Great Western Arms SAA

[Grendl]

This old girl caught my eye at the LGS and I had to bring her home once I learned she was made in Los Angeles. Problem is, it looks like someone dry fired her a lot over the last 63 years. Dents on the cylinder and mushroomed firing pin. When I first brought her home she missed about one round a loading. After using the ChamberMade by Tandemkross, she's much more reliable. Now I'm waiting for a new firing pin.

Question is this: Does anyone know if I need a special spanner wrench or tool to remove the firing pin bushing or can I simply use an appropriately sized screwdriver.

Thanks for reading!

[golfish]

Very nice find

Is it a full size frame? It looks like it.

[Grendl]

Thanks, yes, she's full sized. Here's the other side.

[AR22]

Someone was probably playing John Wayne Cowboy with it alot. I have read they are a pretty well made Revolver. If I remember right. They made centerfires too.

Maybe post a pic of the firing pin retaining area. Hate to tell you anything without seeing it.

Looks like a fun Revolver.

[Grendl]

Here ya go! I made a tool and removed it. But I cannot get the firing pin out of the retaining sleeve since it's so deformed. In the bottom picture you can see just how mushroomed the firing pin is. Also, looks like someone modified it with a dremel or similar to get it to clear the cylinder.

[AR22]

I am sorry. I was confused what the Great Western was. Had it mixed up with another maker. That is likely a German made Hawes import or similar rebranded with Great Westerns name. . Great Western was probably the importer is all. Do you have a Lathe? Or someone who does? From the looks of that. You may have to just make some parts. May or may not be feasible to smith the work out, depending what you paid. You may be able to just find a whole firing pin assembly. But the steel used is probably pretty soft in the original. Hence the problems you are encountering. New stuff could be made is tool stool or even airhard steel..Short of that, I wish you good luck and hope you get it fixed..

[Grendl]

No, she was made in Los Angeles by Great Western Arms Co. Here's a link to forum dedicated to these, the first SAA clones on the market. https://gwcollector.proboards.com/

The cheap German clones killed Great Western, but they thrived for a while in part due to Hollywood prop houses who provided them for many motion pictures and television programs of the era.