Webley
- Thread starter richhodg66
- Start date
Never mind getting "thwapped" by a June-bug on a motorcycle!
It'd be scary enough just SEEING a June-bug on a motorcycle!
Always though the Webleys were super-cool, but know basically nothing about them.
I know almost as little about Iver Johnsons, but if I saw a smokeless model for cheap, and it looked functional, I'd be very tempted.
L Ross
Well-Known Member
I have an old S&W top break .38 S&W. What is fun is after you get a handful of cases, fill them with 3fg black powder. Cut some felt wads outa an old hat with a flared, chamfered .38 spl case that has given up the ghost. Throw the wads in a shallow ceramic bowl with a spoon full of Crisco and put it in the microwave until the Crisco melts and soaks into the felt. Place a wad on top of the BP and push a .360" round ball on top of the wad, force it into the case to just past the widest circumference and crimp. Now you have a double action popper that is pretty darned cool. Used one of these as the pocket pistol for NCOWS shoots.Never mind getting "thwapped" by a June-bug on a motorcycle!
It'd be scary enough just SEEING a June-bug on a motorcycle!
Always though the Webleys were super-cool, but know basically nothing about them.
I know almost as little about Iver Johnsons, but if I saw a smokeless model for cheap, and it looked functional, I'd be very tempted.
I have a H&R .38S&W 5 shot that My Maternal Grandmother carried in her purse since before I was born. From certain stories I heard, She used it in the bar She ran in Hollywood, CA during WW2. It's a plain revolver with hard rubber grips. About half blue, the rest turning to brown.
My other is a S&W Lemon Squeezer in .32S&W a 6 shot. It's nickel plated with factory Mother of Pearl grips. It's in at least 90% condition. Probably because it was carried in a velvet holster sewn inside every purse My Paternal Grandmother ever carried.
Both shoot well, right to POA at 20ft. I used them in Cowboy Action Side Matches. They are fun. And a bit of family history too.
My other is a S&W Lemon Squeezer in .32S&W a 6 shot. It's nickel plated with factory Mother of Pearl grips. It's in at least 90% condition. Probably because it was carried in a velvet holster sewn inside every purse My Paternal Grandmother ever carried.
Both shoot well, right to POA at 20ft. I used them in Cowboy Action Side Matches. They are fun. And a bit of family history too.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
"Railway Express Agency (REA), founded as the American Railway Express Agency and later renamed the American Railway Express Inc., was a national package delivery service that operated in the United States from 1918 to 1975. REA arranged transport and delivery via existing railroad infrastructure, much as today's UPS or DHL companies use roads and air transport. It was created through the forced consolidation of existing services into a national near-monopoly to ensure the rapid and safe movement of parcels, money, and goods during World War I.
REA ceased operations in 1975, when its business model ceased to be viable."
I have a 1931 Colt Police Positive in 38 NP with the REA marking. I came out of the Pasco WA office when they went out of business. It was never cleaned or oil but wrapped in an old new paper until I got it in 2017. Mechanically new, but rusty relic now.
REA ceased operations in 1975, when its business model ceased to be viable."
I have a 1931 Colt Police Positive in 38 NP with the REA marking. I came out of the Pasco WA office when they went out of business. It was never cleaned or oil but wrapped in an old new paper until I got it in 2017. Mechanically new, but rusty relic now.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Not top-breaks, but I treasure a couple little jewels in 38 S&W that I own--a Colt Police Positive and a S&W Regulation Police. Both are 4"-barreled, and both date from 90-100 years ago.
Both of these little wheelguns are accurate as can be. The Colt wants .359" bullets, the S&W craves a .361" slug. Fed .363" bullets, my S&W M&P in 38/200 will also shoot very accurately.
Don't let anyone tell you that the 38 S&W can't shoot well. Fed correctly, they can impress.
Both of these little wheelguns are accurate as can be. The Colt wants .359" bullets, the S&W craves a .361" slug. Fed .363" bullets, my S&W M&P in 38/200 will also shoot very accurately.
Don't let anyone tell you that the 38 S&W can't shoot well. Fed correctly, they can impress.
I remember the Railway Express, when I was 7-8yrs old I came home from school to find 2 long boxes leaning against the front closet door. Dad came home and and We had 2 Garands to add to the Arsenal.
I have a question for all....
Do We have memories that are of stories told to Us by family members or are they our own personal experiences ?
When we're small we listen to the conversations of adults. How do we differentiate between what we experienced and what we heard 50-60 yrs ago.
I have a question for all....
Do We have memories that are of stories told to Us by family members or are they our own personal experiences ?
