Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
My first revolver was a 4&5/8" Blackhawk in 357 Magnum bought new in 1971. I sold or traded it somewhere along the line. Should have kept it.
Later I bought a 45 Colt BH with a 7.5" barrel. Had it cut to 4&5/8" then sold or traded it. Should have kept that one, too.
Acquired a 30 Carbine BH. Sold it. Bought another just like it. It was also gone within a few months. This is the definition of young and stupid, by the way. About 6 months ago I was feeling nostalgic and bought another 3 Screw 30 carbine BH. Will try to hang onto this one. All the BHs mentioned were Old Models. Wanted an Old Model with a short barrel in 41 Magnum but never found one.
About 25 years ago I bought the first of many Ruger 22 "Standard Model" auto pistols. Gave it away. Bought another. Gave it away, too. Picked up a third one. Yup, gave it away. Funny thing is I paid the exact same price for all of them. I always paid $100 for a Ruger 22.
In 1999 I was at a show in Salt Lake City and a guy was walking around with two Ruger 22 autos in holsters. He was stopped several times and he showed them to folks with no buyers. After about 20 minutes I asked to see them.
One was a 4.5" Standard Model and the other was a Mark I Target Model with a 6 &7/8" barrel. He wanted $100 (of course) and $125 respectively. I bought the short one at his asking price (naturally, this is what I was used to paying). After walking behind him for another 10 minutes I tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he'd take $100 for the other one, giving me $25 off as I had purchased the other at his asking price. Another $100 Ruger was mine. (What is that, five?) The Standard Model turned out to have been made in 1955, the year I was born. The Mark I dates from 1966, the year my wife was born. I'll keep these.
At some point I bought a Ruger 77 in 338 Winchester Magnum. Don't ask me why. Traded it having never fired it for a 6" Python. Still have the Colt. I think I came out ahead monetarily on that swap. Bought a 77 "International" in 308. Cool rifle. Sold it to a buddy. Picked up a stainless Mini 14. It was one of the recalled models and the dealer took it back as it was unfired and I didn't replace it.
Around 1989 I got a 10/22 from Walmart for $119. The basic model it looks the same today as the day I bought it. No "space guns" for me, thank you.
After Bill Ruger Sr. sold us out in 1994 on the Assault Weapon Ban I boycotted Ruger products for a long time. After his death I sort of relented. I got a #1 in 243 Winchester. I love the look of the #1 and after owning one I love the way they handle and shoot. I kind of went overboard with the #1 thing.
Most recently I bagged another 10/22. I had yearned (yes, I said I yearned) for a 10/22 with the Mannlicher stock for years. At a recent local show a storefront dealer was set up and he offered 20% off retail for all sales at the show that day. No excuses at that point. He had one, and that discount made the price right. He even paid the sales tax. Yee Haw!
Since the photo was taken I ditched the complicated scope covers.
I hope I haven't forgotten anything. (EDIT) Oh, I just remembered. I had a 44 Magnum auto carbine at one point. I liked it except for the skimpy four round magazine capacity. Sold it. (30) Never had a Ruger DA revolver or a center firer auto pistol as I find all of them exceedingly ugly. But I have a fairly long and interesting history with Ruger firearms. No plans to add any more at this point. But you never really know on such things.
Later I bought a 45 Colt BH with a 7.5" barrel. Had it cut to 4&5/8" then sold or traded it. Should have kept that one, too.
Acquired a 30 Carbine BH. Sold it. Bought another just like it. It was also gone within a few months. This is the definition of young and stupid, by the way. About 6 months ago I was feeling nostalgic and bought another 3 Screw 30 carbine BH. Will try to hang onto this one. All the BHs mentioned were Old Models. Wanted an Old Model with a short barrel in 41 Magnum but never found one.
About 25 years ago I bought the first of many Ruger 22 "Standard Model" auto pistols. Gave it away. Bought another. Gave it away, too. Picked up a third one. Yup, gave it away. Funny thing is I paid the exact same price for all of them. I always paid $100 for a Ruger 22.
In 1999 I was at a show in Salt Lake City and a guy was walking around with two Ruger 22 autos in holsters. He was stopped several times and he showed them to folks with no buyers. After about 20 minutes I asked to see them.
One was a 4.5" Standard Model and the other was a Mark I Target Model with a 6 &7/8" barrel. He wanted $100 (of course) and $125 respectively. I bought the short one at his asking price (naturally, this is what I was used to paying). After walking behind him for another 10 minutes I tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he'd take $100 for the other one, giving me $25 off as I had purchased the other at his asking price. Another $100 Ruger was mine. (What is that, five?) The Standard Model turned out to have been made in 1955, the year I was born. The Mark I dates from 1966, the year my wife was born. I'll keep these.
At some point I bought a Ruger 77 in 338 Winchester Magnum. Don't ask me why. Traded it having never fired it for a 6" Python. Still have the Colt. I think I came out ahead monetarily on that swap. Bought a 77 "International" in 308. Cool rifle. Sold it to a buddy. Picked up a stainless Mini 14. It was one of the recalled models and the dealer took it back as it was unfired and I didn't replace it.
Around 1989 I got a 10/22 from Walmart for $119. The basic model it looks the same today as the day I bought it. No "space guns" for me, thank you.
After Bill Ruger Sr. sold us out in 1994 on the Assault Weapon Ban I boycotted Ruger products for a long time. After his death I sort of relented. I got a #1 in 243 Winchester. I love the look of the #1 and after owning one I love the way they handle and shoot. I kind of went overboard with the #1 thing.
Most recently I bagged another 10/22. I had yearned (yes, I said I yearned) for a 10/22 with the Mannlicher stock for years. At a recent local show a storefront dealer was set up and he offered 20% off retail for all sales at the show that day. No excuses at that point. He had one, and that discount made the price right. He even paid the sales tax. Yee Haw!
Since the photo was taken I ditched the complicated scope covers.
I hope I haven't forgotten anything. (EDIT) Oh, I just remembered. I had a 44 Magnum auto carbine at one point. I liked it except for the skimpy four round magazine capacity. Sold it. (30) Never had a Ruger DA revolver or a center firer auto pistol as I find all of them exceedingly ugly. But I have a fairly long and interesting history with Ruger firearms. No plans to add any more at this point. But you never really know on such things.
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