A Smith & Wilson

"Whatcha got in that box Mister?" There have been times that I almost wanted to put a rattlesnake in a blue Colt box and stroll through a gun show. I didn't know if I would even make the gun show today. It was my call weekend, and I've been busy. I began yesterday at six in the morning, and I walked out of the hospital after dark. When I got home, I collapsed sideways on the bed, devoid of sheets, as my wonderful mate was doing laundry. Today, I had another couple of cases, but we finished at noon, and I left the hospital with only my pager to remind me I was not a free man.

After a burrito, I decided to gamble the gate fee and head to the gun show any way. I checked the gun vault for trade fodder, and at the top of the stack was the SW1911 I purchased from Neil last year. I purchased the pistol as trade fodder, and it still resided in my gun room. I opened the box, checked the chamber, and headed to the gun show. I was violating my gun show rule number four, carry cash, but the banks were closed, and I hadn't planned on going. Perhaps I could get a swap for the SW1911......

I was looking forward to seeing old friends, and after I let an officer of the law fumble, paw, zip tie and tag my pistol, I entered the Last Bastion of Freedom. As usual, I made my way to the rear of the arena where Cowboy Bob peddled his wares. I first purchased a firearm from Cowboy Bob years ago, a Star Model A. I thought it would shoot 9mm parabellum, but I soon learned that Largo wasn't just the name of an island off Florida. Bob was a gentleman about it. He took the gun back, returned my money in full, and I have been a faithful customer of his for the past decade or so. Bob's pencil thin moustache and Stetson aren't that unusual, but his lavishly engraved Colt single action Army revolvers are heady fare at small town gun shows. He always has used guns, usually at fair prices and is an eager trade. Heck, I purchased my first Remington Rand M1911A1 from Cowboy Bob. There was no telling what he might have!

Cowboy Bob was not there. A dealer who didn't know Bob was in his usual spot. I cruised the tables a bit, and took note of several items of interest, I looked at a S&W 22 caliber AR clone for $500. That seemed like a fair price. The Colt version was a bit more. Both, however, are available at any time for the same money. I passed.

I spied a Clark Custom 38 Special wadcutter gun. It was in the cardboard and styrofoam Colt box, and had obviously been built by the old man himself. The bluing was like new, and tiger tooth stippling covered the frontstrap. The old Keithville location was hand engraved on the slide. It was interesting, but the dealer selling it liked it a lot. The price was $1600. I decided to keep my thirty-eight specials in wheel guns.

As I attempted to pass by the bearded guy from Arkansas who sells mix master M1911s as all original war relics for inflated prices, he called out "Whatcha got in the box, Mister?" I started to say 'Grandpa's trashy old Singer sewing machine gun,' but I refrained. I just smiled and kept walking. He dodged past his Chinese 1918 trench knives and asked again. I finally told him a S&W 1911 that I was looking to trade off. He asked me how much I wanted in cash.

Lesson #1 in negotiating: Never be the first to state a figure. Lesson #2: Guns are worth more that cash. Cash doesn't shoot, and there are many ways of obtaining cash. I told the fellow that I only wanted a trade, and if he had anything to barter besides cash, we could talk. He eyed his stack of beater GI guns, and decided he would save them for some unsuspecting fish. I walked on.

As I passed a table full of zip lock baggied ammunition, the seller inquired about my mystery box. We talked 1911s a bit, and I learned his two Kimbers ate everything shoved into their chamber, even lead wadcutters. He went on to inform me that Colt 1911s and S&W1911s only shoot hardball and I would do well to swap the pistol for the Taurus revolver he just happened to have. I thanked him for his generosity. After all, it is unusual to find such an honest reloader selling factory ammunition in reusable and biodegradable containers. I decided not to take advantage of the offer though.

I was starting to believe I had walked into one of the gun shows I often read about when I came upon my old friend Lester. "You still trying to sell that pistol Xavier?" he asked.

"Trade Lester, trade...." I replied. I asked to see what Lester had purchased, and he opened his sportscoat to reveal two Smith & Wesson revolvers in his waistband. The diamond grips of one caught my eye. Lester grinned and pulled a Combat Masterpiece from his waist.

"Damn. Yesterday? I asked.

"Just now, in the parking lot," he replied. Then Lester saw my face. "Don't even think it," he instructed me. We cruised the tables together, and I asked about Cowboy Bob. Lester had not seen him the previous day either. Nobody seemed to know what had happened. Finally, as the arena became crowded with people coming in from church and Sunday dinner, Lester and I decided to call it quits. I still had the SW1911.

"Have you ever thought about ordering a 22 conversion kit for that thing and making it a dedicated 22 caliber training gun?" Lester asked as we walked through the parking lot. Actually, I had not. Lester went on, "I hear Wilson Combat is putting out a pretty decent 22 conversion." Hmmmmmm.... A Smith & Wilson, mail ordered to my door. I could do that. Hmmmmmmm....

Wilson Combat 22 conversion kit

Blue Plastic

I am amazed at the prices modern blue plastic Colt boxes are bringing on ebay. This one is $41.00 and climbing. Of course, you get free shipping. This one is $54.00. Meanwhile, here's a Colt box that is a bit battered, but is a true antique that can't get a bid at ten bucks!

