The Fitz Special: Art of the Gunfighter, Circa 1926

[@EchosTackyTiki]

That opening monologue is the greatest thing I've ever seen.

[@colinjohnson8044]

I didn’t understand a word and I love it

[@colinjohnson8044]

Also, we’re the only comments in the last two years, so hey

[@royeick2991]

YT just recommend this to me and I been watching for years

[@LD-Orbs]

@@royeick2991 I've only been watching this channel for a year or so. I just got the recommendation for this video now.

[@Lalalunatix]

@@colinjohnson8044 I just got it recommended, I guess its making the rounds lol.

[@VorpalDerringer]

The slang from the intro means: know one's onions = know your stuff. take wooden nickels = get fooled. eel's hips = bee's knees, something good. Big Six = a strong man, after a six cylinder car engine.

[@jmmtcidc]

“eel’s hips = bee’s knees” … OK BUDDY

[@graham2631]

23 skidoo was one l never understood.

[@gonzo3915]

Eels hips refers to easy to draw it sounds like to me, as in Eels have no Hips

[@THESLlCK]

LOL from the times when a 6 cylinder was the larger capacities one could find

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338]

i always though " big six " came after having a six pac .

[@Astilath]

In the classic book "shooting to live" there is a drawing of the "perfect concealed carry pistol". Its basically this. So no surprise when Ian said Applegate got one.

[@bami2]

I have no idea what happens in the first 7 seconds.

[@jamwheeler]

BIG MAC he has a beard too are you blind?

[@myvids1415]

Damon Runyan?

[@juanglaser8113]

Felling lucky Punk ? Do You ? Going John Henry Fitzgerald on ... Bang ! OK maybe Han Solo !

[@RalphReagan]

Agreed

[@zxggwrt]

bami2 if you know your onions, you're not gonna take any wooden nickels from nobody. You'll get your self a Fitz special. Just the eels hips for a big six like you.

[@Em-Jayyy]

Translation: "If you know your stuff, you won't take any shady things from people. You'll get yourself a Fitz Special. It's an excellent thing for a strong guy like you".

[@stephencolley334]

Very nice translation, but if one can think and reason, it pretty much follows from the context.

[@HunterKiller762]

It’s interesting how much our dialect has changed In little over a century

[@bitfreakazoid]

So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. "Gimme five bees for a quarter," you'd say.

[@JohnLeePedimore]

"You know I've got a son about your age".

[@striderflys]

Hey that was back in diggidy-seven. We had to say diggidy cause the kaiser stole our twos. .

[@Laughing_Man-ws8ly]

bitfreakazoid burns chose well in his choice of strike breakers

[@NPepC]

I'm reporting you

[@KickyFut]

Grandpa Simpson ramblings!😁 (Tongue-click) Noice! 👍

[@RK-dj1ry]

William Fairbairn recommended a revolver pretty much exactly like this in his book Shooting to Live.

[@JohnSwampthingRae]

He had one that Fitz gave him... My Uncle was a Commando Instructor during the War... He was trained by W.E. Fairbairn... They remained close friends until Fairbairn's death... My uncle actually got to fire Fairbairn's Fitz Special, on more than one occasion...

[@Unsound_advice]

The “Fitz” special wasn’t designed to be looked at or brandished, the end operator only had one goal when drawing this pistol. The end goal was to live. Finger already on the trigger, elbow tight to the body, and perfect point shooting to vanquish the foe on the other end of the short barrel. An era of gunfighters and not peacekeepers. These were the true forerunners to combat arms. Reading of their exploits is amongst the high holies of the modern pistolero. Thank you Ian for this amazing as always presentation.

[@mattverellen5602]

There were no SWAT units. Came down to man to man, and there were true warriors on both sides. Imagine if you will an era where say, in one weeks time, there would be the Norco and North Hollywood robberies, the Texas Seven breakout, a Jose Vigoa casino job and the Miami Massacre. That was the way of the early 30s

[@mattverellen5602]

The best Lawman hailed from southwest, remnants of the same culture of cowboy times

[@jamesricker3997]

I seriously doubt the majority of customers were law-abiding citizens. Remember this was prohibition and who exactly was in the most need of a concealed weapon at the time.

