Robertson Trading Post – Oldie but Goodie Revolvers Copies Page

Winter 2008-2009

Coins Guns Collectibles

Robertson Trading Post 117 Front St PO Box 365 Henderson, Tennessee 38340-0365 john@robertsontradingpost.com 731-989-7641 Our internet phone hours are 8:30-4 Mon – Sat. Our answering machine is not reliable, but our e-mail is reliable.

In business since 1952 NRA Dealer of the Year 1993, 1995, 1997

 

This page contains listing on our Less Expensive, but now more expensive than they used to be, Revolvers, including H&R, Iver Johnson, RG, F.I.E., and Arminius. We mean no disrespect to any company or manufacturer. We basically use this page as a miscellaneous page.

Most of our firearms are listed on

Guns America         with a few on           Auction Arms

and a few more on Gun Broker. Our most comprehensive listings, and most of our new arrivals, are on Guns America. You don't have to join to view our listings, but it's easy to enroll.

            We not only sell, we buy and trade. We’re pretty strong buyers on many of the items similar to the ones on this page. While we’re not interested in black plastic guns like Glocks or PT-24 Tauruses, we’re very interested in pre-2000 manufacture bright blue, nickel, or stainless traditional firearms with wood grips or stocks. For those among our shoppers who might offer to trade with us or sell with us, please bear in mind that it costs us about $50.00 to process a firearm, from the time we receive it until it’s a finished listing on our web page or in our store.

Thanks for looking over our inventory, and for those among our shoppers who have done business with us in the past. We use NRA grading terminology and percentages of the original finish remaining on the firearm in our descriptions. While firearm grading is subjective like coin grading, we have tried to give ample closeup photos of the firearms and tried to describe any detracting features of each firearm in such a way as seller and buyer can be as clear as possible on the merchandise’s condition. We include specific citations to Fjiestad’s Blue Book of Gun Values, published annually by Krause Publications.

Format is our stock number & heading – then photos – then description and price on each item. Serial numbers are deliberately smudged.

 

Note that we only charge $15.00 Shipping for handguns to the lower 47 States, $20 to AK, CA & HI.

 

Discount schedule: 2% discount for payment with USPS Money Orders. This does not necessarily apply to items bought on other venues, such as Guns America, Gun Broker, or Auction Arms.

 

HG1320

H&R 950 Nickel .22 LR Western Style

 

      With serial number prefix AY, this H&R Forty-Niner was manufactured in 1982, in the heyday of electroless nickel finishes, of which this is an admirable specimen. The Model 950 was, Fjiestad implies, simply a nickel variant of the 949. This revolver is a strong Very Good, and flirts with Excellent status. We rate it at 85 to 90 percent finishwise, but photos should suffice for interested parties to judge finish grade for themselves. Its chief surface detraction is some scuffing or buffing to the left side of the frame between the cylinder and trigger guard are where it made contact with the metal brad on its companion Hunter 1100-34 holster, also early Reagan Era. The one piece walnut grip has extensive light surface scouring that is not conspicuous; the readily visible wear to the grip is on its butt edges. Trigger pull is characteristically stiff, with a stout but crisp 6 ¼ pound single action pull. Timing and mechanism are excellent throughout, as are the bore and cylinder chambers. Carbon residue on the cylinder face and frame top strap underside are minimal; we do not believe this revolver has had a brick of ammo shot through it in its life. This revolver, of course, was a serious competitor to the highly desirable High Standard Double Nine, and production continued until 1985. This is a very nice specimen of one of the best looking Harrington and Richardson Revolvers ever built. We’re offering it and its holster            for only                  $ 389.95

 

HG1027

RG 38 Blue 2 in Snub VG Mid 1960s Mfg.