In an unscrupulous dealers hands, these boxes do have the power to transform a used gun into a LNIB gun, but the price differential is often similar to the price for the boxes. I'm not sure what is going on here.

In the past, I have used blue plastic Colt boxes to carry trade fodder at gun shows. When cruising a show with such a box, I never fail to get immediate attention if I belly up to a dealer's table to take a look at his guns. I never have to wait if I have a Colt box. Invariably I am asked "Whatcha got in the box?"

"Just an old gun," I reply. I usually have an old beater H&R revolver and a few grips to trade off in my Colt box, but I only open it when I'm ready. Even then, I am often offered cash for the box. Right now, I have seven or eight blue plastic Colt boxes in my gun room. Perhaps I should ebay them and get myself another gun......

Gun Show: Mags and Old Guns

At the gun show this afternoon, I was able to scrounge up four genuine US GI 1911 magazines. One was a Scovill mag, two were made by M.S. Little, and the last was a General Shaver magazine, easily recognized by the welded seam on the back.

USGI magazines, the real ones, are some of the best magazines available. John Moses Browning knew what he was doing when he designed the feed lips and put a dimple on the follower. If a 1911 is in spec, the genuine GI magazines will feed as long as the spring is able to push ammo up. A thorough analysis of 1911 magazines can be found here. In my experience there are three choices for reliable 1911 magazines: Wilson Combat, Chip McCormick and USGI. I purchased two of these USGI magazines from a dealer, for five bucks each. Thirty minutes later, he had another two on his table. He made another ten bucks and I took home twenty dollars worth of reliability.

I continued to meander about the show, and I eventually sold the Browning Auto 22 for $275. While I had gotten a good deal from Kenny on the little rifle, and I had always wanted one, it was chambered in 22 short. I simply did not want to deal with another cartridge for plinking around.

As I wandered around with the SW1911, I spied a brown revolver cylinder and some black rubber grips making their way through the crowd. I gave chase and finally caught up with the fellow by the beef jerky. "What kind of revolver do you have?" I asked.

He turned and displayed a long barreled Smith & Wesson. "A thirty-eight special," he replied, "It'll shoot too." The revolver was devoid of any finish except a brown patina of oiled metal. The front sight was rewelded, a wide disc of metal globbed on the muzzle. I opened the cylinder, and began to check it out. It was an old gun, definitely early in the M&P line, but with the 1905 action. The grips were intact, although appropriately worn.

"It won't fire double action," the man said. He was wrong about that. The hammer retracted easily with the trigger as long as you held back the cylinder release. The gun needed a thorough cleaning.

"How much do you want?" I asked.

"One hundred fifty," he said.

I dug into my pocket and pulled out four twenties and then opened my wallet to reveal a five and three ones. "Will you take eighty-eight?" I asked.

We made the deal.

Sunday Decisions

I have finally acquired one of my last "holy grail" guns, a Colt M1911. The question this morning is.... Do I return to the gun show? I have not managed to sell the Browning 22 Auto, nor the SW1911. Selling either would make the purchase of my M1911 less.

The crowds were larger than during past shows, with obviously new gun buyers pouring in. I was surprised to see black rifles at reasonable market prices, and used 30 round AR mags in plentiful supply for between 10 and 15 dollars each. New AR magazines from Brownells were twenty bucks. Yes, they are eighteen bucks each from Brownells. The thing is, the same mags were for sale at reasonable prices. There were no whispered rumors of another AWB. It seemed the dealers were not trying to feed on hysteria this time around.

I still have to do weekend chores around the house, and it remains cold and dreary outside. I could just cradle myself in a wing back chair by the fire and research my new old Colt. If it doesn't rain, after I get my laundry done, I could take it to the range for a bit of shooting and a photo session. To really get a good idea of what I have, some high resolution photos on the 1911 Forum's USGI section will be illuminating.

Thus far, I've been able to ascertain the pistol is a 1918 gun, likely to have left Hartford with a "Black Army" finish. It was inspected by Springfield Armory. I have not yet found anything amiss.

I suppose I will go back to the gun show. There are things to see, people to meet, magazines to stock up on, and laughter and camaraderie to be had. After all, a gun show is "the last bastion, the last gathering place, of a free people." The doors open again at 11:00.

Two Hundred More

Gun shows are a lot like flea markets and garage sales, just more specialized. The same characters haunt gun shows. At the local gun show, a grizzled old coot that I chose not to deal with is always present to sell mix master M1911s at inflated prices. All of his guns are sacred relics, if you believe the stories he tells. In the past, I might have purchased one, but the money he wants is astronomical. I don't mind a mix master M1911. I just want a fair price.

As usual the doors were late to open this morning. Several men were in front of me, and a couple of them had gun rugs. I watched as their handguns were checked by the police officer at the ticket counter. The first fellow looked promising. He was a tobacco chewing gent past Medicare age, with a Brookshires sack. I watched as he reached inside and pulled out a.... Glock. So much for stereotypes.

