I stop at the LGS (AKA "Ali-Babba's House O Guns") way to often. I'm sure they have a stash of stuff in the back they save for days when they think I'm coming and casually put it out, knowing I'll fall for the "We just got that in" line.
It works.
Last week it was a Smith & Wesson 38/44 Heavy duty that appears to be unfired (I know...since leaving the factory) or no worse than lightly fired, in it's original box, with diamond magna grips. Box and grips number to the gun. The S/N puts it at 1946 or 47...right after S&W resumed civilian sales after the war. It has the post-war flat finish...which I really like.
For those who don't know the 38/44 was a 38 Special on the big, heavy frame 44 "N-Frame." It was an answer to police officers in the 30's call for a more powerful gun to deal with bank robbers and bootleggers in automobiles. It used a souped up version of the 38 Special, sort of a 357 lite.
I looked at the tag...GULP...I won't say the price other than to say it was not cheap. I had them put it back. I got them to get it out again. I showed it to my wife. She yawned..."If you want it, get it." Yea...but..."Seen another one like it for less?" she asked, throwing my own words back at me. "Well, no, I've never actually seen one before." Another yawn..."Then shut up and at least put it on layaway and think about it."
I did. Sold a couple of more mundane guns and picked it up a couple of days later.
I'm not going to say I won't shoot it, but I'm in no hurry to. It's just a big, heavy, 38 Special...right?
I need some better pictures, but those will have to do for now.
It works.
Last week it was a Smith & Wesson 38/44 Heavy duty that appears to be unfired (I know...since leaving the factory) or no worse than lightly fired, in it's original box, with diamond magna grips. Box and grips number to the gun. The S/N puts it at 1946 or 47...right after S&W resumed civilian sales after the war. It has the post-war flat finish...which I really like.
For those who don't know the 38/44 was a 38 Special on the big, heavy frame 44 "N-Frame." It was an answer to police officers in the 30's call for a more powerful gun to deal with bank robbers and bootleggers in automobiles. It used a souped up version of the 38 Special, sort of a 357 lite.
I looked at the tag...GULP...I won't say the price other than to say it was not cheap. I had them put it back. I got them to get it out again. I showed it to my wife. She yawned..."If you want it, get it." Yea...but..."Seen another one like it for less?" she asked, throwing my own words back at me. "Well, no, I've never actually seen one before." Another yawn..."Then shut up and at least put it on layaway and think about it."
I did. Sold a couple of more mundane guns and picked it up a couple of days later.
I'm not going to say I won't shoot it, but I'm in no hurry to. It's just a big, heavy, 38 Special...right?
I need some better pictures, but those will have to do for now.