      This is a quite rare variant of the 6 shot RG .38 Special Revolver. Almost all of the RG 38 Models, more properly RG 38 S, were 3 or 4 inch barrels, and the two inch square butt descendant of this one was the model RG 40. Furthermore, this one has only 5 digits in its serial number, with no letter prefix, whereas all the RGs to our knowledge made after about 1969 had an R prefix for the RG 38, 40, and 49; and a Q prefix for the RG 31s. Right side of the barrel has the word Germany stamped, indicating that this revolver was made before enactment of the 1968 Gun Control Act. While we have a good many records from the 1960s and even the late 1950s, we have not specifically examined them for serialization on the cheap guns. This one is, as the photos show, in Very Good condition with moderate surface wear visible on the frame as graying effect, and light white streaking and scuffing on the muzzle and cylinder edges. Both grip panels are intact and excellent. Bore and cylinder chambers are clean and Excellent. Mechanically, this revolver is as good as any of its type and genre. The cylinder rotates and times well, but the cylinder stop is sticky as is the hand, making it possible to occasionally work the trigger mechanism without rotation. Serial number is 685xx, and we hazard that this revolver was manufactured about 1964 or 1965. Note that the barrel is pinned and the cylinder recessed, after the parent Smith & Wesson design of the period. Own this collectable but serviceable RG 38                      for only           $ 239.95

 

HG1391

Iver Johnson .38 Hammerless Poor Cond ca. 1900

 

      Here is a poor but substantially intact specimen of the widely produced Iver Johnson .38 Hammer Model. Cylinder, barrel assembly, and frame are all mostly intact. It is missing its mainspring assembly, but the hammer is intact. The trigger pivot pin is also missing, as the photos show. This revolver will not fire without a substantial amount of work, but we’re offering it as a curio or parts gun      for only                       $ 49.95

 

HG1115 & 1116

Iver Johnson .38 Hammer & H&R .32 Hammerless Pair Poor Cond 1910s

      Winning buyer on this lot gets a pair of Revolvers manufactured in the early 20^th century, perhaps even in the late 19^th Century. #1115 is an Iver Johnson .38 S&W caliber Safety Hammer model, serial number 155xx, 3 ¼” Barrel Nickel Finish. It lacks its grips, mainspring and guide rod. On a positive note, it has all its other parts and would grade Very Good if those three or four crucial parts were restored. Nickel is close to 70 percent. Breech mechanism and rotator hand function and turn the cylinder with the muzzle down. Bore is Fair to Good, with only about 30 percent light to moderate internal pitting. #1116 is a Harrington & Richardson .32 Safety Hammerless, serial number 98xx, 3 inch barrel Nickel Finish. It has a damaged left grip panel, no main action screw, and a homemade replacement for its breech mechanism. Its nickel, as the photos show, is only about 30 to 40 percent intact. Bore is similar to its .38 mate, about 30 percent light to moderate internal pitting. All the parts appear to be inside, but we definitely lack expertise on these old revolvers. Rotator lugs on the .32’s cylinders show more abrasion than do those on the .38. The .32 is marked in the photos, and the .38 is not. While it is possible these were manufactured before 1898, it is more likely they were manufactured in the 1910-1917 period. We always welcome C&R licenses where appropriate, and these definitely qualify as C&R eligible. As our 1911 model Proprietor Emeritus is often quoted, we will guarantee them NOT to shoot, and if they shoot, we’ll gladly refund. They could be made to fire, however, the .38 most readily so. Own the pair         for less than $ 50 apiece delivered to the lower 48, one low total price of only   $ 85.00.