[@TheTiesThatBind88]

Well said!

[@conmcgrath7174]

For sure, those guys didn't take aim? My grandfather once taught me how to shoot (I was 'shit-hot', could put two bullets in the same hole standing, with a rifle) but he kept saying no, no don't take aim, you're already dead? Don't punch somebody either unless you mean to kill them or make space to draw. and then kill them. His weapon of choice (necessity?) was a colt in 32. long. He said to get a 38 if I could but the 32 was gun enough for anybody.... We used to watch old gangster movies and he would piss himself laughing when somebody 'opened up' and fired all over the place, bottles and windows being the usual victims, he said 'if I had that gun with 50 rounds, there would be 20 men dead and I'd have a few left over for the way back'. A great man, didn't like to see wastage? Tuck it in and it will be pointing the right way? Of course I asked, when do you know to shoot somebody? He simply said, if they turn white, shoot them first before they shoot you, if they turn red, just punch them, they're already done, you have survived. Pax and respects, C

[@petesheppard1709]

FitzGerald, Askins, Applegate...it is nice to see the names of early gunfighting pioneers mentioned.

[@petesheppard1709]

So many...

[@mattverellen5602]

Charles Lindbergh another Fitz owner

[@gilbertgrape3329]

Ian, great presentation! J.H. Fitzgerald penned a great book originally published in 1930 aptly named “Shooting”. It’s long out of print but of course, one can still obtain a copy of it. Fitzgerald was a pioneer well before his time and in reading, many stories and ideas are discussed! One story in particular, Fitz was behind a gun store counter, in walks two Federal “Suits”, a discussion was started on quick draw tactics, Fitz challenged the Feds to draw on him, before they knew it, Fitz had two large bores staring back at them! Pulled from his leather lined pants pockets!!!!!!! Amazing to say the least! It would have been an honor to be in his presence! Long live his memory and contribution to our beloved sport! Thanks again Ian, Brian. Lisbon Falls, Maine.

[@donpaterson4476]

I'm waiting for the blooper reel for the jazz talk .

[@dominicgray4479]

I don't own a gun, but for some reason I find it fascinating and love watching this guy talking about all these different guns.

[@johnschofield9496]

It's never too late to join the fraternity !

[@JerryEricsson]

Back in the 70's when I first began my police career, I met a Highway Patrolman who was very into competitive shooting. He showed me his "special" belly gun for that competition. It was a Colt DA revolver in .45 Long Colt, he had the barrel shortened to 3 inches, and had sent it in to have an "Armaloy" finish which left it looking like brushed stainless steel. The hammer was indeed bobbed like your example, and he had some custom grips in what appeared to be a sort black rubber. She was a beauty that Colt of his, and the double action was smooth as any Python or Diamond back that I have ever had, and believe me, over the years I have had a few of each.

[@kenwintin3014]

Ian, my uncle was a homicide detective in Jacksonville, Florida back in those days and carried a Detective Special Fitz. Don't know if it was a factory done job.

[@John.VanSwearingen]

Trigger guards are for squares, pal.

[@Tridd666]

John Van Swearingen I'm so square my trigger guard is square

[@RockandrollNegro]

Rubes were hillbillies, pal. Trigger guards are for saps, savvy? Get on the trolley, Daddy!

[@nigelft]

But, to use a favourite movie quote of mine, 'don't ever wear one whilst drunk, otherwise you will kill your feet ...'

[@nf4866]

Marvin Harrison Smith II I see you everywhere!

[@bandccoresohio]

Its double action no guard necessary

[@stevensparks3126]

While working as an armed guard in the '80s there was a 5 screw S&W .38 M&P that was apparently Fitzed. It had an original 2" barrel and sight. I always wondered about that piece, having never seen mention of one in any book. Very cool .