The fellow in front of me was a bald headed guy in a digital BDU jacket. He held a black leather gun rug. When it was unzipped by the police officer, the bare metal beauty inside caught my eye like a pirate gazing on a chest of doubloons. He had a Colt M1911. My uneducated eye saw it as being correct. I stepped around him, paid my entry fee and waited.

As soon as he placed the old WW1 pistol back in the gun rug, I tapped him on the shoulder and said "See me after you pay your entry fee." He smiled and paid his six bucks.

"Do you mind if I look at your pistol?" I asked.

"Sure."

I am not an expert on M1911s, but to me, this pistol appeared untampered with and 100% correct. The wear on the grips was consistent with the gun's finish wear and age, and the small parts looked to be correct to my neophyte eyes as well. "I bought this one from the son of a vet," the man said. "His father paid for it when he left the Army. It's a 1918 gun."

Dadgummit, I thought, he knows the gun. This won't be cheap. "What do you want for it?" I inquired.

"What will you give me for it?" he countered. I knew how much I had total, in three different pockets, and I knew it was still low. I told him anyway. Cash.

"Ive got to have two hundred more than that," he said. He was right, the pistol was worth what he was asking.

"Would you take a Smith and Wesson 1911 and some cash?" I asked.

"No, I really just want to get cash."

I had not seen a M1911 walk into a gun show in over seven years. "I'll have to make a run to the bank," I said. "Here's twenty bucks to hold on to it for the next hour. If I don't make it back in an hour with the money, the twenty is yours and you can sell it to whoever you like, deal?"

"Sounds good to me," he said. "I really want to take it over to Joshua and see what he thinks anyway." I knew he was referring to the mix master monger.

"I'll be right back," I told him, and I walked quickly back to the Jeep through the misty cold rain. I dialed my wife to see if she had two Franklins on her. She would not pick up her cell phone. I don't use ATMs. If the bank wasn't open........

As I pulled up into the banks parking lot, the green OPEN light over the drive beckoned through the haze like the beam from a lighthouse. John Moses was smiling on me. I wrote the teller a check, got my cash, and tried not to speed on the way back to the gun show.

The crowd was thick as I strode across the convention center floor again. Finding the fellow in this crowd would be a chore. Finally, I saw him showing the pistol to Cowboy Bob. I could see the disappointment in his eyes as walked up.

"You know, Joshua offered me what I'm going to sell this to you for," he said. "Bob says it's worth more." I looked unconcerned. I knew what I was willing to pay, and I had the money.

"Well, that's up to you," I told him, ready to walk.

"This one is a fantastic shooter," he said, "It's been my baby."

"Yeah, that's why I'd like to buy it. I want a M1911 that I can shoot, not just oil and fondle," I replied. I asked if I could field strip the pistol to check it out. He agreed. Inside, as far as I could tell, it was correct. There were no cracks. The bore was good.

"Like I said, this one is one hundred percent," he said. I reassembled the gun and counted out the hundred dollar bills on a bare table area. The seller was hesitant. He held each note up to the light to verify it wasn't counterfeit. Finally, when he saw that I was not going to offer more, he said OK. We shook hands. The M1911 was mine. I zipped it back in the black leather gun rug and thanked him for a fair deal.

More later........

Gun Show Morning

Gun show this morning...... I am taking my newest SW1911 and my Browning Auto 22 as trade fodder. I usually go in without any particular plan to buy anything nowadays. I just take a couple of trade items and some cash and am receptive to what seems interesting.

I'm always in the market for a M1911 at a fair price, or a vintage concealed carry gun at the right price. The guns that have been modified or show use appeal to me. If I can find a flat latch Model 38 or Model 49, I will be a happy camper. If the trader will accept a Browning 22 rifle for his Bodyguard, I will be ecstatic. I would also be happy to find a 1911 with a Colt, Kimber, Wilson, or Marvel 22 top end conversion. If the trader would be willing to swap it for a SW1911, I will have one more 22 caliber handgun.

I guess I should review my gun show rules, get some breakfast and load up the Jeep.

Gun Show Whooping

OK, I concede defeat.......Tam whooped me at the gun show.......

And the gal must have hired Vermeer to take her photos.......

Gun Show....A Warm Welcome

Just before lunch today, I went back to the gun show. I was still rather ambivalent regarding the Colt New Agent, even though my wife had blessed the purchase over our morning coffee. Among the walkers was a young man with a High Standard Citation. I asked what he wanted. He said he really wanted a trade, but he would take $350-400. I looked the .22 pistol over, and almost reached for my wallet. I refrained. I told him he could surely get that. Another walker had a pinned S&W Model 10 heavy barrel with a thin finish and Good Year grips. He was asking $200. That one was tempting too.

As I leaned against the wall by the door, watching the flow into the show, I wondered why there were so many kooks in camouflage walking around. Army field jackets in woodland camo, field caps in camo, and T shirts in camo. Didn't anybody's eyes point the same direction? Does everyone put chunks of water hose in their earlobes? The gates of camo hell must have opened and puked out a thousand simian freaks for this show. The women came in two basic styles. The group over 40 was rather demure and normal, trailing behind their oil cloth hatted man with aloof disinterest. The younger female group universally wore stiletto heeled boots and maroon lipstick on top of face paint so thick you could carve your name in it with a stick. Morticia Adams would have been proud. Gun shows attract the media. Indeed, there was a news crew filming this afternoon. Its good to try to not look like the yokel who just had a twister tear up his trailer with granny inside.

