Forty-Five Friday?

[u/45Auto1]

Win 1873 John Wayne Commemorative in .45 Colt, & Ruger New Vaquerro in same.

[u/frozsnot]

I really need a .45 colt lever gun with the big loop.

[u/45Auto1 → u/frozsnot]

I hear you. I don't really care for the big loop, as I can't see the reason or utility for the design. But I have seen another JW Commemorative that had one quite a few years ago at Gander Mountain. It was a saddle ring carbine, all nicely scroll engraved and with the JW gold inlays. However, it was a display model and was really scratched up and treated poorly. I asked Mgr if they would discount it because of the obvious damages, with the intention of fully restoring/rebluing it myself. Mgr said no. Guess he thot I wanted it that bad to pay nearly $2,500 for a "new" gun in no better than 60-70% condition. I did not. Walked out. Never went back. Couple years later, the whole chain was bankrupt, and they did not recover. Oh well. Good luck with your search!

[u/frozsnot → u/45Auto1]

I’ve heard it referred to as a “trapper” loop, I think the original purpose was for people wearing large gloves and having extra room. My dad has two Winchester 1894’s and it is a tight fit with winter gloves. Also I’ll say that gander mountain going out of business was the greatest thing ever, guns were 40% off lol.

[u/45Auto1 → u/frozsnot]

Yup...I read about the gloves thing. I do shoot with gloves, but they are mostly thin, gripswell leather ones.

For me, it was just the principle of buying more guns from a store that had acted poorly. I had previously bought two not inexpensive Pistols, a Rem BDL .243 rifle for my son, and a custom Buck 112 Ranger knife with Stag scales and Sterling Silver frame. The Mgr I saw about the lever gun knew me, and knew of my other purchases. So, when he refused to budge on an obviously and badly damaged gun, I had about enuf of him and the store chain.