Frank Hamer, had its serial numbers obliterated in the heyday of Bonnie and. The entire paternal side of my family witnessed Frank Hamer shooting one of the rioters in Sherman. I own 2 Colt 1911 ( gov model and custom shop) and they are amazing! Thanks, Matt. Why so popular South of the border? Out of stock. In addition, it includes a custom serial number and a commemorative coin with a pouch. Sometimes, Timing is everything. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The 1911 is a good home for the .38 Super. The caliber saw extensive use in the hands of the FBI and figured into the demise of dangerous fugitives such as Baby Face Nelson. The .38 ACP Super was a sensation noted for its high velocity of 1,300 fps and nine fast shots. It fired a .429-inch, 200 grain lead, round-nose bullet at around 870 feet per second and 336 ft-lbs energy which equaled the .44 Russian's traditional 246 grain load. Item Number: PR52796. If so Where to get 9mm barrel and what else might be needed for this conversion? I loved my .38 super so much i bought a colt competition series a few years ago. Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson who spent the later part of his illustrious career looking after the harsh, massive Texas Big Bend Country, packed a Colt .45 auto throughout his distinguished career. 3 Revolver, 1907 Winchester Rifle, Ranger George Chapman, 1950 Smith & Wesson Chiefs Special, Sgt. There were several reasons why the .38 Super didnt take off as Colt hoped it would. Market data provided by Factset. . I have three .38 Supers, a Star, Colt 1911 Govt and Kimber Gold Match SE II from their custom shop. We are pleased we were able to work in partnership with RR Auction to make the gun legally compliant.. today it is in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco. It only made sense to chamber the 1911 Government Model in a .38 caliber cartridge. There are a lot of opinions on the .38 Super. That afternoon, the lynch mob threw gasoline into the courthouse; the rangers attempted to rescue the prisoner while the mob prevented firemen from putting out the fire and cut their hoses. Thus, Johnson was off the ballot in the general election unless Johnson could do something quickly. He and forty other Rangers resigned to avoid serving under Ma Ferguson. Shot well and handled very similar to a baby eagle. I even doubt his first efforts at pistolsmithing caused anyone to say, Hey, why dont you found a world-class pistolsmithing company? Many handgun aficionados did kitchen table pistolsmithing then, usually inspired by George Nontes Pistolsmithing. All rights reserved. There is nothing wrong with the .38 ACP Super, to use its proper name. Working primarily along the South Texas border, Hamer became known as an expert shot. To me, affinity for those two rounds would go hand in hand. I carry either an XDS in 45 auto or my Nighthawk in 38 super nearly every day. I have a Les Baer 38 Super and an STI DVC Ltd in 38 Super. Its previous owner was a Texas county sheriff. Hinton called his Congressman, got a BAR from the government and a back seat full of ammunition, and learned how to shoot the roaring automatic rifle.. Ive always wanted to experience the Super and am glad I did it. The mob battled National Guardsmen who were sent into Sherman by Governor Moody and tried to break into the vault. Note that I give the same respect to the 357sig as the 38 super, both available in concealed carry frame size. We used to do some long-range shooting with handguns when I was in college. Hamer also provided a restraining influence during a Depression era race riot. Accuracy is pretty good. Saw first 38 super at USPSA match. Colt built military versions of the pistol, along with a civilian model and various target models. Plus, you'll be the first to hear about our newest giveaways. Can a 9mm barrel be used in a Metro Arms 1911 38 super? The Commander Model 38 Super pistol on the left includes the standard blued finish and checkered wood grips. A question that comes up around gun shops is, Who still uses the .38 Super, if anyone? I am one of the users of this fine cartridge, and while I appreciate the grand old .38 Super, or Super .38 as it is variously called, it is probably not a caliber I recommend for most