I was perhaps one of the few people glad to see the flow of young black men into the show. They were eyed suspiciously by many, even though they were as well behaved as any man their age. I noticed that when one black man was denied on NICS with a seller, he managed to buy a handgun going through NICS with another seller later in the day. Funny, that. I was satisfied to spot no less than three attorneys, one instantly recognizable in his bow tie and shock of grey hair. I also saw four surgeons, three physicians, and several nurses I knew. I was amused to discover the priest in charge of my daughter's parochial school fondling evil black rifles.

Among the greasy Mausers on one dealer's table was a well worn C serialed M&P with buggered up screws and transitional grips. The muzzle looked as though it had kissed concrete at least once. The seller said it was his personal carry gun, and he would come down from $250 to $200 for cash. Another dealer had just placed out a beater Model 10 snubbie. The finish looked like it took a beach vacation several years back. It did lock up tight. The seller had it marked $225. I asked if he would take $200. He refused. A year or so ago I purchased two Model 10 snubbies in excellent condition for under two hundred a piece. Prices have escalated.

Along the back wall, an old gentleman selling knives had put out a blued Colt Commander. I asked if I could examine it. He nodded. "It's a Lightweight, made in 1957" he said proudly as I picked it up.

"It certainly is," I responded. The slide had been refinished at least once. It was all original, obviously well loved and carried. I inquired as to the take home figure. $850........Wow. That jiggled my cerebral cortex. I handed the pistol back to the old gent, and I crossed the arena to the table holding the New Agent. I motioned the dealer over and I asked for his best price. He dropped ten bucks off the sticker price. Good enough. I told him he had a deal, and I went behind his table to complete the paperwork and exchange with his wife. Ten minutes later, the New Agent was mine.

I continued through the show, carrying the blue plastic Colt box. I had several people ask me if I wanted to sell. Then, suddenly, the old gent with the Lightweight Commander tapped my shoulder. "What did you buy?" he asked.

"Just a little lightweight carry gun" I replied as I opened the box to show him. I have to admit I was a little self satisfied. I would have purchased his Lightweight Commander, had the price been agreeable, and it felt good to show him I could have.

"You got a steal son. Welcome to the World of Colt," the old man beamed. As an owner of over twenty Colt handguns, I resisted my inclination towards a smart assed retort.

Instead, I looked the old codger in the eye and said "Thank you."

Reflections

Xavier, I've been wondering when one of your forays would meet reality in the form of collectors posing as sellers at the gun shows, and at most independent gun shops and pawnshops these days, I'm afraid. In my pawnshop in the 90's, with legislation of unknown scope on the horizon, most FFL's added a what-if factor to their gun prices and that actually increased demand and margins; it was the most profitable period of firearms sales in my thirty years as a dealer...a serendipitous effect of wasteful, pointless, dangerous government...

That scenario may be playing out now in a precursory way. There is a very high likelihood that one of those three Democrats will be president, and almost certainly control through law or through tort will soon follow. Many dealers and quasi-dealers at shows may feel their investment is better kept in good guns than in cash. That's how I felt in '92, anyway, and it was a profitable strategy for me.

I would counsel you to alter your aversion to new, at least in the short term, and especially for Colt. The many truisms about the supply of Colts like the one you overheard are based in the real paucity of desirable pieces available for your favorite FFL to order for you. If your guy will order for you at $40-$50 over his true cost with prepay as I did for my good buyers, put your money down today and with overnight shipment and your carry permit, walk out of the store with your new acquisition tomorrow. You are very unlikely to experience depreciation; more likely you made money when you bought it.

So dealers are hanging onto their good pre-owned stuff that they own outright, witness your show experience and the lately inflated Gun Broker listings...But most are glad to make the $40-$50 on the new piece with no risk or investment to them; you may even get new for used price, of course the coolest stuff you just can't get new.

One exception to the overpriced pre-owned market is still in the police handgun trade-ins. I mentioned in a response to one of your old posts that Glock's inspired marketing plan put Glocks in most cop's holsters and put a lot of nice (and a lot of not so nice) hi-cap s/a's, primarily 9's, onto the used market at attractive prices, like those Beretta's you saw...
Regards,
jtc

First, jtc, I hope you don't mind me cleaning up your punctuation a bit and using your comment to kick off this post. Marketplace economics driven by trepidation, speculation, and outright greed good business practices in the face of political change is a reality in the gun market.

Some readers have commented on the dwindling number of my Pawn Shop Circuit posts. The decline is for a couple of reasons......First, I have noticed that there are other folks, in particular a FFL dealer who sells on Gun Broker cruising the same shops as me. It began to appear as though this fellow and his cohorts were reading my blog. Hello Guy! Fortunately, I have a good rapport with the shops I buy at, and I don't try to chew them down on prices. When Mr. Gun Broker Dealer tries to gnaw another fifty bucks off a fair price, Neil and Kenny both know old Xavier will eventually walk in again. Many times they will wait to see what I will offer.

