Let me start off with a short introduction since this is my first time posting. Long time reader of the forum but always just that ... because some of the posts here trump any intelligent thing I know about revolvers. Im a fanatic of full lug long barrel revolvers. I roll my own so revolvers are the perfect guns for me, even moreso because I can hit a target at 50+ yards with them and 80 yards with my bow yet I cant hit my foot with rifles.
Im always on the prowl for used revolvers. If its slow at work during the day I snoop the local pawn shops, gun stores, shows on the weekend ... the places I sniff around are endless. 2 weeks ago I came across a pawn store just outside of Houston that I had never stopped at. I waited for the girls at the counter to buzz me in while I scanned across the shotguns and rifles against the wall from outside the glass doors. Hey so I already know they have guns, lets go sniff out the pistols under the glass. I can already see what looks to be a 686 from 30 feet away and im thinking im gonna have to cut a deal for her. Problem here ... this isnt a 686 ... its 10MM wearing a non fitting pachmayr! Theyve only got 3 other pistols and its a major chain pawn store so I know they dont know anything about guns so I figure. Well they at least know that this one should have a $900 price tag! Im looking it over and going from happy to sad quickly. She has no moon clips to start. The barrel looks good ... looks like it wasnt fired much. Except ... the rear sight is bent. Not only that it appears to be out of time (never seen one out of time and mine are cared for like glass .. fling my cylinder open or whip it shut if I let you shoot one of mine and you might end up with an unhappy me giving you a very nasty look). The cylinder rests up against the frame and lightly rubs when you open her up. Its just a sad situation. So I call my revolver brother and hes ecstatic that ive found the holy grail. As im sending pictures over the phone and telling him whats going on hes getting depressed too. I forgot to mention the owner scratched up the face of the cylinder trying to get it cleaned up. I offered 500 without being rude as they were looking it over with me and saying the girl never looked it over when taking it in and walked out after getting turned down. Manager claims it just came in and someone will buy it at his price. No biggy its not going anywhere.
Today is two weeks later. Its still on my mind. Even moreso after trying to find others for sale online. Im sitting dead in the area waiting for work and decide to scoot over and check out the holy grail gone to hell that im not gonna pay for. I walk in and immediately the kid that helped me last time brightens up and proudly tells me that hes now the manager. Not only is he the manager but he still has "my gun". Its got a price drop to 750 after only being in the store for 15 total days after my sad review of a once proud gun. I go over to the gun counter and shes the only pistol left. Nothing new in houston as pistols here go quick even if its not the mad gun grab like it is now. As im looking with no expression on my face at the new price tag the kid pulls it out and sets it on the counter in front of me. He reaches under the desk and pulls out the folded intake paperwork on it and points to the price paid of $450 on a loan that never got paid a penny on. The only thing he had to say was what he said to make my day "We knew you would come back for it. Its yours for $500 out the door, dirty harry".
I promised to take him to shoot it at the range when I get it back up and alive. Now its time to take care of it and im going to need some help. The only place I know to start on what I can do for it is some Hogue grips for N frame and a few days of loving polishing. Id rather not send it to smith if i dont have to. They did at least tell me it was made april of 1990. The poor thing came with nothing. No moon clips, no box and the wrong clothes. Im not even sure where to start, but like all my revolvers she can have whatever she wants and needs.
Im always on the prowl for used revolvers. If its slow at work during the day I snoop the local pawn shops, gun stores, shows on the weekend ... the places I sniff around are endless. 2 weeks ago I came across a pawn store just outside of Houston that I had never stopped at. I waited for the girls at the counter to buzz me in while I scanned across the shotguns and rifles against the wall from outside the glass doors. Hey so I already know they have guns, lets go sniff out the pistols under the glass. I can already see what looks to be a 686 from 30 feet away and im thinking im gonna have to cut a deal for her. Problem here ... this isnt a 686 ... its 10MM wearing a non fitting pachmayr! Theyve only got 3 other pistols and its a major chain pawn store so I know they dont know anything about guns so I figure. Well they at least know that this one should have a $900 price tag! Im looking it over and going from happy to sad quickly. She has no moon clips to start. The barrel looks good ... looks like it wasnt fired much. Except ... the rear sight is bent. Not only that it appears to be out of time (never seen one out of time and mine are cared for like glass .. fling my cylinder open or whip it shut if I let you shoot one of mine and you might end up with an unhappy me giving you a very nasty look). The cylinder rests up against the frame and lightly rubs when you open her up. Its just a sad situation. So I call my revolver brother and hes ecstatic that ive found the holy grail. As im sending pictures over the phone and telling him whats going on hes getting depressed too. I forgot to mention the owner scratched up the face of the cylinder trying to get it cleaned up. I offered 500 without being rude as they were looking it over with me and saying the girl never looked it over when taking it in and walked out after getting turned down. Manager claims it just came in and someone will buy it at his price. No biggy its not going anywhere.
Today is two weeks later. Its still on my mind. Even moreso after trying to find others for sale online. Im sitting dead in the area waiting for work and decide to scoot over and check out the holy grail gone to hell that im not gonna pay for. I walk in and immediately the kid that helped me last time brightens up and proudly tells me that hes now the manager. Not only is he the manager but he still has "my gun". Its got a price drop to 750 after only being in the store for 15 total days after my sad review of a once proud gun. I go over to the gun counter and shes the only pistol left. Nothing new in houston as pistols here go quick even if its not the mad gun grab like it is now. As im looking with no expression on my face at the new price tag the kid pulls it out and sets it on the counter in front of me. He reaches under the desk and pulls out the folded intake paperwork on it and points to the price paid of $450 on a loan that never got paid a penny on. The only thing he had to say was what he said to make my day "We knew you would come back for it. Its yours for $500 out the door, dirty harry".
I promised to take him to shoot it at the range when I get it back up and alive. Now its time to take care of it and im going to need some help. The only place I know to start on what I can do for it is some Hogue grips for N frame and a few days of loving polishing. Id rather not send it to smith if i dont have to. They did at least tell me it was made april of 1990. The poor thing came with nothing. No moon clips, no box and the wrong clothes. Im not even sure where to start, but like all my revolvers she can have whatever she wants and needs.
Why is it things like this never happen to me?
