Doc44 showed off his collectible Rugers in another thread (I do like the ivories on that Blackhawk). I have two Ruger 22 auto pistols and of course I have a story.

Over the years I have purchased 4 or 5 Ruger Standard Model 22 pistols. I always paid $100. For years that seemed to be the going rate. I wound up giving them all away. A friend's brother came on a Sunday to repair my furnace one winter. When he refused payment I gave him one of the Rugers.

I gave my groomsmen guns as gifts at my wedding. One of them got a Ruger. That sort of thing. I kept buying then but I never had one because I kept giving them away.

In 1999 I was living Utah. Went to the show in SLC. Was walking the aisles behind a fellow who was carrying a pair of Ruger 22s. One short barrel Standard Model and a 6&7/8" Mk I Target Model. I saw him show them several times to guys without making a sale.

Finally I asked to inspect the handguns. He said he wanted $100 for the Standard and $125 for the Target. There was that $100 price again. So I bought the Standard. Followed him for 10 minutes before stopping him again. Asked if he would take the same money for the Target since I bought the Standard. He would. He had the original box for the Target.

A little online research showed the Standard Model dated to 1955. My birth year. Cool. The Mk I was made in 1966. The year my lovely wife was born. Must have been kismet.

After 21 years they are still with me. I'm keeping these.

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No life story has happy end.