Misadventures in Gun Buying and My new Model 25

[Gun Relics]

The week started off on Ebay. I bought some very nice diamond target stocks that were represented as K Frame. K frame targets with diamonds tend to start at around $150 - $200 for nice ones. These were just extras I buy to keep on hand. When they came in, I tried them on a K frame and they didn't fit. I tried them on an N frame and they fit nicely. Original N frame targets are quite a bit more expensive and more difficult to find in great shape, so there I lucked out.

I happened to notice a dealer I was dealing with had a no dash Model 25 .45 (circa around 1958) for sale at a fair price with custom grips and a box. They represented the grips as a not-expensive brand.

So the model 25 came in and it's really nice but to my dismay the box was not correct. I was a little bummed about that but it turns out the grips are Sanderson's, which more than made up for the box and the ebay target grips fit like a glove.

So yes misadventures, but all in all a good week!

 

[dsf]

Remember, good luck is like a rubber band. The more it is stretched the greater the sting when it breaks.

But until then - enjoy!!

I'm always torn when it comes to "keep it original" or use what are obviously better grips on an older gun. I guess for shooting use the better and for show use the original.

 

[rct269]

Or for show use what you like best/appreciate the most, and invite all those of your colleagues who find fault with your selection to pound sand down a handy rat hole!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[bigmtnman]

Those Sanderson's are VERY nice indeed !! Great snag with that M25

 

[TheTinMan]

I recently bought a Colt Officers Model 3rd issue solely for the Sanderson grips. I already had two - a shooter and a safe queen in immaculate condition with box, etc. Shooting this revolver is simply a pleasure, and the grips are a big part of that. Plus I can swap them onto other Officers Model Colts if the spirit moves me.

 

[schutz5]

Talk about a drunken sailor staggering around and avoiding all the pit falls ! HAHA

Funny how things work sometimes !

Thanks for sharing the anecdotes !

edit: I had the opposite happen to me last year on fleabay.
football cut target grips advertised as N frame turned out to be K frame size.

So cheap that I did not bother to gripe. Made lemonade out of a lemon !!

 

[Gun Relics]

Talk about a drunken sailor staggering around and avoiding all the pit falls ! HAHA

Funny how things work sometimes !

Thanks for sharing the anecdotes !

edit: I had the opposite happen to me last year on fleabay.
football cut target grips advertised as N frame turned out to be K frame size.

So cheap that I did not bother to gripe. Made lemonade out of a lemon !!

Same thing happened to me earlier this year. A really nice pair too. I returned them but now regret it. At the time I didn't have K frame pistols but they've grown on me.

 

[rct269]

My very best tale about sellers who don't have the first clue goes like this:

I'm at a usually totally worthless gun show simply because I don't have anything better to do---except maybe stay home and take a nap. I've walked up and down the aisles past 4-500 tables, and never even slowed down---much less picked anything up to look at it. I'm heading for a friend's tables to pick up my traveling library, and head for home. I pass by a stairwell with a sign that says "More Tables Upstairs". I figure that's adding insult to injury, and up I go anyway! There are 14 tables arrayed around the landing, and I stop right there, and scan all of them. There's a likely looking S&W something on the far table to my left, and over I go. This looks for all the world like one of those post-war/pre-war .32 Regulation Police Targets from the later 1950's----1 of 196 Herbie Harris talked them into finishing up with pre-war parts with the promise he'd take all of them----and it's like new----and they're selling for $2000 at the time. This one has a tag that says "22/32-.32 caliber-$450".

Much longer story mercifully cut short, I gave the man his $450, and headed for my traveling library where I confirmed it was exactly what I thought it was-----and giggled most all of the 90 miles to home!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[paplinker]

Or for show use what you like best/appreciate the most, and invite all those of your colleagues who find fault with your selection to pound sand down a handy rat hole!

Ralph Tremaine

Yep!! That's how my Roper obsession got out of hand

 

[rct269]

That ain't out of hand, just a good start----a damn good one at that!

And talk about blind hogs and acorns, my one and only pair of Ropers were thumb-rest targets from a WAY better than average piece of Roper wood. Without really knowing what I was talking about, I figured they'd fetch $1,000---all by themselves.

They came to me on a pre-war Outdoorsman I'd have paid double the asking price for without even thinking about it---and that's just what I'd have paid for the gun----never mind the Ropers! They got moved from the Outdoorsman to the best Registered Magnum I ever had---and lived happily ever after!

I figured God was on my side----and out to teach the other guy a lesson when I opened up that package!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[4K2022]

The trigger width on this says, real men shoot 45s enjoy