Among the unicorns of handguns, perhaps only the Bren Ten surpasses the .44 Auto Mag in the world of “ Guns that should have made it.” The Auto Mag has a long and storied history, with less than 9,000 total guns produced. It could easily be described as a great idea, poorly executed, with some bad business plans tossed in the mix. It is estimated that the original Auto Mag cost the company $1,000 in losses for each gun that went out the door. The last of the original Auto Mag chambered in .44 AMP was assembled in 1982. In 2015, a new company formed the Auto Mag LTD. Corp. purchased all the rights to the bring it back to the market.
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The original Auto Mag Corporation opened and closed several times between 1973 and 1982, never achieving commercial success. Collectors loved them, and prices skyrocketed. An original MSRP of $217.50 in 1973 jumped to $4,000 on the collectors market, if you could find one. The unique look and power of the handgun made it iconic, if impossible to find in the wild.
Good news. After several years of teasing, the new Auto Mag’s began shipping this month. We caught up with Larry from Excel Arms at SHOT Show to hear the story. Larry was actually on the original Auto Mag team, going to work for the Auto Mag’s inventor, Harry Sanford, in the late 60’s. Auto Mag LTD. Corp. entered an agreement with Excel Arms to manufacture the pistol.
Impressions & Pricing
The new working version is a dream come true for many shooters, as well as Crossman. Excel Arms has been hard at work revamping the design while staying true to the roots. The Auto Mag would never survive another sputtering start, and they know it. They teamed with an ammo producer, and Corbon still sells factory ammo as well, so it can be fed. The new guns aren’t cheap, with an MSRP of $3,499. But they are cool. If you always wanted one, now is your chance.
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To learn more about Auto Mag. LTD., click here.
I have an early 44 AMP (TDE). Was purchased new by my father c.1971-1972. He sold to a friend. When friend died, his son, a friend of mine, inherited it. He sold it to me, 40 + years after my dad sold it to his dad. Love the pistol. Have fired many hundreds of rounds without a single malfunction. Load my own ammo, which has been made much simpler, since Starline Brass has made cases for it for many years. When I first got interested in the AMP, it was Lee Jurras who was the source. I was offered a couple at $396 each, when the going rate was $700 (+/- a few dollars). At the time my gross monthly pay was $400, so could not justify the cost (growing family) of it, but sure wanted it. May just have to get one of the new ones. If you have a bunch of 1911s, chances are you have a Les Baer (as I do) or Wilson or one of the other high end custom makers guns. Pretty close to the same cost, and some vastly more. The cost is all in ones perspective. When the originals were new guns, I was talking with an acquaintance who was a writer for gun mags, as well as otherwise employed, Mason Williams. He told me that he thought this would be a great handgun, if you had an occasional rhinoceros running through your yard. We laughed. But, it is so much fun to shoot. CC
hope it works better than their 17hmr & 22 magnum they both jam at least one every mag !
For those of you writing and assuming (you do know how assume is spelled, don’t you?) that the .44 Mag and the .44 AutoMag are similar cartridges, you are most definitely wrong. Don’t believe me and don’t try to find out on the internet. Get a reloading manual from the 1970s for real information. They were all a little conservative back then but the Speer Manual Number Nine from 1974 gives a load for the .44 Mag using a 200 gr hollow point and 27.2 gr of 296 powder and a magnum primer giving 1493 fps. The same manual gives a load for the .44 AutoMag using the same 200 gr hollow point and 27.5 gr of 296 powder without a magnum primer giving 1570 fps. Speer did not make a 300 gr .44 cal pistol bullet then.
Not exactly the same performance, huh?
I turned a new Springfield .45 Range Officer into a 460 Rowland for less than $1200. .44 mag power in a full sized .45 that can take .45acp and 460 Rowland ammo in the same mag. Really works for me.