Then, too, it seems as though there are fewer good guns on the used market these days. For a while, after hurricane Katrina, North Louisiana seemed to be a Mecca of used items of all types as evacuees sold off belongings and struggled back to their feet. That trend seemed to stop last year. I figure not many of my readers want to hear that Kenny and Neil still have the same old Sigma and Taurus revolver in their case. So, I stopped writing about every foray into the used gun market.

When it comes to gun shows, I do indeed see fewer and fewer collector quality firearms available. Perhaps I need to go to some of the bigger shows and have a look. It seems as though the smaller ones I attend are merely a means for dealers to harvest guns from walk-ins, which they later place on the table (if at all) at a larger show. I sometimes wonder if ammunition might be a better investment.

But back to the subject at hand.......That Colt New Agent. Knowing that I will carry it, that it is a blued pistol, and that it will receive significant wear, should I buy? I have other pistols that this one would supplement. My Colt Compact is roughly the same size, although the New Agent would be lighter. All reports on the New Agent have been positive. It's the first Colt venture past the Defender into the CCW market.

That is something to think about, I suppose. One front running Democratic candidate has already voiced a desire to crush concealed carry. It may not be possible to repeal CCW legislation if Obama is elected, but prices of dedicated CCW guns will no doubt escalate along with high capacity handguns and rifles.

Lets suppose I buy the Colt New Agent at $800. I give the pistol $150 worth of wear. $100 depreciation as used. The gun is now worth $650. Could political winds raise the used price of the pistol almost 40 percent to where I would break even? I don't know. One thing is certain though......Future politics will likely keep this pistol off the used market for some time, and the price being asked is fair. I think I need to go with my gut.

Gun Show Day One

I showed up at the gun show as the doors opened, and paid my six bucks to go inside. Within minutes, I ran into Cussin' Bob. It was good to see the old cuss again. It has been a while. We caught up on the gossip, and I found out the Debate Society had finally consumed the hog. I need to get back out there again, I really do.

As I wandered the show, I did not see much that interested me, at least not among the old guns. I did see one Ruger MKI Target for $349. I saw a Browning .22 Challenger pistol for around $350 as well. I passed on both. Apparently Kimber is putting out some gilded bling stuff. Pretty neat for $1100. Kimber also apparently had some kind of SIS pistol going on......I don't know what that's about, but the SIS slide serrations are kind of silly if you ask me.

I found a used Wilson Combat Supergrade Commander with a hopeful $2900 tag on it's triggerguard. About the time I picked up the Wilson pistol, I overheard a dealer tell a customer "I'm gonna tell you sumpting. You don't know what you're talkin' about! Ron Paul will sell us all up the river. He wants to pull out of Iraq and we will lose there just like in Vietnam!" I paid my money to browse guns, not listen to third rate political commentary. I put the Wilson down and moved on.

Along the South wall was a fellow from Arkansas who was selling GI 1911s along with some pretty sad looking S&W M1917s. He had a couple of .22 chambered Sistemas. Those were pretty cool, I asked what he wanted for them........A modest $500......each. I asked what his M1911s go for...Anywhere from $2300 to $5600. Wow. I asked when he last sold one, and he quickly asked me if I had any to sell. "No," I responded, "but I'll keep you in mind if I find any." The area started to smell vaguely like a piss filled diaper. I looked around for any tricycle motors that might be irrigating the place, but none were nearby. I decided to move on.

Another dealer had a refinished Colt M1911 on their table for $1350. That was interesting. It had been badly buffed. It was the only reasonably priced GI gun I saw though. Another seller had a box of Beretta 92s and 96s going for $329 a piece. Your choice. They looked to be police trade ins. Finally, I came upon the pistol I drove through the sleet for. Right beside a Gold Cup Trophy (priced at $929) was a Colt New Agent. The dealer had a price of $795 on it. I had the money. A local dealer has the same pistol for $150 more. It certainly seemed to be a good deal. I have a thing about buying new, though....There is depreciation, and I'd like someone else to eat that. Still I remember when the Colt Gunsite Pistol was on the market. I waited, having decided to purchase one when it became available used. I have seen no Colt GSP, none, nada, zippo, on the used market. The pistol has steadfastly held it's value and simply does not come up for sale used.

This New Agent is the same type of gun, I think. Still, I know the lack of conventional sight will turn off many buyers. I called the dealer over and offered $750. He thumbed through a spiral notebook a bit and then told me he couldn't do that, as it would only net him $18 on the pistol. I figured that was fair enough. I decided to think on it a while. I continued to wander the show, and then I overheard a dealer tell an AR customer "Colt doesn't even make M-16s for the military anymore." The customer, holding a Colt AR, seemed unimpressed. He knew bullshit when he heard it. I decided it was time to leave and reflect on this New Agent a bit..........

Gun Show

The gun show opens today. I took the day off work to be there. It's the coldest day yet this year. We actually had ice stick to the overpasses.

I'm considering a few trades......
Reviewing my strategies......
Loading up my gear......

