Rossi Rifleman

I might at some point.......but right now I can't remember what turned me toward these great guns.

I already had a Ruger BH 45 Colt/45ACP convertible and had a yen for a rifle to go with it. We were at the Indy 1500 one June and I was looking for a lever gun in 45 Colt. Found a guy with 2 tables of lever guns new and used. Asked what he had in 45 Colt, nothing used but he had 2 Henrys and tow Rossis. The second Rossi he brought out was a 20" octagonal with the case hardening finish and nice appearing wood. I knew nothing about Rossi or their reputation but the gun looked good felt reasonably smooth and was affordable, it came home with me.

Make smoke,

I came to Rossi not because of the 92, but the Rio Grande 45-70 Govt. I liked the idea of the cartridge in a 336 frame vs. the 1895. I loved the rifle and bought them all.

I own a Raging Judge Magnum (which took about 9 months to find!), a little hand cannon that can shoot 454 rounds. I purchased to use deer hunting in Ohio. When Ohio changed the rules and allowed straight wall cartridge rifles, my new hunt was on to find a 454 rifle to pair with the pistol.

I told my wife that I was going to start looking for one, and she fixated on the "looking" part of the statement. I looked for months for the 92-454, of which the Rossi was the only choice unless I won the lottery to be able to afford the Big Horn Armory piece of jewelry. It got to the point when I would go into either big chain stores or smaller local guys that the sales people would almost laugh at me.

After about 9 months, and 3 weeks before deer season, I asked a buddy to go into a little store in the Akron, Ohio area and low and behold (cue the angelic music) there it was sitting on their shelf, on clearance no less for $450... Actually turns out that they had 2... the display and one in a box. I hesitated about 10 seconds and told my buddy to purchase the one in the box. I was lucky, as it was/is perfect.

Then the fun part, I told my wife I found and purchased and that the deal was too good to even hesitate on. She promptly, in an elevated (and fairly aggravated) voice, went on to explain to me the difference between looking and buying... Then God smiled on me... My son's father-in-law went in and purchased the other one. Suddenly, if it was good enough for Bill to have one, then it was OK for me...

Funny how that works!

I was always handgun guy (my moniker says it best), then in LGS I spotted a Model 92 in .357. There was something elegant, even nostalgic about the design. I bought it on the spot.

If things work out this week I might be looking for a .45C (blue older model preferred) next month.

I own a Marlin Guide Gun 45-70 for when I go up to Alaska and Canada, but I wanted something lighter for camp that still packed a punch. And would be weather resistant (stainless steel). So I thought a little Rossi lever action 44 Mag would fit the bill. I found one with a 16" barrel in SS, so I bought it. I had Steve's Gunz do a bit of work on it (to include a big loop to match my Marlin's) and I've been pleased with it.

The cowboy tv show era predates me. Firefly, on the other hand,