have some beautiful guns there.
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Nothing looks quite so nice as ivory on a SAA. :mrgreen:
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JBowen
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by JBowen »

Nice revolvers everyone. They certainly are "Special".

JBowen
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Old Savage
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Old Savage »

I consider these special and they are standard 79 3rd Gen Colt’s
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Old Savage
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Old Savage »

I consider these special and they are standard 79 3rd Gen Colt’s, Rugers and a Smith.

Thread drift, got carried away with a couple 45 Colts.
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Poohgyrr
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Poohgyrr »

Those are great looking 44Specials, thanks for sharing. The round remains great. Powerful enough, flexible, and easy to load. The wheelguns are sweet.

I have a fun little 16” EMF Hartford M92, cut down & rechambered to Special by Steve’s Gunz, back around Katrina. Not a single action, but it could team up with one.


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Bullard4075
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Re: Special .44 Specials

Post by Bullard4075 »

Been a 44 Special fan for many,many years,but it appears I'm nowhere near you guys league. :)
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