K-38 ISP reunited with box

[bigl1911]

I picked up a ISP K-38 back in 2015 at Tulsa. Got a email earlier this month from Lee stating H Richard on the forum found the box for my Smith (yes numbered to the gun). I picked up the box. It is now happily reunited with itrevolver..

Thanks guys!!

 

[MOONDAWG]

Outstanding!

 

[Green Frog]

I love a happy ending!

 

[glenwolde]

I bet that doesn't happen very often! I've often thought there should be a database for numbered stocks and boxes.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

I would be thankful if I could see the ends of your box. I bought one in the box and would love to compare. Great ending to your purchase.

 

[lamarw]

I love a happy ending!

And a new beginning.

 

[oysterer]

I'd still have the itch to shoot it. Now that you have the box that may never happen?

 

[Texas Star]

So, is "ISP" IL State Police? Indiana State Police? I can't keep straight in my mind which had those five-inch barrels. Both?

 

[H Richard]

I'm glad it went it' real home. I saw this when roaming the Simpsons Ltd website, (Countries largest Luger supplier). I have a 5" IL State Police K38 and was planning to buy it but out of curiosity emailed them to look on the back of the box and see if there was a number there. They responded with the number. I then called Linde (Our resident expert on the 5" ISP and MSP guns). He told me that he believed the gun was owned by Bill Cross, but think he sold it to Lee Jarrett. I emailed Bill and he confirmed he sold to Lee and then contacted Lee and he promised to look up who he sold it to and let them know.

I'm glad it all came out the way it did.

 

[Green Frog]

How many other fields of endeavor would have this kind of thing happen? Kudos to each of the folks involved in getting the box and gun back together. I have often stated that I wouldn't go out of my way to get a proper box for one of my guns, but to get the original box, now that's a different story altogether!

Froggie

 

[Sevens]

I bet that doesn't happen very often!

I think more superlatives are needed here.

How many times might we posit that this has actually happened?! Seems more possible with guns if the guns are newer, but the odds seem wholly ridiculous.

I think in this manner...
Some folks keep a gun box. Some folks do not. Less folks kept a box in days gone by, more folks keep them now.

But when a particular gun owner is not the kind of guy who would keep a box, the odds of the box surviving at all would seem to be low. For the box to survive and then later be re-united?!

Seems like lottery odds!

This is a fantastic story.

 

[krsmith58]

Mr. big1911 , WOW you should run out and buy a lotto ticket . if you don't play the lotto , go buy 3 for me with the multiplier and i will happily reimburse you . kenny , texas . that is the kind of luck dreams are made of .

 

[bigl1911]

Hi Kenny.
I'd like to say it is luck, but truth be told luck has nothing to do with it. This is all about community and friendship. We have a community of collectors who are constantly hunting. I bought this gun from Lee 5 years ago. H Richard remembered the gun and connected the box and gun. He didn't just leave it there, he contacted Lee and made the connection happen. Lee passed the information on to me. This is all about community and friendship. The important thing to remember this is a community - kindness is not a weakness. Treat people well and you will find the right people in life. In this way, I am very luck to have people around who are righteous. Again a big thank you to Lee and H Richard!! It makes a really great story!

 

[krsmith58]

very well said Sir . i am new here but feel privileged to be here and welcome as well .great group of people . not compliments i throw around often. thanks ,kenny , texas

 

[Walter Rego]

Excellent getting that ISP gun and box reunited. A lot of effort and a little luck made it happen.

I have told this story before, but in December of 2007 I purchased a near new Colt Woodsman Sport Model made in 1948 at a local gun shop. In July of 2010 (2 1/2 years later) I happened to be perusing ebay and looking at the prices that vintage gun boxes were bringing. I saw a box for a Colt Woodsman Sport that contained the numbered test target and manual. I thought hmm... that serial number is close to mine I think. I checked my gun and it was the same serial number ! Needless to say I won the auction. I contacted the seller who happened to be in a town about 20 miles away, and told him where and when I bought the pistol and asked if he would share how he came about owning the box.
In fact I emailed him twice and received no response what so ever. The gun shipped to a hardware store in Quincy Illinois and ended up in a SouCal gun shop almost 60 years later, and got separated from its box & test target along the way. They are now back together

 

[Sevens]

That is also a fantastic story, love it!

As it so happens, I am also a genuine fan of the Colt Woodsman, and if you knew me... well, I am definitely no fan of Colt in general.

 

[Texas Star]

So...did Indiana also issue those five-inch guns, or was it just IL?

 

[JayFramer]

As the saying goes:

"Every revolver its box, and every box its revolver"

 

[murphydog]

So...did Indiana also issue those five-inch guns, or was it just IL?

Only Illinois State Police. There were production overrun examples that might have been used elsewhere but not in large/organized quantities.

 

[stu1ritter]

Mine (14-2) was a special order for 2ea. placed on 11/7/62 and shipped 11/21/62.
Charge was $10 to cut both barrels to 5".

Stu