>> The Golden Age of modern belly guns, built on Colt or S&W hand ejectors, occurred from about 1920 through 1950. <<
Ya' sort of took my "golden age" comment out of context. I was trying to explain the "best of times" for belly guns built on Colt (mostly) and S&W hand ejector revolvers.
These were the years that men such as Ed McGivern, Charles Askins, J. H. FitzGerald, Rex Applegate and others were "the" recognized authorities and their advocacy of “instinctive shooting†created a natural environment for the belly gun/revolver. Many people know that Col. Applegate owned one of the New Service/Fitz Specials, and carried it for a time while on temporary duty guarding President Franklin Roosevelt. Fewer are aware that Clyde Barrow, of Bonnie & Clyde fame had a similar gun built on a Colt .38 Police Positive. Paul Weston, who for years taught firearms tactics, including hip shooting to generations of NYC police officers, had a later day “Fitz†built on a Colt Cobra. Charles Lindberg, the famous aviator obtained a Fitz/Detective Special shortly after his first son was kidnapped and murdered in New Jersey. Thereafter he sometimes carried it in a pocket or shoulder holster.
Of course it should not be forgotten that the basic concept seems to have been developed during the second half of the 19th century in the vast country west of, and including the Mississippi river. There it was often a weapon of last resort for gamblers and gunmen. But as Charles Askins told me one day, “you wouldn’t likely find one at a target range …â€