Reeder Custom Guns - youngster, you missed all the fun in the early 70s

Gary Reeder
youngster, you missed all the fun in the early 70s
Thursday, September 05, 2019, 15:24

when Clint Eastwood said "this is the 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. It will blow your head right off" or words to that effect, then everyone had to have the model 29 S&W. At the time it retailed for $125, same as the Python, but the model 29 sold for $400 or more. S&W released a handful every week to keep the demand way beyond the supply, which kept the price triple retail. I was still in radio at the station across from Ft. Campbell and working part time in the afternoons at a gun shop in Clarksville Tennessee. Even at the gun shop they couldn't get enough to keep folks happy and the owner sure wasn't going to let one of his employees have one. I answered an ad in a little community trading post paper (no internet back then), and met the guy and bought my first 8 3/8" model 29 44 magnum for $450, almost 4 times retail. Later on I picked up another one for around $300. I was never really fond of the model 29 that I paid $450 for as it reminded me of what an idiot I was to pay that much for that 44 mag Smith. I paid way too much for the second one but it was the first that really burned my butt.

But back then everybody wanted a 44 Magnum. Before I bought the first S&W 44 I had an old model Super Blackhawk but if I couldn't find a model 29 I decided to settle for a new model Ruger Super. Then I found out they weren't available yet, and that made me do the stupid thing and pay almost 4 times retail for that model 29. But just prior to that when I couldn't find the model 29 or a new model Super, I bought a Blackhawk in 45 Long Colt but got razzed so much by my shooting buddies for having that "weakling" 45 Long Colt, that I eventually sold it.
So the early 70s and on up to around '76 or so were crazy times for gun owners.

Every good wheelgun collection needs a sound Ruger .44 SBH - WB, 2019-09-05, 13:46
- youngster, you missed all the fun in the early 70s - Gary Reeder, 2019-09-05, 15:24
  - I rember an AMT Automag .44 was $500! - WB, 2019-09-05, 16:15
    - my first Auto Mag was $289 and we could either use - Gary Reeder, 2019-09-05, 17:21
      - Auto mag is my Grail gun (nm) - Shane, 2019-09-06, 09:29
      - A great year! Mine is 1963, not so good. (nm) - WB, 2019-09-05, 17:29
        I was already in radio when you were born (nm) - Gary Reeder, 2019-09-05, 17:33
- Are you going to bring that to the HHC? (nm) - Larry Fry, 2019-09-05, 14:59
  - Would do good! My .43-40 cyl., the medium speed - WB, 2019-09-05, 18:16
    - Bringing a .44 mag Redhawk with - Larry Fry, 2019-09-05, 19:43
- I came by one a couple years ago by chance... - Huey, 2019-09-05, 14:17
  - Mr. Taffin has noted it in his writings before - WB, 2019-09-05, 16:28
    - I'm too OCD for that. The case thickness at the neck is... - Huey, 2019-09-05, 16:35
      - I wish I could find that Spankingburger article - WB, 2019-09-05, 16:40
        There's a Redhawk 41 Magnum cylinder and crane assembly... - Huey, 2019-09-05, 16:42
        Huey, give me the info on that (nm) - Gary Reeder, 2019-09-05, 17:36
        Donr (nm) - Huey, 2019-09-05, 17:41
        Ohhhh stop, I have a .429 GNR, .44 S/M combo .... (nm) - WB, 2019-09-05, 17:27
        Could be 429 GNR, 44 Mag and 44-40. Just Sayin.... (nm) - Huey, 2019-09-05, 17:36
- More Rugers are better. (nm) - Sid R, 2019-09-05, 13:57
  - Rugers - Alcorn, 2019-09-05, 15:15
    - No Alcorn my broke axe does. Lol (nm) - Sid R, 2019-09-05, 19:33
    - I have more than double that...AND need more!! (nm) - Woody, 2019-09-05, 18:44