The first one in a couple of years no less. This one is a prewar S&W 44 3rd model target. Try finding them some time. According to Jim Fisher, one of the experts on the subject, they made all of 96 of them. Now I've got 3 and I'm even looking for another... Well, after my bank account either recovers or I stumble on another.

I turned down a 2nd from David Carroll because he wanted $13,500 for it. Jim tried to buy my first from me. I wasn't selling. David Carroll wants it too, but settled on a promise to buy it from my widow. So yeah, if the commie bastard we have for a Gov. allows us to have things like gun shows again, I'll be in my chair at the show, looking. Its not without hope. I've located and bought 3 of them over the last 20 years. Maybe $13,500 isn't so bad after all.

Congrats (if true)!!! One of my "grail guns." Without pics, it didn't happen!

Nice!

Come on, burg. You know we're "all in this together" (placid Big Brother voice) and the tyranny is for your OWN GOOD!

Nice gun. Very, very nice.

Congrats on the 'Grail Gun' acquisition, but...

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
The first one in a couple of years no less. This one is a prewar S&W 44 3rd model target. Try finding them some time. According to Jim Fisher, one of the experts on the subject, they made all of 96 of them. Now I've got 3 and I'm even looking for another... Well, after my bank account either recovers or I stumble on another.

I turned down a 2nd from David Carroll because he wanted $13,500 for it. Jim tried to buy my first from me. I wasn't selling. David Carroll wants it too, but settled on a promise to buy it from my widow. So yeah, if the commie bastard we have for a Gov. allows us to have things like gun shows again, I'll be in my chair at the show, looking. Its not without hope. I've located and bought 3 of them over the last 20 years. Maybe $13,500 isn't so bad after all.

Is this the one you just got listed as serial #869?

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
Congrats (if true)!!! One of my "grail guns." Without pics, it didn't happen!

Truer words could not be spoken

Congratulations, that is an awesome find.

Wow! Congrats are in order, but isn't 3 of them considered a harem? Count me envious.

Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by j38:
but isn't 3 of them considered a harem?

Nope. I've been married for over 50 years now. I've got better sense that to take on 3 wives.

I've lost the gun already. It was here beside my chair, but now its submerged in rubbish. I know where I left it, but I've already taken the grips off. Pretty sure they're Sanderson's (look kind of like Ropers but no square holes where the jig held them.) I don't like them because they move around. The pin holes for the frame locators have been hogged out, either to fit this gun or one before it. Even when tight they move. Totally unacceptable to me. I'm putting on the Kearsarge grips I have and these are going on the 4" that is destined back to David Carroll. If I can only find that gun because its wearing them, or was the last time I saw it.

Wife being a bit unreasonable and demanding I put a label on the guns with a future owner. I'm not even dead yet.

I can't even find my guns and you guys want me to post pictures?

quote:

Originally posted by Hondo44:


Is this the one you just got listed as serial #869?

Nope. That one is pretty well agreed to have a post war barrel and be refinished. It went for $4K plus "internet premium". I wish the guy luck, its a fine gun and I hope he shoots it. I Had planned on shooting mine, but its better than the other blue 6 1/2, so it becomes a safe queen and the first one gets shot. The number 869 gun was just a mistake by the auction house. Those fools didn't know what it was or where to find the number. Mine does have 2 flaws, as found by David. There's a nasty scratch on the passengers side (right). It might be 1/4" long and all the way thru the finish. I couldn't find it but my wife did. The other is a pretty common one on prewar Smiths. Its a cloudy area over on the drivers side. Just like they stopped polishing too soon.

Not to deride that other gun, but I wasn't born yesterday. I'd have paid maybe $1k but not 4K for it. We have no idea of its history or real serial. What we think is it had its barrel replaced and refinished. From that perspective, its worth $1k, not the $4k it brought down. So back to the idea I was born at night but not last night.

Milwaukee makes a rather nice M18 Leaf Blower. Get one and plug in a 6 AH battery pack and you'll have that clutter cleared lickity split. Might even find a triple lock or two that you don't remember buying.

BTW haven't hit the big 7 yet but can see the handwriting on the wall. You can't take it with you so no harm at all in buying a treat now and then.