OT - Interarms Dragoon .44M (Got it, Pictures added)

[salvo]

Stumbled across Blue Interarms Virginian Dragoon .44 mag. Probably 85% pretty sure it has a 7.5" Barrel.
Never seen one before. Tell me about them and what a good offer to make on one of these?

[wecsoger]

Interarms imported them in the '70's. Seen 'em, never shot one.

Go to Google and put in "interarms dragoon" and I got over 28.000 hits.

[J Miller]

The first ones were imported from Switzerland I believe. Later ones were made by Interarms in Florida.
They are built like a tank, at least the one I had was.

As for price I really don't know. I haven't seen one since I left AZ.

Joe

[salvo]

Thanks, I forget about Google
What happened to yours Joe?

[C. Cash]

http://singleactions.com/VADragoons.pdf

Lee Martin really helped me understand the US Arms Abilene's in detail as well...great fella!

[Pete44ru]

INTERARMS REVOLVERS: SA, VIRGINIAN SERIES
Virginian Revolvers were previously manufactured in Europe by various manufacturers (including Hämmerli of Switzerland).
They were also manufactured in Midland, VA from 1976-1984.
Older models with exceptional quality (including Hämmerli guns) are worth a premium over values listed.

VIRGINIAN DRAGOON STANDARD
- .41 Mag., .44 Mag., or .45 LC (mfg. 1982-84) cal., improved action patterned after Colt SAA design, 6 shot, 6, 7 1/2, 8 3/8, or 12 (Buntline) in. barrel, blue finish, smooth walnut grips, adj. rear sight, 51 oz. with 7 1/2 in. barrel.

.

[salvo]

Good info guys.
I found Lee's Wright up after Googling, can't find any thing as far as DOM with the serial #.

[adirondakjack]

I had one, a Virginian Dragoon, in .45 Colt. A big, honking gun imported by interarms, but made in Israel by the folks who make Uzi, and who used to make BFR revolvers.

A very fine lockwork in the colt style but king sized. A really well made gun except mine had very oversized throats. I suspect that was a .45 Colt issue you would not have with .44. There are NO parts for these guns, so factor that into the price.

[J Miller]

Thanks, I forget about Google
What happened to yours Joe?

I had one, a Virginian Dragoon, in .45 Colt. A big, honking gun imported by interarms, but made in Israel by the folks who make Uzi, and who used to make BFR revolvers.

A very fine lockwork in the colt style but king sized. A really well made gun except mine had very oversized throats. I suspect that was a .45 Colt issue you would not have with .44. There are NO parts for these guns, so factor that into the price.

Scott,

I was wrong, mine was made in VA. I traded it for my Win 94AE Trapper in 86. One of the best trades I've ever done.

What adirondakjack said about the .45 Colt throats is correct. My Dragoons throats were so huge no accuracy was possible, not even with factory loaded ammo. FYI, Winchester factory 255gr lead bullets are hollow based and run .456" diameter. If those wouldn't shoot accurate nothing would. I never slugged the throats I just traded it off. The only way to have made that gun shoot accurately would have been to install a 44 cylinder and rechamber / rethroat it properly.

Joe

[Stan in SC]

I bought a like new in the box .44 magnum with 7-1/2" barrel last year for $300.

Stan in SC

[salvo]

Well I bought the old girl. Thanks for all the help!
I totally misjudged the condition, I’ll have to jump it up from 85% to at least a solid 95%. Gave it a good check out at the gun shop, barrel perfect, cylinder gap .003, timing and barrel/cylinder alignment perfect, cylinder throats all right at .432” Cylinder lock up is tight both ways, I’m talking FA tight. Trigger is crisp and light and the four clicks while cocking is icing on the cake. The sights are actually very good, not sure about the white dot front sight, does not interfere with the great sight picture nun the less. I’ll bet less than a box of shells have been shot through it.
I am impressed with this hog leg to say the least, build and deep blue finish is top notch.
Hate the pachmayr grips though, which brings me to my first question, who makes grips for these, any Ruger grips swap over?
Why are there two little dimples toward the rear of the cylinder?
Serial #431XX any idea of it’s age?

Now for the best part, the gunshop had it tagged for $295.00, they know me pretty well their and after very little haggling they sold it to me for 275.00 out the door, tax, background check and a Uncle Mikes sidekick holster all included. Can’t wait to give you all a range report!

On with the pictures.

[Olevern]

Nice looking handgun, look forward to hearing about how it performs.
Olevern

[J Miller]

Scott,

Nice pistola. The two dimples on the cylinder are for dummies who can't remember: "Load one, skip one, load four, pull the hammer back to full cock and lower it on the empty chamber."
One dimple on either side of the top strap with that chamber empty. Duhhhh, I just ignored them.

I have no idea other than Numrich where to look for grips.

One more thing: Don't dry fire it. Of all the guns I've owned that I dry fired the only one that ever broke the firing pin was my Dragoon.

Joe

[salvo]

Thanks Joe, I have not dry fired, going to put some fired rounds in and see what the trigger trips at as soon as I finish cleaning it and get it back together.

[C. Cash]

Looks great Scott.....congrats on that pistol.

[Ysabel Kid]

Fine looking hog leg!!!

[salvo]

Thanks, I'm going to keep an eye out for others. To bad the
45's have cylinder throat problems. Feel like I'm missing out on something not having a 45 Colt.

[J Miller]

Scott,

I found some wood grips for the Dragoon at Eagle Grips:
( http://www.eaglegrips.com/ )
Don't know anything about them, but if they look as nice as those in the picture I'd like 'em.

Joe

[O.S.O.K.]

Nice! Looks like quite a find. I used to see those from time to time at CAS matches. The owners seemed happy with them.

[Pete44ru]

FWIW, I can heartily recommend doing business with Eagle Grips, as I've bought several different sets of grips from them in the past (mostly for S&W N-frames) and have always been more than satified with their products, pricing, and service.

They're good people to do business with.
.

[salvo]

I double posted this thread over at Single-Actions also. Boge Quinn posted some pictures of his Dragoon with Eagle black buffalo horn grips, NICE!
Lots of other pictures of the members Virginian Dragoons also. If your interested in these, might be worth the look?

http://singleactions.proboards.com/inde ... hread=3885

[J Miller]

So, have you decided what type of grips you're going to put on it?

Since it's blued I'd for ivory micarta or American holly.

I saw the thread over on Single Actions earlier today. I'm still slobbering over Boge's grips.

Joe

[salvo]

Joe I'm not sure yet. The Buffalo horn is reasonably priced, might not look as good on a blue gun?
I still have a good piece of the hardwood that I made the scales out of for my machete project, might give grips a try!

[J Miller]

Joe I'm not sure yet. The Buffalo horn is reasonably priced, might not look as good on a blue gun?
I still have a good piece of the hardwood that I made the scales out of for my machete project, might give grips a try!

"Generally" I prefer light colored grips on blued guns, and darker grips on nickle or stainless guns. Those grips Boge has would work great on anything, so would walnut. I'm just partial to American holly. Here's an idea of what a blue 7.5" SA looks like with aged (yellowed) American holly:

CLC yellowed AM Holley grips web a.JPG

Joe

[salvo]

We think alike Joe, those Holly grips look great. I also very much like ivory micarta, but have never sprung for them