This one I got slid under the radar.Ĭylinder stop. No reserve on that one either as I remember. Price did skyrocket, I did bid a few times, but very early. I think they have figured out who Bill was.įirst question - yes, that's the one. Although that is being noted now on the other pistols. This or the other prototype, which went for $1400 or $1500 because it was recognized from the book. No mention of belonging to Bill Goforth in the sale description. I don't believe they had any idea what they had. I think it is just brand new, not handled or fired. When I bought it, the sellers seemed to think it had been re blued. Maybe tested once or twice, then cleaned and put on the shelf. Guess I need to get a Supershot now.ĭoesn't look like it has been fired. Actually started with the shotguns, Champions, have 4. But not as familiar at all with the Supershots. Even replaced that cylinder stop on the Viking. I have a number of safety auto's and have taken them apart down to the small screws and springs. Let me know if you want a pic of anything that might help.Īgree with you. Need to call the place I bought it from, on the chance they may know something, or at least where it came from. Although I have never seen or read about another. The one I have could (probably) be a prototype, or one of, for that transition. BG's book says Trailsman and Viking were modernized versions of the 22 Supershot Sealed Eight series. So I am tending to agree with you on it being a prototype of some sort. Sat in someones safe untouched for 50 or 60 years. Exercise was to make the pistol in larger caliber. No indication wood grips were ever fit, no screw hole in bottom of frame. Old pair of regular grips that were laying around the shop. rear sight barrel catch safety auto plain too, non adjustable. Comparing a lot of pictures, and some speculating, it could very well be a Supershot 22 model 844 done up in 32 caliber. Originally thought it was a '32 special model' when I bought it. I am no expert by any means of course, just my two cents.Ĭhambered in 32 S&W long. The barrel of the Super Shot's was rounded before the break in production during WWII, but they started moving toward the slap sided barrel once they picked up production again.Īfter thinking about it, I believe this could have been a prototype made after WWII to re-introduce the larger calibers back into a top break action. 38 S&W in late 50's but yours does not retain the looks of the Trailsman or Viking. They also produced the Model 66 Trailsman in. 38 S&W until the introduction of the solid frame Model 55 Cadet in the 50's. They also stopped making the solid frame Model 1900 in 1941. Iver Johnson stop producing the 3rd Model Safety Hammer/Hammer Automatics around 1941. 32 S&W and does it have the auto ejector? I also noticed the barrel catch is similar to the style used on the earlier Supershot Sealed 8, and not the square style used on the later variations. I definitely think at this point it is most probably one of a kind. Thanks again for the input, tell me if you think I am going in the wrong direction. Possibly a transition prototype between the two, combining the expertise of the safety automatic gunsmiths and the new barrel of the supershot in a larger caliber. Supershots were discontinued in favor of the 60 series revolvers. L was the serial prefix for most of the Supershot 22's. Looking at stamping yet again, more likely L1, rather than D1. Barrel of course comes from Supershot 22. Trigger shape and hammer spring frame cutout favor the Viking. With few exceptions, everything favors third model safety automatic. I have a few third model safety autos for comparison, ans well as a 67-S Viking. Lots of questions, not many answers.Īs you say, Unfortunately there may be no way to tell for sure. Although the frame section is not flat as those are. The frame cut out for the hammer mainspring is closer to model 66 or 67. Its basically a brand new pistol in appearance. Which leads me to believe they are an afterthought too. Which dates them to 1911 for hammerless large frame. Chipped around the stabilizing post as they often are. What came with the pistol were standard Iver Johnson black owl head grips. Sorry about the grips, those are repro ones I had for large frame safety automatic that fit. No history noted on either, so I don't believe the seller knew what he had. He did mention other prototypes being made, although those were supposedly solid frame. Coincidentally, the prototype (P1007) noted in Bill Goforth's book sold for around $1500, around the same time as I picked up this one (for appreciably less). Custom order might be a possibility, but my first question would be custom order based on what? Leaning more towards prototype.
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