A nice pair to draw to...

[Titan Tom]

I have been on the Board for a while now, but I haven’t been posting a lot due to my photo-ignorance. Yesterday, however, I fixed that, and now that I have come to learn how easy it is to post pics y’all will have to bear with me while I play ‘catch-up’ with some of my nicer Smiths. This is my 3rd ‘picture’ thread that I’ve posted since last night, and I may only be getting started!

Anyway, I submit for your consideration a nice pair that I picked up at a local show a few years ago. The 14 doesn’t really belong in this section since it’s a relative youngster, but it’s gonna have to ride the coattails of it’s Big Brother Pre-27.
So what we have here is a 1978 Model 14-4, all “T’s”, and a 1954 “S” prefix pre-27. The grips on the 14 are not numbered, but appear to be original. The grips on the pre-27 are properly numbered to the gun.

I had walked into the gun show very late on a Sunday afternoon. Halfway down the first aisle, I came to a table littered with old Smiths. The gentleman at the table still had the red pen in his hand that he was using to mark down the prices before the close of the show. These two, along with a nice Model 15 (which I’m always a sucker for) immediately caught my eye. The price on the pre-27 had been marked down to $750 from $1000, the 14 was $350, down from $500. I don’t remember what the 15 was going for, ‘cause I knew I could only afford two of the three at best. Both are in outstanding condition, and any shiny spots or blemishes are due to poor photography or oil.

After some chit-chat, we got down to some friendly haggling. When it was all over, I had bought the pair for $800.

All I can say is God Bless that Gentleman Dealer, for having Pity on me, a Fool.

[ben_g1]

REALLY! Is this April 1, both guns for $800. I never run across deals like that. Nice grab.

[MCorps0311]

Like you ben_g1,I never have that kind of luck.Congrats Titan Tom.

[Titan Tom]

The reality is that this hobby of ours is a life-long learning process.

My 'schooling' has included many, many instances where I wasn't quite so knowledgeable or lucky, and I have probably been skinned enough times across a gun show table to more than make up for my good fortune in this instance.

Fact is, if I wrote a thread about all of THOSE times, it would be quite embarrassing and humiliating to your already Humble Narrator.

Now I shop a bit more carefully, and with better defined goals. I still screw up from time-to-time, but this fool and his money are not as easily parted as they used to be.

[caddy2507]

Well Tom, you got a really nice pair this time -- especially
considering the price you paid. Don't feel too bad about not
posting pics sooner -- still learning here.

[wheelgun610]

As for the stocks on the M-14 not being numbered, it would be rare to find numbered target stocks on and K-38/M-14. The only numbered K target stocks you're likely to ever see will be in the low K260000 serial range, which was reserved for the first 5,000 Combat Magnums - aka: 'Pre-19'.

If I were to walk ahead of you at gunshows, you wouldn't get deals like that.

Mark