shooters. See Sold Price. All rights reserved. The .45 SAA Colt was a mainstay until John Browning completed his 1911 project. Colt was discontinuing the long-serving .38 ACP automatic and wished to introduce a mid bore to replace it. They deserve top-notch tools, and Wilson Combat 1911s are that! After I retired from a near 30 year career in emergency services (firefighter/paramedic) I got a job in a gun store. Description: Metal finish is 25%, has some patina. trouble getting ammo from LAX Ammo for target and This P320 features a custom engraved slide with the quote "one riot, one ranger" on the side and a Texas Ranger badge on the top. TriStar 85680 SPS Vista LNG 1911 Black/CHR 18rd. He hated political corruption as much as he hated murder and the other lawless activities that characterized Texas in the early Twentieth Century. This Texas Ranger collector firearm features handsome 24-karat gold decorations, including the hammer, slide stop, safety lock, grip screws, barrel bushing and magazine catch. And now looking at either carrying the govt or maybe a commander. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Additionally, its a remarkably easy cartridge to handload with good results. Browse our ever-growing inventory of popular pistols like the Defender, Gold Cup, Mustang, and other. The Model 8 was one of at least two Model 8s used in the ambush. But, ammo is not plentiful and 9mm+P is. Both bought new. My first gun was a colt .38 super from 1958 which i inherited from my uncle who was a big gun enthusiast. The guy swung the axe and Hamer blasted him. Talk about a tack driver, fun to shoot gun. The .38 Super was particularly popular in Texas and over 200,000 were produced between 1929 and 1970. Hamer drew down on him with a shotgun and told him to not do it. , https://www.texasranger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Firearms-Colt-Super38-1024x671.jpg. Colt Cobra TT 38 Special +P Rated Double Action Revolver with Black DLC Cylinder $749.00 $619.99; Notify Me When Available; Brand: Colt; Item Number: COBRA-TT2FO; Colt Cobra 38 Special Used Police Trade-in Revolver $699.99; Brand: Colt; Item Number: 169389LW; Colt Cobra 38 Special Double Action Revolver with Wood Grips . Little did anyone with whom Bill Wilson began his 1911 shooting, well over three decades ago, realize his interest in Colt 1911s would prove such a driving factor in his life. Great Britain took delivery of 1429 1911s in .38 Super in the 30s to . The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt! Over the next four years, they became household names before their deaths at the hands of a Texas posse that had been tracking the gang since it helped break several friends out of a Texas jail. In mid-March Henry Methvins family contacted law enforcement in Louisiana. While I enjoy the wonderful 45 cartridge I much prefer the higher capacity and easier control of follow up shots with the 9mm and 38 Super. COLT 1911 TEXAS RANGER 38 SUPER USED GUN INV 219948 Description: Colt 1911 Texas Ranger commemorative chambered in .38 Super with a 4 1/4 inch barrel bright bore and good grooves with a display case and Texas Ranger Medallion. View Shipping, Payment & Auction Policies. WE BUY GUNS!NO COLLECTION TOO BIG OR SMALL, FOR OUR GUNS INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS ALL OF OUR FIREARMS CAN BE PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM OUR DURY'S GUNS WEB-SITE. Like many lawmen of his era, Hamer adorned Old Lucky with carved pearl stocks,. It is a popular caliber in countries that ban civilian ownership of military caliber weapons. In 1905, he captured a horse thief while he was working on a ranch in West Texas. Hamer left the Rangers and then returned again in 1921, transferring to Austin where he served as Senior Ranger Captain. They cost me $35.00 a box, so $105.00 is nothing to sneeze at. Is it good for self-defense? The gun, which has a 1926 patent date, remains in fine mechanical condition, with all original factory markings, and has moderate wear on its grips. The first thing on the list is determining the parts needed to make the transition to 38 Super. Slides are engraved Texas Rangers on the left side, and wear the Ranger badge logo on the right. Colt 1911 Heritage .38 Super