This thread gives me not only something to do on a rainy day, but a higher appreciation of my oft-neglected 1322 (Black Betty). No powerhouse to be sure, otherwise she "hits the spot" quite nicely.
Just now fishing her out of a drawer that should be labeled 'Neglected/Taken For Granted', this is how she emerged-
Modified with a Crooked Barn grooved alloy breech, hammer-spring adjuster, stainless pivot pin, 12" barrel (1" longer than stock), and shadetree-mechanic-
monkeyed trigger, thought I should quantify the trigger weight for this post. Four breaks on my digital trigger-pull scale (on 8 pump strokes) averaged
15 ounces, crisp as breaking glass.
Which helps explain how I dropped an otherwise undeterred barn swallow at 40 yards
with one offhand shot that was building a nest under my porch awning. Its mate then landed at 5 yards farther out, wondering what happened to Hubby; whereupon that one fell to another offhand shot (at 45 yards)!
FYI, barn swallows are smaller than sparrows.
Suffice to say I used a LOT of front sight to make those offhand shots... but my squatter problem was permanently resolved in the time it took for 18 pump strokes and two shots. Pondering that now, it occurs to me in one minute those two shots are among the best shots I've made in 68 years of obsessive shooting of all manner of projectile-launching implements.
Being (for all intents and purposes) allergic to plastic, virtually all my guns have walnut stocks and grips. However the plastic furniture on this 1322 is the... and it almost HURTS to say this...
loveliest PLASTIC I've ever seen. It not only
goes well with this little gem, but keeps the heft to a scant 31 ounces; perfect for offhand pistol shooting. The long sight radius makes iron-sight shots possible that short sight radiuses can only dream about.
This thread and my response having instilled renewed appreciation for this great little pumper, thankfully my asking price of $140 has fallen on similarly unappreciative eyes and ears. That so, I felt Black Gold deserved not only a new name, but a new glamor-shot.
No, she's not for sale.
.