Hi:
Reading about weapons that were never fired, used, handled with bare hands, been in sunlight, lived their whole life in a safe or dresser drawer or nightstand, I thought it was time that some weapons that was actually used for what they were intended for. These weapons has been outside in the cold, heat, rain, and snow. Protecting and Serving and dependable.
Lets show what real veteren, non-virgin weapons look like:

http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/v...orkingGuns.jpg
left side-top to bottom
1. S&W "N" Frame .45acp
2. Glock M17 9mm l
3. Glock M27 .40S&W
4. Charter Arms .38spl

right side- top to bottom
5. S&W M65 .357mag
6. S&W M10 .38spl
7. S&W M19 .357

This should be great. To bad I don't have any workin' guns.

Giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Those are the kind I like too Jimmy.

I've got a Buddy who collects 1st Gen Colt SAAs and if they are less than pristine he is not interested. I tell him they are coward's guns, never been out of the box.

I like ones that have teeth marks and tales to tell.

Worn old 1911 but I still trust it.........

Working guns is all I got or want.

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Always Stay Strong!

Here's my 1976 model 49. I think it has an Armolloy finish, don't know for sure, it was like this when I got it. Some red finger nail polish on the front sight and a smooooth action, it's my knock around carry-all gun.

And here is a model 18-4 I bought in '80....well Dad bought it as I was only 20. It went with me on my trapline excursions for years. Got submerged a few times too, when I stepped off into holes in the creekbed.

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Jimmy,

Workin tools are what we use round these parts

They got earn their keep,

Here's one,

Pic goes here




Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

If I'm dressed it's a safe bet one/some of these are in my pockets.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Working guns are all I have or can afford but they give me pleasure. Thank the Lord for those who can keep a few of the finer firearms in pristine condition. Without those folks we would never be able to see them as they age, still possessed of the old time polish and bluing.

One more time . . . . .

I bought this one in 1973. I took it to the machine shop where we ground off the hammer with it still in the gun. I have carried this little 36 in my pocket through thunderstorms, while moving irrigation pipe in 105 degree 90% humidity weather. I have probably fallen in Whitewater Creek a dozen times with it in my pocket while priming my irrigation pump, or otherwise working on it. Killed at least 10 rattlesnakes, one in City Limits of Columbus, Ga, several armadillers, and finished three or four deer that were involved in vehicle collisions. It has stayed in my pocket 72 consecutive hours on many occasions, mostly at the Atlanta Farmers Market. Most of the time a bigger gun would have been nice to have, but not practical. I pop the side-plate once or twice a year and clean the innards. If it looks like it needs it, I will soak it in diesel fuel overnight. I have thought about a refinish, but most say don't do it.

One time, just once, it turned what I believe was about to be an armed robbery into a non-event. I had about $2500 in my pocket I just couldn't afford to lose.

It is in my hip pocket right now. I usually keep it in a secret hidey-hole in my house, available within 5 seconds. For some reason I got it down and carried it with me today when I took Mama shopping for T-giving goodies. It gave me the same peace-of-mind it did from that first day 38 years ago.

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Georgia On My Mind

I as well am a great admirer of working guns (I dont own weapons). Many believe if you take your gun to the range a few times a year it is a working gun. My beliefs are different. When a gun has been lost in a river for a month, or irrigation ditch for 3 days, been involved in car wrecks, buried in snow banks and then used to pull a hunter up a snow cover cliff, when one has been kick and drug and rolled on by a horse, thrown from a horse with the hunter attached to said rifle, when it has taken such a hard fall with a hunter that the stock was splintered from butt to forend, when it has survived an avalanche, been frozen in a block of ice all winter, when filled with bear blood so thoughly that the cylinder wont turn, been dropped so many times while hunting that an accurate count cant be made, when a fall with a hunter was so severe that the sling swivels straightened out,been kicked out of a hunters hand by a wounded bull elk, been bitten by a wounded coyote, then quite possibly you can call these guns working guns. Every instance mentioned above has actually happened to my guns. It has been a grand time. I admire every dent, ding and scratch. For unlike some, mine have been there done that and have the scars to prove it. Those are just a few instance I could recall at this time. I forgot about being thrown into a snowback from a moving truck to be recovered later. I know the statute of limitations is up on that incadent so I wont elaberate other that to say that an overly unbright young lad took the dare to shoot a deer in the sheriff yard at 6am on a Sunday, just a couple months after season closed. Nuff said about that. Oh yea, seems a young hunter of 11 years took his dads favorite Browning 22 rifle, and all 5 rounds of ammo he had, and shot a coyote till he ran out of ammo. The coyote refused to die and had to be chased down on foot and was clubbed with said treasured rifle till the coyote was dead and the buttstock was broken off the rifle. Seems said hunters dad was not as proud of young hunters coyote as hunter was. Dad did find one good use for the broken buttstock. It was used to paddle the butt of said young hunter from one end of the Roaring Fork valley to the other. Dindt matter though I had a coyote and none of my buddies did. Working guns you just got to love em.

