John Taffin’s Great Western Arms .357 Atomic Single Action Revolver C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,750.00
LSB#: LSB260521SS056
Make: Great Western Arms
Model: Single Action Army
Serial#: 15600
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1956-1958 / C&R
Caliber: .357 Atomic
Action Type: Single-Action Revolver with a Side Gate loaded 6-Chamber Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “.357 ATOMIC”. The top of the barrel is marked “GREAT WESTERN ARMS CO.”. The bottom of the frame and left side interior of the back and front strap are marked with “15600”.
Barrel Length: 5 1/2″
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a quarter-moon blade that has been cut down to a flat-top and is fixed at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch milled into the topstrap and is visible when fully cocked.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two piece smooth stag panels with brass escutcheons. There are minor handling scratches. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 55% of its metal finish. There is finish loss at the muzzle, top strap, grip straps, cylinder, and frame. The remaining finish is thinning. The frame has begun to show a plum tone. There are scattered scratches and compression dings throughout. There is a turn line on the cylinder and carbon rings on its face. The screw heads have been lightly tooled but retain strong slots. Overall, the revolver is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lock up is tight at each chamber with minor endshake. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: John Taffin Collection Certificate of Authenticity.
Our Assessment: Great Western Arms entered the single-action revolver market during the 1950s, producing American-made Single Action Army-pattern revolvers at a time when Western shooting and television culture were driving renewed interest in the classic sixgun. One of the company’s most distinctive offerings was the .357 Atomic, a proprietary high-performance loading based around the .357 Magnum concept and marketed during the 1950s as an exceptionally powerful revolver cartridge. Contemporary references describe it as using heavier powder charges than conventional .357 Magnum ammunition, and Great Western eventually abandoned the Atomic designation in favor of standard .357 Magnum markings as the market evolved. This 5 1/2″ example has additional appeal through its provenance to John Taffin, whose writing has specifically covered Great Western .357 Atomic revolvers and their unusual place in postwar sixgun history.
This Great Western retains approximately 55% of its original blue finish, with broad finish loss at the muzzle, topstrap, grip straps, cylinder, and frame, along with thinning, scattered scratches, compression marks, a cylinder turn line, and carbon rings on the cylinder face. The smooth stag grips remain in Excellent condition, while the bright 9/10 bore has sharp rifling and no visible erosion. The action functions correctly with tight lockup at each chamber and only minor endshake. The included John Taffin Collection Certificate of Authenticity provides desirable provenance connecting this unusual .357 Atomic sixgun to one of the best-known modern writers on traditional single-action revolvers. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY