Elmer Keith Forums - Six Shooters

The Mary Gun

mb111263 — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:39:31 GMT

I had been wanting a 4" Model 29 for nearly 30 years. My early gun-rag reading had introduced me to Elmer Keith, and he is the reason for wanting this gun...but there was always another sixgun, usually a single action that would get my money. I even picked up a few Smith & Wessons over the years, but the 29 eluded me until recently. Prior to obtaining this one, my intention, when the day finally came, was to visit Bob Leskovec for a set of his acrylic ivory Elmer Keith style magna grips with the carved steer head on the right grip panel. I first saw these grips of Bob's on one of Mr. Taffin's S&Ws. While they weren't the real deal, they were close enough to get me by until I could have a set made just like Elmer's from genuine ivory.

Then, this past February, came the passing of my mother, and two days later, a text from my good friend Fermin Garza, letting me know there was a 29-2 for sale on one of the forums. When the dust finally settled, the 29 was on it's way and it had a name; The Mary Gun...my mother's name...Fermin's idea.

A phone call was made to Bob Leskovec and arrangements were made for a visit to his shop. Once there, Bob showed me a few projects he was working on, along with some of his other hobbies. He showed me two flintlock rifles he built from scratch and several remote control airplanes that he put together. I immediately knew I was in the shop of a true artist. He then pulled out a Colt SAA grip frame assembly with a set of ivory grips with a carved horse head on one of the panels. The carving was exceptional and the ivory itself was beautifully colored.

We discussed the acrylic grips and a leather project that Bob was wanting to have done. When I left, the intention was to have him build the acrylic ivory grips. The drive back home took about 45 minutes...plenty of time for the mind to keep wandering back to the carved ivories that Bob showed me. By the time I reached home, I had convinced myself that this fine sixgun needed genuine ivory on her. The next day, I called Bob to discuss the project further and the final decision was made. Ivory!

Yesterday evening, I made the drive to Bob's shop. My jaw dropped when he handed me the Mary Gun. The color and grain of these grips was enough to leave me speechless, not to mention the beautifully executed carving. Like I said, Bob is a true artist, and I would not hesitate to refer anyone looking for carved ivory grips to him.

Here are the pics.

Mary Irene Capizzi - around 1940 or so, a few years before she met my father...

Elmer Keith's 44s...the inspiration for this project. Photo courtesy of John Taffin...

The Mary Gun...

The steer head carving turned out great!

Notice the grain in the butt of the grips...

Fermin suggested I have the initials 'MB' carved on the lefthand panel, standing for a certain part of a monkey's anatomy. I thought it was appropriate, considering they were not only my initials, but my mother's! I found a font that I liked and made a pattern which I sent to Bob and he did a great job of matching it perfectly...

I couldn't be happier, unless of course, my mother was still here to show this to. I know in my heart though, that she is watching and smiling...

Forum: Six Shooters

Schofield?

ornery — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:51:27 GMT

So.......I found a picture of the Beretta Schofield 45LC in what looks like stainless or nickel. Dang it's purty! Anybody have experience with this or any other schofield knockoff. I love my revolvers, but it seems nobody makes a nice one anymore, at least not one a working man can afford. Used Smiths are just getting more expensive every day!!
Just thought I'd start something....

Bill

PS...headin' up to Salmon next week..Wish Elmer was still there...guess he is in a way.....Thinkin' of making a move to Mackay.....

Forum: Six Shooters

Century Manufacturing model 100

gunsmith — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:58:44 GMT

I am looking for a Guns and Ammo Mag, about the Century Manufacturing Model 100 in 45/70. Elmer did the write up. I need the mag for my collection, as it is the first gun magazine I ever read, and started me on the slippery slope of gun nuttism. Now that is all I do, work, eat, sleep,and dream guns.
I ordered one of these in the 1970's from a company called Esmans in Pitcairn, Pa. I lost my recipt, and my money, the gun never came in, and I would still like to get one. I need it like a hole in the head now, but some wants die hard.

Forum: Six Shooters

I think Elmer would have liked this --Pics

KevinKeith — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:25:19 GMT

1st generation SAA .357 with King short action job and King sights. Super rare from what the experts tell me. I have a request in to Colt for a factory letter. It has the original box which is for a 7 1/2" SAA. Rollmark reads "Colt Single Action Army .357", no "magnum" wording which indicates an original 1st gen. .357. This sixgun's authenticity speaks for itself. #357274 same on frame and grip frame.

EK probably would have converted it to another .44 Special but I'm OK with a "puny" .357!

The King sights and short action job along with the "cockeyed" hammer are alone worth the price of the gun IMHO. Trigger is wide and hand checked as is the hammer. I understand Dean King did each of these by hand, Enjoy (even though I do not even rate as a rank amature photogropher)!