Full-Size Stainless Pistol with Custom Scroll Engraving Notify Me When Available; Brand: Colt; Item Number: O1911C-SS38-DHM; Colt 1911 Government 38 Super Semi-Auto Pistol with Blued Finish and Wood Grips $949.99; Notify Me When Available; Read on. Ferguson had proven that she was corrupt. Slides wear a set of Wilson Combats Tactical Pyramid sights and ejection ports are lowered and flared. The factory letter confirms this is one of only 94 Texas Ranger Special Edition revolvers manufactured, lists the configuration, and notes that is chemically etched with "TEXAS RANGERS" in block letters down the back strap and inlaid with a flush silver "10" on the heel. LBJ won the runoff by only 87 votes out of a total of 988,295. The 38 special penetrated around 1/4 inch into the second book. I am thinking of finding them a new home and cant find much info as far as value. He had to pull it on several occasions, but only used it 3 or 4 times. cartridge. Hamer took such murder and corruption personally and wrote a detailed expos of the the bankers murder machine which he handed out in Austin. Every soldier, wanted one. Okay, here are the generals I think people will say about the Super: its an accurate, well developed round with an extensive commercial and handload database. Lock up okay, but gun is likely non functional. Midwestern banks were easy picking for a gang that outgunned the cops with fully automatic 30.06 Browning Automatic Rifles and fast cars. A Colt .38 Super was carried by Texas Ranger Jack Hammer, and others, because it was the only caliber of its time that could penetrate the body armor that the then current crop of criminals in the US were wearing. John B. Jones, 1860 Colt Army Richards Transition Revolver, 1878 Smith & Wesson New Model No. Winchester offers FMJ loadings at 1,100 fps, Sig Sauer offers a FMJ loading as well. Call me the oddball but I prefer the .40 S&W in an actual S&W or the .38 Spl. . By the time Bar-Sto got around to changing it to headspace on the case mouth, the market was nearly gone. I have a personal love for both rounds, and if you were to give me a modern double action handgun chambered in either one, Id probably buy one in a heartbeat. By Rick Cartledge. In 1839, the Republic of Texas ordered 180 of the .36-caliber Holster model revolvers for the Texas Navy, but most significant were the revolvers issued to the early Texas Rangers. It fits like a glove. My super 38 Colt is an outstanding pistol. As for the loads, the .38 ACP Super is a bit hotter than the 9mm at the top end. I find very few people casually shoot the Super. However, it certainly wasn't his only one. Thats my take, now take your best shot to change my mind.. COLT PYTHON .357 MAG 6" 6RD STS . His trial practice in Texas made him one of the greatest trial lawyers ever to try a case in a state known for famous trial lawyers. Throwback Thursday: Taurus Judge Range Report, ATI Milsport SGA 410 All the Advantages of an AR in .410, Ruger SR1911 LW Commander The Lightweight .45 ACP, Rifle Hack: Sighting for 100 Yards at a Distance of 25 Yards, Throwback Thursday: All About Bullet Grain. He is buried in Austin. After entering the Ranger service in 1961, Elliot . I shoot 45s more than anything else but sometimes wish I had purchased a SUPER back in the day. Hamer spent 27 years with the Rangers. Clyde certainly did not intend to be taken alive. See FRANK HAMER, TEXAS RANGER by Hans-Christian Vortisch. The pistol pictured was presented to Highway patrolman Glenn Elliott in 1956. Hamer also took off his own coat and displayed the weapon that he was still authorized to carry in retirement as a Special Ranger employed by the Texas Oil Company. Shipping, Payment & Auction Policies. heavier recoil spring. Bring out the 38 super for fun matches. Tangfolio Match Elite chambered in 9mm. This Colt was shipped to a hardware store in El Paso, Texas in January 1932 for a Texas Ranger named Ralph Rohatch. He eventually took a job in a bank and started the study of law the old fashioned way- reading law books in a nearby law office. This is an easier cartridge to master than the .45 and has two more rounds of magazine capacity. His favorite longarm was a .30-30 Winchester M1894 lever-action rifle. One is a Taurus and the other is a Colt. For