Another Old S&w Gets a Home

[quinn]

Johnson City is adjacent to the LBJ ranch, which is now a national historical park. I imagine it was a fairly busy place during the LBJ administration as LBJ was frequently there at the "Texas White House." I worked at Randolph AFB in the Northeast part of San Antonio for 15 years, and I heard stories about LBJ's plane (I guess it was AF One) landing at Randolph when he returned to the ranch. But the ranch is a fairly long drive from Randolph, 50 miles or so. Maybe they used a helicopter for that leg of the trip.

Interesting side note, Dennis. When Ladybird got her hands on the Interstate Hiway Trust Fund about 1965, the original Interstate 37 was commissioned from the LBJ Ranch in Johnson City to Joske's Department Store in Downtown San Antonio. That portion of IH37 was never finished and the part north of downtown S.A. which had been completed was decommissioned and became US 281 in the late 1970's. How LBJ got from Joske's to Randolph AFB... I don't have a clue. I was a network reporter assigned to the SA/LBJ news bureau... but that story never made it out of the newsroom.

 

[DWalt]

Interesting. Back at that time, there was very little northern development of San Antonio outside Loop 410, which itself had been open for only a short time. I have no idea what kind of a road SH 281 north of 410 was then, but it was certainly nothing like a freeway, and I imagine that 281 between San Antonio and Blanco/Johnson City wasn't much more than a curvy two lane farm-to-market road. Probably it was not a lot of fun for Lady Bird to drive to Joske's in downtown SA.

An interesting story about LBJ's "Air Force One-Half" plane: Piece of flying history lands on LBJ ranch

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Just a quick note regarding a reference in the original post...

"I sent off for a factory letter with the information that I had before actually receiving the pistol. I got the letter back this past weekend and as usual, the most important piece of information that it contained was which hardware store it was shipped to and the date. It was shipped on December 13, 1926 with a 6 ½" barrel, checkered non medallion walnut grips, nickel finish to Frank Budge Co, Miami Florida."

The Frank Budge Co. was the first "Hardware" store in Miami. They sold hardware, furniture, sporting goods, home furnishings, paints and oils. The store was located at the intersection of the two major streets in the small town at the time, on Flagler Street and Miami Avenue.

The information above is from the Miami City Directory, page 113, in 1926.

Best wishes, and congrats on a great gun and story.

Roger aka Mr. Wonderful

 

[rustednbustedchuck]

I'd rub a little Pecard brand leather dressing on that leather. Its often suprising how good quality leather will come around.

 

[mikepriwer]

The story is indeed a great story - thanks for taking the time to put it together for this forum.

I find the condition of the gun rather puzzling. To me, it doesn't seem likely that a pilot
of this mans caliber would let a personal firearm, while in his possession, fall into such
a degraded surface condition. I would have expected him to take much better care of it.

The story is good enough, even better than good enough, such that, in my opinion, it ought to be restored. Given the modest investment you have already made, and also
that it has no connection to you or your family, and further that maybe it has been refinished (because of the marking on the butt), the usual objections to restoration would seem to be less important. If it were mine, that is what I would do.

Mike Priwer

 

[29aholic]

I am inclined to agree with Mike on this. I would have someone restore that gun.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

What a great progression of information the original post has generated. Geography, history, and nostalgia. Terrific forum, this, for ferreting out the details beyond the gun itself. Thanks all for a great read.

Cheers,

Bob