My Best Pawn Shop Find EVER

[Memphis]

Well I finally have them both in hand and wanted to share them with you. I found this Post War Transitional 38/44 HD AND this Pre War 2 inch Nickel M&P right here in Memphis at a pawn shop. A friend of mine put me on the trail thinking that there was just this 38/44 that I would find. But when I got there I discovered this little 2 incher.
The Heavy Duty was in VERY nice condition and seems unmolested. It has the long action and a four inch barrel. There must be several degrees of transitionalism since it has a four line address and straight ejector rod. The high horn magna's number to the gun to my pleasant surprise. Serial is S72892 and was shipped in May of 1949.
The M&P seems to be a bona fide Pre War 1905 4th Chg Nickel 2 incher. It is a round butt and sports the small trademark on the left side. Hard rubber grips that fit like a glove but have no number inside. Serial for that rascal is 611997 and was shipped in January of 1938. But what made the deal so sweet to me is that the pre war 2 incher was priced at $349 and the 38/44 was $400 out the door. Once again I'm sorry for the hasty sorry pictures. I just shot them 10 minutes ago and my skills have clearly not gotten any better. May actually be worse!

Roger

 

[Allen-frame]

Those are two very special guns.

I would never call you a blind pig , but those are some fine acorns brother!

A couple factory letters for those may turn up more good news.

Good luck!

Allen Frame

 

[Sprefix]

All I can say is congratulations!! I'd like to spew a mouthful or two of pure envious jealousy that would send a sailor running with his fingers in his ears. That 38/44 HD has been on the back of my eye-lids for some time. GAWD! You must be livin' right..........

 

[Dan M]

Memphis,
Wow!!! scored both guns for the price of 1, That 2" nickle M&P is fantastic, I don't collect k-frames but would be proud to own that one. Way to go.

Dan

 

[moosedog]

Thats a fantastic score at a bargain price. Congradulations.
Your pictures are fine, it would take me all day to do the same.

 

[Biginge]

Outstanding find and grab. Friend deserves best steak in Memphis.

Regards

Bill

 

[Jack Flash]

Very reasonable prices. You are right that they look completely unmolested. Bubba has not even tried to tighten the screws with his K-Mart screwdrivers.

 

[chuck8388]

Congrats I am jealous now.

 

[mkk41]

Neither of those classics is very high on my want list , but I too woulda grabbed them up at those prices. Well done!

 

[beagleye]

It's like you paid for the HD and they threw in the M&P as a bonus.

 

[Peter J.]

Both are fantastic. A fortunate day for you, it was.

 

[Big Fred]

SWEEEEEEEEET.......I would have broke my arm getting my wallet out.

You did REAL good.

 

[Iggy]

I would say you walked out into the bull pasture and come back with nuthin' but roses on that deal.

Congratulations on a great find.

 

[DCWilson]

Double sweet!

Before the day is over, take all the money you saved on those two and buy a wheelbarrow full of lottery tickets. Luck has an expiration date, and you need to exploit it while you are on the good side of midnight.

 

[SDH]

Very nice!
You could only get luckier if that HD lettered to Elvis...

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Egads man, buy a lottery ticket whilst the moment lasts! Two very nice and special revolvers that you had the savvy to snap up, well done.

 

[lowhog]

You paid 250.00 less for the two than what that hd is worth.Great job!

 

[H Richard]

I'd have put a dent in my credit card to buy that one if I didn't have the cash.

 

[chief38]

You really scored with these - BEAUTIFUL!!

 

[Old Corp]

VERY nice.
You could put all the guns of all the pawn shops in my whole area, and not have anything 1/2 as good as what you found.

 

[Art Doc]

Very cool guns. You did well on the prices.

 

[jproffitt]

Couple of really nice little guns. Been a while since I got any good deals.

 

[ar15ed]

good gracious! what a deal on two SWEET guns!!! i love them both!

 

[TNDave]

Wow! Those are really nice! Congrats on a heck of a lucky day

 

[MP22]

Nice...congrats.

 

[Xfuzz]

GREAT Score.....

 

[Memphis]

Thanks for the comments. I think whoever turned these in to the Pawn shop must have been a collector. I believe they came from the same man but couldn't find out more about that. I'm sure they guard that kind of info. I was trying to find out what else this guy turned loose of. But you just never know the circumstances. For all I know it could have been a widow clearing the house of the evil. I didn't go out of my way to inform the shop owner of what he had. I really don't think he cared. I say that because after they were safely in my hands I told him a little more about them. Again, he let me know politely that it really didn't matter to him. Even though I paid a LOT less than I normally pay for guns I'm sure he still made money. He said he would look out for me for others that I might be interested in. And I did provide my buddy that actually made the find with some adult beverages. And he knew exactly what the guns were worth. I still can't believe how nice that Heavy Duty is. The Nickel 2 incher is clearly shooter quality. But those are so hard to find.
I thinks it neat to know that one of the main things on my mind when I found these two, was showing them to all of ya'll. Not to boast, but more along the lines of what this Forum means to me. Not to sound corny but it's kinda like family.


Roger

 

[ColbyBruce]

WOW!! Just WOW!!

 

[austintexas]

Exactly why I haunt pawnshops. I have gunshop aquantances that don't understand why I get such good deals, they say they don't do pawnshops because their stuff is overpriced. I tell them you can't get the deals unless you go and go often enough the pawnshop managers or owners recognize you and know you are a serious buyer.

SWCA 892

 

[1Aspenhill]

Roger,
You did real good! I like them both!
Bill