[@mrb692]

If I’m being honest, that cutaway trigger guard doesn’t bother me all that much, if and only if it’s combined with the bobbed hammer as seen here. People often argue that revolvers don’t “need” mechanical safeties, since the 10 pound trigger requires much more of a deliberate effort to touch off than a modern ~5 lb striker. Combine that with a draw technique that has the index finger extended, and the idea of an open trigger guard doesn’t seem so far fetched.

[@ronroberts110]

I've read that some professionals who carried a pistol as part of their job had pistols like this. A common thing to have a tailor line a front pocket with leather, and you only put the pistol in that pocket, and nothing else.

[@elementalist1984]

Dont forget that now we have people who are so scared of accidental discharges that they dont trust the safety and want to carry semiautomatic pistols with an empty chamber...

[@alexsis1778]

I think the biggest risk with a cutaway trigger like that wouldn't be pulling the trigger with your finger because as you mentioned it does take some force. The real risk is snagging it on something with force (for instance missing the holster when trying to quickly put the gun away).

[@RiderOftheNorth1968]

The Fitz is as safe or safer than a Glock, given the same amount of basic firearms training.

[@benn454]

@@elementalist1984 Anything mechanical can fail.

[@Buzbikebklyn1]

Ian! Your know more about the art of the "Gat" than anyone I've ever seen. My father (God rest him) gave me 2 "Fitz like" revolvers, based on S&W .357's. 2" barrels, very nice trimmed down Magnum front sights, alike rear sights, bobbed hammers. He kept the trigger gaurds thow. His reference to the "Fitz" style of modifications always escaped me until right now when I saw this Vid. Congratulations! You just out triva'ed me. And that it brought me right back to when Dad gave me the set of prized .357's . Thanks.

[@1972glm]

That is very cool. Would love to see what those look like. What model S&W are they?

[@burnsboysaresoldiers]

Tom Miano what model where your dad’s Smith “fitz” .357? And how did he shorten the ejector rod wouldn’t a smith need the lock?

[@Buzbikebklyn1]

Hello Sam, The are model 19, 357's, with short rounded butts, and hand ground hammers that my Dad did himself, that actually have small "thumb grab" hammers. He trimmed the sights and had everything re blued. Very nice at 25 yards. Thanks for asking.

[@Buzbikebklyn1]

Hi Brendon, The model 19 don't have "open" ejector rods, they came with the short barrels. Hope that helps. Thanks for asking.

[@Buzbikebklyn1]

I stand corrected! (Don't ya just love this stuff Ian?) The .357's have 2.5" barrels. I had to go find my micromiter and measure the things. So Barndon, that why they don't have open ejector rods. They are covered by the barrel port. Hope THIS closes the investigation. LoL.

[@45auto82]

I saw a video awhile back from the man who inherited Col Rex Applegate’s Colt Fitz Special. He got it with the Colonel’s original shoulder holster, which was a long rectangular thing that also had extra cartridge loops in the leather. Pretty amazing it was. Love these historic firearms and all the stories about them. Col Rex actually had to use his once (in a Latin American or S American country) to defend himself from an attacker…did not go well for the crook, he met some .45 Long Colt bullets from the business end that closed HIS business!

[@scoe5908]

Reminds me of that infamous 'Custom Glock' with the trigger guard removed

[@darthhodges]

It occurs to me that leaving the back half of the trigger guard helps prevent things from getting stuck behind the trigger that might keep it stuck in a pocket keep you from firing the gun. The back of the trigger guard has a much smoother profile than the back of the trigger itself.

[@blueukuleleofserenity5616]

I have heard that the phrase "Don't take any wooden nickels" referred to carnival script. During the late 19th and early 20th century, a traveling carnival would arrive in town and immediately begin trading with local merchants using script in the form of wooden medallions or "nickels" that could be redeemed for midway rides and shows. The script was popular currency since everyone in town would usually attend the carnival. However, its value would plunge as soon as a rumor started that the carnival was planning to depart. The phrase "Don't take any wooden nickels " was a warning that the carnival was leaving town soon and the remaining script would become worthless. I'm curious if anyone else has heard that this is the origin of this phrase.

[@blueukuleleofserenity5616]

Also, I think the proper term is "scrip" and not "script", although I am seeing it used both ways depending on the source.