The question is: Will Excel actually produce any? They intro’d a pistol in .30 carbine (X-30P and X-30R) in 2012. My e-mail from Kathy at Excel says ‘may go into production later this year’…dated 05/2014 and again Jan 2016. Never saw one for sale. Eventually picked up an Advisor instead. I’d have rather had the X-30P.
I wish you the best of luck, waiting on Excel.
Yes, they have – shipping has started on the 77 Founders’ Edition pistols and a few folks have received theirs. I’ll receive mine towards the end of that particular queue; I imagine late Feb/ early March 2018.
Really like the looks, I was just talking to a friend the other day about the Dirty Harry Auto mag. I have the Mark II which is similar in looks only, poor man auto mag look alike which I have owned since the late 80’s and was looking to purchase the Auto mag if I ever came across one.
Many of the people posting comments don’t know what they are talking about. The reasons Auto Mag went broke numerous times were many. First, they lost money on every gun they sold. Second, the guns really didn’t work right. They had a two piece bolt that should have been one piece like most other guns. The designer and the owner had a falling out before production started and the final product was not to the inventor’s liking as he left the company. That is why Lee Juras was able to make a business around reworking Auto Mags. Third, There was never a good supply of ammo available. The ammo is a rimless case based on a 308/30-06/270 platform. Some of the factory ammo was underpowered and would not cycle the guns which also caused problem. I wish the new company luck, but my experience selling Excell guns has not been good. Lots of malfunctions and terrible customer service. I quit selling their products. Six months to fix a new gun that doesn’t work and they rebuild it with all new parts, and it still didn’t work. I hope they do better with the Auto Mag, as it deserves to live, even if I can’t afford one.
Didn’t Aguilla(sp?) offer .44 AutoMag ammo at one time?
Red Flag. No mention whether or not they redesigned the gun so that it was not a jam-a-matic and that it frequently broke parts. No mention that this time they put it through a rigorous thousands of rounds of testing because they did not.. The other half a dozen or so companies were in it for the short run and never perfected it because they were in it for a short rape of the consumer or if they did try to perfect it they failed miserably.
In most American companies today Greed Monger CEO’s are paid huge salaries with millions in perks. They then lay off half the work force that was understaffed to begin with and then cut the remaining employees wages by at least half so the greed monger CEO’s can further line their pockets with cash and then dump a defective product on the market in the shortest possible time knowing full well people will wise up and quit buying it. The corrupt CEO’s then resign and laugh all the way to the bank and then get hired at another company to rape it and run it into bankruptcy.
I think this time around everyone that can afford the outrageous prices are not going to get burned yet again by trusting that this gun will work or last any longer than all the other turkey’s people got burned with by all the other companies that made this piece of trash.
Who in the hell are these greed mongers trying to kid. With today’s cnc machining along with junk modern MIM castings this gun would cost no where near that outrageous price. If that’s all the better they can do history will repeat itself because the gun is totally un-affordable to the average American who is now earning less than $30,000 a year. What planet doe these greed monger morons live on anyway.
Marxism much?
I could’ve had one of these back when the Magnum Force movies came out for about $500. But the cartridge was so obscure, I felt it would be hard to enjoy shooting it. A decision I regret I made.
It does seem like a lot for a handgun, but hopefully with time if it remains available the prices may come down for a standard non-polished more usable version. of course the first ones will go to collectors and people who have “always wanted one.” I will not be on that list as I already have a Wildey .45 Win mag, but I have to say the Automag is much more streamlined and prettier. What would really be funny is if the cartridge does become commonly made and available if Glock were to offer a chambering for $800-$1000 retail with magazines for $35. Then the cartridge will becomes very popular
I bought 5 in the fall of 1972 and early 1973, after I got out of the Army. Two were for friends and I kept 3. All are Pasadena models and if I remember correctly, were under $300 each. Still have them; one I’ve shot. The other two, unfired, are consecutive serial numbered.
Can I have a photo of you? It’s for the altar I am building….
