Llama Comanche 357. Good or bad?

[ontarget]

Stopped by a LGS today and found a Llama 357. Looks like a close copy of a Smith and Wesson. Anybody have any info on these? Seemed pretty smooth and has recessed chambers and pinned barrel.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Good!

What do they want for it?

 

[ontarget]

Good!

What do they want for it?

Asking price is $350.00

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I say buy. A high quality, somewhat quirky and little known revolver at a good price.

 

[FL-NC]

I handled one in 44, seemed like a solid wheelgun. I have heard people compare them to Taurus in terms of quality.

 

[Monac]

I think on their late model revolvers, Llama copied the Hopkins & Allen "Triple Action" safety device, where the hammer moves up when the trigger is released, until it is no longer in contact with the firing pin. Maybe that's what NIGHTLOD40K meant by "quirky". Interesting system, and much less common than the Iver Johnson transfer bar. In fact, I think H&A and Llama were the only users.

 

[357smallbore]

If it is a Comanche I or II I'd buy it

 

[ontarget]

If it is a Comanche I or II I'd buy it

It is a Comanche III.

 

[357smallbore]

It is a Comanche III.

from 80-89 I'd do it.

 

[larryh1108]

As an owner of one, buy it.
Great price.
The trigger is smooth.
Great gun.
44Mag


The .357Mag is a great gun!

 

[ontarget]

I like the wide hammer and the trigger is pretty good. The bluing is very good but the grips don't fit very tight. I'm sure I can fix that though. A few machine marks on the side of the hammer but at half the price of a S&W 586 I might just grab it. SN is S 839xxx. Anyone have any idea how old it might be?

 

[jeepnik]

I carried a Comanche for two years while stationed in Spain. Yes, it was illegal as sin (and sin was literally illegal there). But the local cops, Guardia Civil, and the Spanish military all knew most Americans were carrying (at least the smart ones). You see we had a common enemy in the ETA (Basque separatist).

As a side note, when Francisco Franco died things got pretty iffy. We figured out that the Airedales likely had more privately owned firearms than the base armory.

The one I had was pretty good. Accurate and the trigger was descent. The .357, while not the .45 acp I would have preferred, would have been more that sufficient to the task.

 

[ACES&8S]

I sold a lot of Llamas when I had my -dealers- some years ago & every one I got for myself got sold with no one ever
saying anything bad about them, 357 mostly.
They look good & feel strong & accurate.

 

[larryh1108]

Anyone have any idea how old it might be?

There is a proof mark on it that shows when it was built. It is a etter and a number combo like R1 or D2. That will
tell you when it was made.

 

[silvermane_1]

I would buy at that price, heck i surprised Cajunbass hasn't posted in this thread yet, i remember he bought(or thinking of buying one) a Llama Comanche some years ago. I owned a 44 mag Super Comanche IV, some of them are nice revolvers, some are to be described as "replacement parts/nice paper weight revolvers" i unfortunately had the latter, but don't let that deter you into buying it ontarget, heck if the gun shop will let fire it before buy it, i would do it.

 

[bannockburn]

The Llama Comanche was a decent buy back in the day, comparable in size to a S&W K frame Model 19. The biggest problems at times were their uneven heat treatment and overall fit and finish. Check it over closely and maybe start the wheeling and dealing at $300 and see what they say.

 

[CajunBass]

I came close to buying a 44 version a few years ago. I forget why I didn't get it now, but it was a nice gun.

The price sounds good. I'd be tempted. About the only problem I could see is things like parts/grips and such would almost certainly be hard to find. That never bothers me, because if it was to break, I'd just stick it back in the safe, and get something else out. Others aren't so cavalier about such things.

That 357 LarryH posted above looks NICE! Well they both look good, but I'm a sucker for mid-sized 357's.

 

[larryh1108]

Well, I happen to carry most parts & grips for a lot of the Llama revolvers.
I sell Llama parts on Ebay but don't list many revolver parts, just the autos right now but a PM
would get you what you may need.

 

[silvermane_1]

I came close to buying a 44 version a few years ago. I forget why I didn't get it now, but it was a nice gun.

The price sounds good. I'd be tempted. About the only problem I could see is things like parts/grips and such would almost certainly be hard to find. That never bothers me, because if it was to break, I'd just stick it back in the safe, and get something else out. Others aren't so cavalier about such things.

That 357 LarryH posted above looks NICE! Well they both look good, but I'm a sucker for mid-sized 357's.

Yeah I remember that CajunBass, there was also a minor "bruhaha" with you and another member about how you told that other member "not to tell you what guns not to buy" IIRC.

 

[WC145]

Llama revolvers were solid guns, though not many people know anything about them these days.. I picked up this Super Comanche .44mag a couple of years ago in great shop with the box for $290 at a LGS. It's a great shooter and in excellent shape.

 

[entropy]

Good gun at a good price. Pull the trigger.

 

[357smallbore]

Llama revolvers were solid guns, though not many people know anything about them these days.. I picked up this Super Comanche .44mag a couple of years ago in great shop with the box for $290 at a LGS. It's a great shooter and in excellent shape.

View attachment 842215

I'll give ya $375 for it. You will have made money

 

[CajunBass]

Yeah I remember that CajunBass, there was also a minor "bruhaha" with you and another member about how you told that other member "not to tell you what guns not to buy" IIRC.

I can neither confirm nor deny that may have happened.

 

[ontarget]

I ended up buying a 686-0 that I mentioned in another thread but I just might grab the Llama if the shop will drop the price a little. I'd love to pick it up for $300.