"The Outlaw Josey Wales" and his Walkers

[CaptainKirk]

So Kirk, do you own a brace of them horse pistols? :haha:
Dave

I have a second Dragoon on it's way, should be here by week's end.
No fair, Dave, you ownin' TWO horse pistols!
All you're missing now are:
Whitneyville
1st Dragoon
2nd Dragoon
Better get on it.... :hmm:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

It will be long and hard to find another actor to create the characters that we see in Josey Wales. or Rooster Cogburn.
Tom Selleck had it in Quigley, but only one movie evolved.
Sam Elliot is great, but is not often seen now.
Old Ford

Sam was great in a couple that I'm fond of, including the Mel Gibson film, "We were Soldiers" which was based on a true story. Those chiseled features and that deep voice just make great movies, especially if the white beard looks scruffily in a Western :wink: .

Dave

 

[Stophel]

I have a photo of an original Walker that has had a '51 Navy style latch attached to the barrel, done during the period of its use, so, if you're having a problem, this is a historically correct solution. :wink:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Feed it 40 grains of 3Fg Goex, a pre-lubed wonder-wad and a .454 ball! She'll hold 45 grains with the wonder-wad (leaning on the loading lever some), but 40 is the best accuracy wise.

45 grains in a 3rd Model for the "weak" hand ain't so bad, eh?

I haven't made smoke since the first Sunday in January--I plum fergot wat it tastes like I reckin' :haha:

We'll see about any more guns--right now still trying to put my Son through college!

Dave

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Thanks for the images :thumbsup: .

Dave

 

[Poor Private]

I bought a 2nd model dragoon a few weeks ago. It's been so cold I havn't been out to fire it. I just pull it out and play with it hoping for some decent weather to go "bust some caps".

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Let's hope we both get to bust some caps soon! I'm supposed to shoot the League this Sunday.

Dave

 

[Zonie]

Late in 1847 the Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon Revolver was made.

This revolver, often called the "Transitional Walker" used a number of the original Walker parts. The loading lever was not one of them.

The forerunner of the '51's loading lever latch system was used instead and was carried over to the First Model Dragoon.
Like the First Model Dragoon the thumb catch sticks out of the bottom at the forward end of the ramming lever.

 

[CaptainKirk]

All my revolvers thus far have been "typical"; i.e. '51 Navy, '60 Army' '58 New Army. They all shoot RWS 1075 caps and feed fine off Pyrodex P. What can I expect different from my new "Baby Wales?"
*I've heard these horse pistols use a different nipple wrench. True? Where would I go about finding one?
*I've also heard #11 caps fit snugly. True? I just stocked up on Remmy #11's for the rifle, so I hope so.
*Anyone tried Pyrodex, or strictly Holy Black?
*Dave, WRT the Wonder Wads...do you skip the grease entirely? I always use a little Crisco, even with Wonder Wads. :hmm:
*40 grains, huh? Ayup. Course, I'll have to try 'er out with a full-house fifty (gotta proof 'er, ya understand!) :grin:
*Ptooey!*

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Pedersoli makes the Walker Nipple Wrench. It works great on all of the big horse pistols! Indestructible and the right amount of leverage!

I never use grease, only the wads, but I have been known to smear a little extra Bore Butter onto the pre-lubed wads, especially when it's dry like now! And then store them in a 35mm film can which is air tight, so they don't dry-out!

Just remember, "DYIN' Ain't much of a livin BOY!"

Dave

 

[Geraldo]

Dave:
You have to wonder how Josey managed to hold up his pants with all that iron there...TWO Walkers, an Army, and a pocket.

It's all about keeping your britches up, not your loading levers. :wink:

 

[CaptainKirk]

Dave:
You have to wonder how Josey managed to hold up his pants with all that iron there...TWO Walkers, an Army, and a pocket.

It's all about keeping your britches up, not your loading levers. :wink:

:rotf:

 

[David W.]