[@jackmoorehead2036]

I saw a friends dads pistol in the 70s. It was a Colt New service in 45 LC. It had a 2 and 1/2 inch barrel bobbed hammer and cut away guard. Imhe was a police man in a mining town in SW New Mexico in the late 20s thru the 30s. Its in a colt factory cardboard box with a bill for modifications of $29.00. Paid by postal money order. I wondered about colt doing that and i think i finally got my answer. His has a super deep blued finish though. Thank you for this.

[@Bikewer]

I started my police career in the late 60s and there were still a few guys running around with these and similarly-modified “belly guns”. I had read Bill Jordan’s “No Second Place Winner” around 1965, and he approved of most of these modifications except for the cutaway trigger guard. He felt that this might disable the weapon if it were dropped or hit something, tying up the trigger. Instead, he recommended simply cutting away about half the material on the forward portion of the trigger guard. He too talked about firing the weapon single-action by “starting” the hammer back with the trigger and then thumb-cocking the rest of the way. I had a big S&W M1917 (.45 ACP) that I had modified in that manner... A pretty intimidating weapon but a mite on the bulky side. BTW, the local term for a “Roscoe” or a “heater” was “Popper” or simply “pop”. “We found a pop on that guy...”

[@fredbecker607]

I carried a s&w 66 snubby with bobbed hammer and shaved trigger guard.

[@thomasgibson8436]

Hey I know this is an old video, but I've just finally gotten around to watching it. I just wanted to take the time to thank you for never missing. Your content has always hit a consistent mark of education, information, and entertainment; surrounding a topic that not many can cover with the same politically impartial tone youve seemed to master. Thank you for all of the good, wholesome, gun-forward content.

[@fredford7642]

Ian!, You did it again, a really good video on a rare and almost forgotten firearm. Thank you for a very good and educational video.

[@marcusborderlands6177]

Hell yeah, I need Dem "eels hips"

[@Jixijenga]

Well head on over to e621 and have at it.

[@doguhankaandemir5111]

Monosodium glutamate?

[@criffermaclennan]

That single action pull and break looked featherlight

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

1920s slang is the bees knees. It puts 'em in a panic!

[@victortransport4375]

I have one he or Colt made in 1923. It's a Colt Pocket Positive. The trigger guard is intact. I heard several were modified and shipped in 1923 like mine.. A Massachusetts motorcycle cop named Abe Rafferty used it as back up in Dedham, Massachusetts in the 1920's-40's.

[@garenosborn]

Back when I was a teenager in the 80’s my rifle coach loaned me a detective special that had been given the full fitz treatment. My mom was getting stalked by a freak and we had no handguns in the house. It has been sterilized and he told me to throw it in the Columbia if I had to use it! It was a different time. Along with the pistol there was a holster. He told me to never carry it in my pocket. I remember that the gunsmith that did the work serrated the top of the bobbed hammer so you could in theory cock the hammer for a sa shot. Never tried though.

[@XanltheCSG]

You from Washington? The PNW was a much different place back in the day

[@jerickman]

I assume the situation with the stalker freak was resolved and all that?

[@GoatDust]

jerickman Shhh, no snitching.

[@garenosborn]

Yeah, it was. I caught him in the back yard and held him there till the police got there. Responding officer said “good job” as he was loading the dude into the back of the cruiser. Now if they saw a 16 year old with a burner handgun that kid would be arrested too. Times change so much in 30 some years.

[@davidparry8514]

GOOD JOB COACH.

[@SuperOtter13]

Thank you Ian! That gun brought back a lot of good times spent in gun stores as a kid not tall enough to see over the counter.

[@Sn0wdawgz]

Apparently, "wooden nickels" were not an acceptable substitute in the 20's.

[@junkersintutus4282]

Brewswillis What a bunch of tightwads right?

[@ferdonandebull]

Well.... it depended on the wooden nickel... See merchants gave wooden nickels that were worth something but only in their business. Whore houses have wooden tokens for a free poke. Bars gave them for free drinks. The trouble was these Nicole’s changed over time. The red then might be exchanged for a green token that was worthless. Or a specific business goes out of business. So if someone had a token “wooden nickel” for a free drink he might try to convince you to take it instead of money.. you would later find you just had a useless token...

