Welcome to an exploration of the J.P. Sauer & Sohn Western Marshal, a revolver that holds a unique place in firearms history. This article delves into the origins, variations, and legacy of this West German-made firearm, often overshadowed by more prominent names but appreciated by those who know its story.
The Era of Westerns and the Rise of Replicas
The 1940s and 1950s witnessed a surge in popularity for Western movies and stories, captivating the American audience. This led to a demand for cowboy-style firearms, especially replicas of the iconic Colt Single Action Army revolver. However, the high cost of original Colts spurred the production of more affordable copies.
During a space of three years, an engineer by the name of William R. Wilson set out to manufacture and export copies of the famed Colt 1873 Single Action Army.
One such product of this want was the J.P. Sauer & Sohn Western Marshal 22 at its centerfire relatives. Colt themselves would produce aluminum and alloy framed 22 revolvers such as the Colt Single-Action Frontier Scout which we have previously covered on Curious Relics.
After World War Two J.P. Sauer & Sohn establishes a new base of operations in Eckernförde, West Germany.
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Around 1964 Hy hunter and his company went through some odd and confusing legal battles (regarding the importation of stuff like machine guns) that are outside of my scope of concern as far as research today.
Those Hy Hunter catalogs became a great marketing force for these western revolvers but unfortunately, they were the only marketing.
The Emergence of J.P. Sauer & Sohn
By late 1958 the Great Western Arms Company goes bankrupt and ceases to manufacture. At this point (roughly around 1959) Hy Hunter comes up with a proposal to J.P. Sauer & Sohn to manufacture the same Single Action Army clones that the Great Western Company had made and that he would be the sole distributor in the United States.
By late 1960 approximately 300,000 “Western Six Shooter” revolvers, as they were marketed, were produced. These were supposedly made in varying barrel lengths and were in 22, 22 Mag, 38/357, 44 Mag, and 45 Colt.
By 1960 these revolvers had gained popularity and would be reliable clones to pick up into the mid-1960s.
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When Great Western folded in 1964, E.M.F. Hy Hunter went to Germany and got J.P. Saurer to make what was basically a copy of the Great Western revolver. Which Hy Hunter imported...By the late 1960s Hawes, Arminius, Herters, and probably other I don't know were also impoerting the J.P.
Besides Hy hunter being forced to cease importation and distribution, I am not sure what occurred in the window between then and the next paragraph timestamp.
Roughly around 1967, the Hawes Firearms Company is formed by a former employee of the Hy Hunter conglomerate and begins importing and distributing the previously mentioned revolvers but with new names such as Western Marshal, Montana Marshal, Deputy Marshal, Federal Marshal, Chief Marshal, and Silver City Marshal. Initial 1967 and 1968 revolvers did still have the name “Western Six Shooter”.
The Western Marshal was made by J.P. Saurer in West Germany in the 1960s and early 1970.
The Hawes Firearms Company would continue to import and distribute the J.P. Sauer & Sohn Western Marshal 22 (and its centerfire counterparts) all the way up until roughly 1980 when the Hawes Firearms company goes out of business because of a great many lawsuits regarding accidental discharges. I have not read of any particular fault to attribute to the cause of these accidental discharges besides these revolvers having a frame-mounted firing pin with no transfer bar system.
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These West German-made revolvers were imported into the United States and they were meant to be fairly inexpensive. As an unlucky byproduct, the inexpensive guns in world history usually get drowned out and forgotten.
That being said there is not a tome of information on these out there and what there is I take with a grain of salt. Please keep that in mind while reading forward.
Norbert Baumbach JP Sauer & Sohn 44 Magnum SIX SHOOTER
Personal Experiences and Anecdotes
Many shooters have shared their experiences with the Hawes Western Marshal, highlighting its robust construction and accuracy.
I have one Hawes Western Marshall .44 mag that I bought 42 years ago. Still looks and shoots great. Built Heck for stout! Picked up two more same caliber 10-15 years ago. My son has 2 in .45 Colt and 3 in .357 mag. All Hawes but with a few minor differences between the 8 of them. Traded one of the .44 mag cylinders for a .44-40 cylinder a ways back. Dropped in and works great. All of them have light triggers from the mfg. VERY nice guns.
Some owners have noted the gun's reliability and build quality, often comparing it favorably to other single-action revolvers of the time.
I have a bunch (5-6) of these guns. Hy Hunter in .44 mag. JP Sauer & sohn in .357 and .44 mag. An Arminus by H Weihrauch in .44 mag. An EIG in .357 all made in Germany. They are built like tanks, a little heavier than Rugers. 4 clicks just like Colts, and I don't mind the recessed cylinders, added safety. Very accurate guns and the best part is not many know about them and they sell for much less than they're worth.
One user recounted acquiring a Hawes Western Marshal .44 mag from a brother-in-law and using it in Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) events.
I have one also in .44 mag............ got it from my brother in law about a month before he passed. I started shooting CAS with it and a Uberti in .44 spl.
The Appeal of the Western Marshal
For many, the Hawes Western Marshal evokes nostalgic memories of childhood dreams inspired by Western films and catalogs.
I guess I remember all the time I spent as a kid drooling over all the Hawes sixguns in the Western Auto catalog. We must be about the same age. I too used to lust after the Hawes Marshal in the Western Auto catalogs.
Its affordability and availability made it an accessible option for those seeking a taste of the Old West.
It sure is fun blowing stuff up with a 44 Mag, ain't it?