Here is the first time I heard about the .44 Auto Mag – 1982’s “Sudden Impact” (“Dirty Harry” franchise). However I doubt they fired full rounds without ear muffs while filming. I would think the full round would leave one deaf without protection. Just sayin’. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQrJ9u-jo_E
LOL I have one on order and believe that $3,500 in todays world is a fair price. Go take a look at the price of new pick up truck.
Over the past 3 yrs I have purchased 5 originals and have never paid $3500. What a scam!!
i really hope they bought the rights to the automag II 22 magnum. i need some parts.
If you go to the website, you will quickly see they are intending it to be a speciality product with about 5 a day made. They are also going to support the old ones with parts and ammunition. It isn’t intended for cheap suckers, neither is a Ferrari, but they manage to sell everyone they make as do a lot of high end products. They have gathered what’s left of the people that have the knowledge to do it right this time and have embraced a great manufacturer with state of the art machinery. The price is pretty realistic considering and that is one mistake that the original made, they lost money on every piece. Considering the price of a Swiss Sig P210, it isn’t that bad. As far a a Desert Beagle goes, fine for a small craft anchor. I personally look forward to owning one. It will make a fine addition to my collection.
Great comment bbbs53! I agree.
I bought a new in the box excel 22 wmr about 1 1/2 years ago. I sent it back 2 times trying to get it to shoot without jamming. I took it over to the indian river and throw it off the bridge. To see there name makes me wont to throw up.
I’m not familiar with he gun you threw away. Perhaps a good gunsmith might have corrected it. Sorry about your problem.
Al you are so right.
I may consider selling my DE my 460 and a 416 rifle to buy one.
I am sure by the time we can get one here in Canada we are talking $5000
Why hasn’t Ruger, S&W, Springfield, Taurus, Kimber, Keltec or another manufacturer produced a 44 or 357 mag auto?? I would love to see a 357 in a 1911 platform.
You need to check out Coonan. They make 1911s in 357 and 45 magnum.
http://www.coonaninc.com/product/357-magnum-classic/
Coonan makes a 1911 in .357
Coonan’s are junk. Weak metal for the slide where you will round the slide catch or crack the frame. And customer service will tell you to pound sand so you will loose $1,600. Someone needs to bring back the Grizzly LAR 1911s.
WTF are you babbling about?
Where have you been? the only 1911 made in 357 is a Coonan that you can buy for around $1500.00. A much more reasonable price. They have been available for several years now. They were made in the late 1980’s but the inventor lost control of the company and they went out of business (too long of a story to tell here). Dan Coonan got the rights back and started making guns a few years ago. They now also make a 45ACP and are starting to ship 10MM guns this month (Feb 2018). Each gun is hand made and has the quality you would expect from any of the custom 1911 gun makers! They make a full size and also a compact. I have sold six of them in the last three years and all my customers love them. They always have lots of interest when they take them to the range and everyone want to shoot them. Work great and are very accurate.
They had one. It was callef the Coonan.
Called.
Scientists are taking wooly mammoth DNA and are crossing it with modern DNA from elephants in an attempt to resurrect the wooly mammoth. The Auto Mag is the wooly mammoth of the firearms world. I wouldn’t waste my money on it.
Love the article I personally have owned and still own some off the wall pistols and I love them. You can bet your sweet butt they are expensive that’s why there is a nitch market for them. The one that I have owned that I like better than the Auto Mag is the Wildey in the 45 mag with the 8 ½’ barrel. These pistols are not for everyone they are expensive but, they are a joy to shoot and a challenge to reload for. I just state my opinion I love them.
When it comes to auto-s it’s hard to see why anyone wanting protection would opt for anything other than the tried and true, and readily available and reasonably priced 1911 in .45 ACP. Been good enough for our folks in uniform for more than a century (despite a brief detour to the M9/M9A1) and good enough for our Marines today. This .44 AM gun is a “cool” thing for collectors.
