Picked up some new range toys (and a safe queen) yesterday
Until a couple of weeks ago, I had basically wandered away from my handgun hobby for the better part of three years, aside from the occasional trip to the range. Why I deprived myself of the joy of transfer days at my dealer's shop, among other things, I'm not quite sure. Some mix of being easily distracted and caught up in learning how to be a parent, I guess.
Anyway, I recently came to my senses and decided to fill a few of the empty spaces in the safe. Yesterday I collected what's arrived so far at my dealer's shop. There's not much of a theme to my choices, other than all them being great guns in their own segment.
I'll post the photos in the order that I bought the guns. Apologies for the crappy iPhone pics -- I left my real camera at another residence. I snapped these while BSing with my dealer under ugly fluorescent lighting. (One thing: no, none of these guns have serial numbers consisting only one number. The pics are edited.)
Beretta Billennium
I'm hopelessly addicted to the steel-frame, SAO, frame-safety Beretta 92 variants. Prices on the 92 Steel I have jumped in the neighborhood of 60-75% since I bought my first two specimens three or so years ago; Billenniums have gone up roughly 30-40% during the same time. So my absence from the game has exacted more than one cost -- but I'll probably still grab every example of both steel-frame models I can get my hands on with the right combination of condition and price.
The fit and finish and overall build quality of these guns is outstanding. Some find their appearance a little too "blingy," which I can see -- I actually prefer the looks of the 92 Steel I, but they're harder to find than Billenniums for some reason -- but I still like the way these look. This particular Billennium is unfired, which is unfortunate in a way. All of my Billenniums are LNIB/unfired/with box and papers, so my only steel-framed shooter is a Steel I. I'm looking for a shooter Billennium, but the occasional owner selling an already-fired example will usually ask more or less the same price that the unfired ones go for.
SIG Sauer P226 X-Five L1
I was able to get my hands on what I imagine is one of only very few new first-generation X-Fives remaining in the U.S. (or anywhere). I'm surprised that there were any first-generation X-Fives remaining unsold in the U.S., since I gather that the move to the second-generation models happened well over a year ago. I don't care for the restyling or the unsightly rail on the new models (would anyone really use this for anything other than a range or competition gun?), so I'm glad there were/are still a few of these floating around out there. I wanted an X-Six L1 to go along with it, but it appears I'm too late to the game to find one of those.
It goes without saying that the build quality of these guns is exceptional. If you've thought about getting one of these, now is the time. Tragically, production of the X-Series pistols will shift from the Mastershop in Eckernförde to Exeter next year, which is just unthinkable to me. And it would be baldly irrational optimism to believe the American division of SIG Sauer, executing the vision of that idiot flunky Ron Cohen, won't degrade the absolutely remarkable quality of these guns in the same way it has other pistols in the company's lineup over the last decade (though I'm sure Cohen will grant you the privilege of paying just as much or more for an American X-Series pistol, despite the substantial savings to the company from stateside production).
Ruger P89DC
I've always had a soft spot for these hulking, overbuilt beasts, but I've never owned one. It's really a shame to me that Ruger has gone exclusively to plastic frames in their semi-autos, but that's the way it goes. I suppose there really isn't a sufficient market for these things, however nostalgic I am for the heyday of the metal-framed 9mm service pistol. These guns still have quite a loyal following, nonetheless. This is the decocker-only model P89. The wear on this gun is so minimal that I'm guessing the previous owner fired a couple of magazines through it (at most), put it back in the box, and then stuffed it in his nightstand for the last 21 years.
Until a couple of weeks ago, I had basically wandered away from my handgun hobby for the better part of three years, aside from the occasional trip to the range. Why I deprived myself of the joy of transfer days at my dealer's shop, among other things, I'm not quite sure. Some mix of being easily distracted and caught up in learning how to be a parent, I guess.
Anyway, I recently came to my senses and decided to fill a few of the empty spaces in the safe. Yesterday I collected what's arrived so far at my dealer's shop. There's not much of a theme to my choices, other than all them being great guns in their own segment.
I'll post the photos in the order that I bought the guns. Apologies for the crappy iPhone pics -- I left my real camera at another residence. I snapped these while BSing with my dealer under ugly fluorescent lighting. (One thing: no, none of these guns have serial numbers consisting only one number. The pics are edited.)
Beretta Billennium
I'm hopelessly addicted to the steel-frame, SAO, frame-safety Beretta 92 variants. Prices on the 92 Steel I have jumped in the neighborhood of 60-75% since I bought my first two specimens three or so years ago; Billenniums have gone up roughly 30-40% during the same time. So my absence from the game has exacted more than one cost -- but I'll probably still grab every example of both steel-frame models I can get my hands on with the right combination of condition and price.
The fit and finish and overall build quality of these guns is outstanding. Some find their appearance a little too "blingy," which I can see -- I actually prefer the looks of the 92 Steel I, but they're harder to find than Billenniums for some reason -- but I still like the way these look. This particular Billennium is unfired, which is unfortunate in a way. All of my Billenniums are LNIB/unfired/with box and papers, so my only steel-framed shooter is a Steel I. I'm looking for a shooter Billennium, but the occasional owner selling an already-fired example will usually ask more or less the same price that the unfired ones go for.
SIG Sauer P226 X-Five L1
I was able to get my hands on what I imagine is one of only very few new first-generation X-Fives remaining in the U.S. (or anywhere). I'm surprised that there were any first-generation X-Fives remaining unsold in the U.S., since I gather that the move to the second-generation models happened well over a year ago. I don't care for the restyling or the unsightly rail on the new models (would anyone really use this for anything other than a range or competition gun?), so I'm glad there were/are still a few of these floating around out there. I wanted an X-Six L1 to go along with it, but it appears I'm too late to the game to find one of those.
It goes without saying that the build quality of these guns is exceptional. If you've thought about getting one of these, now is the time. Tragically, production of the X-Series pistols will shift from the Mastershop in Eckernförde to Exeter next year, which is just unthinkable to me. And it would be baldly irrational optimism to believe the American division of SIG Sauer, executing the vision of that idiot flunky Ron Cohen, won't degrade the absolutely remarkable quality of these guns in the same way it has other pistols in the company's lineup over the last decade (though I'm sure Cohen will grant you the privilege of paying just as much or more for an American X-Series pistol, despite the substantial savings to the company from stateside production).
Ruger P89DC
I've always had a soft spot for these hulking, overbuilt beasts, but I've never owned one. It's really a shame to me that Ruger has gone exclusively to plastic frames in their semi-autos, but that's the way it goes. I suppose there really isn't a sufficient market for these things, however nostalgic I am for the heyday of the metal-framed 9mm service pistol. These guns still have quite a loyal following, nonetheless. This is the decocker-only model P89. The wear on this gun is so minimal that I'm guessing the previous owner fired a couple of magazines through it (at most), put it back in the box, and then stuffed it in his nightstand for the last 21 years.
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