Bonanza clip of reloading

shafter · March 18, 2011, 06:47 AM

Hey guys, I'm not sure if this has been posted before. Since we all like to talk about the old western guns that held 30 rounds I thought you might like this. Cap and ball pistols to boot!
I think Ben and Hoss are shooting 1858 New Army's, Little Joe a 1851 Navy, and Adam an 1860 Army.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i5vnwt17W4

**4V50 Gary** · March 18, 2011, 08:01 AM

Thanks. I never noticed how good the lighting was on those shows. They were supposed to have oil or gas fired lamps in the hotel, yet the lighting was so good. There's also a framed picture covered with glass. I don't know when that practice began.

The reloading scenes were certainly the highlight.

ClemBert · March 18, 2011, 09:42 AM

Hahahahaha at time 4:50 into the clip....I'll take Pale Rider's conversion over Little Joe's. Little Joe would have had to carry a mallet and a brass punch along with him if he was shooting any of my Colt reproductions. LOL.

Little Joe's 1851

Hardcase · March 18, 2011, 10:03 AM

I'm with Clem - I think I've only got one Colt with a wedge that pops out like that! But I've got to say that I don't think that I've ever seen anybody ever reload a six shooter like that in the old TV shows. It was kind of clever in that episode, too - there wasn't any particular attention drawn to it, really.

shafter · March 18, 2011, 10:07 AM

I remember seeing it a long time ago and finally thought to look it up and post.

Actually the wedge on my '51 comes out with hard thumb pressure.

ClemBert · March 18, 2011, 10:14 AM

Honestly, it would make me a little nervous to have a wedge that so easily slid out.

In this "claimed" updated photo of the firearm it would appear that not only was the barrel shortened but now the firearm sports an ejector which means the firearm has a loading gate. Too bad we didn't get a pic of the other side of the firearm. I kind of wonder if this claim is just BS anyways.

shafter · March 18, 2011, 11:10 AM

That isn't the pistol Little Joe used in Season 1. The loading-lever latch is right up near the end of the barrel on Joe's gun.

MJN77 · March 18, 2011, 02:24 PM

Don't know if it is or not, but if you actually read what the link says about the gun, it tells you that the gun has since been altered a couple of times. That would explain the difference.

Hawg · March 18, 2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Actually the wedge on my '51 comes out with hard thumb pressure.

The wedge on my 60 came out with mild thumb pressure but it was never a problem.

I thought it was funny, they fired countless rounds before reloading then Joe reloaded again without firing a shot.

Hardcase · March 18, 2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Joe reloaded again without firing a shot.

A good scout is always prepared!

Those Cartwrights were good folks - did you notice that as soon as the bad guys got into the newspaper office, Ben and his boys put away their shootin' irons and took care of them mano a mano?

**4V50 Gary** · March 18, 2011, 07:12 PM

Hardcase - you make a good point. One thing about television in the '60s, they didn't magnify violence like the media does today. That said, there was no shortage of people shooting people on Bonanza.

One other thing about the show is how the portray Virginia City. Broad, wide streets on flat land. Nope. Virginia City is built on a hillside and its streets are narrow. I should have known better when I first visited it.

shafter · March 18, 2011, 09:23 PM

Haha that is true about Joe reloading and then loading again. Previously in the gunfight Ben and the boys fire a bunch of shots, probably a lot more than the total rounds in their guns. Even so, just seeing them reload is a rare sight.

Yeah Virginia City isn't quite authentic. At least in the earlier episodes it seemed a bit wilder and more dangerous. Season 1 was definately the best I think.

Oh yeah and the used HENRY"S instead of Winchesters in the early ones too.

Cowboy Jim · April 24, 2011, 09:11 PM

I would like to post a reply about the 1851 Navy conversion that is pictured . The pistol was owned by Stembridge Gun Rentals & was rented to Paramount Studios for Michael Landon's use in 1959. It is identified by serial number on Stembridge rental sheets & has been documented by Syd Stembridge, the current owner of SGR, as having been used by Michael Landon. I know this, because I own the pistol. I had paperwork identifying this pistol in hand for around 4 years before I found this pistol, & the pistol did not come from the same source as the paperwork. At some point after Bonanza, 2 inches was cut off of the barrel & the pistol was used in The Outlaw Josey Wales. It was carried by Clint Eastwood in his shoulder holster. Again, listed by serial # on Josey Wales paperwork from Stembridge & documented by Syd Stembridge to Eastwoods use. After that movie, the loading ram was removed & an ejector housing installed. And by the way, it does have a loading gate.