Dave:
You have to wonder how Josey managed to hold up his pants with all that iron there...TWO Walkers, an Army, and a pocket.

It's all about keeping your britches up, not your loading levers. :wink:

:rotf:

I need to watch that movie again. It that ALL he carried?
I thought I remember he did have a shoulder holster, but carrying all that stuff could cause a wardrobe malfuntion!
Would you have argued that with him? :hmm:

 

[Norinco]

According to IMFDB, he had the Walkers, a Colt Army, and a Colt Pocket.

 

[CaptainKirk]

Pedersoli makes the Walker Nipple Wrench. It works great on all of the big horse pistols! Indestructible and the right amount of leverage!

I never use grease, only the wads, but I have been known to smear a little extra Bore Butter onto the pre-lubed wads, especially when it's dry like now! And then store them in a 35mm film can which is air tight, so they don't dry-out!

Just remember, "DYIN' Ain't much of a livin BOY!"

Dave

Dave: Any idea who carries that wrench? I'm gonna need one ASAP...
The film canister sounds like a great idea...but to paraphrase my grandson.."What is "film?" :rotf:
I hear Kodak is getting completely out of the chemical business.... :idunno:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Cabela's has the Walker Model Nipple Wrench in stock at $19.99 plus shipping. Works on all of the Horse Pistols' cylinders. Really heavy-duty and designed just for those cylinders!

Film is still something that goes into Leica Rangefinder cameras! I hadn't heard about Kodak chemicals....I'll have to check into that.

"Hey Grannie, would ja' rather be ridin' with the Comancherros?"

Ptooey on that mangy dog too! :haha:

 

[sequoia]

Regarding the movie Walkers, I read somewhere that no company made repo walkers when the movie was made. They were actually hand built by a prop house. That would account for the different cylinders (Cartridge and Cap) that were used.

 

[CaptainKirk]

After actually hoisting my new horse pistol, even though I've never actually shot it, I have come to the conclusion that these guns are two-handed affairs....my Dragoon seems to be most comfortable with a two-handed grasp using the left thumb to pull back the hammer. I suppose if you had longer digits or bigger hands it might be easier, but the thought of Josey blazing away with a Walker in each mitt seems a bit outlandish now. Not that it couldn't be done; I just have my doubts you would hit anything that way!
It feels more like my Super Blackhawk in .44 magnum; a two handed gun if I ever saw one!
I'm told the recoil on these things is minimal compared to modern CF cartridges, as is the case with my other BP "pistolas"...even with full-house loads of 35 grains, they are a walk in the park compared to my Blackhawk. And the Dragoon is carrying far more weight to combat the recoil.
I will have to watch Josey Wales again to see how the Walkers fit Clint's hands compared to mine. :grin:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I've actually practiced drawing both the 3rd Model Dragoon with my weak (left) hand and my Walker with my right. Can thumb-cock both pistols at the same time, after doing the practice session. Never fired them that way though, just practiced. Could do so if I wanted to, since a 1911 in each hand isn't foreign to me at all :shocked2: :haha: .

I practice both strong-hand only and weak-hand only while watching TV in my living room. Then I pick a spot on the wall and practice aiming while using both hands. I have a technique whereby I use the pointer of my weak hand to rest on the trigger guard, taking most of the weight, so the strong hand just keeps the gun centered left-to-right and uses the muscles for finite trigger control.

I get to use them in competition in a couple of weeks--I can't wait!

Good luck with yours!

Dave

 

[CaptainKirk]

Careful what'cher watching on TV there, Dave...
"You gonna pull them pistols, or whistle Dixie..?"

Could end up buyin' a new TV if you're not careful.... :hmm:

Actually, my Dragoon has a fairly easy hammer pull compared to my Remmy. It's just that it feels so much more...bulkier...for lack of a better word. Maybe I'm just not used to the added weight yet. :idunno: