Century Mfg revolvers--Who has 'em?

Molasses · January 12, 2009, 10:11 PM

Okay, I know Gunkwazy has a .50-70 "Mother Lode" Model 500, anyone else here got one?

Picked this up from my transferring dealer on Friday. Model 100 .45-70. Still had the G&A from 1977 featuring one on the cover.

How to make a Desert Eagle look svelt! Replica Walker Colt doesn't look very big alongside it.

A more massive frame and cylinder than even the X-frame Smith or the BFR. Sure it has one more hole in the cylinder, but... Size and weight is right at the limit of what I can actually hold out there one-handed and do something resembling taking aim before firing. Took it to the range on Saturday. Like with the .45-70 BFR, recoil from regular (Rem, Win, Fed) factory loads wasn't anything to be scared of, but talk about a pig in terms of ergos. Finished the range session at the bench, where it shot well at 100yds.

bigghoss · January 12, 2009, 10:54 PM

man that is one big hogleg. gotta love the line at the top of G&A

Quote:

you can't rape a .38

GUNKWAZY · January 13, 2009, 07:01 AM

Congrats on that monster Molasses.

***If anyone has that same copy of Guns & Ammo, I would love to buy it from you.
By the way, what month & year is that issue.

Thanks, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

Molasses · January 14, 2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

If anyone has that same copy of Guns & Ammo, I would love to buy it from you.
By the way, what month & year is that issue.

May, 1977

You might also be interested in trying to find a copy of Hunting For Handgunners, by Larry Kelly and J. D. Jones, published by DBI books, Inc: there's a chapter in there about the .50-70 version...

curt.45 · January 14, 2009, 05:46 PM

I had one, the fired primers kept backing out and by the third round the gun locked up, primer hit the loading gate edge and had to be pounded back in to rotate the cylinder further.

mine was a 45-70, 7 or 8 inch barrel

other than that it was a nice gun.

GUNKWAZY · January 14, 2009, 07:57 PM

Do you have that copy as well Mo ?

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

Molasses · January 15, 2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Do you have that copy as well Mo ?

Of course.

Here's what the cover looks like:

And the opening of the section on the Model 500:

I'm hoping that showing out-of-focus text as the backdrop for a picture isn't terribly likely to get me into copyright troubles?

GUNKWAZY · January 16, 2009, 06:32 PM

Now MO, How the heck can I read it if ya got that big hunk-o-bronze on it ?

I gotta go look now. I may actually have that copy.

**** Yahoo***** after looking through 3 bins of old gun rags, I found the one. Page 114.
Thanks for the help, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

plumber · February 8, 2010, 08:15 PM

New to this site I own this gun and it is fun to shoot . When I purchased mine it did not have a manual I need a manual and a breakdown showing the parts if anyone could help just let me know if there is a fee. Thanks in advance. plumber

phil in indy · December 28, 2010, 11:35 PM

Hey that,s me in that picture holding that 50-70 in the recoiling position. Hey guys that wasn't even the biggest caliber we made. We also made a 50-110. Now firing that a handful. I wouldn't even dare to look down the sites on that. There wasn't any twist it would just come straight back at your head.

I have both a 45-70 and a 50-70. Found this site while trying to look up some reloading data.

GUNKWAZY · December 29, 2010, 05:54 AM

Welcome aboard Phil in Indy.
I've never had the pleasure of seeing the 50-110, only the 50-70.
When you say "we", I'm guessing that you worked with Gene Phelps or Earl Keller back in the day. Is that correct ?
What did you do for them ?

Thanks, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

phil in indy · December 29, 2010, 11:21 AM

I used to work for a large pharma company based here in Indy. I met Dr. Paul Majors, oh heck I don't remember when but ended up working for him part time after he bought the company from Earl and moved it to Greenfield. I worked very closely with Brian Sidlar the gunsmith at Greenfield before his death. Paul left this world early also probably 8 or 10 years ago due to cancer. Now another friend of mine has purchased the company and and I have been polishing some parts for him but he has soo many irons in the fire that it is hard for him to concentrate on the gun buisness. There were only a few of the 50-110's manufactured. The molds for the 110's were made by cutting two cylinder frame molds into 2 pieces. 2/3 and 1/3. The first would be cut 2/3 from the front of the frame and the second would be cut 2/3 from the rear of the frame. The 2 larger pieces of each would be used to make the mold to pour the extended frames.