[@rashakawa]

Ok that made me laugh

[@trentongoering5060]

I have probably replayed Ian’s intro like a hundred time and still not tired of it!

[@hamm6033]

Once more, no bell. On the Fitz I believe men wearing gloves (fashion of the time) was a contributing influence for bobbing the trigger guard. I don't know where I read that, I have to many books, but it was in an article about Fitz and his revolvers. A lot of famous shooters bought the Fitz style revolver.

[@TTM-1999]

I've seen expanded guards for revolvers quite a few times and even rifles, although I can't give a citation for why I'm thinking this but I believe elongated trigger guards are a very common design in Russia

[@vizzy61]

@July 17 well that simply makes sense, gloves would probably be more common in Russia than in the US, seeing as it's typically colder than a fair chunk of the states

[@edherdman9973]

@@TTM-1999 I seem to remember that in connection with the famous .45 Russian Schofields' trigger guard.

[@QuantumCat76]

I'm surprised the front-sight isn't rounded off.

[@TONYSESLCAFE]

A rounded front site. No hangups and you have a site... It could be easily modified.

[@DowntownDeuce2]

At the time, it was common to sharpen the front sight to a razor sharp edge, this aided in weapon retention during Close Quarter battle. Massad Ayoob released a very similar reissue of that concept in the 1980s

[@u.p.woodtick3296]

Jaimy van der Horst me too, or gone all together

[@andrewhilton9889]

The trigger guard was removed to save weight, as well as making a more compact package for deep concealment. Metal was also removed from the rear of the frame, as well as the grip frame. The first four revolvers in this series were numbered one to four, number five became the Keith No 5 revolver, arguably the most famous revolver of all time. (I still can't believe it went for only $80,000, I feel like such a fool for not going to that auction.)

[@candidmoe8741]

"I don't want people to judge him entirely by today's interpretation of this pistol". Wise words. Apply to many things.

[@Itgetsbetterofficial]

KuK137 modern progress should not wipe away yesterdays perspective

[@bsdnfraje]

@@KuK137 funny you should say that. You should look at the meaning of progress over the last millennium, and how it has changed. There still exist educated human beings who recognize you aren't very bright, but have very strongly held opinions.

[@cmndr_superglue]

@@KuK137 True, but it's also annoying when pretentious twats look down their noses at people 100 years ago just by virtue that they were born in a time when these lessons were already learned.

[@meeperdudeify]

@@Itgetsbetterofficial are you saying it does?

[@Itgetsbetterofficial]

@@meeperdudeify In the minds of some, absolutely.

[@g-dcomplex1609]

you can see from the way ian holds this weapon that it's been hit with a series of buffing wheels to knock down any corners or sharp edges, except the front sight, to reduce friction when engaging this revolver from a concealed position, the front sight looks de-burred but not rounded out, here we have an altered pistol that the gunsmith responsible actually increased it's collector value, very cool.

[@PorcuPineAppleSauce]

Thats a clever way to link to the gun info and the auction listing, good thinking!

[@Devin_Stromgren]

That may be the coolest video intro you've ever done. Also, as a Minnesotan I can tell you, winter gloves DO very much interfere with shooting most firearms, to the point of making most long guns and almost all handguns unusable.

[@Breakfast_and_Bullets]

6 years and a month later, I finally started building my own Fitz Special. Love the aesthetic of these things.

[@jacobishii6121]

That's an intuitive,fast acquiring sight set up

[@jeffhreid]

One of my favorites. A product of its time.

