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Great Western Gun Co. ?

SP45
Does anyone know where and when the Great Western Gun Co. was located. I couldn't find the name in my references. They made single action style revolvers similar to the Ruger 3 screw. They had a wierd firing pin assembly which was frame mounted.
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Date Votes
  • tomh.
    Mr Hy Hunter founded this company around 1953 after Colt discontinued the Single Action Army. Frontier Model production was around 23,000 and was halted because of lagging sales when Colt reintroduced the SAA around 1956. You're exactly right about the frame mounted firing pin.
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  • SP45
    Thanks guys. Now that you mention California I remember reading something about them years ago. Do you know if the internal parts and grips are interchangable with anything available today.
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  • danlittle
    If you need one for parts , I have a couple
    dlittle@carolnet.com Must ship to FFL
    Thanks Dan
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  • mrmike08075
    1. when COLT decided to no longer produce SINGLE ACTION revolvers after WWII, GREAT WESTERN ARMS CO. decided to fill the hole left in the market. the original investors (JOHN WAYNE being one of the primary front men) were given assurances from COLT that they would not restart production of the SAA, as they were going to concentrate on modern arms. they firmley stated that they had no further intrest in SAA guns.

    the demand for original SAA revolvers had reached an all time high. COLT guns had spiked in price to unheard of levels. the guns were no longer made, and the quality of european copies was dubious. GWA began production of there SAA`s. they are virtual identical copies of the COLT SAA revolver with some minor differance in internal parts.

    when COLT eventualy noticed that demand for and popularity of SAA revolvers had reached new hights, they restarted production. at first they built guns from existing parts stocks, and sold earlier production guns still unsold from the previous production run.

    this eventualy killed GWA. there guns were not a whole lot cheaper than COLT, and if givin the chioce, most buyers went with a COLT. also there was the use of a BERRYLIUM-COPPER ALLOY in some GWA SAA revolvers that gained a poor reputation among the trade writers / authors as to weak or brittle / toxic to take high pressure loads. this alloy also produced some odd copper colored tinting when the blueing was applied.

    most of the late production guns were sold to movie / prop houses, or sold to dealers as unassembled kit guns. when buying a late production piece you must weigh the quality of the pieces produced at the factory against the skill level and compatance of the person who assembled the gun from its parts kit.

    i own a GWA SHERRIFS MODEL SAA in .45 long colt, blued, stag grip panels, 3-digit SER#, early production gun. ita a superb piece of design and engineering, fit and finish surpass that of COLT SAA guns, and its match accuratte. these are a fine gun to fit into anyones collection. best regards, mike,

    What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.
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  • cbxjeff
    Nice artical on them in the latest SN.

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
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  • Pinhead
    I don't have any facts to back me up but I would "almost" bet money that more GWA single actions appeared in the 50's western movies and television shows than Colt Single Actions. Pinhead Aim Small, Hit Small.
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