Dr. Strangelove · April 24, 2011, 09:43 PM

@Cowboy Jim
Well, that's pretty darn cool.

Bishop Creek · April 24, 2011, 11:10 PM

I would really love to see an updated and better quality photo of that pistol. Is it an original Colt or a very early replica?

zippy13 · April 25, 2011, 12:02 AM

Greetings Cowboy Jim, and welcome aboard.

Congratulations on an very informative first posting.

Hardcase · April 25, 2011, 09:16 AM

Welcome aboard, Cowboy Jim! Thanks for the great info!

Cowboy Jim · April 25, 2011, 12:46 PM

Thank you for the welcome. The pistol is an original Colt. Being a computer idiot, I will have to wait till my daughter comes over to put another photo up.
Please bear with me.

ClemBert · April 25, 2011, 01:32 PM

Welcome to the forum Cowboy Jim. Very kewl

that the owner of said firearm is a forum member. Look forward to seeing new pics of the revolver. Also interested in hearing the full run down on the history of this piece.

Bill Akins · April 25, 2011, 04:18 PM

Welcome to the forum.

.

Cowboy Jim · April 25, 2011, 07:37 PM

Sorry, I'm not a professional photographer. This is the best I can do. Here is the flip side of the pistol. As far as the history of the pistol goes, it's pretty much been stated above. Stembridge sold all of their class 1 firearms in 1999 to Robert Petersen, around 8,500 guns in total. I understand he kept about 600-700 pieces, but dispersed the rest, including this pistol. In June of 2007, Petersen sold the remaining pieces he had held onto at auction through Little Johns in CA.

Bishop Creek · April 25, 2011, 10:47 PM

Interesting! Thank you for posting a new pic and more info on Stembridge. I know that they supplied guns to the movie industry for many, many decades and have seen some of them on display in the past.

March 18, 2011, 06:47 AM	#1
shafter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Posts: 1,624	Bonanza clip of reloading Hey guys, I'm not sure if this has been posted before. Since we all like to talk about the old western guns that held 30 rounds I thought you might like this. Cap and ball pistols to boot! I think Ben and Hoss are shooting 1858 New Army's, Little Joe a 1851 Navy, and Adam an 1860 Army. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i5vnwt17W4

March 18, 2011, 08:01 AM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Thanks. I never noticed how good the lighting was on those shows. They were supposed to have oil or gas fired lamps in the hotel, yet the lighting was so good. There's also a framed picture covered with glass. I don't know when that practice began. The reloading scenes were certainly the highlight. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

March 18, 2011, 10:03 AM	#4
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	I'm with Clem - I think I've only got one Colt with a wedge that pops out like that! But I've got to say that I don't think that I've ever seen anybody ever reload a six shooter like that in the old TV shows. It was kind of clever in that episode, too - there wasn't any particular attention drawn to it, really. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

March 18, 2011, 07:12 PM	#11
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Hardcase - you make a good point. One thing about television in the '60s, they didn't magnify violence like the media does today. That said, there was no shortage of people shooting people on Bonanza. One other thing about the show is how the portray Virginia City. Broad, wide streets on flat land. Nope. Virginia City is built on a hillside and its streets are narrow. I should have known better when I first visited it. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 24, 2011, 09:43 PM	#14
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	@Cowboy Jim Well, that's pretty darn cool. __________________ Just remember, when you pull the trigger, the bullets come out going very, very fast. So make sure to keep the weapon pointing away from you.

March 18, 2011, 09:42 AM	#3
ClemBert Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 936	Hahahahaha at time 4:50 into the clip....I'll take Pale Rider's conversion over Little Joe's. Little Joe would have had to carry a mallet and a brass punch along with him if he was shooting any of my Colt reproductions. LOL. Little Joe's 1851

March 18, 2011, 10:07 AM	#5
shafter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Posts: 1,624	I remember seeing it a long time ago and finally thought to look it up and post. Actually the wedge on my '51 comes out with hard thumb pressure.