Original box close up

Full photo of box

Note the original hammer spur imprint.

Showing short action throw

About 70 years too late to register for the warranty

Forum: Six Shooters

Advice on where to start

tbbryan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:49:58 GMT

I have recently begun to enjoy big bore sixguns a friend introduced me the .44 Mag. and .45 Colt. I have always been a little recoil sensitive, but I am working on it. I really did enjoy shooting both of them. Even though my buddy had the .45 colts marked hot loads. Did I mention that my buddys heroes are Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton?

After realizing that I could enjoy big bore revolvers my buddy gave me something else to think about Hell, I was there Once I started reading about Elmer Keith I could not stop. Reading his book was like I was sitting around the campfire beside Keith himself listening to him tell me about his life. I have found myself wanting to purchase a big bore

My problem is that I need to find the following: 1) Something that I am not going to have to do a lot of work to. 2) Something that is heavy enough to absorb recoil. 3) Something that I can start with lighter loads and build up with. 4) Something that can serve as an all purpose sixgun for a while until I can afford to diversify into other guns and calibers. Can anyone give some advice as to make, model, and calibers that would meet what I am looking for?

Forum: Six Shooters

I must be crazy

Denny — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:30:46 GMT

I just brought a S&W 460 with a 2 3/4" barrel The squirrels are having at it so I thought it would be enough gun. I have not shot it and when thinking it over wonder why ? Maybe I could get S&W to put a little longer barrel on it and use the 454 loads

Anyone else have one ? Just curious

Forum: Six Shooters

A real man's gun

SafarisAfrica — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:06:36 GMT

Unilke the author I would shoot an elephant with it

Just what you need for those Pesky Saber Tooth Squirrels in the back Yard.

Every guy should have one of these........

Here's a handy little piece you may want to tuck in your waist-band for those dark lonely nights when you're out walking
the dog .....

Forget everything you've heard about magnum revolvers, this is the ultimate gun.

Measured by muzzle energy, it is the most powerful in the world.

Cal .600 Nitro Express

Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express.

image not to scale

The worlds most powerful pistol is the Austrian Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Magnum. It is chambered to fire the British developed .600 caliber rifle bullet originally made by Holland and Holland. This revolver was not originally a full production model but a one off built especially for a wealthy Swiss gent...Mr. Zeliska.
But if you would like one and I am sure that a few of you licensed rootin tootin gun lovers with a bit of disposable income would, then contact Pfeifer arms (url near bottom of page) and they will make one for you. Priced at 13,840 Euro's. This equates as $16,501 or 9,417 ( Exchange rate Feb 24th 2006 )
The Pfeifer Revolver is also available chambered for the .458 Winchester Magnum and qualifies as the world's second most powerful handgun.
The .600 Nitro Express Magnum revolver is a Single Action, 5 shot, old west style gun. A single action revolver is stronger in construction than a double action revolver due to the solid base frame that the cylinder sits in.
The image below shows the colossal size of the revolver in the hands of a suitably impressed gun magazine photographer !

This is not a joke. This gun really exists. It's the absolute ultimate Magnum revolver and one that Smith & Wesson would rather you didn't know about as their market researcher would need medication!

Because of it's size this revolver would need to be fired whilst resting on a bench clamp or small sand bags as shown in the image below. The gun weighs in at 13.23lbs and consequently is heavy enough to absorb most of the violent recoil. In fact it is on scale to firing the .50 Magnum.
(Note the reaction to the shock & awe on the face of the gun magazine writer as he fires this delicate little piece, below)

The recoil is not uncontrollable, but instead, tamed by the guns weight. A bi-pod and shoulder stock may be in order though.

The .600 Nitro Express bullet was originally developed in 1899 for the big game hunters who went to Africa with the intention of killing Elephants, something that I despise by the way.
Even though H&H no longer manufacture these cartridges they can still be sought through the gun trade, small reloading companies or even over the internet.
One company still actually make these rounds and they are Kynoch at http://www.kynochusa.com/" href="http://www.kynochusa.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.kynochusa.com
The images below shows the actual size of the .600 Nitro Express round, the bullet of which can go clean through a 10mm steel plate at 12 meters(39.4 ft) like a hot knife through butter.
The bullet on the end is a .700 Nitro Express which is currently the world's most powerful Rifle cartridge and it's probably just a matter of time until a Revolver is developed for it.

actual size. These are pretty awesome rounds, folks!

These .600 Nitro Express rounds sell from about $40 each!

