Page 78 - American Rifleman (February 2020)

I HAVE THIS OLD GUN …

GUN: GREAT WESTERN “THE DEPUTY”
SINGLE-ACTION
MANUFACTURER: GREAT WESTERN ARMS CO.
CHAMBERING: .22 LONG RIFLE
SERIAL NO.: 186XX
MANUFACTURED: 1960
CONDITION: NRA GOOD/VERY GOOD
(MODERN GUN STANDARDS)
VALUE: $1,450*
* THE DEPUTY CARRIES A 100 PERCENT PREMIUM OVER
STANDARD GREAT WESTERN FRONTIER SIX SHOOTERS, WHICH
NORMALLY SELL FOR $450-$600 IN SIMILAR CONDITION.
GREAT WESTERN “THE DEPUTY”

olt’s 1949 announcement to done in-house, according to the book, .22 Long Ri e to .45 Colt, including
discontinue its Single Action Army Great Western Firearms Company by John the proprietary .357 Atomic.
C(SAA) inspired a few entrepreneur- C. Dougan and Jim Hoobler (Andrew One of the rarest, with less than
ial individuals to ll the void left by the Mowbray Publishers, 2012). Although 100 produced, was the 4"-barreled
Peacemaker’s departure. Consequently, the rst guns were rough in function “The Deputy,” featuring adjustable
in 1953 (prophetically, the same year (many were returned), eventually quality Micro rear and Bauman ramp front
that Bill Ruger introduced his Single- improved dramatically, inspiring Elmer sights, a lowered hammer spur and
Six), former aircraft engineer William Keith to praise the guns as better than some re-designed internal parts.
Wilson, with investors including Los “… any we have seen from Colt.” Prices ranged from $75 to $137.50,
Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves, Burbank, Calif., rearm dealer according to chambering. Today,
established the Great Western Arms Co. Hy Hunter became a distributor values are between $1,200 to $1,500,
at 9001-7 Miner St. in Los Angeles, to and promoted Great Western so depending on condition. This 60
produce a full-scale, American-made aggressively that many erroneously percent condition blued version in
replica of the SAA. Wilson, who had no assumed it was his company. Guns .22 rim re was recently auctioned by
previous rearm manufacturing experi- were presented to such notables as American Gun Works, Glendale, Calif.,
ence, was company president. Audie Murphy, fast-draw champion (americangunworks.net) for $1,450.
The rst guns, blued or case- Dee Woolem (who created a Fast Draw The gun was made in 1960 under
hardened and priced at $97.50, were version), and John Wayne, who used Ferro Cast ownership, as no “GW”
assembled in May 1954 and admirably his engraved pair of Great Westerns serial number pre xes were used
duplicated the Colt SAA. In fact, many in “The Shootist.” from 1957 to 1960.
parts were interchangeable, with excep- Unfortunately, in 1955 the simul- Most Great Western single-actions
tions such as the hammer, which was taneous appearances of the Ruger sported Porter plastic faux “stag horn”
recon gured to accommodate a Christy Blackhawk and re-introduction of the stocks. Due to lack of company records
Gun Works oating ring pin (later, a Colt Peacemaker foreshadowed doom it is dif cult to con rm if these walnut
Colt SAA xed ring pin hammer was for Great Western, compounded by stocks are factory original. Note: Great
offered as an $8 option). Frames came ongoing nancial problems and chang- Western single-actions were American-
from Arwood Precision Investment ing corporate ownerships. In 1963 the made, not to be confused with later
Casting—the same company initially company folded, having made approxi- Italian versions. Great Western also
used by Ruger. Barrels were supplied by mately 22,250 guns, from Sheriff’s produced copies of the Remington
Weatherby, which also provided testing Models to Buntlines, plus do-it-yourself Double Derringer.
facilities. Assembly and polishing were kits, and ranging in chamberings from —RICK HACKER, FIELD EDITOR
American Ri eman does NOT accept submissions for the I Have This Old Gun column. Topics are assigned to Field Editors in advance. Due to the volume
of mail received, our writers are not able to answer individual questions. Please consider instead sending your correspondence and questions through our
Dope Bag/Q&A service, which is available to all NRA members in good standing. Details appear in the Q&A section.
76 FEBRUARY 2020 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by author