Just for fun

[Thumbcocker]

In the humor and off topic section I posted a link to a video showing film shot in 1935 if a 21 day canoe trip. It was pretty well received and I got to thinking, always dangerous, about what sidearm the boys might have taken on their adventure. I decided to start a thread about it. So here goes.

The year is 1935. You are going to spend 21 days on a wilderness canoe trip. You will be paddling and portaging everything you take. What handgun, only those available in 1935, do you take?

My answer: Colt Woodsman target with the 5 or 5 1/2" barrel (whichever was offered) and a 500 round brick of high speed hollow points. 2 spare magazines.

Reasons: Light weight for the time. Accurate. Not too loud. Some gun is better than no gun. Enough ammo to do lots of plinking.

What is your choice and why?

[Bmi48219]

Not to make a point of my ignorance but did anyone market a ‘high speed 22 LR hollow point’ in 1935 ?
I ask because I don’t remember seeing high speed LR when I started buying 22 ammo in 1961.

[Winger Ed.]

I'd be more of a Win. Model 12 or Browning Auto 5 shotgun guy.
I wouldn't be doing random plinking.

If I only had room for a sidearm:
If something needed shooting, I'd want to hit it pretty hard. So that would make me 'need' a .38Spec. or a 1911.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Maybe a 6" Colt Army Special in .32-20 if I could find one..... or an S&W. Would really prefer adjustable sights.

I wonder, did they offer .22s in 500 rd. bricks back in the 1930s? Wasn't there..... Seems like when I was a kid, in the 1950s, I only saw and purchased 22s in 50 rd. boxes.

DG

[tobywan45]

If I only had room for a sidearm it would be in a .45 the dilemma being a 1906 or in a single action .

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[rintinglen]

I'd have likely chosen a 22 revolver, maybe a big name, target model if I could afford it, or maybe an H&R or Iver Johnson. Though I could easily see a Woodsman, but they were pretty dear in the mid-30's for a depression era income.

[pworley1]

1911

[Loudenboomer]

Didn't see the original vid. So not sure where we're canoeing. Seen plenty of Brownies on the river banks in Alaska. Certain parts of the Rockey's in the lower 48 are not much better. If allowed two guns Slugs in a Model 97 or 12 Winchester and the 22 pistol would be best. If only allowed a pistol a .44 spl.
with heavy loads or one of the new fangled .357 magnums would be more my style.

[wilecoyote]

...canoe trip ?...1935 ? BAR 1918

[Mk42gunner]

Auto loader: Either the long barreled Colt Woodsman or the 6 3/4" High Standard Model B.

Revovler: S&W .22/.32 6" target Model (Beakart?) Precursor of the Kitgun, or any other good target sighted revolver.

Since canoes can be a bit tippy, I would want a good cleaning kit even if I bought the new fangled non corrosive primed ammo.

Robert

[Texas by God]

I would carry a Colt 1911 in .45 in a shoulder holster.


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[Txcowboy52]

Colt .45 SAA on my hip , with a box of ammo.

[littlejack]

1911 45acp or saa 45 Colt.

[35 Whelen]

A 4 3/4" Colt SAA in .44 Special with two handloads- A 246 gr. cast RN running around 750 fps for small game and a cast 250 gr. SWC running 1000 fps for hunting larger game and for defense.

35W

[gunther]

RinTinGlen: How did the plastic grips on your second model match target survive in such good shape for so long? Beautiful! Had a set curl away from the frame. Sigh.

[Thumbcocker]

Hemmingway wrote about "high speed greased hollow points" in several of his stories. In "The Last Good Country" Nick Adam's had a "carton" of .22 ammo for his rifle so I think 500 round bricks were around for a long time. Not everyone could afford to buy that much at once though. It was not uncommon for stores to sell shotgun shells or centerfire ammo individually to folks with limited cash.

[Thumbcocker]

Maybe a 6" Colt Army Special in .32-20 if I could find one..... or an S&W. Would really prefer adjustable sights.

I wonder, did they offer .22s in 500 rd. bricks back in the 1930s? Wasn't there..... Seems like when I was a kid, in the 1950s, I only saw and purchased 22s in 50 rd. boxes.

DG

My Dad, born in 1939, talked about being flush enough after baleing hay, to afford a 500 round "carton" of .22 ammo.

[rintinglen]

RinTinGlen: How did the plastic grips on your second model match target survive in such good shape for so long? Beautiful! Had a set curl away from the frame. Sigh.

I suspect it had to do with the storage of the gun, I bought it 4th hand, and though it has been heavily used, it was not abused, and was stored in a basement. The story I got was that the original owner had been a target shooter back in the 50's and had left it to his wife who later gave it to her nephew, a Fountain Valley police officer. He sold it to me about 13 years ago.

[bedbugbilly]

Some how, I can see one of them bring along a Luger that their father brought home from World War I.

My Dad - born 1908 - often talked about hunting with a group go guys in the 1920s and one of them was a WWI Vet who had a Luger that he had brought back. Dad always said how good he was with it and if he caught a bunny sitting, it was supper that night.

[Larry Gibson]

"Wilderness".......where?

[littlejack]

^^^^^ What Larry ask.