When we're small we listen to the conversations of adults. How do we differentiate between what we experienced and what we heard 50-60 yrs ago.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
My son, with an MS in Physiology also, says that if you can visualize the events then it is most likely what you saw. If you remember the story without complete pictures, it is what your heard. FWIW
For me it's easy, because dad was 47 years older. None of my stories ever concerned the depression, a LaSalle or Ballantine Ale.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
You obviously have the eyes of an Eagle!!! Much as I adore Iver Johnsons, the "sights" are more a fading after thought than a fact. I hope to one day remedy that issue on my 6" IJ 32 Long. An elegant and delightful gun to hold, but hitting the mark with it is very difficult with the my eyes/sight combination.Iver Johnson 38 S&W for another option, though get a later smokeless model.
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Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Iver Johnsons were the "budget friendly, but not junk" line back in the day. Lightly built for the most part and meant for the working man/woman they don't command high prices or "ooo's and ahhhs" from collectors. H+R was in the same class, but they took a different path and tended to be a bit more bulky. According to my reference material both companies made target guns too and some had an excellent rep. The common 32 or 38 IJ "Birdshead" night stand gun isn't like likely to give you chills just looking at it, but if they were cared for they still make a reasonable gun for use within the limits of their abilities. I'd much prefer an IJ/H+R over the various cheap imports like RG. There's probably some guy out there with a real special RG that can shoot bullseyes at 50 yards all day long, but every one I ever shot was a lead spitting, cylinder not locking nightmare!Never mind getting "thwapped" by a June-bug on a motorcycle!
It'd be scary enough just SEEING a June-bug on a motorcycle!
Always though the Webleys were super-cool, but know basically nothing about them.
I know almost as little about Iver Johnsons, but if I saw a smokeless model for cheap, and it looked functional, I'd be very tempted.
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Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I have a Smith & Wesson "Perfected" Model, 38S+W. It's the model with both a top break AND and what appears to be cylinder release where such a critter would be on a modern DA Smith. You have to actuate both to open the gun to load it. From what I read it was designed after a child had gotten someones top break gun, opened and loaded it and had done some damage. Lovely little gun, again hampered by "pocket gun sights" that I might have been able to make use of at 18,but not so much now. Still, for plinking it's a sweet little gun. As Al mentioned, it's wants fat 38's of at least .361. Factory stuff runs a blazing speed in the high 600FPS IIRC from the one time I shot it across the Chrony. I wouldn't want to stand downrange and try and catch any of those "anemic" bullets out of that "inadequate" revolver!!!
I can't do anything inside of 2 feet without readers, but the rest of the distance is still good. I'll sometimes use 1.25 readers when shooting a handgun to focus on the front better. No matter, it is a challenge with the IJ, as that is one NARROW front blade.
Charles Graff
Moderator Emeritus
About 1961 I bought an O3A3 from the DCM and it came REA. Two years later, I bought an M1 Carbine from the DCM and it also arrived via REA. I sent a Win. 86 40-82 with a rusted out barrel to P.O. Ackley for a rebore to 45-70 via REA and it came back the same way. You got a Post Card from REA when your package arrived at their depot. No, door step delivery, but it worked.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
I do have a little I ver Johnson top break .33 i have shot. Neat little thing, but i sure wouldn't want to stake my life on it.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Railway Express Agency handled a lot of parcels, including firearms. The REA agents often had possession of large amounts of currency due to the large amount of C.O.D. traffic in those days, hence the need to arm agents.
The rifle used by Lee Harvey Oswald to kill President Kennedy was shipped to Oswald via parcel post. But the cut down Victory Model S&W revolver used by Oswald to kill Officer Tippet was shipped to Oswald by the Railway Express Agency. Oswald used the alais "A.J. Hidell" to order both of those firearms. Oswald picked up that revolver from the Railway Express Depot.
Oswald paid $29.95 for that Victory model, $10.00 down with his mail order and $19.95 to be paid C.O.D. at the depot when he picked it up. The revolver was sold by Seaport Traders Inc. in Los Angeles. The rifle was from Klein's Sporting Goods in Chicago. He paid $19.95 for the rifle & scope. He used the same P.O. Box address for both orders but the handgun had to be shipped by REA and picked up in person at the depot.
The rifle used by Lee Harvey Oswald to kill President Kennedy was shipped to Oswald via parcel post. But the cut down Victory Model S&W revolver used by Oswald to kill Officer Tippet was shipped to Oswald by the Railway Express Agency. Oswald used the alais "A.J. Hidell" to order both of those firearms. Oswald picked up that revolver from the Railway Express Depot.
Oswald paid $29.95 for that Victory model, $10.00 down with his mail order and $19.95 to be paid C.O.D. at the depot when he picked it up. The revolver was sold by Seaport Traders Inc. in Los Angeles. The rifle was from Klein's Sporting Goods in Chicago. He paid $19.95 for the rifle & scope. He used the same P.O. Box address for both orders but the handgun had to be shipped by REA and picked up in person at the depot.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Growing up in SW Michigan Iver Johnson meant a good firearm..