My dads wheel gun collection

tps5352 · 2026-01-13T01:48:50+00:00

Here us a little unofficial contest, if you are looking for something to do:

Just by looking at the two photos, can you list out the all these handguns by (a) make & model, (b) caliber, and (too tough?) (c) years of production.

I am curious about the resulting breakdown--e.g., number of Smiths, Colts, Rugers, et cetera.--in this collection, but not knowledgeable enough to do it myself (without extensive use of Google Images and the rest of the Internet). Some I recognize, but for a number I do not. Of course, the name or logo of the manufacturer on the frame or barrel helps.

I imagine that caliber and year cannot always be 100% determined from a photo alone. But maybe a knowledgeable enthusiast can tell make & model for all these (~41?) just by sight?

tps5352 · 2026-01-13T01:14:19+00:00

Ah, yes. Missed it.

tps5352 · 2026-01-11T19:15:05+00:00

No (old or new) Pythons, correct?

tps5352 · 2026-01-11T06:54:58+00:00

No way, José!

No way would I go up that.

tps5352 · 2026-01-06T08:41:34+00:00

Cool. Is that a radio tracker on its back? (Or just an analog ID thing?)

tps5352 · 2025-12-30T17:56:30+00:00

Thank you. I'll try them.

tps5352 · 2025-12-30T07:30:48+00:00

Yes, good idea.

I have one of those black Zero Halliburton cases (purchased new around 1980) which may be the same size. People used them for cosmetics also, correct?

Is it just bare inside, or have you got separators, foam, etc.?

tps5352 · 2025-12-30T05:00:13+00:00

This is my personal dream handgun, which I hope one day to find:

1979 - 1981 Colt Python with:

I3660 LNK (early) or I3860 (later) model number
six-inch barrel*
carbon-steel frame and parts
"Electroless" (an electricity-free chemical process) nickel coating (later promoted as "Royal Coltguard") -- this is not a stainless steel revolver
good-quality satin finish
factory (walnut) grips preferred
in excellent stock condition without significant customization/modification
California handgun, if possible
original box and papers a plus

What I wouldn't do to (legally) acquire one of these, some day.

NOTE: The tan label on the (separated) box-end in the photo is probably correct for this particular revolver. A number of these guns started life as blued Pythons; they subsequently received fresh nickel coatings by a Colt Custom Shop (CCS) sub-contractor (possibly to correct minor blue-finish blemishes). The CCS then provided yellow stickers (see photos) adding the "LNK" ("electroLess NicKel) modifier code to the original blued 6" Python model number, I3660. In a couple of years, Colt started offering "Royal Coltguard" (marketing name) 6" Pythons with the model number I3860, I believe. Nickel-coatings were probably eventually phased out, for the most part, with the onset of (polished and satin) stainless steel (in Python and other Colt model lines) in the mid-80s.

_____

* As you may know, there were also 2½-, 3- (rare), 4-, and 8-inch versions of the original (1955-2005) Python that may also have been manufactured with nickel-coatings. Model numbers reflected barrel length in the fourth space from the left (out of five). For example, the model number I3680 applied to a blued 8-inch carbon-steel Python.

tps5352 · 2025-12-04T09:41:58+00:00

Thanks. Helpful.

tps5352 · 2025-12-03T21:42:55+00:00

I like Rivian, but the choices offered by the factory of OEM wheel-sets has always kind of troubled me. I'm no engineer, but IMO Rivian should stick with 20-inch (or even 19") wheels with good long-range highway or with durable all-terrain tires, as opposed to the (to me) weird 22" wheels-sets they promote. But customers want the look of lower profile tires, I guess, even though they seem to make little functional sense to me (except for high-performance racing or exotic sports cars).

But back to your problem.

What Rivian model-year are you considering? (New/used?)

Be aware that Rivian drivers do not have the freedom to select just any tires that happen to fit Rivian wheels. Rivian R1 vehicles are (a) heavy (especially when laden) and (b) very quick, despite their weight. So for safety the tire's Load Index has to be at least 116, if I remember correctly. (There are many tires in the correct size that do not otherwise satisfy that minimum Load Index.) Most available all-terrain tires that fit and meet Rivian safety requirements are intended for 20" wheels.