 

HG1260

Imp .22 Short Ladysmith Type 1970s NC Rev. VG

      When we say Very Good, we mean the finish. Mechanically, this little cheap copy of the Smith & Wesson Ladysmith or Rossi Princess, both fine revolvers, is as good as it ever was. It is an 8 shot miniature revolver with a 2 1/8 inch pinned barrel, marked Model 7 .22 Short. If anyone is bold enough to attempt to fire it, however, we strongly advise against it in the first place, and we hope they would use nothing stronger than CB loads, or standard velocity shorts at the very riskiest. We distinctly recall seeing these with their cylinders blown apart. That said, this is a curiosity, even if it is not old enough yet to be legally classified as such under BATF guidelines. This is a 1970s continuation, however brief, of a 1960s import, the Imp, manufactured by Imperial Metal Corp in Kingston, North Carolina. As the photos show, it has 80 percent or so of its original finish remaining. The mechanism is operational, and the grips are intact. It weighs only 11 ounces, but only about 1/3 of that weight is steel. This revolver is mostly pot metal, and it definitely will not pass snooty South Carolina’s melt law. Own this rare little cheap gun           for only           $ 119.95

 

HG1019

H&R .32 S&W Long Blue 4 in 1970s VG-Exc

      The loss of indigenous cheap revolver manufacturing in the United States is indeed grievous, and this was the best of the cheaper revolvers, the steel frame Harrington & Richardson. This is the classic Model 732, .32 S&W Long Caliber, 4 inch blue Six Shot, true swing-out cylinder. Its serial number prefix is AD, so from our poor memory, we estimate it was manufactured in the early to mid 1970s. Original bluing is very strong and almost completely intact; it is affected, however, on some 15 percent of the surface area by light spotting. We detect extremely light surface pitting at four small areas, on either side of the barrel about midways, and in three or four places on the right side of the frame. Bore and cylinder chambers are clean and excellent. From the looks of the underside of the topstrap, this revolver has not been fired more than 100 times. Double action trigger pull is surprisingly smooth for an H&R. The hammer travels 15 to 25 degrees after the cylinder times into place both on Single and Double action, so the mechanism is Excellent. Note that there are two cracks on the back edge and butt area of the left grip panel, and two cracks on the back edge of the right grip panel, one of which goes from the grip screw. We rate the revolver finishwise 85 percent or perhaps better; but the photos should be sufficient for interested parties to judge finish grade for themselves. Own this fine little H&R .32  for only   $ 219.95

 

HG1028

Eig pre RG-10 .22 Short VG Late 1950s

            Part of our current proprietor’s initiation into the firearms industry consisted in rides to Miami with our proprietor emeritus in a long wheel base 1957 Chevrolet with a home-made plywood camper. The return trip to Northeast Mississippi and Southwest Tennessee would see the truck bed and camper filled almost to the top with cases of RG 10 revolvers from Eig Cutlery in Miami, parent company to F.I.E., later European American Armory, as well as Heritage Arms, Excam, and R.G. Industries. Our proprietor emeritus was, at one time, the exclusive factory-equipped armorer for the RG 10 .22 Short Revolver. This specimen was manufactured, of course, by Rohm Gesontheim in West Germany around 1960, but is marked only Made In Germany on the right side of the barrel. It is the target variant of the pre-RG 10, and sports a 2 3/8 inch barrel. Note that the removable ejector pin is not original to the revolver but is factory RG, likely from the later RG 14. We rate this one as Very Good, perhaps even Excellent. Bore and cylinder chambers are excellent; and the mechanism is as good as any of the RG 10s ever were. Sadly, this Eig .22 Short does not have its original black and brown two-piece box; it does, happily, have its original cleaning brush, and it comes in a vintage flannel bag from its estate in adjacent McNairy County. Serial number is low, five-digit 55,000 range. We estimate this revolver was manufactured some time between 1958 and 1963. It sold new for about $12.00. Own it for a modest inflation-adjusted price             of only             $ 129.95.

