dnonac
Member
Just when I thought the deals were drying up......I think I just got lucky.
A little over a week ago, I was doing my normal browsing of online gun sites and spotted this .357 Mag listed at what I would consider a ridiculously low price from a pawn shop in Dallas. It's a 27-2, N185134, shipped in July 1974. My first thoughts were that it was damaged somehow, broken, rusted, etc....as they only supplied one picture with the ad.
I finally reluctantly called the contact guy and he inspected the gun at my direction over the phone and told me all about it. His description "Good condition, but the action is stiff, one stock faded, a few scratches here and there."
I figured it'd make a darn good shooter even if I did have to spend a little more for parts so I told him I'd take it. As he was getting my information, he said that there was also a holster included in the deal and he'd pack it with the gun to my FFL. Hey, added bonus. Now my only other 27 (a 1961 Mod 27) has a younger brother.
Got the gun on Friday and spent the evening cleaning it up. The action was gunked up with old dried grease and the barrel was coated with it as well. I'm thinking that stiff action is what led him to price it so low.
I removed the targets, which were faded, and replaced with a spare set I had (I'll refinish the originals this week).
After cleaning the gun, I was amazed at how nice it is. I'm certainly not an expert, but if I had to rate the finish I'd call it a solid 90%. Action is smooth and the bore is bright as could be. I used saddle soap on the old leather and it came out much cleaner and soft. I can tell I'm gonna have a lot of fun at the range and in the field with this one. The holster has no makers markings on it at all except for a pen marked ".357, 8" on the back side. Anyone recognize the holster?
Oh yeah....next project is to make a 6" leather extender for that holster so I can strap it around my old fat body! My days of 34-36" belts are long gone!
Craig.....
A little over a week ago, I was doing my normal browsing of online gun sites and spotted this .357 Mag listed at what I would consider a ridiculously low price from a pawn shop in Dallas. It's a 27-2, N185134, shipped in July 1974. My first thoughts were that it was damaged somehow, broken, rusted, etc....as they only supplied one picture with the ad.
I finally reluctantly called the contact guy and he inspected the gun at my direction over the phone and told me all about it. His description "Good condition, but the action is stiff, one stock faded, a few scratches here and there."
I figured it'd make a darn good shooter even if I did have to spend a little more for parts so I told him I'd take it. As he was getting my information, he said that there was also a holster included in the deal and he'd pack it with the gun to my FFL. Hey, added bonus. Now my only other 27 (a 1961 Mod 27) has a younger brother.
Got the gun on Friday and spent the evening cleaning it up. The action was gunked up with old dried grease and the barrel was coated with it as well. I'm thinking that stiff action is what led him to price it so low.
I removed the targets, which were faded, and replaced with a spare set I had (I'll refinish the originals this week).
After cleaning the gun, I was amazed at how nice it is. I'm certainly not an expert, but if I had to rate the finish I'd call it a solid 90%. Action is smooth and the bore is bright as could be. I used saddle soap on the old leather and it came out much cleaner and soft. I can tell I'm gonna have a lot of fun at the range and in the field with this one. The holster has no makers markings on it at all except for a pen marked ".357, 8" on the back side. Anyone recognize the holster?
Oh yeah....next project is to make a 6" leather extender for that holster so I can strap it around my old fat body! My days of 34-36" belts are long gone!
Craig.....
