OMG - THERE IT WAS...Nooooooo! THE HORROR

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I was visiting a friend yesterday afternoon and the conversation turned to guns, and my affinity for S&W products. He tells me he has an "old .357", would I like to see it? At which point he goes over to his gun cabinet, unlocks a bottom drawer, and opens it to reveal a pile of pistols jammed in the drawer. (picture attached is to give you an idea of what the drawer looked like, it is not the actual contents). After rattling around the contents while digging to the bottom, out comes an old revolver coated in a layer of dust - you guessed it, A REGISTERED MAGNUM!!

"Oh, I used to shoot it up the gun club all the time, but then I stopped reloading. Those lead bullets made a real mess of the barrel, I had to really scrub it last time" UGH!! Are you kidding me? I thought I was going to fall over. This is an early one, 466XX (should I tell #?) with a three-digit REG number.

I am going to see if he will let me take it and clean it up for him. I will try to get some pictures. He knows what it is, but I am not sure he really knows what it really is.

They are still out there. Hiding in drawers.

"I've seen horrors... horrors that you've seen..."
- Colonel Kurtz, Apocalypse Now

 

[DCWilson]

The rescue has begun and the horror is receding...

I'm looking forward to pics and further information.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

He knows what it is, but I am not sure he really knows what it really is. They are still out there. Hiding in drawers.

There are many folks out there who do not share the same appreciation for what we consider to be "rare" or special. I suppose it is possible, even probable, that there are some people who don't attach much value to an object they view simply as a tool. But, If this is a person of reasonable intelligence, who apparently has some experience and familiarity with firearms, he may also have an unusual sense of humour. I believe you may have been deliberately set up for a practical joke. I'd offer him a couple hundred bucks to take it off his hands or offer a trade for a vintage British Bulldog, then you'll see in a New York minute "how much he really knows what it really is." I've seen a couple of guys pull a gag like that before with antique, high end Winchesters and Colt's, the astonished expression on the face of the victim is usually enough to make you pee! LOL!

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[jimmyj]

I agree with "Old Flatfoot".

 

[CajunBass]

Reminds me of a story I read years ago in a magazine. It was an old story then, and the writer said he was telling the story on himself.

Writer has a table at a gunshow, when an old fellow walks up with something wrapped in a burlap sack, and asks if the writer knows anyone who buys old guns. The writer says he buys old guns from time to time. Whatcha got?

The old man pulls an original Colt Patterson, in the box, with all the accessories, out of the rag. The writer said he almost swallowed his teeth, but tried to stay cool. Well, it's pretty old, but I might take it off your hands. Whatcha want for it.

The old man, without batting an eye, replied $15,000, not a dime less."

Apparently he knew a little more than the writer thought he might. I don't recall if he bought the gun or not, but I think not.

True story or not, I have no idea. But it probably should be.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I don't think so. You cannot "set up" the amount of dust that was accumulated on this pistol, and that really isn't his thing. Old school hunter/shooter, doesn't understand my interest in collecting.

 

[SDH]

If you had a camera right there, why are we not looking at a picture of the RM?

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I did not have a camera with me, plus the lighting in his basement is terrible. The picture is representative of what his "gun drawer" looked like, not the actual drawer.

 

[mikepriwer]

I'm not sure I understand these two statements:

"I was visiting a friend yesterday afternoon " and

" I am not sure he really knows what it really is."

If he is a friend, why didn't you explain to him what it really is ?

Mike Priwer

 

[badguybuster]

If he is interested in selling. I would be happy to rescue it...

 

[fat tom]

The picture is representative of what his "gun drawer" looked like, not the actual drawer.

I sure am glad. My stomach was churning looking at those guns haphazardly thrown in there like that. Hated to think of the RM under that pile and being "dug" out.
f.t.

 

[Professor Frink]

Coincidentally, I stopped by a shop out here in SoCal yesterday. They also had a Registered Magnum. I asked to see it and they guy said "don't get too excited".

Someone had drilled a hole and screwed a grip adapter through the back-strap, another one through the for-strap. And as a last indignity, they had modified and lengthened the grips and drilled two holes in the bottom of the grip where the serial number is to attach a wooden cap.

Such a shame, but when it was done, I'm sure the owner was happy as a clam, plus it was definately used, it has seen some shooting and holster time. They were asking $2000 which seemed excessive to me.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I did try to tell him the significance of what he had, but he was more interested in telling me about shooting it back in the day. He knows that the "REG" number is special, but not how special to a S&W collector.

I did offer to buy it. I also offered to trade him anything of mine he wanted. He put it back in the drawer and said "not yet".

I just thought it was pretty cool that after reading about the Registered Magnums on here all the time, and seeing how highly cherished and sought after they are, here is one that has been literally under my nose for the past few years.

***And Fat Tom, THAT is what his drawer looked like, seriously, and the Reg Mag was in the middle of the pile. I almost crapped myself when he pulled it out of that mess!!***

 

[Kavinsky]

Hmmm I dont know what he'll do next then, if he goes to a gunshow or asks someone online he may ask a ton of money for it and that'll probably be the end of the discusion.

I mean 13 grand for a 357 magnum is just too much money no matter how good it may be.

 

[semperfi71]

I keep all of my N-Frames in a pile. It makes them easier to access when I need them........

 

[moosedog]

Nice pile. Thats how they should be stacked.

 

[keith44spl]

Yup,

That's the way to store 'em right there...
I generaly keep a dozen er two thrown in the chuck box
behind the cook stove jest handy like, in case if'n I take a notion to shoot one of 'em.
I'd say there a good chance there'd be a RM in the pile somheres.


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[semperfi71]

Keith44Spl,

Sadly no RM. Maybe someday I'll find one cheap for about $500.00.

 

[keith44spl]

Keith44Spl,

Sadly no RM. Maybe someday I'll find one cheap for about $500.00.

I's found one fur Five Hundred Bucks one time...Long sad story

Ya thought I was a joshin' ya about that chuck box drawer...Jest some everyday usin' stock.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[amazingflapjack]

saw one on gb tonight-10,500.00-as nice as I've seen on there. Flapjack