Just so you know, I don't loan any guns to YOU!!! LOL

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Go big or stay home

Carried for 33 years by my friend on the job...passed on to me after his retirement and passing shortly after....

It saved his life on two occasions. Now it defends my family.

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Take your time..quickly.

Somebody say working guns? At least two of these are on me every work day and the rest are in the Crown Vic. On occasion when working a patrol shift its the G17 and G26, my regular gig is investigations and I'm carring the G19 or Model 19 and the G26. Lately it's been the Model 19. The M4 stays in the trunk. On off duty hours I may only have one on me. Not shown is my 870P.

Yea I know there is a lot of black plastic.

Redlevel WINS!!!!

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Field Researcher. IGC

REDLEVEL-when you retire-if you ever do-send the old girl in for a make over. Knock off some of the rough places and get her hard chromed-refinish those poor stocks-or what ever would give her a fresh start for retirement-maybe some smithing. That's what I did with my Ford pick up, we've been together for almost 33 years. I'm glad she don't hold grudges. Flapjack.

For the last 8 or 9 months my go-to carry gun has been my 642, so I guess that qualifies. I bought it in January and have put just over 1,100 rounds through it so far, with probably 3 or 4 times that many dry-fire "rounds" during practice drills (drawing, reloading, one-hand manipulations, etc.). I had a relatively minor issue that was fixed by replacing the ejector rod and it has had no issues since then.

I took this picture earlier tonight. You can see the finish wear under the cylinder latch, along the trigger guard, and at the forward edge of the frame.



This is a rather poor picture of the backstrap I took back in August before I figured how to use the "Macro" function (have I mentioned I'm not a camera guy?).



And this is a picture of the same backstrap taken earlier tonight.



This is the gun in my Wraith IWB holster by Seth's Gun Leather. It's a great combo.



It functions well, shoots great, and is easy to carry. As for the finish issues, I'll probably get it refinished at some point in the future but it's not a priority right now. It works great as is.

And for those interested, I carry it loaded with Speer 135gr Short-Barrel GDHP +P.

I wont have a lazy gun. If it wont work for me i don't want it. Lazy guns are like lazy wimen. Not good for much of anything.

Ive got a SIG P220, a Glock 19, a Kel-Tec P-32 and a S&W 642 that I carry everyday, though sometimes I leave one of them at home to rest. But I don't give any of them much time off.

My lounging pajamas accessories.



For more dangerous missions, like going out for a newspaper and a cup of coffee.





Cheers;
Lefty

I love every chance I get to defrock a safe queen, but most of mine are good old fashioned working iron.

Outdoorsman



Old Troy, NY PD Colt Police Positive



Smith M&P



Smith M&P .32-20



27-2, this gun never stays in the safe for very long

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Vaya con Dios

Here is my weapon of choice since 1975, when wearing a suit and a tie. It wouldn't shoot HP's for the first 1000 rounds.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

I have a few that don't get shot as much as the others but don't have any "safe queens" that aren't shot. MY oldest handgun that I have and shoot is a S&W Model 1-1/2 cf.