 

HG1023

Iver Johnson Sealed 8 Blue 2 ½ in Steel Frame 1950s VG

            This is the Cadet size, but not the cadet model, of the Iver Johnson Sealed 8 revolvers manufactured from the early 1930s until the late 1950s. This one is the least expensive, but it still a well made all steel revolver, with an 8-shot pull-rod cylinder that rolls completely out in the shooter’s hand when he pulls the cylinder pin out. This specimen has strong original blue remaining, and strong remnants of the original casehardened finish on the hammer and trigger surfaces. There are places on the surface with light pitting, and they affect about 10 percent of the external surface. Walnut grips have about 50 percent of their original gloss finish remaining. Note the brown-and-blue finish of the forward areas of the barrel. The cylinder chambers are clean and excellent, but there is light pitting inside the bore on the right side center as one faces down the muzzle. Mechanism is otherwise excellent; the pin retainer lever is tight and strong. Timing is as good as most Iver Johnson revolvers, the cylinder times into place as the hammer stands. Double action is relatively smooth. Own this notable steel frame Iver Johnson, likely sold new during the Eisenhower era,     for only           $ 139.95

 

HG1281

H&R 929 Blue 4 in .22 Nine Shot VG ca. 1977

            Since we know of no serialization available for Harrington & Richardson, we are relying on our poor memory by assigning this 5-digit with AC prefix model 929 Blue 4 inch 9 shot to the Carter era. Here is a good solid Sidekick, although not so stamped, with normal weathering and carrying wear. We rate it as Very Good, since it has 80 percent or so of its finish remaining. Bore and Cylinder chambers are clean and excellent. We detect no pinging at all to the rear cylinder face, so this H&R has not been abused by being dry fired. This is a solid, serviceable H&R; and we’re offering it   for only                       $ 179.95

 

HG1147

Clerke Technicorp .22 LR Clerke First ca. 1970 Cheap Gun

            We are filled with no small degree of nostalgic bliss to have another specimen of the poorest quality firearm ever made in the United States, an early variant of the notorious Clerke First. Our proprietor remembers firing one of the Clerke .32s around 1970, feeling something hitting his foot every shot, and finding substantial sized lead shavings on the floor in our establishment. He has personally sold these new for $15 - $18 apiece. The people who bought them, of course, knew nothing about firearm quality, and we dread the explanations this one will necessitate simply from putting it in our showcase. Nevertheless, we made the decision to buy it from one of our Mississippi Dealer Friends, purely for nostalgic purposes. This one’s serial number is 064xx, and it was made in the early days of Clerke Technicorp’s existence in Santa Monica, California, before the company relocated to Florida in the waning days of the Nixon Administration. Ironically, we cannot ship it back to California; and if we ship it anywhere, it will not come back, because we will not accept a return. The occasion for Clerke Technicorp’s existence was, of course, the 1968 Gun Control Act that temporarily threw a wrench in the gears of cheap German and Italian revolver production until the hardy folk at Eig Cutlery geared up for their own frame production stateside with German and Italian parts. Vastly inferior to its FIE and RG counterparts, this Clerke is operable in a roulette fashion; when a person pulls it double action, the cylinder will spin two or three times in the process, and the hammer’s nose, or firing pin, stands a 10 percent chance, by our estimation, of igniting a cartridge primer on any given effort. In another few years, this revolver will be C&R eligible, but it is not now. This listing is the most extreme example we can think of where our offering costs more for labor than for material. We’re offering it, with good humor,      for only           $ 79.95

 

HG1149

F.I.E. Titan II Italian .380 Steel Frame VG Late 1970s

            One of the peak achievements by Italian manufacturer Fratelli Tangfolio, this Titan II all steel single action .380 passed the 1968 Gun Control Act’s size restrictions, and was imported by F.I.E., predecessor to the current E.A.A. Company, some time in the mid- to late 1970. Serial number is EB169xx, stamped on the steel frame and barrel left side. This specimen is in Very Good Condition by our estimate, with about 70 percent of its original finish intact, mainly affected by brown patina on the left side of the slide and grip frame area. Bore and mechanism are excellent and fully functional. By our poor memory, these and most pistols made up until the late 1980s, including Browning, Colt, and Sig-Sauer, did not perform well with hollow point ammunition. This one has three safeties: a firing-pin-block lever on its slide, the main trademark Tangfolio safety which works opposite from most safeties, and even a magazine safety, putting it on a par with Browning and Smith & Wesson autos in that respect. Own this solid, respectable, Italian made steel frame .380        for only           $ 199.95