the max in performance, Buffalo Bore offers high-velocity loads, including a 1,400 fps 115-grain JHP. Nor could Browning have anticipated the affinity the Texas Rangers would develop for his slab-slided handful of firepower soon after its introductionor Bill Wilsons 60 years later. A 2.5 to 3-inch group for five shots at 25 yards is the standard. Disenchanted with the Democratic Party, Coke Stevenson supported Republicans for the rest of his life, including John Tower for the Senate and Nixon and Goldwater for the presidency. As for the Colt .38 Super . This example comes with a handmade tooled holster from the period. Love the gun and love the round. My son went from a intelegence analyst to a diplomatic security agent and was only allowed a issued 9mm for his side arm. I souped it up with night sites and custom grips with finger grooves. Red Dot sights and comps to handle the extra gases created when we load. Out of stock View . As long as I do my bit, its a straight shooter. I know this will sound funny but about the only time I ever even think about the .38 Super is when happening to catch re-reuns of Nash Bridges. The cost of the 1911 chambered for it was a deterrant too. I have a letter from Colt showing the shipment. Im in Chandler. Gun #: 962326740. I encourage anyone who has not shot a .38 Super to do so if given the chance, you will love the round afterwards. "TEXAS RANGER" is on the left side of the barrel. His training, natural abilities and the Wilson were enough for a good start in the sport. Hamer also owned many other guns. Wow! Full Details. Keep checking back to browse our constantly changing inventory of collectible Colt guns and Colt revolvers for sale or see a full list of our new arrivals. I am just an old-timer that really likes my .38 Super, but shoots and reloads 10mm also. At about the age of sixteen Coke Stevenson began his career as the sole proprietor of a freight hauling business traveling back and forth across the rugged Hill Country of West Texas every week. $1,836.00. or redistributed. Traces Professional has everything to make it distinctly his own. The Defender is an officer-sized aluminum framed gun with a 3 inch bull barrel. Sheriff D. S. Barker recommended Hamer for a position with the Texas Rangers. During that period roughly 37,000 pistols were manufactured mainly for commercial sales although some Foreign and U.S. Government Contracts existed. To Chris. The .38 Super was particularly popular in Texas and over 200,000 were produced between 1929 and 1970. Love the gun and caliber. They were later gunned down in 1934 on the outskirts of Bienville Parish, La. 2 extra rounds in the magazine. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ted Hinton, in his book Ambush, declares that two of the Colt automatics at the ambush were .38 Supers. No single model could . Modern guns that headspace on the case mouth are very accurate. And one has a fitted Minor slide for a Minor Power Factor. Known as Mr. Texas, Stevenson represented a kind of independent thinking in politics that makes it now seem inevitable that he and his old hunting partner, Frank Hamer, would be destined to walk down the streets of Alice together under the hard stares of George Parrs pistoleros most of whom were armed with rifles and shotguns. . Regular Price Oak Hill Price Cash Price. Campfire Ranger. At the time i knew nothing about guns At all. As a result, the American Tactical recently announced the company will offer two new bolt-action rifle systems from Black Creek Labs. Stephen F. Austin probably never anticipated the historical impact of his organizing a small civilian group to provide protection for immigrants into Tejas. I rank the .38 Super along with the .45 ACP and the .44 Special as the 3 best calibers in America. Add to this, all his SAA pistols were short barreled. Brand: Colt. Shortly thereafter, many Rangers adopted the platform, first in .45 Auto, later in the .38 Super. Its very accurate too, I was easily hitting a bowling pin at 50 yards repeatedly. Its true, the cartels love it because it is a non-military caliber and subsequently not banned in Mexico. It is just that ammunition and handguns in this caliber are sometimes difficult to come by. Francis Augustus Hamer (March 17, 1884 