Pawn Shop Circuit: Missed Opportunity

I went back on the pawn shop hunt today, stopping first at Neil's place. Deep inside, I was hoping the High Standard .22 pistol was still there. I was in a haggling mood. Neil had sold the old plinker though, and probably gotten close to his $250 asking price. In it's place, beside the Glock and Sig, was a RG six shooter. I was kind of relieved the High Standard was gone, I suppose. Even though Neil gives me a 100% money back guarantee, I was slightly skiddish of the pistol. The condition of the magazine is crucial on old .22 caliber guns, and I believed the magazine in the High Standard was an aftermarket replacement, giving it questionable reliability. Oddly though, I would have purchased the High Standard pistol in a heartbeat over the RG revolver I was looking at.

It is rare that I will call a gun junk. Even with the pot metal RG I am hesitant. The people who squeeze out these turds should be buried in a pit of fire ants with a pink straw hat on their head. The pot metal cap guns of my childhood were sturdier than these crapola guns. If you or your friend needs a gun and can't afford much, leave the RG on the shelf. Buy a Hi-Point instead. There, I said it. RG=Crapola. This is one case where a cheap pistol whips a revolver's ass in reliability.

I moved on to Dave's place. Dave had sold his Essex framed 1911. Under Dave's glass though, was a familiar looking pistol. I believe I saw the same Astra Constable at Neil's shop in January. It was still in it's original box. I wondered how it made the trip from one pawn shop to the next. Dave did not have anything else new.

I thought about driving over to take another look at the round butt Model 10 I had found, but I turned towards Kenny's shop instead. "Man, I wish you had been here," chirped Kenny as I bellied up to his counter. "You like those chrome guns, well I almost bought a pimpin' chrome Colt from this old dude. It was messed up though."
"How so?" I asked.
"It was all chromed out with revolker sights and it looked like barb wire on the front of the handle."
"Barb wire?"
"Well it felt like it. Some dude had taken somethin' and poked all over it."
"Why didn't you buy it Kenny?"
"Well, I ain't all the way dumb Xavier. It said Colt on it but it said Keithville Louisiana too. Now I know they got that ammunition plant over there what's explodin' bombs right now, but they ain't got no Colt fact'ry. That thing had to be fake."
"Ummmmm........How much was he wanting Kenny?"
"Six to seven hundred. I told him no damned way!"
"Did you get his name Kenny?"
"No........Did I miss sumptin' Xav?"
"Yep."