[@lewiszolna784]

Hey Ian, I really enjoyed your video on the Ribeyrolles and found it very interesting. I've recently been looking at ww2 weapons (following the announcement of battlefield V ) and I came across the polish resistance submachine gun, the Blyskawisca ( lightning ) submachine gun and as I'm of polish decent ( my great grandfather was polish and fought for the Royal Air Force as a bomber pilot and became a veteran ) I'd find it most interesting to see you explain how the firearm that the Poles used to stave off the Nazi invaders whilst being occupied. It'd be immeasurably appreciated by me

[@killersalmon4359]

I heard one of the problems with the cut down trigger guard was that if you dropped the pistol, there was a chance that the little "spur" would get bent, jam the trigger, and basically prevent the gun from being fired. I've seen photos of "modern day" Fitz specials that had the trigger guard "slimmed" down at the front to allow for faster access to the trigger as a compromise to cutting off the front of the guard. I've wondered whether another compromise might be just to enlarge the trigger guard a bit.

[@andrewdabbs8393]

Awesome video. The fitz gets mentioned in Shots Fired in Anger and Fairburn's book on gunfighting. Thanks!

[@ditzylemmon5094]

Dude so happy you did one for the fitz special!!!

[@zacharydevan4107]

I'm surprised it didn't have a bird's head grip.

[@jdavidtruby]

Thanks Ian, my grandfather left one of those behind and I've always liked it..

[@commoncorysense1809]

Ian, I recognize and respect the new channel concept to add the additional onion layer. Forgotten Weapons with their respective Forgotten Shooters!

[@frankdn109]

I can't find it now, but I remember reading a pamphlet authored by a British officer serving with the Hong Kong (or Singapore) police force, in which he described just such a gun. He advocated building it on a Colt New Service revolver, in .455 I imagine. But then he opined that it would be an ideal sidearm for the local police. I'm 6'1" and find most XL gloves a snug fit, and I can barely manage my New Service-framed Colt 1917. How that man expected a Chinese cop who probably stood 5'5" and tipped the scale at a manly 120 lb. was supposed to manage that gun, I cannot imagine!

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

The introduction made me worry that you were having a stroke. Then I realized it was just jive talk. ;) Neat video as always Ian.

[@nealdavin3883]

1930s who needs a trigger guard 2019 we need trigger guard ,transfer bar safety, hammer block, finger print scanner etc!

[@Ideo7Z]

1930s. Gunfighters 2010s. Lawyers

[@Gieszkanne]

This revolver has a transfer bar safty. You can see wenn he pulled the trigger and than released it the hammer moved back slightly.

[@Taphenko]

ah yes, famous finger print scanner gun

[@ThatGuy-te9wh]

finger print scanner, blood sample, penile identification, it needs to be charged, it takes a drug test....

[@americangangster1911]

@@Gieszkanne Don't all double action revolvers have that.

[@toolthoughts]

the old time tactical piece playlist is gettin pretty pretty good

[@nimbly1693]

Your production value is staggering these days. Super quality.

[@muddlemann]

From what I've seen, back in the day with heavy double action triggers, it was common to rest the finger on the trigger.

[@shittyfattits807]

Love this channel so much. Never stop Ian.

[@jessepitt]

My dad was an Air Marshal in the seventies and he carried a detective special. He still has it and it’s basically been his only hand gun.

[@Jamestruin]

We still say "knowing your onions" where I'm from!

[@myvids1415]

Very common phrase in the UK .

[@Jamestruin]

Roland Harbord indeed, Dorset here but back on our farm in Bedfordshire we grew tons of the smelly bastards!

[@ian-op5fv]

James Smith how's life in the 1920's?

[@Jamestruin]

ian1493 1920s! 1820s more like!

[@eljefe8564]

Ian, you are amazing. Keep up the fantastic work! Thanks!!!

[@ferdonandebull]

I knew guys who carried guns like this. The trigger guard thing was done so you can wear gloves. But some guys hogged out the gun hand side the trigger guard. The hammer spur was a no brainer for pocket carrier. The front site was slanted at the front and back. Indexing a firearm was not heard. When you pulled it is was meant to go off. A pistol like this was meant to be a 10 foot sword..

[@ralphh4131]

this is on the original cover of dr. no but the hammer is not ground down. also, fitz's book is online and it's very interesting to read.