July 10, 1955) is best known for ambushing Bonnie and Clyde in 1934. The 38 Super fills the bill here. Lot 1183: The nickel-plated Colt Single Action Army carried by Texas Ranger Jack Dean is chambered in 38-40 WCF with factory engraving and carved steer grips. This gun is in excellent condition and is covered by Dury's Lifetime Warranty. Thus the six shooter was born. Very Safe. Home Ammunition Throwback Thursday: Does Anyone Still Use the .38 Super? I mailed 9mm barrel to Gun Smith who for $44.50 he then reamed the barrel to 923. The Colt .38 Super Model Automatic pistol was first introduced in 1929 as a variation on the Colt Government Model 45 but chambered for the powerful new 38 Super cartridges. at the time. The stage was now set for Frank Hamer to accept a commission to hunt down the Barrow Gang as a special investigator for the prison system. Always carried 1911 in .45 cal but when I tried the .38 super it was an instant change of heart! Frank Hamer was born in Fairview, Wilson County, Texas. , Your email address will not be published. Legal Statement. The only thing that bugs me about .38 Super and 7.62 Tokarevis nobody chambers a modern weapon in them! This Davidson's Exclusive Texas Rangers Colt 1911 celebrates that tradition with the classic Mexican peso 5-point star badge with oak and olive branches on the top of the slide and wood grips. Ben in Arizona. It is imported to the USA bu European American Arms (EAA) and is called the EAA Witness by the importer. Im not exactly a 9mm or .45 fan either. In my youth I looked for a .38 Super, but in South Texas every time I got a lead on one, it was already sold. Played by Faye Dunaway in the 1967 classic film Bonnie and Clyde, Parker was glamorized as a chain-smoking, gun-toting gangster gal even though historians doubt that she played a key role in the gang. The Mission of Cheaper Than Dirt! Stevenson wanted to examine the tally sheets in the ballot box for Precinct 13; i.e.,fraudulent poll and tally lists for his opponent, then Congressman Lyndon Johnson. There is also a brief history after that on the Colt Commander. Kimber Custom Shop made only 260 Stainless Gold Match SE II in .38 Super in 2001. A black Ultralight trigger and an Ultralight burr hammer are part of the system that provides a crisp 3-1/2- to 3-3/4-pound trigger pull. The .38-caliber revolver taped to Bonnie Parkers inner thigh when she and Clyde Barrow were killed by a Texas posse in 1934 has been made federally compliant and will be auctioned later this week. 9mm, 45 acp and 40 s&w. Stevenson and Hamer met the lawyers at the Alice Hotel and Hamer told them to take off their coats so that the well-armed gangs employed by the Duke of Duvall,George Parr, would know that they were unarmed. Also Colt makes a nicely accurate full size Competition Model. Elliott carried the pistol on duty while assigned to work with the Texas Rangers in the 1957 Lone Star Steel Strike. Perusing the museum, which is an absolute must for anyone living in Texas or simply traveling Interstate 35, I found one sole surviving 1860 Army full fluted cylinder Colt. Picked up 150 Rounds of 38 Super by mistake. It was customized with Wilso Combat grip safety, skelontized trigger and green fiber optic front sight. In the 1920s, Hamer brought law and order to oil towns such as Mexia and Borger. The rifle was modified to accept a police only 15-round magazine. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Im glad for that because todays Texas Rangers, just like those hard men who came before, still work in harms way. Very Fast. as well as lawmen had caught on to bullet proof vests and their resistance to .45 caliber penetration. BELGIAN TEXAS RANGER .38 SPECIAL 1920S REVOLVER. I have several 1911s and handguns whose calibers run the gamut from .22 through .45 ACP But my .38 Super is by far my smoothest, easiest and most comfortable handgun I own, hands down. Two of these 22 round magazine equipped death machines were confiscated in a raid on John Dillingers apartment in St. Paul in April of 1933. used to rainbow trajectories with 45, I have one and love it mine is a rock island sometimes hard to find ammo. My 38 Super commander is my EDC. I have purchase all the cheap stuff, Armscor, Magtech and Aguilla in 125 to 130 