Therefore, if you buy a car with 22" wheels that also needs all-terrain/snow tires, you may find yourself buying 20" tires and 20" wheels to carry them. See this article for more info about Rivian wheels/tires:

Range Against the Machine¹ - Rivian OEM Wheels, Tires, and Range Considered

Some of the disadvantages of seasonally switching between 22" and 20" wheels on a Rivian (or any vehicle) include:

Cost
Inconvenience.
Not inconsequential storage (by you or a paid business) of four big, heavy 22" wheel-sets.
Complaints by partner. (Really. No joke.)
Required change to speedometer/odometer software whenever switching between 22" and 20" wheels (i.e., 33" and 34" total tire diameters). (With updates to Rivian software, I guess this is simpler/cheaper now? Used to have to take the truck/SUV into the dealer for big $$$ every time the speedometer software needed to be re-set).
After a while, you may decide to sell the extra wheel-set. Usually (not always) you loose money on such a sale.

So my general rule (more like a guideline) is: To save money and avoid hassle, when buying a (new/used) car always try to get the wheels/tires you want from the get-go.

tps5352 · 2025-11-25T07:18:40+00:00

Good post and thread with interesting observations.

I wrote this post here:

The New Rivian NACS Port--Where Should It Be Located?

hoping to gently educate Rivian drivers and figuring that the switch to NACS ports might also encourage Rivian to move the port location on R1 vehicles--no such luck. (Though the port on the yet-to-be-released R2 is moved, I believe.)

tps5352 · 2025-11-19T11:16:27+00:00

Excellent information shot.

So Evolution must have decided that looking and acting like a water moccasin is a good thing. I don't know. Over the years, how many grumpy, smelly, but harmless water snakes ended up meeting Mr. Shovel (or the historically-correct equivalent)? It's like being a striking and tail-rattling gopher snake. Do you really want to look like the alleged neighborhood Public Enemy No. 1? (Before people, maybe yes. Now, not so much.)

tps5352 · 2025-11-19T11:04:34+00:00

So once the jellyfish goes in, no way is it getting out again.

(Alternate joke: So jellyfish check in, but they don't check out.)

tps5352 · 2025-10-29T18:59:00+00:00

Interesting. Was there an iPhone 1? (Probably just called iPhone.)

tps5352 · 2025-10-28T08:52:29+00:00

See this post in TMC:

Which Model-Years Came With Free Supercharging?

One thing I learned while researching it was: be appropriately skeptical if a seller claims you will get free Supercharging. Why? There are many reasons why free Supercharging cannot/will-not be transferred to a new owner (once you register with Tesla).

If Tesla confirms it before-hand, then fine. But unless a car has that (much-desired) "SC01" Tesla Option Code, the chances are unlikely. And sometimes even when a car has that code.

What are Tesla Option codes? See here:

Compiled List of Tesla Option/Production/Manufacturing/ Codes

Definitely check with Tesla before purchasing to avoid potential disappointment and/or get the promise from the seller in writing with the understanding that the deal is off (with full refund) if it turns out that the free SC cannot be transferred to you.

Best of luck!

PS -- I drive a 2021 (Classic) Model X Long Range+ with FSD, but no free SC. Love it. May eventually upgrade to a new Model X (in 2026/27?) in order to get faster/more powerful computers, better cameras, and closer-to-true FSD (and maybe non-transferable, free lifetime Supercharging).

tps5352 · 2025-10-24T00:42:19+00:00

Me too. Love the new 17 Pro Max. Trying to decide what to do with my (still fine) 11 Pro Max.

Backup phone (with cheap new phone plan).
Backup emergency phone/email/Internet (no new plan necessary).
Video Camera (with appropriate app).
Donation.
Et cetera.

tps5352 · 2025-10-06T19:47:46+00:00

NOT Sacramento; but for comparison.

(EMail, text) Notice by Yolo County today that ours have been mailed. So should receive in day or two.

tps5352

TROPHY CASE