Of course the size of cartridge based ammunition can go up to an 88mm anti-tank round and beyond but as small arms go, these bullets/cartridges are colossal.
Nitro Express in firearms terms applies to a cartridge's charge or powder that in this instance is made by mixing nitroglycerine with the already explosive gunpowder to make a nitrocellulose compound which is then dried and becomes many times more explosive than the original gunpowder.
With a bullet weight of 900 grains and a Muzzle Velocity 1950 fps, it produces Muzzle Energy of 7591 ft/lbs or 3 tons!! The Pfeifer- Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Magnum is 8 times more powerful than a Smith and Wesson .44 magnum and 3 times more powerful than the Smith and Wesson .50 Magnum.
The 'Mag-Port' recoil compensation holes can be seen at the business end of the barrel, these holes let some of the blast out before the bullet has left the barrel, in so reducing the back pressure enough to lower the recoil to an acceptable degree. In fact the gun 'only' rises up 60 degrees when fired.
The line of sight from rear to front sight is 440mm. This long sight range of course helps for long range shooting of which the .600 is more than capable .

image not to scale.

As a Single Action revolver the hammer needs to be cocked before the gun can be fired.

image not to scale.

The cartridges are loaded through a 'gate' on the right side of the cylinder housing one at a time, the spent cartridge case are also ejected through this gate by pushing back the extractor rod that lies under the barrel.
The ejector rod has a stroke of 170mm and pushes the 76mm long Nitro Express cases out 60mm from the back of the cylinder leaving 17mm of case still in the chamber, enough for them to be extracted by hand. As the Nitro Express cases are expensive and can be reloaded they aren't damaged by falling to the ground.

image not to scale. Nice polished woodwork there !

The gun is made from 42CrMo4-Tungsten steel and can withstand the gas pressure of the .60 Nitro Express cartridge of 2500 BAR without a hitch. The cylinders pivot is 8mm in diameter and is bolted to the frame for extra strength. The empty cylinder with its highly polished chambers weighs 4.5lb on its own.

The hammer, extractor, knock-out cylinder bar, screws and the cylinder central pivot are all gold plated. Also on the right lower sides of the gun the inscriptions are gold filled. The inscriptions read, 'MOD. ZELISKA CAL. 600 NE', on the left side the manufacturer's address 'K. PFIEFER WAFFEN, FELDKIRCH, AUSTRIA '.
Most of the guns metal work was made on conventional milling and drilling machines, then each part was finished to a very high standard by fine filing and polishing to give the gun a superb finish.
With a price of $16,501 Dollars though the price of this unique gun is just as exclusive as the caliber !

The text below is duplicated direct from their site incase the link gets broken.
Pfeifer Waffen Feldkirch
Schlossgraben 10-12
A-6800 Feldkirch
Austria / Europe
phone 0043/ 5522/ 741 74
Fax 0043/ 5522/ 77660
office@pfeifer-waffen.at

opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 12.00pm / 2.00pm - 6.00pm
Saturday 8.30am - 12.00pm< /FONT>
Forget everything youve heard about magnum revolvers, this is the ultimate gun.

Measured by muzzle energy, it is the most powerful in the world.
Cal .600 Nitro Express
Every single part is made by hand and is matched individually for each Zeliska revolver.
The Zeliska revolver is unique and a masterpiece of the art of gunsmithing.

Due to the weight of the gun, shooting the Zeliska is no problem for a skilled marksman.
There won't be any permanent damage inflicted to your wrist.

The Zeliska is also available in cal .458 Win Mag, take into consideration that the price for this ammunition is much lower than 600 Nitro Magnum.
Technical Data

Calibre: .600 Nitro Express or .458 Win Mag.
Muzzle velocity: 462 m/s, FMJ 900 grain
Muzzle energy: 6,230 joule's
Weight: 13.23 lbs
Capacity: 5 rounds
Barrel length: 13 inches
Overall length: 21.65 inches
Features: Browned special steel. As every revolver is an individual product we can satisfy every customers wish.

The Zeliska comes with an exclusive case.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over all it's a very impressive revolver, a revolver that truly is the World's most powerful revolver.
But it is not alone....
The Thompson Contender 'Encore' .600 Nitro Express is a single shot target pistol, it is very light and dangerously uncontrollable when fired.

image not to scale. A nice looking pistol, but looks can be deceptive !

The recoil in such a relatively light gun at 6lbs can in fact throw the pistol out of your hands as the video grab below testifies. I have painted a yellow arrow that points at the Thompson Contender 600 Nitro Express, (its the blurry grey object ) as it flies over the gent's head after smashing him in the face when he fired it on the shooting range!

A never again to be experienced exploit in pistol shooting...now have a sit down and a cup of coffee Sir !
.600 Nitro Express

900 or 1040 grain bullet 1600 -2100 fps velocity 8000- 10,000 ft.lbs Muzzle Energy or over 4 tons of energy. This 1040 grain bullet can of course be fired in the Zeliska, but a bit more safely.

Forum: Six Shooters

44 Flat Top

albroswift — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:35:16 GMT

Had to dig it out and take a picture.
also a 100px square avitar if you want to use it.

Forum: Six Shooters