grain, you can find it for $15 ish a box. A tribute to the revered Commercial Government Model pistols of the past, the 1911 Classic features the Series 70 firing system and rollmarks, national match barrel, staked on front sights, and spurred hammer. The third reason springs from a fortunate experiment done by a friend of mine in 1939 on a dare. Full Details More from this Seller. The first practical revolving-cylinder handgun was invented in 1831 by Samuel Colt of Hartford, Connecticut, and patented on February 25, 1836, the year of the Texas Revolution. The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site Help; Remember Me? 1894 the family moved to Oxford in Llano County and Frank worked in his dads blacksmith shop. I recently came across a 1929 Super .38 that also came from Texas. Winchester Ranger 9mm; Wolf 223 Ammo; Wolf Ammo; Gun Models. My harem of 1911s that I shoot regularly include 45s, three 9mm and two 38 Supers. Long story short, its a cool OLD round thats still relevant among competition shooters. Can someone give me an idea of what they are selling for? It is my go to cartridge and has been for years. Stevenson succeeded W. Lee Pappy ODaniel as governor in 1941 when ODaniel resigned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate. Frank Hamer, on the other hand, retired in 1949 and lived in Austin until his death in 1955. Barrow, Parker and associate Jimmy Mullens engineered the Eastham prison farm escape and freed Raymond Hamilton, Henry Methvin, Hilton Bybee and Joe Palme. According to one of the posters, the reason that the Texas Rangers liked the Super 38 was that it would penetrate car bodies better than other calibers. Great shooter with all loads but it really shines with the 124 gr. The article covers the bases pretty well the 38 super is to a 9mm what the 357 is to the 38 splin short more bang. At about 9:15 AM just after the thundering torrent of lead subsided, Frank Hamer, Sr. approached the 1934 Ford V8 with his 1911 style .38 Super drawn. The .38 ACP fired a 130-grain bullet at 1,100 fps. It is a great calibre that is moribund because too many shooters jump on the bandwagon of whatever is popular at the time. The 38 super is fantastic. My gun likes the heavier bullet weights and Ive been experimenting with the 158 grain JHP and JSPs in .357 diameter with goods accuracy and velocity. Very accurate and reasonable in handling recoil. This beautiful Colt was shipped to a hardware store in 1932 in El Paso, Texas for Texas Ranger Ralph Rohatsch, who at the time was a member of the Texas Highway Patrol.. Cheaper Than Dirt has a plethora of excellent .38 Super ammo in stock, as well as a TON of reloading stuff. At distances of 50 or less, the Super has virtually the same muzzle velocity of the .357 Magnum. Out of stock. *Last, but not the least: CDNN Sports (TX), used to sell genuine, ramped / supported SIG .38 Super bbls for 1.911. Bill was glad to do it. Hamer stuffed a blue steel Colt commercial automatic in his belt and it is this gun that is most interesting to this writer. I bought a gun to fit my mistake,and dont regret it ,shoots dead accurate and hardly any recoil. I have three .38 Supers and enjoy them very much. When we lived in Oklahoma City, the guys I shot with were always giving me a hard time about my Colt in 38 Super. Out of stock. At about 9:15 AM just after the thundering torrent of lead subsided, Frank Hamer, Sr. approached the 1934 Ford V8 with his 1911 style .38 Super drawn. bullets topping 1400 fps. (AP file). Adding to the appearance, as well as function, Trace had the normally coated single-side Tactical Thumb Safety, Bullet Proof slide stop, and High-Ride Beavertail Grip Safety replaced with polished stainless steel versions. Action works in both single and double action. My carry ammo is loaded considerably hotter (think 923 Winchester level). Git!, he admonished and then, Fall back!. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Seattle Area Schools Should Prepare for Beslan-style Terror Attacks, Frank Hamer and His Guns; The Moment He Almost Kept LBJ From Stealing an Election hi. His reputation as a Texas Ranger would have made him a legend even if he had not apprehended Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker in Louisiana.