Hi:
I have had two Model 642/638 revolvers with finish issues like your. Both were replaced by Smith and Wesson for frame issues. Contact S&W Customer Service 1-800-331-0852. DO NOT use Hoppes #9 on these revolvers.

REDLEVEL, quite a good looking piece you have there. Most of the adventures I have had, different guns were used. While one may have been used on a trapline, another would have been tied to a snowmobile. Your adventures have been with a single gun. My guns are jealous. A few have advised to refinish this gun. If it were mine I would never touch it. If you refinish it you will just end up with a shiny gun and the world had enough of these. What the world doesnt have enough of is guns with a history. If you refinish it, the visual history is forever erasred. Just my two cents. Another thought, how about writing down a history of this gun, the number of miles it has traveled, the snakes it has shot, and the times it went swimming ect. Then give this written history to a relative that would appreciate it just the way it is.

You reckon my diesel fuel soak would work?

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Georgia On My Mind

As much as I like pics of beautiful, pristine guns, you just gotta admire these too. I love these kinda threads! Thanks y'all...

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Here is an Outdoorsman from 1952, said to be a CHP working gun.

Some plain Jane indestructible plastic that rides in one of Lefty's superior creations.


......moon

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NRA Life Member

This one hasn't worked much but it's sure traveled many a mile with me. I loaned a semi-derelict buddy $100 on this 36 3" back in 1974. He never paid me back so this is the first gun I ever bought and I've still got it. I loaned him another $100 on a model 10 a few years later and it ended up being mine, too. I used to keep the 36 in my bass boats rod locker and the finish (or lack of) shows it.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I sure do like each and every one of those. Great guns. Thanks for posting.

This looks a LOT better with a bad picture than it does in person but it rides in my pocket daily.

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Non gratum anus rodentum

My work guns. Excuse the picture. Just a quick snap. That's okay they aren't prissy primadonnas and could care less about a pretty photo. Though I am envious of those who do take nice photos. That a Glock 19, Glock 26 and a S&W M49 Bodyguard. Missing is my Remington 870.

Those handguns always go with me when I'm working and at least one of them accompanies me when I'm off duty. All three are kept in easy to reach locations when I am at home.

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This is a great thread. It makes me feel good about all my guns - I try to keep them cleaned up, but they ALL get shot - some a heck of a lot!

Edit: I think you all just saved me $600. Recently, I kept looking at my trusty ole' 36 thinking; "man an new (maybe newer pre-lock) model 60 sure would be cool"...now I'm feeling really good about ole' reliable here;

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But then, what do I know?

I traded for this via the forum a few years ago. It was made in 1978, I would have been about four years old when it left the factory. Had some blue wear, and had a past life as an IPSC gun.



I no longer have this, traded it for a nice Model 36 square butt that I still have. It was someone's custom carry gun though. The only highly modified Charter Arms I've seen. It was inscribed as the Terminator .44 Special in terms of caliber designation.





I used this as a pocket gun for a good while, traded it later for a 3" 31-1 that I still have. It was a 12-3 round butt snub. It was used with a succession of homemade cardboard holsters. I sort of miss it.



Paid 98 dollars for this, a Mossberg 800AM in .308. They were only made for a few years in the 1970s. Robert Stack used to be in ads for it with the legend "all the gun that I need". Stock is held together with epoxy where it broke before I got. I since painted it since SC tends to rust things.



Traded both of these this year. Both were old Alaskan bear guns, cut down and used for that purpose for years before I got them off AA for WWG in Anchorage. The Model 12 was made in 1919.



Early 90s 5903 that I still have. I would have been in high school when it was made. Vaguely wanted one at the time, ended up with this one years later.



Traded off this old Victory Model, but it got a second life as still being a working gun - went off to be used as a grip frame for fitting and measuring grips. Well maybe third or fourth life... It had also, in addition to its wartime service spent time - quite literally - as both a paperweight and a door stop.

Thanks for the info. I'm waiting until I can get another J-frame (hopefully early next year...*fingers crossed*) before I ask S&W about it.

And the only things I've used on it were Break Free CLP and Gun Butter lube.