[@davmatt74]

I bet Montgomery Burns carried one of these just to use the vernacular of the time. "Vernacular? That's a derby." -Curly Howard

[@evanalessi7837]

You didn't mention Tom Selleck playing Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods carries a fit special it was mentioned in one of the earlier episodes also you did mention Fair band and Sykes both cable and I just won both thank you again for such a special reward lot of history behind those revolvers thank you

[@zeroalpha4818]

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART.. WELL THOUGHT

[@justinriley8651]

Still viable 44/40 Wow I'd carry it.

[@mikehagan4320]

Loved your opening quote! Having a 44-40 double action at the time would have made you well heeled. Interesting video!

[@bretcalvin1534]

Mine has a cutdown nickel for a front sight

[@zxggwrt]

Bret Calvin ha I have an old Smith and Wesson .38 top breaker and it has a half a buffalo nickel front sight, too! Great grandpa was a dentist. His 1917 .45 has a sheet of gold on the front sight. Not a thin sheet, either!

[@FyremaelGlittersparkle]

@@zxggwrt Please tell me that the gold was taken from teeth?

[@zxggwrt]

@@FyremaelGlittersparkle Ha! No. Dentists just have that kind of thing available for making crowns. It looks like it was snipped from a thick sheet.

[@johnnixon4085]

I'm looking at my S&W M&P Bodyguard in a whole new light...

[@balancedfordaylight1]

One of my favorite classic revolvers

[@KapteinFruit]

I love that piece. I can still see how it would be useful today.

[@gunguide9201]

Fast and easy to use.The same needs today.

[@AnoNYmous-bz2ef]

Even the cylinder edges are smoothed out

[@jeffreyplum5259]

That gun was built to shoot, period. It was made to be drawn and fired, with as little as possible getting in the way. IT was made for experts, during the Roaring twenties. It t reminds me the movie "THe Good, the bad and the ugly. " The Quote " If you are going to shoot Shoot. If you are going to talk, Talk. " Marty Robbins sang about a bobbed single action " Bad 44 " in his song, "Mr. Shorty" . Definitely a piece from a more hard edged time, like a straight razor. I hope you find us many more examples of a gunsmith's artistry.

[@BuckHelton]

Actually, the gun Marty refers to is a Bass .44 Named after Sam Bass. It was a shopkeepers model SAA with a birds head grip.

[@helvehammer7846]

Born in '49 - I recall in the Old Days stuff was simple, straightforward and as subtle as a punch in the mouth.

[@mikegrossberg8624]

The line you're trying to give is "If you're gonna shoot, SHOOT! Don't TALK!"

[@mikegrossberg8624]

One of the BEST lines I've ever heard

[@benjaminfitzgerald7839]

I can assure that , I've no recollection of making any guns.🤣

[@chrisjones6002]

The Taurus View is a modern gun similar to this but with a full trigger guard. Seems like an interesting idea, if they made a 6 shot in 327mag I would want one for sure.

[@brenthamby2155]

The opening monologue was freakin awesome. Well done, Ian.

[@bobrees4363]

The Colt New Service was just about the only thing that made an N-frame S&W seem small. Three things I would do differently-- 1. Use a Baughman type sloping front sight, and 2. Do away with the single action notch entirely and make it DAO. The third would be to just narrow the front of the trigger guard, as advocated by Bill Jordan (I think) if I really thought I needed more access to the trigger.

[@sqTake2]

YT’s best channel, Superb work!!!

[@patrickfitzpatrick45]

Super interesting. The evolution of gun smithing and use in our society. I really like the gun.

[@JGT-yd2wx]

Badass looking revolver

[@ParkerBlank]

You have written a beautiful monologue.

[@stanneubert4911]

I have read, in the American rifleman I think, that the revolver would be carried strong side butt forward so that it could be drawn upside down and fired with the little finger. A handful in a caliber starting with a 4 but maybe not so bad with a .38 special. Even now some revolvers have the front of the trigger guard thinned for quicker access.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Nice to see that Forgotten Weapons has seen a sudden flurry of new videos.

[@JohnLeePedimore]

Great video Ian.

[@Snowtail07]

in Blue Bloods Commissioner Reagen (Tom Selleck) carries a Fitz Special, says it by name

[@quiettime6871]

Tom Selleck is a gun guy in real life.