Dale Wooddy… I used to carry a 1911.. until EAA/Tanfoglio came out with the Witness Elite Match 10MM. With extended basepad I have 20 rounds of full house 10MM on tap before a 14 round reload. This caliber is stopping charging grizzlies in AK and in this all steel pistol it’s a pussycat to shoot. I can’t imagine going back to the relatively puny .45 ACP for a primary pistol unless I had to
Believe me, these are not for home defense by any stretch of the imagination! Of course they could be used for it but not something to be bought for that purpose. These were designed to be big and medium game hunting pistols, big game being relative here. Back in the late 60’s and early 70’s, the standard load was a 300 grain jacketed hollow point for hunting. Lee Jurras used one of these to take a Javelina at 325 yards with one shot. Accuracy and control is supposed to be exceptional on these pistols but they have not been wide spread enough to really find out what they can really do. I have handled a few of them and shot one once and they are HEAVY but recoil was very controllable. Many of these came out with magna ported barrels and they came in kits with 4 barrel lengths and 3 calibers, .357, .41 and .44 automag, or Lee Jurras magnum, depends on who you ask about that.
I would love to own one simply because I have watched them since they were first made and they would be great to shoot for fun. But ammunition and cost of the gun is going to put it out of most of our reach.
For that kind of money I look for the original one any way you just space out with that at home
“any way you just space out with that at home” ??? What the hell does that mean?
Just because you can build something, doesn’t always mean that you should build something. This price point is going to play hell with sales. If their dream was to build a product that only sold 200 units during the fiscal year,they may have succeeded.
“The Auto Mag would never survive another sputtering start, and they know it.”……$3499.00 ????
No, they don’t “know it” at all.
I own 2 LAR Grizzly’s in 44 magnum. Combined total for TWO of those great guns? $2250 (both purchased within last 1.5 years) and I don’t have to invent brass from my 308’s.
Bring back the LAR line up!! Don’t price them like they are made from jewel encrusted hunks of rare meteor and they will sell like hotcakes.
These are not LAR grizzly’s or like any other pistol out there. They are very unique in fit and function. The grizzly may look like it to some degree but if you put them side by side, even that resemblance disappears. And don’t be fooled, the .44 automag is NOTHING like the .44 magnum round you fire out of your Smith or Dan Wesson.
It will probably be hard for them to sell many at this price, I don’t know what they plan to produce and sell, but that will go head to head with the Desert Eagle, and you can get a gold plated 50 ae for slightly over 2k usd. And the DE is tried and proven. The AM has a sketchy history to say the least.
All you whiners who can’t afford it…just turn the page and move on…instead you berate it to make your ego feel better
I agree. If, (like the aforementioned on this page) they were purportedly losing almost a $1,000 on each sold back in the beginning, the price probably reflects the cost to produce and I\’d bet the margin of profit doesn\’t trump other larger caliber SA\’s on the market as they know what would happen if they were gouging. With that said, there is always a market of those who have the money. There is a large market that can afford this as the market that can afford an 800 buck 1911. I think they\’ll see an ROI superseding that of many other so-called \”off the wall\” guns. Too much $ put into this venture to not have had a large think tank group targeting a way to push this into larger production. I believe they remember burning their hands on the stove last time enough to not do it again the same way. Additionally, the market today is so much different than before. There are so many overpriced (which some would say are not overpriced as they are selling them fast), guns of all makes and models. With all those surrounding this gun and its higher price tag, the buffer is much stronger and can be put on a wall of a shop next to many other guns priced higher than ever before.
I have to say I agree with some of the other comments on price!! Ridicules in today’s age of manufacturing. You can almost buy 3 S&W’s 500 Mags for that, collectors item right off the bat. Most will never spend that kind of money on a single handgun I don’t care who makes it of how iconic it is!
