Wildey Survivor Model .45 Winchester Magnum 10 Inch Semi Automatic Pistol, 1990s
Archival record: Specifications and condition reflect the firearm as listed at the time of auction.
Final Auction Price: $2,690.75
The Wildey Survivor is one of the most distinctive large bore semi automatic pistols of the late 20th century. Chambered in the formidable .45 Winchester Magnum, the Survivor combines an adjustable gas operated action, DA/SA trigger system, polished stainless steel construction, and an imposing 10 inch barrel. This 1990s example remains in Fine to Excellent condition and represents a fascinating chapter in the development of powerful hunting and sporting handguns.
Identification
MMA#: 260522RN003
Make: Wildey
Model: Survivor
Serial Number: 1875
Year of Manufacture: 1990 to 1999
Caliber: .45 Winchester Magnum
Action Type: Gas Operated DA/SA Semi Automatic Pistol Fed by Detachable Magazine with Magazine Disconnect Safety
Barrel Length: 10 Inches with Full Length Ventilated Rib
Sights / Optics
The front sight is a ramped blade positioned on a raised section of the full length ventilated rib. The rib is secured to the pistol at the barrel and receiver.
The rear sight uses a flat top, square notched black leaf and is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Its base is mounted to the top of the receiver and secured by a pin and screw.
Together with the long 10 inch barrel, the sight arrangement provides the extended sight radius expected of a pistol designed for deliberate long range handgun shooting.
Stock / Grip Configuration & Condition
The pistol is fitted with smooth wood grip panels. There are only a few scattered light handling marks with no significant defects noted.
Overall grip condition: Excellent.
Finish & Overall Condition
Type of Finish: Polished Stainless Steel with Matte Gray Alloy Ventilated Barrel Rib
Finish Originality: Original
This handgun retains approximately 98 percent of its metal finish. There are visible light draglines, handling marks, and a few minor scuffs. Light marks are also present on the frame behind the hammer from normal operation.
The screw heads remain sharp and the markings are crisp.
Overall condition: Fine to Excellent.
Bore & Mechanics
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with strong rifling and no erosion. In the original evaluator’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The Wildey uses a gas operated action with an adjustable gas system, along with a magazine disconnect safety and decocking safety.
The design was also engineered to accept interchangeable barrel assemblies, though no additional barrels are included with this example.
The pistol was not test fired. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be desired before use.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories
Included are:
Factory box
One 7 round magazine
Factory manual
Our Assessment
The Wildey Survivor occupies a fascinating niche in American handgun history. Rather than simply scaling up a conventional locked breech semi automatic pistol for increasingly powerful cartridges, Wildey J. Moore developed a gas operated system capable of handling magnum handgun ammunition while giving the shooter considerable control over how the pistol operated.
Central to the design is its adjustable gas system. Gas is tapped from the barrel to operate an annular piston surrounding it, while a knurled adjustment collar allows the system to be tuned for different ammunition. This unusual arrangement became one of the defining characteristics of the Wildey and helped distinguish it from other large frame magnum semi automatic pistols.
This example is chambered in .45 Winchester Magnum, a cartridge particularly well suited to the Wildey’s oversized architecture and original sporting purpose. Combined with its substantial stainless steel construction and 10 inch barrel, the result is an unmistakable handgun designed around power, accuracy, and long range handgun shooting rather than compactness.
The Survivor’s appearance is equally distinctive. Its polished stainless steel surfaces, massive receiver, exposed barrel assembly, full length ventilated rib, adjustable sights, and long barrel give it a profile unlike almost any conventional semi automatic pistol.
The Wildey also earned a permanent place in popular culture through its prominent appearance alongside Charles Bronson in the 1985 film Death Wish 3. The association introduced the already unusual pistol to a much wider audience and helped make the Wildey recognizable well beyond the relatively small world of magnum semi automatic handgun enthusiasts.
Wildey production would experience several interruptions and revivals over the years, contributing to the pistol’s unusual history and enduring collector following. This example dates from the 1990s and retains approximately 98 percent of its original finish. Its bore remains bright with strong rifling and was rated 10 out of 10, while the action functions correctly.
Complete with its factory box, manual, and 7 round magazine, this 10 inch .45 Winchester Magnum Survivor is an impressive example of one of America’s most unconventional production handguns. For collectors of magnum pistols, handgun hunting firearms, movie associated guns, or simply unusual American firearms engineering, few designs have the unmistakable presence of the Wildey.
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