The back-story...
I'd just scored my first Thompson Contender last week at a semi-local LGS. Mid 1980's frame with a 10 inch bull .22 barrel and Leupold M8, 4X scope on burris mounts for $450. I really wanted a .44 MAG contender. None of my local shops had any used .44 barrels so the Mrs. and I made the 70 mile, curvy two lane trip to Clearfield PA. home of two of the largest, busiest gun shops in the Commonwealth Grice Gun Shop and Bob's Army & Navy.
Scored a 10 inch 44 barrel with a weaver rail for $160 at Grice. Their used handgun section was slim pickings-as it has been for several months. I had about $250 to spend, total as I blew most of my gun budget for the next couple months on the Contender.
Drove the half mile to Bob's A&N to pick up some quality target .22 ammo. They stock many brands because most of their gun guys shoot bullseye .22 matches. Nice to be able to buy several kinds to try without ordering!
I've picked-up quite a few nice old S&W's and Ruger's at both shops over the years. Bob's usually has only 15 to 25 used handguns to Grice's 100 to 300, but Bob's gets the oddball stuff!
Soooo- I glance at the used case and one of the guys says
" Hey! I have three Smiths you'll like." First was a 90% condition Model 17-4 with magna's, combat trigger, combat hammer and target sights. No rust just significant blue wear on the barrel. $450. Next a 28-2 6 inch with no shooting wear and nice finish except for the cylinder which had mucho blue loss due to long time storage in a nylon holster. Super tight, slick action and nice OE Magna grips $399. The last was the real find, a 1956 manufacture, pre-model 36 flat latch .38 Special in 95% condition. $399.
My wife told me to lay one away, but I didn't "need" the 17-4 or 28-2 and I don't collect J frames so I left them there for some lucky person to find
Now if somebody would just leave a model 66, 6 inch or a Ruger Security-Six 4 inch for Me to find..
I'd just scored my first Thompson Contender last week at a semi-local LGS. Mid 1980's frame with a 10 inch bull .22 barrel and Leupold M8, 4X scope on burris mounts for $450. I really wanted a .44 MAG contender. None of my local shops had any used .44 barrels so the Mrs. and I made the 70 mile, curvy two lane trip to Clearfield PA. home of two of the largest, busiest gun shops in the Commonwealth Grice Gun Shop and Bob's Army & Navy.
Scored a 10 inch 44 barrel with a weaver rail for $160 at Grice. Their used handgun section was slim pickings-as it has been for several months. I had about $250 to spend, total as I blew most of my gun budget for the next couple months on the Contender.
Drove the half mile to Bob's A&N to pick up some quality target .22 ammo. They stock many brands because most of their gun guys shoot bullseye .22 matches. Nice to be able to buy several kinds to try without ordering!
I've picked-up quite a few nice old S&W's and Ruger's at both shops over the years. Bob's usually has only 15 to 25 used handguns to Grice's 100 to 300, but Bob's gets the oddball stuff!
Soooo- I glance at the used case and one of the guys says
" Hey! I have three Smiths you'll like." First was a 90% condition Model 17-4 with magna's, combat trigger, combat hammer and target sights. No rust just significant blue wear on the barrel. $450. Next a 28-2 6 inch with no shooting wear and nice finish except for the cylinder which had mucho blue loss due to long time storage in a nylon holster. Super tight, slick action and nice OE Magna grips $399. The last was the real find, a 1956 manufacture, pre-model 36 flat latch .38 Special in 95% condition. $399.
My wife told me to lay one away, but I didn't "need" the 17-4 or 28-2 and I don't collect J frames so I left them there for some lucky person to find
Now if somebody would just leave a model 66, 6 inch or a Ruger Security-Six 4 inch for Me to find..
Last edited:
Larry