Let's see..........
A Smith & Wesson M&P with target sights
A Smith & Wesson Victory modified for carry
Any vintage carry gun with interesting modifications
A Fitzed out Colt 1917
A Colt New Agent
A M1911
A M1911A1
A Red Eagle Ruger Standard

Gun Show

The Gun Show is coming this weekend. I have a few items in mind......In no particular order, and assuming the price is right:
A Smith & Wesson M&P with target sights
A Smith & Wesson Victory modified for carry
Any vintage carry gun with interesting modifications
A Colt New Agent
A M1911
A M1911A1
A Red Eagle Ruger Standard

The reason I still enjoy gun shows is you never know what will show up. It might be a long sought after part, or a Registered Magnum that the seller thinks is just any old gun. I enjoy meeting up with old friends too.

Gun Show

I decided not to go to the gun show today. I did other activities instead. It's the first time I've missed one in a while. Cest le vie.

The Price Of Gas

There is a gun show in Bossier next weekend. The Great Southern shows are always good, and shows in the Bossier/Shreveport area are always fun because of the many shooters I know there. The shows usually have at least one or two Clark guns for sale, at least by a walker, and M1911s and old Smiths seem to crawl out of the woodwork there. Still, with gas over three bucks a gallon, I'm not sure if I want, or need to go........Oh well, I have a week to decide.

Gun Show: Two M&Ps

There wasn't much traffic at the gun show when I went back this afternoon. It was a pretty day, but the combination of lack of advertising and other festivities in town effectively killed the traffic. You could actually walk the aisles and see other people from several tables over.

I barely missed one grandmotherly type lady as she removed a Colt 1908 Hammerless from her purse. I saw that it had one broken grip, and then I saw the dealer hand her a one hundred dollar bill.

Then, I spotted something on one of the tables I have been looking for. It was a mangled frame from a Victory Model. One of these has been on my list since John Henwood's book on the M&P reminded me of them. I held it up and asked the seller what he wanted. He said twenty bucks. He had to be kidding. There was nothing useful left on it. I offered him a ten, and he agreed. I stuck my new Victory Model in my pocket, and moved on.

I watched the crowds for those with guns to sell, but I found nothing but a Llama 9mm, a scandium Smith J frame and some big honking Ruger. The granny with the old Colt had come and gone. I located the .38DA topbreak I had seen yesterday for $140. The dealer, an estate dealer, now had a sign on the table saying it was "Make A Deal Sunday". Good. I picked up the revolver, and again offered a hundred dollars, the same as yesterday. The dealer again countered with $120. I looked at the worn extractor star, and put the blood pitted revolver back down. I then moved across the room to a table in the corner.

This seller had two Pre-Depression era Smith & Wesson M&P revolvers, both in .38 Special. One was priced at $225, the other wore a hopeful $250 price tag. I picked up the less expensive gun, opened the cylinder, and checked the bore. It was decent. All the numbers matched. The revolver actually had very little actual wear, although the bluing had deteriorated. These are some of my favorite revolvers. Were they made to this standard today, they would cost more than Performance Center guns.

The seller told me these M&Ps were from his own collection, and encouraged me to make an offer. There would be no tax in a private sale. It was the last hour of the show. I ventured $150. He countered $175. We settled on $165. I took out my money and paid the gentleman, contented with my purchase.

Gun Show: Martinis & Valentines

I got to the gun show early this morning, and I met Lester and Howard in the parking lot. Lester, a retired Deputy Sheriff, had purchased the find of the show last time. It was a weathered three and a half inch Model 27-2 for $265. Lester was still on cloud nine over that find. He and Howard were hoping for a repeat performance.

The show was not well advertised this time around. The promoter was hoping for traffic from the Mardi Gras parade. Unfortunately, parade spectators were already camped out along the streets, marking territory with police tape.

At the gun show, I found quite a few attractive Smith & Wesson revolvers. One that grabbed my attention was a three inch Model 37 Airweight for $325. Across the board, the j frames seem to be rising in price. There was a snubnosed pre-Model 10, in immaculate condition. That was on my gottagetit list. Unfortunately it wore a $495 price tag. That was too high for me (but it did sell later in the day). Several pre-war Smith & Wesson M&Ps were available for $225. A .38 DA Smith & Wesson topbreak was tagged at $140. It had a good deal of blood pitting, so I offered $100 even. The seller countered $120, pointing out the unbroken grips and stating it could still be used. I walked away.

I am always open to another 1911, and there was a good variety at this show. Kimbers were everywhere, as were Springfield Armory guns, all new in the box. One dealer had some very good prices on NIB Colt 1911s, with blued NRM Government Models priced at $675, and stainless Commanders for $689. Prices on other models of Colt 1911s were equally attractive. I kind of feel as though I should buy one as a hedge against future price hikes, but I am more interested in the unusual 1911. I have enough of them that I have 'smithed.

I ran into Wesley and Cussin' Bob, both members of the Flat Creek Debate Society at the show. Then as I was chatting with another old friend, I noticed something unusual behind a table. I asked the dealer, Joel, if I could examine the bizarre handgun. It appeared to be a Martini-Henry rifle that was converted to a handgun. It had an octagon barrel, and it was decorated with stamped triangles all over the metal surfaces. These were weapons of the British Empire throughout it's colonies. It is difficult to speculate whether this gun was fabricated in Nepal, the Congo, or Afghanistan. The triangular stamps were a tantalizing clue. The action still worked, even though it was horribly grungy.