March 18, 2011, 10:14 AM	#6
ClemBert Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 936	Honestly, it would make me a little nervous to have a wedge that so easily slid out. In this "claimed" updated photo of the firearm it would appear that not only was the barrel shortened but now the firearm sports an ejector which means the firearm has a loading gate. Too bad we didn't get a pic of the other side of the firearm. I kind of wonder if this claim is just BS anyways.

March 18, 2011, 11:10 AM	#7
shafter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Posts: 1,624	That isn't the pistol Little Joe used in Season 1. The loading-lever latch is right up near the end of the barrel on Joe's gun.

March 18, 2011, 02:24 PM	#8
MJN77 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: on a hill in West Virginia Posts: 789	Don't know if it is or not, but if you actually read what the link says about the gun, it tells you that the gun has since been altered a couple of times. That would explain the difference.

March 18, 2011, 09:23 PM	#12
shafter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Posts: 1,624	Haha that is true about Joe reloading and then loading again. Previously in the gunfight Ben and the boys fire a bunch of shots, probably a lot more than the total rounds in their guns. Even so, just seeing them reload is a rare sight. Yeah Virginia City isn't quite authentic. At least in the earlier episodes it seemed a bit wilder and more dangerous. Season 1 was definately the best I think. Oh yeah and the used HENRY"S instead of Winchesters in the early ones too.

April 24, 2011, 09:11 PM	#13
Cowboy Jim Junior Member Join Date: April 24, 2011 Posts: 3	I would like to post a reply about the 1851 Navy conversion that is pictured . The pistol was owned by Stembridge Gun Rentals & was rented to Paramount Studios for Michael Landon's use in 1959. It is identified by serial number on Stembridge rental sheets & has been documented by Syd Stembridge, the current owner of SGR, as having been used by Michael Landon. I know this, because I own the pistol. I had paperwork identifying this pistol in hand for around 4 years before I found this pistol, & the pistol did not come from the same source as the paperwork. At some point after Bonanza, 2 inches was cut off of the barrel & the pistol was used in The Outlaw Josey Wales. It was carried by Clint Eastwood in his shoulder holster. Again, listed by serial # on Josey Wales paperwork from Stembridge & documented by Syd Stembridge to Eastwoods use. After that movie, the loading ram was removed & an ejector housing installed. And by the way, it does have a loading gate.

April 24, 2011, 11:10 PM	#15
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	I would really love to see an updated and better quality photo of that pistol. Is it an original Colt or a very early replica?

April 25, 2011, 12:02 AM	#16
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Greetings Cowboy Jim, and welcome aboard. Congratulations on an very informative first posting.

April 25, 2011, 09:16 AM	#17
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	Welcome aboard, Cowboy Jim! Thanks for the great info! __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

April 25, 2011, 12:46 PM	#18
Cowboy Jim Junior Member Join Date: April 24, 2011 Posts: 3	Thank you for the welcome. The pistol is an original Colt. Being a computer idiot, I will have to wait till my daughter comes over to put another photo up. Please bear with me.

April 25, 2011, 01:32 PM	#19
ClemBert Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 936	Welcome to the forum Cowboy Jim. Very kewl that the owner of said firearm is a forum member. Look forward to seeing new pics of the revolver. Also interested in hearing the full run down on the history of this piece.

April 25, 2011, 04:18 PM	#20
Bill Akins Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Hudson, Florida Posts: 1,135	Welcome to the forum. . __________________ "This is my Remy and this is my Colt. Remy loads easy and topstrap strong, Colt balances better and never feels wrong. A repro black powder revolver gun, they smoke and shoot lead and give me much fun. I can't figure out which one I like better, they're both fine revolvers that fit in my leather". "To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target".

April 25, 2011, 07:37 PM	#21
Cowboy Jim Junior Member Join Date: April 24, 2011 Posts: 3	Sorry, I'm not a professional photographer. This is the best I can do. Here is the flip side of the pistol. As far as the history of the pistol goes, it's pretty much been stated above. Stembridge sold all of their class 1 firearms in 1999 to Robert Petersen, around 8,500 guns in total. I understand he kept about 600-700 pieces, but dispersed the rest, including this pistol. In June of 2007, Petersen sold the remaining pieces he had held onto at auction through Little Johns in CA.

April 25, 2011, 10:47 PM	#22
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	Interesting! Thank you for posting a new pic and more info on Stembridge. I know that they supplied guns to the movie industry for many, many decades and have seen some of them on display in the past.