Correct – Most will never spend that much. Most of us will likely never own a Lamborgini Aventador either, but I sure like reading about them and looking at pictures. Oh and the 500 S&W is hardly collectable.
I have one of the originals that I bought back in 1985 I wonder if the new one is as finicky as the original when it comes to reloading.
Btw it is a cut down rifle cartridge with mine if you aren’t within 2 or 3 thousands on cartridge length it won’t consistently feed
However uber cool. Everybody wants to shoot it. Gun is kind of fragile. Things on it break pretty easy
I hae some original items I would sell, ammo, ammo boxes ,mag holder , reloading dies for 357 & 44 automag
If yours is a High Standard model, you are out of luck. If it is a Lee Jurras model, you may not be feeding it a good diet or something may be wrong with the pistol. The High Standard model was made out of parts that were extra from the original run. The Jurras models were all had fitted and finished, but there are few of those left and people that ahve them will not sell them for even close to this cost. The lowest I have seen in the past few years for a original Jurras was $5500.00 and it was inoperative!
Yea its a cool gun, but not $3400 cool. Its getting old seeing these neat products come out, until you scroll down and ask what market exactly are they aiming at? Guess they plan for a pile of collectors with that kind of money burning a hole in their pocket to make these viable.
Clay, you’re clearly missing the mark with this write up. A handgun for $3,500?? Really?? Are YOU serious? Who in the world would buy this? As one reader mentions, you can get a Desert Eagle in 44 mag for a fraction of the price and a DE is a ridiculous handgun. Focus on writing articles about firearms that 90% of us average Americans can relate to, not articles that might appeal to less than 1% of the population. Obviously gun writers don’t need to spend their own $$$ on guns or they wouldn’t be writing about über-priced guns..
If you don’t like title of the article, then don’t read it cupcake. I happen to love this gun. My buddy collects them. We both looked at it at SS. We both plan to order one once we sell a kidney or two. I happen to be very interested in the fringe guns. They tend to be expensive, but they also tend to hold value. Your POS StogerRuger will definitely have not gone up in value in the next ten years.
If you don’t like title of the article, then don’t read it cupcake. I happen to love this gun. My buddy collects them. We both looked at it at SS. We both plan to order one once we sell a kidney or two. I happen to be very interested in the fringe guns. They tend to be expensive, but they also tend to hold value. Your POS StogerRuger will definitely have not gone up in value in the next ten years.
I am not knocking the gun, but what is the purpose? Desert Eagle makes a 44Mag chambering if the goal is to get a semi-auto hand cannon and I could buy 3 DE44\’s for the cost of one of these. You also said that Carbon is producing 44AMP ammo so the gun can be fed – how does 44AMP differ from 44 Mag? Google and Wikipedia don\’t know the answer. Both list the 44AMP as \”a pistol chambered in 44 Magnum\” neither have a reference for a cartridge known as a 44AMP. On a side not to that issue, if this is a practically orphaned round, which must be purchased at substantial cost unless a die is wildcatted for the shooter/reloader, I simply do not understand the economic os production or desire. Feel free to give us more information and dispel the misunderstanding if there is one. Otherwise I agree with the comment above, the average Joe simply cannot and will not spend that much money on the gun and it is destined to become a safe decoration/novelty.
An orphan because the case is rimless and based on the 7.62 NATO round cut down and inside reamed.
Why? Because you can. There are plenty of firearms that are expensive and still have a huge following. If this one is outside your range why knock it just for that?
The ammo was what killed the gun. Expensive, and hard to find.
Had an original (stolen in 74), that came with all reloading dies, jigs, and tools to prepare and load (or reload) NATO brass. Never had a feed or any other problem with the gun. Don’t really have a purpose such a powerful gun now, but sure wish it hadn’t got away. All the original guns came with dies, etc. for loading as the ammo was not, for all practical purposes, available. Great shooter, and had the .357 conversion that came later as well.
