doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com W.O. Harris?

A shot in the dark, but I'm looking at a gun for sale in the N.E. inscribed W.O. HARRIS. Does that ring any bells or have any meaning to anyone?

Thanks,
Steve

In case anyone wondered!!!
(BTW Michael, the dealer could not provide ANY info?)

Steve,
There was a mister Harris in Chicago quite some time back who owned one of the larger distributorships and supply companies in Chicago before they banned handguns in the city limits. I don't remember what his first name was though. Don't know if this helps or not. Good luck in your quest.

Michael J

Mr. Hughes:

Nice .32-20. Don't often see them with that much nickel intact.

Steve,

I have no way to confirm that this WO Harris ever owned this pistol. There was a WO Harris in Louisville, KY. He was a judge, vice-president of the Louisville Bar Association, and Dean of the Law department of the University of Louisville. This was around 1908-1911.

http://books.google.com/books?id=WJWzAAA...ool&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=9IQ8AAA...ent&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=tC8ZAAA...dge&f=false

Pete

Yes, it is instantly one of the nicest in my collection!
The vintage is probably about 1920-30's??
I got it gun from a dealer in MA but he got it from a fellow who, "hits the gun shows".

Michael did a quick preliminary search and determined there were thousands of W.O. Harris' to choose from. The best bet would be to spring for a $50 S&W factory letter and see if it was a factory inscription.

Thanks guys! I'm gunna shoot it tomorrow, grin!
Steve

So Steve, how'd the Smith shoot? (In case you didn't have your "ears" on when you shot it, I'll add: SO STEVE, HOW'D THE SMITH SHOOT? Those things are ear busters!).

WHAT?? Have I still got my earmuffs on?!?

Thanks for asking Mike, it didn't shoot all that well but...
The good news is the snubbie K-frame .38 shot wonderfully considering they forgot to put a barrel on it. That was with 50+ year old Western Super Match wadcutters, similar vintage as the 1940's revolver.
I wish I could get that kinda quality ammo these days. I spend too much time in the shop to load handgun ammo although I'm afraid the 32 might require such as I've had little luck with Win. factory ammo in .25-20 or .32-20.
(Nope, I tried the .25-20 in a rifle...)
(All ten at 20 paces on a very rare rainy MT day)

Thanks for the update, Steve. Not sure why the .32-20 wasn't performing. The usual answer, assuming no dings on the muzzle crown, is that the bore specs don't match the bullet specs. When they used black powder and soft lead bullets in these "combination calibers," the small differences in specs (sometimes not so small in .44WCF and .38WCF) didn't matter so much--the bore and the bullet "sized each other" for lack of a better expression. With jackets and smokeless, they do matter.

And it ain't a target revolver, either. (But it's sure a keeper for pretty--nicest nickel I've seen outside of a museum!).

I like the combination of a K-frame 2" .38 and wadcutters. Up close and personal, it is very adequate, even "without a barrel." I have a 2" Model 64 that shoots as well as I can hold it; it was surplused by the NYS Dept. of Corrections some years ago. I don't think they even took it out of the box.....

Looks like it will hold MOT!!!! (Minute of Thug)