Old West Scrounger

[John Wayne]

You don't see these often. It's not mine, wish it was! On ebay.

273796

273797

273798

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Wow....I never saw that press before, and I used to be one of their customers when they were located in very northern California and had a walk-in store. Thanks for posting the photos.

DG

[Green Frog]

I heard that the original Old Western Scrounger retired several years ago and sold what was left of his operation to Navy Arms... but I don't remember Val selling any tools and such, only exotic ammo. I wonder what the time frame was for this mega-press(?)

Froggie

[Bazoo]

They are asking 1200 plus 150 shipping. Not sure the value of the item, but 150 shipping makes them crooks. 50 would ship it. Neat though.

Is this related to the old western scrounger ammo seller or just the same name?

[Green Frog]

When they reopen the “Nation’s Gun Show” I’ll look for Val and ask what details he can provide. Do you have a date (or time frame) on that price?

Froggie

[Bazoo]

I found it in ebay and that's the asking price as of when I posted. I magine it's still there. If I was independently wealthy I'd bite.

[salpal48]

That is The Ch4D "Rock Crusher" press. Old western must have ordered some with There name.
dave still sell Them
retail $1995.00
Gross weight 100 Lb's

[.50bmg]

Someone is about to “ crush “ some rocks in SoCal....lol :)

[Earl Brasse]

How would that be for case forming, any advantage?
I would think the travel would be a minus but the handle length a plus?

[salpal48]

I do not if This press Is for Case forming Only. Dave @ Ch does make dies In 50 BMJ, 55 Boys Anti Tank, 20 MM and I think 37 MM revolving Cannon

[Pressman]

The following links take you back in time to this board and several others where the Rock Crusher is mentioned. It's a fascinating trip and a small look into the history of this great press.

Here is a list of the different addresses and their time frame:

Old Western Scrounger, Inc.

El Cerrito, CA: 1976-1984
Montague, CA: 1985-2001
Yreka, CA: 2001-2003
Carson City, NV: 2003-2005
Old Western Scrounger, LLC

Martinsburg, WV: 2005-2017

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-13694.html

http://www.theguncounter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19099

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/ows-rock-crusher.337131/

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/dangerous-dave-cumberland-old-western-scrounger.938769/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/strongest-built-single-stage-press.108685/

[John Wayne]

That's good stuff Mr. Pressman! The Scrounger pictured in my original post sold today or yesterday for $1200.00 fyi.

[.50bmg]

:) :) :) :)


That's good stuff Mr. Pressman! The Scrounger pictured in my original post sold today or yesterday for $1200.00 fyi.

[Bent Ramrod]

“Dangerous Dave, the Old Western Scrounger.”

I used to go to the El Cerrito store when I visited my parents in the Bay Area. The fence around the place was made of rifle barrels and the door knobs were revolver grip frames.

There was a lot of fantastic stuff in there. Got several boolit moulds and a couple of tong tools out of “the box” the clerk would haul out from under a pile of other stuff and allow me to rummage through.

There was a Maynard #16 on the rack there once at a very reasonable price. Though single shots were my Thing at the time, I was for some reason prejudiced against “tip-ups” of any type. I’m still kicking myself.

I remember when they advertised that press; it was the beginning of the interest in shooting .50BMG out of custom oversized rifles and, later, Barretts. I think it could also load 20mm rounds. It must have jump-started a significant market, because Lyman and RCBS came out with their own versions soon after.

After moving to Colorado, he had an impressive line of obsolete ammunition, very attractively packaged. Instant collector’s items. I still have one of his catalogs around here, somewhere.

[Bazoo]

Thanks for sharing, BRR. I'd like to find a catalog.

[TemplarKnight]

“Dangerous Dave, the Old Western Scrounger.”

I remember when they advertised that press; it was the beginning of the interest in shooting .50BMG out of custom oversized rifles and, later, Barretts. I think it could also load 20mm rounds. It must have jump-started a significant market, because Lyman and RCBS came out with their own versions soon after.

After moving to Colorado, he had an impressive line of obsolete ammunition, very attractively packaged. Instant collector’s items. I still have one of his catalogs around here, somewhere.

Bent Ramrod & Pressman, CCI-SPEER have a Rock Crusher in the ballistics lab in Lewiston and in fact they use it, among other things, for priming 20mm cases used in primer drop-down sensitivity testing.

[TNsailorman]

Back in the 60's there was a long rang shooting group in Arizonia (I think) that fired 20mm anti tank guns in the desert. The range targets were at 1000 and I think I remember 2000 yards. Ol Western Scrounger was one of the guys you could get 20mm ammo from at the time. I don't remember who use to advertise the 20mm Lahti's anti tank guns for sale but they were cheap by todays standards , bringing between $400.00 and $700.00 dollars, which was a small fortune back then. I lusted but that was all I could do back then. I later bought some .43 Spanish original ammo from him and I still have it. Ol man memories I guess, james

[DocSavage]

IIRC that press was able to crush full beer/soda cans according to the ad.

[Eddie Southgate]

When they reopen the “Nation’s Gun Show” I’ll look for Val and ask what details he can provide. Do you have a date (or time frame) on that price?

Froggie

I thought Val died in 2002 ?

[Noah Zark]

Val III is still alive, AFAIK, and last I knew OWS was in Martinsburg, WV with Navy Arms / Gibbs Rifle Co.

Noah

[Green Frog]

I thought Val died in 2002 ?


That was Val Forgett, Jr who passed away in 2002. He was the founder of the original Navy Arms and built up the company based largely on Italian imports of reproduction antique type arms. The N-SSA owes much of its popularity to his products. After his passing, Val III has taken the company in new directions with the acquisition of Old Western Scrounger and the Gibbs Rifle lines. He is still young (compared to us old farts) and active in the firearms trade. If you go to the Nation's Gun Show in Dulles, VA, he usually will be there with several tables of his stuff.

Froggie

[toot]

I thought that the OWS, only made / sold antique BP, ammo? not presses?

[maxreloader]

I thought that the OWS, only made / sold antique BP, ammo? not presses?

read post #7 toot

[GONRA]

That's Olde Western Scrounger's "Rock Crusher" press.
Got mine late 2001. 2 3/4 - 12 top threads.
Top is as cast - not square - watchout.....

"Serious Owners" should hava machine shoppe.
Made all kinds of stuff for mine......

[Green Frog]

That's Olde Western Scrounger's "Rock Crusher" press.
Got mine late 2001. 2 3/4 - 12 top threads.
Top is as cast - not square - watchout.....

"Serious Owners" should hava machine shoppe.
Made all kinds of stuff for mine......

With a large enough mill or lathe and a way to hold it, a couple of passes with a good cutting tool should take care of that. Of course a nice bushing to make the hole suitable to take 7/8 X 14 dies would be the next little chore… :roll: the big old Cincinnatti horizontal mill we used to have in the shop at school would make short work of truing up the top. :drinks:
If one could do this for themself it would definitely be worth the effort though. That press is a hoss!
Froggie