I asked the seller how much he wanted for it, and he said $200. I told him I could give him $100 cash, right now. He countered $150, and we discussed how these things were hard to evaluate. This was extreme Curio & Relic. We settled on $125 for the gun. My wife collects C&R guns, as well as African and tribal art. Valentine's Day is coming up fast. I can hardly wait to see her face!

I put the pistol in a paper sack, and left the show with a satisfied feeling, ready to try again tomorrow.

Gun Show: Borelight & Bucks

A gun show is opening across town in the morning. I plan to go. The selection of firearms on the pawn shop circuit has slowed down over the past few months. I don't have anything in particular that I am looking for, but I look forward to a show and the chance to run into old friends there. I always review my Gun Show Rules and Gun Show Strategies. If the gun show isn't going to be fun, I do something else instead.

A lot of times, gun show novices want to know what I carry to a gun show to give me and edge. First, I put several reference books in the car. I put some business cards in my pocket. I stash cash in several places other than my wallet. I carry a bore light, a small screwdriver, and a pocket loupe. This time around, I will be carrying a set of stag grips as trade fodder, and perhaps a gun or two.

In the morning, I will eat a good breakfast, put on some comfortable clothes and shoes and go have a good time.

Gun Show Dice Roll and Karma

After lunch, I returned to the gun show. I had helped out another gun owner this morning, assisting him in finding the value of his old revolver. It was time for the gun gods to smile on me. I noticed a fellow carrying around a lever action Marlin rifle, who also had an orange tag protruding out his jacket pocket. I ambled over to see what might be attached to the tag. I looked first at the rifle. It was a .22 caliber rifle, an old Marlin. He was asking $350 or so. Considering the condition, I thought that was a bit high.

Finally, as he was about to turn away, I asked "What about the one in your pocket?" He then pulled a topbreak S&W revolver from hiding. The grips had been replaced with pearl grips at some point, no medallions, but they were genuine mother of pearl. I asked what he wanted for it, and he replied $225. I opened the cylinder, and found all the numbers to be matching. It was a .38 Double Action 4th Model. I countered $200, and he said $215. I asked if I could dry fire the revolver and he said yes. I dry fired it, and it functioned. I turned it over in my hands, wondering if I really wanted to add another top break revolver to the stable. I was flying by the seat of my pants on this deal. I did not know the market value of this gun without consulting the book. The book was outside in the car. Just as I was about to return it to it's owner, he said $200 would be fine. Because I had offered, I could not withdraw, so I rolled the dice. I took two Franklins out and handed them over to the gent, and thanked him for my new gun. Then I went out to the car to look it up. I had done OK on the deal. Not spectacular, but I did not take a whooping either. I returned to the arena.

I make no bones about being a 1911 fanatic. I keep track of recent price trends, I buy and shoot old man Browning's .45, and I have found contentment doing so. Because of the historical nature of the 1911, one of my Holy Grail guns has long been a M1911. When I came back inside the gun show, I wandered over to one of my favorite dealers, Cowboy Bob. I was too late. Bob was engaged with a gentleman who was selling a M1911A1 for a friend who had been a Major in the US Army. The pistol had been retained by the officer after he left the service, and was in it's original holster. It appeared to be in good shape. I stood by as Cowboy Bob continued to chat with the seller. If he walked away from Bob's offer, I was prepared to quickly counter, although I wasn't certain I had the cash at hand.

Cowboy Bob offered the man a thousand dollars for the pistol and holster. The man wavered, but his wife poked him in the ribs. Then he agreed. I watched Bob pull ten crisp hundred dollar bills from the wad of cash in his pocket, and he took possession of the pistol. After the seller and his wife walked away, I immediately said "OK Bob, how much are you going to sell that pistol to me for?"

"You want to buy it?" Bob acted surprised. He handed me the pistol, and I saw it was a Remington Rand. Earlier this week I had researched the serial number on a Remington Rand for someone and I saw that this gun's serial fell within the same range. I am not an expert on M1911s, but the combination of a one owner gun, carried but seldom used, and matching slide and frame made me confident that the gun was correct. Bob said "Twelve hundred."

"No tax," I countered. Bob agreed, and I broke out my checkbook. Bob thanked me for not turning the deal into an auction, and I thanked him for his work securing the deal. Thus the dice was rolled twice this afternoon, and karma kept me from taking a shellacking. Expect more on these two purchases soon.

Remington Rand Research

Gun Show Samaritan

It was drizzling rain when I went back to the gunshow this morning to have a look around and to see what walked in. The dealers had some fair prices on new guns, indeed good prices if you lived in some areas, but the supply of reasonably priced older Smith & Wesson revolvers was hard to come by. Since this was a boating and outdoor show as well as a gun show though, there was new blood in the traffic. It just felt right for some old heirlooms to walk in with disinterested yuppies.