[@lonsdalefanmatt]

I have no idea why a small number of people decided to give the video a thumbs down (maybe a bunch of “March for Lifers”). I agree Ian, yes a cut off trigger guard is a bad idea (even legendary shooter/border patrol officer Bill Jordan agreed), but it is interesting to see it from a historical perspective. Having said that, I’m almost willing to bet that shooters in the 1920s were safer than some of shooters today.

[@Goatman629]

My great grandmother carried one of those in her purse. She came from an Indian Reservation and everyone thought she was a gypsy and a witch. I asked her once if she was afraid of people hurting her and she whipped it out and said it was her 'protection spell." Her's had a half a silver dime for a front sight. She used to let me shoot it when she babysat me back in the early 1970s. It was a Colt made on the big frame (not the Police Positive) in .38 calibre. She was in her 90s when she got remarried and moved away. I have no idea what became of her "black magic gun".

[@patrickwaldron3984]

I just love Ian McCollum, by the way Ian, I got a Forgotten Weapons sweater, and I just absolutely love it man! You are doing such a good job with the channel and everything associated with it. Even if you don’t know me, and even if I don’t know you to much Ian, I just love ya man! Pretty much all my knowledge of firearms and the history, mechanics, and just everything about them, has all come from you! I’m just glad I can click on your videos and then tell my friends and family all about what I learned in that video that I watched from you, you are amazing!

[@714jud]

Great review as usual

[@bushwackcreek]

Went through police reserve training while I was active duty in the Coast Guard. It gave us extra law enforcement training that the USCG wasn't doing and we helped out our community while off duty from the Coast Guard. My service weapon as a police officer was a Colt Lawman MkIII snubnose .357. I had bought it as my backup weapon as a Coast Guard boarding officer. During the Police training, we were taught a method of "point and shoot" in double-action without relying on the sights. By the time our qualification shoot came around, the Police Chief and the former FBI agent who was doing our weapons instruction told us we would have to use a revolver with a 4 inch barrel. I wasn't going to spend more money on another revolver so, I put oversized grips on my snub and used a holster for a 4 inch pistol. I was in the first string shooting the "Police Practical" course for qualification. The FBI guy (who hated Colts by the way) stopped me after my first 6 rounds and told me that I could not use a "detective's gun" for qualification... Then, he looked at my target: all 6 in the 5K in a tight grouping of the silhouette target. He waived me on to continue and I finished by shooting the top score of all the "recruits". The shorter barrel made my draw faster and more consistent. The minimal sights on the snub didn't distract the shooter from pointing "naturally".

[@fien111]

"He understood the relevance of sights" I'm so god damn tickled by that line I can't even....

[@julianadeau7494]

A+ on the class lingo... :D

[@Youtubefishdoc]

I inherited a Colt diamondback with a 2ish inch barrel. What a great gun. I carry it regularly now.

[@matthaught4707]

I've seen guns from much later time periods (1980s or so) with 'semi-Fitzed' trigger guards, i.e. the guard is still there, just a portion of the front right side is relieved to allow the shooter easier access without removing the entire front of the guard. So the idea was still around for a while, albeit in a form modified to comply with more modern ideas of safety.

[@groofromtheup5719]

DOA and presumably the hammer on an empty chamber probably make the trimmed gourd somewhat safer. The remaining gard segment probably does a good job of keeping a clothing snag from pulling the trigger further than the trigger pull..

[@Cyan37]

Looks amazing!

[@ObjectHistory]

Great video- I really like that one

[@murphy4yt]

The safety police today get the vapors over the cutaway trigger guard, but the main disadvantage was if you dropped the gun you could bend the trigger guard in such a way as to render it inoperable.

[@WastelandSeven]

No stranger than the folding trigger of the Colt Patterson revolver. And I agree, too many insurance issues for the cut off guard today. Mind you, I don't think it would be that dangerous with a revolver. Now a single action auto pistol is asking for serious serious trouble without a trigger guard. But, a double action revolver? Not as safe, but, not so horribly unsafe as to be unwearable. 44-40 is a pretty good caliber too.