My 28-2. It's been matte blued some time in the past, given the amount of fading of the stampings, especially on the sideplate. The target grips have been reinstalled, and show the kind of wear that tells me the right stock had a seat belt or jacket rubbing against it... a lot.



My '88 Beretta 92F. The finish is in decent shape, but it's been around the block a few times. The new-ish grips stand out against the rest of the gun, and I promptly dinged them up while I had a rifle slung on my back. The front sight protector on my FAL banged against them enough to dent the grips along the lower edge.



My oldest daughter's Argentine FM Hi-Power. The painted finish was beat-up when she got it, and it's not gotten any prettier in the years since. It's a very accurate shooter, though, an early 90s "Sportarms Miami FL" import.


I don't usually buy NIB guns, as they don't stay that way long when I own them. My first firearm was a 1921 Australian SMLE rifle in .303 caliber, and it looked like it had been dragged around the world once or twice. The "been there, done that" look is what I like on a firearm.

When did you work at the Farmers Market. My uncle used to work there checking in trucks. I think he was head checker when he retired.

CW

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μολὼν λαβέ

This Delta has been my constant companion since the 80's.

She ain't much to look at.

Holster: Lewis Police Special?? (best off duty holster EVER!)

Great thread jimmyj. I'm thoroughly enjoying this one.

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I type. Therefore I am.

That's a working gun for sure. Did it get cut or did you wear a blister on it and have to bandage 'er up?

Possible the grip bandage keeps the revolver from slipping down below the waistband when CCW without a holster or to keep the grip from slipping in your hand when firing those 158 gr LSWC-HP plus Ps.

1956 Vintage 44 magnum carried by cop in California


3 1/2" 357 magnum one of several carrying ones I've owned


Factory nickel Combat Masterpiece that spent a lotta time in a duty holster.


4" 29-2 from the early 70's


Parkerized pre-40 Centennial


1957 4 screw K-22 that gets shot a LOT


my 29-3 that started my 29 addiction. Bought new in 1985 and been with me since.


A few autos


my only actual deer rifle a 1931 Winchester 54 30 Govt 06

I was probably one of the trucks he checked in if he was there in the middle/late 70s. I would go up on Monday night with a load of peaches and plums. I would stay on the market and my brothers would bring another load each day, taking the empty truck home. I would usually come home on Wednesday or Thursday night for the weekend while someone else stayed a few days.

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Georgia On My Mind

The 12-3 had a different grip dimension than other K frames - I think it was the 12-4 before they went to the standard size. That made finding "other" grips a bit of a problem, short of having some made up. Thus I tried various expedients to improve on the original wood ones - tape and rubber bands mostly. The tape actually first went on when I noticed that all the finish was rubbing off the grips.

Around the time that I had mine, "Osprey" - then a moderator here - tested a 12-2 out by putting one thousand odd rounds of Plus P through his. Though he had the benefit of a set of Hogues "fitted" via some green craft foam shims to help. His gun survived so I never worried too much about mine, despite the lack of a wider sample to draw conclusions from.

This K-22 outdoorsman has been in my family since new (around 1936) has gone on every shooting expedition, hike and outdoor outing our family did. When my dad passed away, I put in a new mainspring and these period correct grips on it. Finish ain't pretty, but it still shoots just fine.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Obviously, this piece is NO safe queen. This project was such a huge undertaking, it required the combined efforts of two forum members. However, it will be back in service this evening sporting a cylinder bore barrel. We determined an adjustable choke was unnecessary on this type firearm.

Nice looking guns all... The shotgun with the hose clamp is interesting.......

Here's my Father's Mod. 36 ca. 71-72 that he carried as a BUG for over 30yrs as a LEO.

It has since been passed to me and it's on my right side almost everyday in a semi-retired role.

Yes, the hammer is semi-bobbed. My Father did it in his work room...lol.

These two are my main work guns. I've had carried the Sig since 1991, and the Glock since around 1995.





The baby Glock replaced this battle scarred NP-3ed Model 36:





The one in the middle is a working gun, but I have to give it back when I retire.



I wish this one was mine. I think it has done some work of its own over the years:

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

In a perfect world we could all afford to own, and shoot one.