1873's and 1892's in Australia

[mickbr]

I mentioned on another thread I am back in Australia, the country of my birth on account of elderly relatives and will probably remain. The gun situation here is not overly great, worse than when I grew up in the late 70's and early 80's. One thing i wanted to share is the decent amount of original lever actions still in use here. Reason being Australia had its own wild west so to speak, or rather wild everywhere, through the 1800's right into the 1930's.

I think the Northern territory which is about the same size as Texas still only had 6 cops by 1921. This improved to 30 cops by 1945. There was a massacre of in 1904 about 800 yards from where I sit now, that being kanaka islanders 'blackbirded' from local islands, manacled and put to work on sugar cane plantations. They obtained guns and machetes so the story goes and were headed into the local town about 4 miles away and were shot to pieces by the townsfolk as they tried to cross the Johnstone river.

Large amounts of 1892, 1873 and various handguns were imported in the 1800's for personal, police, prisons and militia use.original 1892 in 44-40 , 32-20, 25-20 etc can be found for around $240-600 USD depending on condition, often still used as shooting guns here. Most gunstores will have at least an original 44-40 on the rack for sale.1873's are rarer, usually $1000-1500USD. As well as the British influence with their blackpowder and ex-mil firearms, the American arms of the day played a strong part of the history.

It would not be worth exporting them I dont think but for interests sake, some of the gunstore examples. Prices in AUD, about 2/3 of a dollar.

1892 search(includes new/repro guns)
https://www.ozgunsales.com/searchresult ... 92&opt11=e
44-40
https://www.ozgunsales.com/searchresult ... 40&opt11=e
32-20
https://www.ozgunsales.com/searchresult ... 20&opt11=e
44-40 including some original 1873's
https://usedguns.com.au/search-results/ ... es&keyword

A few interesting guns amongst this list including a 1913 made 1892 in 25-20 marked 'the new daisy rifle'.
https://www.cleaverfirearms.com/Product ... arch=25-20. scroll down.
https://www.cleaverfirearms.com/Product ... arch=32-20
Antique pistols
https://www.cleaverfirearms.com/Product ... 20Firearms
original pistols( down page)
https://www.cleaverfirearms.com/Product ... 20original

Takedown 405 Win 1895 factory made in 1915, bottom of search page
https://www.cleaverfirearms.com/Product ... Search=405

[earlmck]

Dang, I'd be buying some of those 32/20's and 25/20's at those prices. Those would be good prices in US dollars.

But phew! $245 for a box of shells? A feller would really appreciate his old bullet mould and loading press for sure.

[mickbr]

problem is earl I want to buy them all. .
Actually be great if there was a way to send them back to their homeland, before the knuckleheads here run another gun ban/destruction.