[Thumbcocker]

"Wilderness".......where?

Minnesota and Canada

[jimb16]

Definitely the SAA .45 Colt. if a handgun, otherwise a good winchester pump 12 gauge with both shot and slug loads. Never know when you might run into a big bear!

[imashooter2]

In the 60s I recall "bricks" being 1,000 rounds.

[FergusonTO35]

If limited to one handgun and no long gun, 6" .38 Special with heavy hardcast slugs driven to respectable velocity. I'm not going to pretend I can shoot true big bore wheelguns.

[Frank V]

Well, I’d take a 4” N frame .44 special with loads very similar to those Mr. Keith worked up.

[Bill*B]

Well, since it's "just for fun". My Shop Keeper .45 Colt SAA, in a belt holster with 5 in the revolver, and another 5 packed with my gear.

[MT Gianni]

Running the Yukon to Whitehorse, I would take a 1917 S&W in 45 AR and a 18" double bbl 12 gauge. 100 rds of 45 Auto Rim 250 gr bullets and 50 rds #4 shot, 15 rounds 00 buck, 15 rds slugs. Main meals would be fish with ducks and geese a second source. Handgun is for grouse, snowshoe rabbits and surprising a bear. No reason to shoot anything with 4 legs unless I am threatened. Sack of beans, sack of flour and spices. Plenty of pike and what have you in the river.

Boundery waters, or Lake of the Woods gets the same thing.

[Rodfac]

Running the Yukon to Whitehorse, I would take a 1917 S&W in 45 AR and a 18" double bbl 12 gauge. 100 rds of 45 Auto Rim 250 gr bullets and 50 rds #4 shot, 15 rounds 00 buck, 15 rds slugs. Main meals would be fish with ducks and geese a second source. Handgun is for grouse, snowshoe rabbits and surprising a bear. No reason to shoot anything with 4 legs unless I am threatened. Sack of beans, sack of flour and spices. Plenty of pike and what have you in the river.....Boundary Waters, or Lake of the Woods gets the same thing.

Pretty good advice from MtGianni that I'll 2nd. But I could be talked into a .44 Spl. Smith or Colt with some of those new fangled Keith SWC's. Rod

[dverna]

In the humor and off topic section I posted a link to a video showing film shot in 1935 if a 21 day canoe trip. It was pretty well received and I got to thinking, always dangerous, about what sidearm the boys might have taken on their adventure. I decided to start a thread about it. So here goes.

The year is 1935. You are going to spend 21 days on a wilderness canoe trip. You will be paddling and portaging everything you take. What handgun, only those available in 1935, do you take?

My answer: Colt Woodsman target with the 5 or 5 1/2" barrel (whichever was offered) and a 500 round brick of high speed hollow points. 2 spare magazines.

Reasons: Light weight for the time. Accurate. Not too loud. Some gun is better than no gun. Enough ammo to do lots of plinking.

What is your choice and why?

I am an old guy and would see little or no fun in that trip. Portaging, bugs, swamps, more bugs, sleeping on the ground, more bugs. Foraging is fun if you are good at it. Not so much fun if pickings are slim. Fishing seems like the better choice.

Probably stay home and listen to what those Nazi’s are up to. Might go and play with that newfangled .357 Mag folks are talking about.

[fivegunner]

Darn, Don you sound just like me,I`m 69 and hate the bugs, sleeping on the ground . But when I was young man I did alot of stuff that I can`t do or would not like to do now. I like dreaming about it though. Good post .

[dverna]

Darn, Don you sound just like me,I`m 69 and hate the bugs, sleeping on the ground . But when I was young man I did alot of stuff that I can`t do or would not like to do now. I like dreaming about it though. Good post .

Yep hate bugs.

Caught the Chinese Bug this week. Lost 7 lbs and short of breath. Paxlovid seems to be helping but dealing with constant the metallic taste in my mouth. Did I mention I hate bugs?

[Green Frog]

OK, it’s Saturday afternoon and I’m in my recliner at home, so I’ll go into Walter Mitty mode and daydream along. A classic gun that I believe would have been available in 1935 was the over and under combo gun, with a 22 LR upper barrel and a 20 ga lower barrel. I wouldn’t be doing a lot of plinking and space in my Old Town cedar and canvas canoe is tight, so I’d carry a couple of boxes of 20 ga shells and a couple of hundred rounds of 22 LR in my floating, waterproof duffle bag as well as a “wallet” in my pocket with a few rounds of each. At least one good folding knife and a good moderate sized hunting knife on my person and perhaps spare of each in that duffle would also be necessary. I’d have to have two fishing rods, a short casting rod and a medium fly rod with a tackle box of necessities and a grille and cookware to use over an open fire… a minimum of a cast iron skillet and enamel pan and coffee pot. With minimal clothes, sleeping gear and tent/poncho, that Old Town is filling up fast. Add a spare paddle, a kapok float and some staples packed in a waterproof sack and I’m glad it’s just me in my canoe!
Froggie
PS If I felt the need for a sidearm I’d add a High Standard Model B in a hip holster and another box or two of 22s and a spare mag to the duffle bag. This is a pleasure trip so if I encounter bear or moose, I’ll leave them alone if possible.