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I went to a gun show in California. They weren't allowed to actually show any guns.
Sometimes you get lucky... even at a gun show!
- Thread starter Mr. Wonderful
- Start date
Baltimoreed11754
Member
A buddy I used to shoot against also had a ffl gunshow side hustle where he would travel to Florida on mini vacations, buy old stuff mostly handguns and sell them at local shows here in nc. Anyway he had a big old NS .38 sitting on his table for multiple shows. I would pick it up and put it down every time I walked by. He finally talked me into it and it’s become one of my favorites. Think I paid a little over 300.00 for it. I’ve since added more to my New Service collection along with big old martial Smiths and Webleys. It’s the one on the top right. Guess he knew that I was going to be a milsurp handgun collector before I did.
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...I examined a table of used guns from a pretty good sized seller. It happened to be a pawn shop that deals in a lot of guns. Right there in the mix I spied a beautiful blued .32 Hand Ejector. It looked so nice I first suspected a re-blue/rework, maybe even by S&W. In any event the roll marks and screw heads looked perfect. There are several changes in the .32 HE lineup, and offhand I wasn't sure of the version and value. I looked at the serial number, but didn't write it down.
All the rest of that day, and the next morning, I couldn't get that little I-frame out of my mind. From looking up my reference materials on S&W, it looked like the gun was from about 1915. Now I'm even MORE spun up. On Sunday afternoon, my wife says "I've got to run some errands, and do a little shopping." That's all I needed to hear.
I jump in the car and head back over to the gun show. I got there at 4 pm and it closes at 5. For all I knew the gun of my fixation may have already been sold, or the vendor might be packing up to leave. Who knows? I never go to the gun shows late on the last day.
I get in the building and make a line for the vendor's tables. Ahhhhh, still there! I try to contain my enthusiasm as I handle the gun. A sales guy walks up and says, "That's a .32, you can still get ammo for that." I told him it was very nice, maybe a re-blue? He said he didn't know. No surprise there.
I asked him, "I've got a concealed weapons license, and cash. What can you do for me... out the door?" He said, how about $400? I told him, "Done".
Roger AKA Mr. Wonderful on the S&W Forum
Roger:
That is a beauty.
You rarely see 100+ year old guns in that outstanding condition. Congrats! Well played! And thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
Very nice! Caution: You could start showing symptoms of the "I" frame infection. These could include a continuous urge to search for and purchase small S&W revolvers. Beware.
Gives one hope, thx for sharing. Nicely done from purchasing to sharing your experience.
Roger,
Looking at it again, it looks like the LERK is a replacement.
Nonetheless, a beauty and not common in that fine condition.
I'd be proud to own it.
-Bill
Looking at it again, it looks like the LERK is a replacement.
Nonetheless, a beauty and not common in that fine condition.
I'd be proud to own it.
-Bill
Beautiful little gun! You lucked out!
I had a similar experience a number of years ago at a gun show. This gem, a transitional 22/32 kit gun, walked in off the street and I happened to see it first. The gun's frame was made prior to WWII, but it was modified and shipped in 1951. According to Roy, there are only 25 of these guns extant.
I did not waste a minute buying it - probably one of the best deals I ever scored at a gun show.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/members/paladin85020-albums-unusual-transitional-22-32-kit-gun.html
John
I had a similar experience a number of years ago at a gun show. This gem, a transitional 22/32 kit gun, walked in off the street and I happened to see it first. The gun's frame was made prior to WWII, but it was modified and shipped in 1951. According to Roy, there are only 25 of these guns extant.
I did not waste a minute buying it - probably one of the best deals I ever scored at a gun show.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/members/paladin85020-albums-unusual-transitional-22-32-kit-gun.html
John
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No.
The knobs that were separate pieces from the ejector rods were case hardened whether the gun was blue or nickel. Being such a small part, they don't usually have much color, and just look gray like this one. They are screwed on very tight, and just don't get lost. This gun is right as rain.
Did you have on your Covid mask to hide that good deal grim? Or was to cover your robbers face ?
....J/K
VERY NICE !!!
I like Lee's earlier comment:
Shame on you for leaving it there to be fondled by the heathen for an extra day!
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DGNY
Member
While we all know that the J frame in its many iterations is a bit of a gem, the early I frames are so well proportioned - and that exemplar snagged and shown to us by the OP, is truly a jewel.
The design, manufacturing, fit and finish are stunning - and shine as a beacon for us today to cherish. As well, its visual form is further confirmation not so much of what we may have lost, but of what is possible.
Thanks!
The design, manufacturing, fit and finish are stunning - and shine as a beacon for us today to cherish. As well, its visual form is further confirmation not so much of what we may have lost, but of what is possible.
Thanks!
Green Frog
Member
Has Hillsvile come back from the Woo Flu yet? I thought I might go, but my gimpy knee said “now way!” Come to think of it, I haven’t been since 2017… I didn’t realize it had been so long!
Froggie
The crowds were very good this year. I didn't see much activity on Gun Hill this year, so I didn't walk up there. (I've got knee problems too.)
No.
The knobs that were separate pieces from the ejector rods were case hardened whether the gun was blue or nickel. Being such a small part, they don't usually have much color, and just look gray like this one. They are screwed on very tight, and just don't get lost. This gun is right as rain.
Good to know!... I'll file that info away with the hope of one day crossing paths with such a gem.
That thing is just plain handsome!
-Bill
Good to know!... I'll file that info away with the hope of one day crossing paths with such a gem.
That thing is just plain handsome!
-Bill
The .32 HE in question has a mushroom head, not a LERK, which is also known as a barrel head knob.
What's not to love a brand new 96 year old Smith....
Lobster Picnic
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I'm in North Florida but I've had more success finding older S&Ws at the small town gun shows rather than the big city shows. I've had those Saturday gun show trips that result in a semi-sleepless night. So far I've never made a Sunday return, though I've come close. Mostly I learned just to buy on Saturday.
As an old f@r# that has been going to shows for over 50 years, I will tell you a story that happened in my "yout". I had driven 3 and a half hours to attend the Augusta Maine gun show. I liked going out of state because it seemed that you got different inventory when driving a bit.
I'm cruising the show quickly as was my normal procedure. I soon spot 2 Smith and Wesson Lady Smiths in beautiful condition but being new I am not sure of value. I cruise the isles looking for a copy of the blue book and my mentor who had introduced me to S&W's, to confirm numbers. Satisfying my needs I race back to the table only to find some other buyer laying down Benjamin's and walking away with the prize.
Lesson learned. Now if I face a similar dilemma, I ask the seller if he will hold the item for 10 minutes while I check something. Sometimes they ask for a refundable deposit but most often they will do it for free.
Just some advice for any newbie's out there.
I'm cruising the show quickly as was my normal procedure. I soon spot 2 Smith and Wesson Lady Smiths in beautiful condition but being new I am not sure of value. I cruise the isles looking for a copy of the blue book and my mentor who had introduced me to S&W's, to confirm numbers. Satisfying my needs I race back to the table only to find some other buyer laying down Benjamin's and walking away with the prize.
Lesson learned. Now if I face a similar dilemma, I ask the seller if he will hold the item for 10 minutes while I check something. Sometimes they ask for a refundable deposit but most often they will do it for free.
Just some advice for any newbie's out there.
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