The .44 AMP is a .308 case cut back below the neck to accept a .44 bullet.
One is a revolver round. The .44 AMP is originally made from .308 rifle brass.
I am not knocking the gun, but what is the purpose? Desert Eagle makes a 44Mag chambering if the goal is to get a semi-auto hand cannon and I could buy 3 DE44’s for the cost of one of these. You also said that Carbon is producing 44AMP ammo so the gun can be fed – how does 44AMP differ from 44 Mag? Google and Wikipedia don’t know the answer. Both list the 44AMP as “a pistol chambered in 44 Magnum” neither have a reference for a cartridge known as a 44AMP. On a side not to that issue, if this is a practically orphaned round, which must be purchased at substantial cost unless a die is wildcatted for the shooter/reloader, I simply do not understand the economic os production or desire. Feel free to give us more information and dispel the misunderstanding if there is one. Otherwise I agree with the comment above, the average Joe simply cannot and will not spend that much money on the gun and it is destined to become a safe decoration/novelty.
I know someone who wanted one of these in the 80’s and I talked him into a desert eagle instead. Way cheaper to buy, no cases to manufacture from .308 brass. He loves it ans still shoots it today.
I’m still waiting patiently for the .666 Automag aka “the mark of the beast”.
I would go $1500 , stay with my S&W 29 for $900
Wow! What a great way to resurrect a gun! Price it so high nobody can afford it! Sounds like collectors will love this gun as well because this company will overprice its way into extinction. I hope Colt will not do the same if they ever make a new Python.
Looks like they are going to have issues again…WHY? Because how many people are going to want to spring $3400+ for a pistol that has a clear competitor on the market that has soooo many more advantages for literally less then half of that. The Desert Eagle .44 OR .357 OR .50 AE. All easily interchangeable and from the .44 up as powerful or more powerful then the Automag. AND the DE uses .44 magnum ammo that is easier to find, a lot more reasonably priced. As much as I hated to part with my original Automag back in the 80’s, my current replacement, the Desert Eagle is way higher on the cool meter then the Automag can ever expect to be. The Desert Eagle has been in over 500 movies. So good luck folks with your endeavor, but unless you get the price down to close to the Desert Eagle…Goooooooood LUCK!
It heals my heart to see the Automag ressurected. I remember the day I got the Guns & Ammo issue that detailed this awesome beast, and fell in love instantly. Smitten and swooning as I was, I knew there was no chance I could have owned one- I was about 9 at the time and it would have taken something like 8 years of mowing lawns and doing paper deliveries to come up with such a princely sum!
I wish Larry and Excel Arms the best of fortunes!
But Why?? After owning a 44 Mag Revolver, it is obvious that an auto at $3,500 is ridiculous in comparison to a $700 revolver in this caliber. Rapid fire? Only if you want to hit the moon. There is no reliability advantage to the Auto either.
Hey, to be fair Clint Eastwood used one in “Sudden Impact”. Cool factor established. I can envision a small client base made up of wealthy oldsters who were “Miami Vice” fans and wealthy youngsters who play video games. Not my cup of tea, but I applaud the effort and hope they sell all they can make.
Who cares why? If they want to try it who are we to bitch and moan and complain about it? It’s their money, their company, their product. If you don’t like it don’t buy it.
I can’t tell you how excited I’d be if they brought back the 10mm Magnum!
Nice. Maybe Galco will come out with a nice IWB holster for concealed carry. Everyone will want one. Who wants some femmy .380 auto?
Come on guys..we are mostly middle class working Americans and u run a article on the .44 Auto priced at a rediculous price. I have S&W 629-7 love it never would spend more than that $1300 for any pistol. Have a Good day guys…
It’s an article for crying out loud . . . if it hurts so much then just don’t read it! Nice job GA
Price gouging much? With modern day cnc machining they should be able to work a much better price than that. It could be a great gun for most of us if it were $1800.
