I'm not a collector. I'm a storyteller.

[max]

I think snub 19's just look gunlike. My first was actually a snub 66 and I traded it for something. The first gun I bought online was a nickel snub 19. All but one of my Smiths are nickel by the way. It came from a pawnshop in Florida. I called the shop owner and he told me a lady brought it in carried in a Kroger sack. She told him her husband had recently died and she found it in a drawer.

I kept it for 20 years or so, shot it a time or 2 and sold it to a friend a couple of years ago. I miss it, but carry an autoloader and have lots of other revolvers. At my age, I need to be selling anyhow.

 

[Green Frog]

I've sold a couple of guns I shouldn't have. The Model 16-4 I sold resulted in building Project 616 and my Faux Model 16-3. The Buckeye Special Blackhawk combo in 32-20 and 32 H&R led to the 327 Blackhawk 8 Shooter and the Uberti SAA in 32-20 I've bought, so all in all I guess I'm making progress in getting back to where I was, right?

Froggie

 

[Art Doc]

My guess is this was a personal firearm that was shipped direct to his place of employment. I have a Model 60 that was a personal purchase that was shipped direct to my agency. I have never heard of any federal agency in this time frame that allowed an employee to take their GI guns with them or buy them. We tried it with no luck.

I'd be interested in hearing any contradicting experiences. BTW, that is a great story and a nice revolver. I carried one of those that the government owned for many years. I never liked the 2.5", didn't balance well for me. Then along came the SIGS. ))))

I read long ago...somewhere...that the nickel 2.5" M19-3 was issued to one or more federal agencies. Many years ago a member here mentioned he was issued one as a federal agent. I assumed the gentleman was able to purchase the gun when it was taken out of service or when he retired.

 

[Chukar60]

Liked the story about your guns and how this one came to you.
I am an accumulator. The tiny and obscure details of guns are of little interest to me either. However, I am glad there are people here that enjoy all the details. When I do want information about a gun the people here can provide it, and for that I thank them.

 

[LAH]

Enjoyed the story, especially the part about the 5 dollars.

 

[raljr1]

I too am an accumulator...your story reminds me of when I was first married...we used to cash our paychecks at the A&P grocery store...one day as we are walking out, my buddy and I see some rifles advertised on the bulletin board, winchester 94 in 30-30 and a Savage bolt in 22 hornet. $75 each. I went home with the model 94, and my buddy took the hornet....I brought my prize home and my lovely wife said, "I hope you like the taste, because that was the grocery money." Okay, mac and cheese for two weeks....so, a year later I decide I need a new, better rifle and I buy a Remington Bicentennial 760 in 30.06...my lovely wife says' "you don't need two rifles, so sell the little one." Okay, my dad buys it to give to my brother....(over the next dozen years, I try to buy my 30-30 back, but my brother won't budge). ..Fifteen years later my son starts to hunt, and my brother loans him the model 94 to hunt with......meanwhile, a friend offers to sell me a savage bolt action 30-30...i buy it for my son and bring it home to him...he says he likes the 94 better....i reply tough toenails, this one is yours, that one ain't...so one day at camp, i am telling my brother how I bought this rifle for my son...he asks, " A bolt action 30-30?" I reply, yes and he says, " I'll trade you for the model 94." So the end of the story, I get my 94 back and give it to my son, and my brother's son still shoots the savage bolt action 30-30. And, now my lovely wife knows I am allowed to own more than one gun.

Sorry for the hijack, but stories are fun


Robert

 

[BAM-BAM]

From about 1978 to 1993 I bought and sold a lot of guns in search of the "perfect one(s)" for Concealed carry, hunting, shooting sports or just plinking. Probably never had more than a handful of guns at any one time as I lived in 3 different cities and 6 different Apt or houses.

At the ripe old age of 39 I got married and we've lived in the same house in this Burb of the Burgh for 27 and a half years.............. I've become an accumulator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CH4]

I'm the same way.

Most of what I own is just passing through the safe. As I've gotten older, I've been trying to hold onto things.

One of my favorite things to do is go out and hit the local Pawns & GS. I can have anything I want sent to my local FFL, but I like the hunt. My interests range from old to new, so there's always something I can find to buy. Unfortunately, I don't have an unlimited amount of funds. So when I get home after the latest purchase, something might have to leave the safe.

And some of the guns I buy, are based on "the story" of when I used to own the same model in the past. Those are usually the ones I try to hold onto for "Nostalgia" reasons.

I try not to buy any "Collector" guns. If I can't shoot it, or it's too nice, I'll usually get rid of it.

I had a nice 2 1/2" 19 in the 90's that I did an action job to. I carried it a few times and it was a great shooter. My ex-brother in-law got it for me for Christmas. When I got my divorce in the late 2000's, my ex really wanted that gun. So I let her have it.

I haven't come across another 2 1/2" 19 worth buying since.

^^^^^^^^^
Dito!