A.F.F. 1860 Richards from the John Taffin collection

[Graveyard Jack]

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it's an honor and a privilege to own this fine sixgun that once belonged to my favorite gunwriter. On the other, it still makes me incredibly sad that he is now gone. Kinda makes one feel like a buzzard picking over someone's bones. Either way, I bid on two Great Westerns and lost but I got this 1860. It's a Richards Type I .44Colt that has a dovetailed Remington style front sight and appears to be stocked in TruIvory. Which is nice because most of these guns tend to shoot high. He must have liked it to have it fitted with a new front sight. I believe it is the gun in the articles linked below.

Dave Anderson started American Frontier Firearms in the late 90's and was the first to do cartridge conversion replicas on a production basis. He worked with ASM to produce the raw parts but fitted and finished them in the US. They're highly regarded sixguns but it appears that Dave fell victim to the unscrupulous business practices of the much-maligned Armi San Marco.

https://americanhandgunner.com/handguns/the-sixguns-of-american-frontier-firearms/

https://gunsmagazine.com/our-experts/the-first-big-bore-sixguns-part-4/

https://gunsmagazine.com/ammo/black-powder-and-the-44-colt/

[Abilene]

Excellent.  As far as picking over the bones, somebody has to own it, and better to be someone who appreciates its past.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I agree with Abeline. You get to be the new owner. Enjoy it for what it represents as well as what it is.

[Coffinmaker]

  Hey there Jack

I am in complete agreement with Marshal Wingam and Abilene.

As an additional, for the demise of American Frontier firearms, there was not only difficulties in dealing with ASM, but also some "domestic" difficulties that finally brought AFF down.

As a poster kid for conversions, I was extremely lustful for a brace of AFF conversions.  Unfortunately, before I could assemble sufficient dinero in the sock drawer, misfortune befell AFF.  I was extremely disappointed, to say the least.  Oh well.

[Abilene]

Is it just the lighting, or is the front triggerguard screw loose? 

[Coffinmaker]

Well, I ain't Graveyard Jack, didn't stay in Holliday Inn Express (that I admit to) nor do I have the Sample Example "In Hand" butt to me it appears to be the Lighting.  I would hesitate to suggest Graveyard Jack had a screw loose 

[Graveyard Jack]

You guys are right of course, it still kinda feels that way though.

It is the lighting. The silver triggerguard has tarnished a bit.

However, I definitely have a screw or two loose elsewhere.