GUNKWAZY · December 29, 2010, 09:40 PM

Is the new company the ones that are Bison bore or Bison Bull ?
Will they be making any other calibers than the 45-70 ?

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

phil in indy · December 30, 2010, 01:11 AM

My friend that bought the company renamed it New Century. He's working with a machine shop to get the milling and drilling fixtures remade. He also tossed the cross bolt safety in favor of a transfer bar. I won't be working with him too long, as I have been offered a position at a contract lab doing the same type of research I used to do before I retired. He was wanting me to get some parts polished so that they can refine the whole process. Who knows if it will actually go anywhere. It had been years siince I had reloaded any shells for my 2. That's what I was actually looking for was info. I used 300 gn jacketed in the 45-70 and I think the powder was 4227 but cannot remember the amount. Same for the 50-70, I think I had used 515 gn fn but cannot remember the powder or amount, it might have been 4227 also.

Bronco-45-70 · December 14, 2017, 08:11 PM

Phil i am Brians brother in law, i went to Colorado School of Trades with him, and he was my room mate in 1986-87, if we could make contact, i was out there a couple of times, Brians wife and my wife are sisters, Brian set us up, i would like to talk to you

Bronco-45-70 · December 14, 2017, 08:24 PM

im looking for the load data in Brians books that i have also i did some reloads also, whern he was out here in Nebraska

Smoke & Recoil · December 14, 2017, 08:30 PM

Hey there Bronco-45-70,
Do you realize this thread is 7 years old and that phil only has 3 post and did you
try to (private message) him ?

reddog81 · December 14, 2017, 10:51 PM

Or send an email. I'm guessing he doesn't come to this website very often or ever.

January 12, 2009, 10:11 PM	#1
Molasses Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2007 Location: Anoka, MN Posts: 273	Century Mfg revolvers--Who has 'em? Okay, I know Gunkwazy has a .50-70 "Mother Lode" Model 500, anyone else here got one? Picked this up from my transferring dealer on Friday. Model 100 .45-70. Still had the G&A from 1977 featuring one on the cover. How to make a Desert Eagle look svelt! Replica Walker Colt doesn't look very big alongside it. A more massive frame and cylinder than even the X-frame Smith or the BFR. Sure it has one more hole in the cylinder, but... Size and weight is right at the limit of what I can actually hold out there one-handed and do something resembling taking aim before firing. Took it to the range on Saturday. Like with the .45-70 BFR, recoil from regular (Rem, Win, Fed) factory loads wasn't anything to be scared of, but talk about a pig in terms of ergos. Finished the range session at the bench, where it shot well at 100yds.

January 16, 2009, 06:32 PM	#8
GUNKWAZY Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Location: Sunny AZ Posts: 597	Now MO, How the heck can I read it if ya got that big hunk-o-bronze on it ? I gotta go look now. I may actually have that copy. ** Yahoo*** after looking through 3 bins of old gun rags, I found the one. Page 114. Thanks for the help, Jeff (GUNKWAZY) Last edited by GUNKWAZY; January 16, 2009 at 06:38 PM.

February 8, 2010, 08:15 PM	#9
plumber Junior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Posts: 2	Century Model 100 45-70 New to this site I own this gun and it is fun to shoot . When I purchased mine it did not have a manual I need a manual and a breakdown showing the parts if anyone could help just let me know if there is a fee. Thanks in advance. plumber

December 28, 2010, 11:35 PM	#10
phil in indy Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2010 Location: Greenfield, IN Posts: 3	New here Hey that,s me in that picture holding that 50-70 in the recoiling position. Hey guys that wasn't even the biggest caliber we made. We also made a 50-110. Now firing that a handful. I wouldn't even dare to look down the sites on that. There wasn't any twist it would just come straight back at your head. I have both a 45-70 and a 50-70. Found this site while trying to look up some reloading data.