“Gouging”? No one is being forced to buy one (as far as I know).
Rick, your missing the point Rollin made! He is correct, with today’s manufacturing and cnc etc…. there is no way that pistol would warrant such a high price tag. I wish them luck in their endeavor but looks like they are off to a dead end start again and probably only collectors will buy one in the first place with today’s market and variety of handguns!
Clearly, you don’t understand ‘start up’ costs nor overhead. Typical, you think just the time on a CNC machine is what makes the product and it’s price.
And then there’s the liability insurance in our Litigious society full of Lawyers.
This is why only 1 in 5 small businesses make it, average Americans don’t know diddly about business.
Average American may not know diddly Al but manufactures should know if they don’t absorb much of the initial cost and lower the price so the average gun owner might buy one. They are dead in the water to start with. More sales means the cost absorption is paid for faster and more profits to follow, with more sales for a longer period of time!
Possibly, but my main comment was regarding the price put down by Rollin.
None of us can say what the price should be EVEN if that price is a lowball one, because we don’t know the particulars of start up, manufacturing license and taxes, local taxes, local workforce, liability insurance (A HUGE consideration), cost of distribution and a myriad of other monetary considerations.
BTW, did anyone note the initial part of the article on the estimated loss the original company took per gun out the door????
And frankly, your comment on ‘absorbing’ the costs indicates you aren’t all that familiar with how business works either, or you would know that that’s NOT at all how it works, not if the company wants to stay in business.
It’s entirely possible the owners know precisely what they are doing, and are targeting the high end market, NOT Joe Blow redneck or his shootin’ buddies.
If anyone is offended by that, too damn bad, because I just described myself.
I’m sure the folks at Holland & Holland aren’t concerned with those (we) guys.
Notice to all the gripers, maybe you should do your homework before you comment. The New Automag LTD company has it going on. Mr. Henrey has covered all bases over the last 3 years by contracting SBC ammo to make factory ammo for this piece, along with Starline making brass, ammo is currently 1 dollar a shot, not bad at all. Hornady makes dies and bullets, add a LPM primer and you have it. I have already purchased everything , just waiting on the gun to be made. Just like the original, in 25 years it will be worth more than that new truck that you gave to the boneyard several years prior. Kodos to MR Henry and Mr. Grossman and their team.
I was in the Firearms Business 36 yrs. and was fortunate to accumulate over 650 guns for my personal collection, from customers who “just walked in the door”. Most of these Mint Condition Guns are Rare and Highly Collectable in today’s market. I was never a fan of the Automag offerings, but added (7) of them to my collection (I bought them cheap) because I had heard they were not reliable nor easy to load for, and was reluctant to put them out for resale and guarantee them as fully functional. My in-house Gunsmith thoroughly inspected, cleaned, and test-fired each one in our indoor Shooting Range after perfecting a reliable load from new .308 Brass. He found not faults with any of them, but I still had that little gremlin whispering in my ear to refrain from retailing them to the Public. I have beat Lymphoma Cancer twice, but it has left me unable to shoot my favorite guns at the Range, so my Son will inherit my Collection when the time comes.
Someone mentioned the Colt Python. Now, there is a gun worthy of the prices they command at Gun Shows, Internet, Private Party, etc. Several years ago I lost a good friend (also a Collector) and purchased all (8) of his New / Unfired , Boxes & Papers, Pythons of All Barrel lengths and Finishes from his Estate. They were pricey, but I just had to have them. I carried a Blue 6” model in the early ‘70’s as a Reserve Deputy and shot PPC with it for many years. It is still my favorite Revolver, especially after Bob Chow worked his magic and it, and several of my favorite Colt 1911’s. Bob was the Best at his Craft.
IF Colt were to resurrect the Python while I’m still alive, I would be anxiously be waiting in line to purchase one, or ten, Ha !
Didn’t Aguilla(sp?) offer .44 AutoMag ammo at one time?