 

Sales policy: We accept Mastercard or Visa on a phone- or fax-in basis; and USPS Money Orders for immediate shipment. Personal checks, company checks, and in some instances Cashier’s Checks may involve a delay of no more than 8 business days for clearance. We offer a 7 day return privilege, lay-aways and NIB guns excluded. We offer 90 day lay-away with 20 percent down, balance in 90 days, but will levy a 6% per month service charge on the unpaid balance if the lay-away runs past 90 days. We accept trade-ins at agreed-upon prices, delivered to us. We cannot be responsible for the freight on returns unless we have made some sort of glaring mistake.

 

Walk-in customers from Tennessee may buy firearms of any type we have. Tennessee Sales Tax is 9 ¾%, and there is a $10 TBI Tennessee Instant Check Fee on all firearms purchases. Customers from many other states may buy long guns, but that depends on your state's laws. Buyers from Connecticut, Florida, Texas, or California, for example, cannot walk in to our store and buy a firearm; buyers from Indiana, Montana, or Oklahama, for example, can. They are subject to the same sales tax and TICS fees as Tennessee Residents.

 

Shipping rates and information: We must have a signed copy of the purchaser’s Federal Firearms License in order to ship firearms interstate, and that licensee must check out with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a current, bona fide licensee. Legible faxed and scanned copies are permissible. Individuals commonly use Licensees to act as transfer agents. We always include a gun lock and a copy of the Federal Youth Firearms Safety Act brochure with handguns, shipped or over-the-counter; and we always furnish a copy of our FFL to the receiving dealer.

     

      First handgun is $15.00, $7.50 each for add-ons, insured, USPS Priority Mail. $20 for First Hand Gun to Alaska, California, or Hawaii. California approved gun lock is included at this rate.

      First long gun is $25.00, $10.00 each for add-ons in one order. Insurance is included. $35 for First Long Gun to Alaska, California, or Hawaii.

 

Interstate Shipments of Firearms can go to Federally Licensed Dealers Only. Anyone who undertakes to purchase a firearm must first of all be eligible to own one under State and Federal Law. Disabilities from owning firearms include being under 21 for a handgun (or pistol grip rifle or shotgun) or under 18 for a long gun; conviction, indictment or information of a misdemeanor domestic violence or felony (it does not matter if the person served jail time or not, the conviction or information suffices); adjudication of a nervous disorder or disability; and non-citizenship in the United States. If anyone who is not eligible to own a firearm attempts to purchase one from us, we will assist law enforcement in that person’s prosecution. If anyone attempts to aid and abet the acquisition of a firearm from us for an ineligible person, we will assist in all involved parties’ prosecution. We have no intention of violating any laws. That is why we cannot ship some firearms and/or magazines to jurisdictions that include California, Maryland, New Jersey, and the New York City vicinity.

One of the most common and persistent violations of Federal Law is the straw purchase. Never attempt to buy a gun for someone else under any circumstances. Even spouses buying for each other is tricky. We will not accept third party payment for firearms purchases. If you want to buy someone a present, buy something besides a firearm.

If an unlicensed individual wishes to purchase a firearm that we have advertised on a mail order, interstate basis, he or she must do so legally through an FFL, a federally licensed dealer. Dealers normally charge transfer fees. In our experience, the most readily available transferors are Pawnbrokers and Gunsmiths. Please have transfer logistics worked out before contacting us for a purchase. Thanks for your interest. Law Enforcement officers may purchase a firearm through their department only if it will be used on duty, and Department Letters and paperwork from the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the jurisdiction are required.

 

Robertson Trading Post listings on Guns America.

 

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