I had noticed a fellow in line wearing a ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ cap. That is an almost certain indication of a High Road member. I tentatively walked up, asked him where he got the cap, and then introduced myself. We chatted a bit, and then I resumed watching the crowds.

Later, I was chatting with Cussin' Bob when I noticed a fellow in a white felt cowboy hat with a goatee talking to a dealer about an old N frame. The dealer was offering $200 for the gun, and the owner kept saying he just wanted to know what it was worth, not sell it. I stood by, and listened. When the gunowner finally walked away in frustration, I went up to him and asked to see the revolver. It was a Smith & Wesson N frame chambered in .44 Special, five screws, with a six and a half inch barrel and fixed sights. I told the gentleman that I did not know just what his gun was worth, but I had a book that would tell him what the fair market value was. I explained what the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson was, and offered to retrieve my copy from the car if he wanted.

Once back inside with the book, we opened it on the gunwale of a bassboat. We discussed the condition problems of his revolver, which placed it in the good to very good range. Supica had listed his revolver at $450 to $575. I told the gent that I was not interested in a .44 Special revolver. When he told me it was his late father's gun, I advised him to keep it. I explained how refinishing an old gun destroys it's value, and that as a family heirloom, his revolver is irreplacable should he sell it. He asked me about the yoke sticking, and I pointed out the sideplate screws could have been mixed up, creating a bind on the yoke. I offered to clean and lubricate the old gun for him, free of charge, and I left a reference so he could check me out first. We shook hands, and parted ways. Hopefully, my karma is good now......

Gun Show: Preliminary Findings

After work today, I found myself at the gun show. It was a combination boating/outdoors/gun show, so there were a lot of boats and deluxe campers filling the convention center. As I was making my way through the camper trailers parked outside, I ran into Lester, an old friend and deputy sheriff. Lester told me he was going to the car to retrieve money to purchase a Smith & Wesson his daughter wanted. He bemusedly said it "spoke" to her. That was unusual. Lester is a very practical, non-collector type. We parted ways and decided to meet again inside the show.

Once inside, I found a plethora of Smith & Wessons available, if one were willing to cough up the cash. Among the J frames were two Model 36's priced at $325 and $365. There was a humpbacked Model 49 available for the first $350. A .32 caliber Model 30 was priced at $365, and a Model 37 Airweight Chief's Special was available for $365 as well. For buyer with more money than sense, a nickel Model 36 was tagged at $400. None of these revolvers were flatlatches, or even four or five screws. They were plain old pedestrian S&W revolvers. It was the first day of the show......I will watch these with interest over the next couple of days.

The K frame camp was also well represented with prices all over the map. There were a few Model 10s and Model 64s that looked to have been re-imported by Century Arms International. There were also refurbished Model 64s and 65s with bead blasted finishes and new aftermarket grips. I was not interested in those. I saw no pre-model 10s, and in fact, no five screw guns at all. There was a very rough Model 13-2 tagged at $230. It was a square butt four inch version, and the price was too high in regards to the condition. I found two different Model 10s that has a bit of finish wear, but which were still darned good shootin' guns. One was priced at $265, the other was priced at $325.

I began to look at 1911s, and I did not find many in my price range. There were a couple of parkerized Colt 1991s priced hopefully over $700 by the same dealer. Of course he declared that Colt no longer sells guns to the public. Right.... A dealer from the Pineville are had his NIB Colts at the show, along with many many other new guns. His blued Government Model NRM Colt was priced at $689. He had stainless and Commander versions as well for about $25 more. Other dealers had plenty of over polished and reblued Colt 1911s available in the $700-800 range. One dealer had an electroless nickel Series 70 Colt Commander priced at $900......Dadgum! I have about a thousand total invested in both of my e-nickel Commanders! There was also a 100% oak leaf engraved and reblued Ithaca with carved grips on a table for $800. That was an interesting gun, but the engraving, although skillfully done, did not have a good flow. Springfield GI45s in parkerizing were priced at $489, with stainless GI45s tagged at $515.

I began to look less at guns, and more at accessories and people walking around. I was hoping to spot the elusive N frame brought in be an uninterested heir. While watching for walkers, I purchased a bulk can of my favorite gun oil, Ballistol, and saved a bit on shipping charges. I also found a like new set of Herrett's skip checkered Government Model grips almost covered on a table. The owner was asking $20 for them. I offered $15. He agreed.

Finally, I ran into Lester again. He was fairly strutting. He pulled a three and a half inch Model 27-2 from his belt to show me. Damn, I wished I had seen that gun first. It spoke to me too....It was a well worn Model 27, with a finish that almost looked like worn off parkerizing. The grips were battered, but correct. Lester speculated that this had been a law man's sidearm, and I suspect he was correct. The old gal still locked up tighter than Dick's hat band, and the rifling was good as well. The weathered finish made it an outstanding gun for carry. It was truly a grab and go no worries N frame. I tentatively probed Lester for the price he paid. He said $265 was the price on the tag, and the dealer would not budge. Damn. I told Lester he should be glad the gun spoke to his daughter first! If you ever want to get out from under it, Lester........

It had been a long day of surgeries capped off by gun show meanderings. I left to get some supper and make plans to return tomorrow.