December 14, 2017, 08:11 PM	#15
Bronco-45-70 Junior Member Join Date: December 12, 2017 Posts: 3	to phi in INDY Phil i am Brians brother in law, i went to Colorado School of Trades with him, and he was my room mate in 1986-87, if we could make contact, i was out there a couple of times, Brians wife and my wife are sisters, Brian set us up, i would like to talk to you

January 13, 2009, 07:01 AM	#3
GUNKWAZY Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Location: Sunny AZ Posts: 597	Congrats on that monster Molasses. ***If anyone has that same copy of Guns & Ammo, I would love to buy it from you. By the way, what month & year is that issue. Thanks, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

January 14, 2009, 05:46 PM	#5
curt.45 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2008 Location: Fort Wayne Ind. Posts: 866	I had one, the fired primers kept backing out and by the third round the gun locked up, primer hit the loading gate edge and had to be pounded back in to rotate the cylinder further. mine was a 45-70, 7 or 8 inch barrel other than that it was a nice gun.

January 14, 2009, 07:57 PM	#6
GUNKWAZY Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Location: Sunny AZ Posts: 597	Do you have that copy as well Mo ? Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

December 29, 2010, 05:54 AM	#11
GUNKWAZY Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Location: Sunny AZ Posts: 597	Welcome aboard Phil in Indy. I've never had the pleasure of seeing the 50-110, only the 50-70. When you say "we", I'm guessing that you worked with Gene Phelps or Earl Keller back in the day. Is that correct ? What did you do for them ? Thanks, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

December 29, 2010, 11:21 AM	#12
phil in indy Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2010 Location: Greenfield, IN Posts: 3	I used to work for a large pharma company based here in Indy. I met Dr. Paul Majors, oh heck I don't remember when but ended up working for him part time after he bought the company from Earl and moved it to Greenfield. I worked very closely with Brian Sidlar the gunsmith at Greenfield before his death. Paul left this world early also probably 8 or 10 years ago due to cancer. Now another friend of mine has purchased the company and and I have been polishing some parts for him but he has soo many irons in the fire that it is hard for him to concentrate on the gun buisness. There were only a few of the 50-110's manufactured. The molds for the 110's were made by cutting two cylinder frame molds into 2 pieces. 2/3 and 1/3. The first would be cut 2/3 from the front of the frame and the second would be cut 2/3 from the rear of the frame. The 2 larger pieces of each would be used to make the mold to pour the extended frames.

December 29, 2010, 09:40 PM	#13
GUNKWAZY Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Location: Sunny AZ Posts: 597	Is the new company the ones that are Bison bore or Bison Bull ? Will they be making any other calibers than the 45-70 ? Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

December 30, 2010, 01:11 AM	#14
phil in indy Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2010 Location: Greenfield, IN Posts: 3	My friend that bought the company renamed it New Century. He's working with a machine shop to get the milling and drilling fixtures remade. He also tossed the cross bolt safety in favor of a transfer bar. I won't be working with him too long, as I have been offered a position at a contract lab doing the same type of research I used to do before I retired. He was wanting me to get some parts polished so that they can refine the whole process. Who knows if it will actually go anywhere. It had been years siince I had reloaded any shells for my 2. That's what I was actually looking for was info. I used 300 gn jacketed in the 45-70 and I think the powder was 4227 but cannot remember the amount. Same for the 50-70, I think I had used 515 gn fn but cannot remember the powder or amount, it might have been 4227 also.

December 14, 2017, 08:24 PM	#16
Bronco-45-70 Junior Member Join Date: December 12, 2017 Posts: 3	load data 45-70 im looking for the load data in Brians books that i have also i did some reloads also, whern he was out here in Nebraska

December 14, 2017, 08:30 PM	#17
Smoke & Recoil Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: East shore of Lake Michigan. Posts: 714	Hey there Bronco-45-70, Do you realize this thread is 7 years old and that phil only has 3 post and did you try to (private message) him ? __________________ Sent from my Tandy 1000

December 14, 2017, 10:51 PM	#18
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Or send an email. I'm guessing he doesn't come to this website very often or ever.