S&W Mod 36 and Mod 38 purchased + Walther

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Just in the process of purchasing two second hand S&W revolvers to add to my snubnose collection. The first was the Model 38 Bodyguard which I paid $575 AU for. ("Out of left field", I also came across this .22lr Walther TPH that caught my eye. So it will also be coming home with me once all the "Permits to Acquire" come back from the New South Wales Police Force Firearms Registry).

The second S&W purchase was a model 36 with a Square Butt. This was an ex-security company gun that was carried a lot but fired a little. It was purchased sight unseen but appears ok in the photos sent to me by the Firearms Dealer. I managed to get it for $350 AU.
 

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Nice grabs! I just picked up a 38 like yours couple weeks ago. Threw on some BK grip adapters. Shoots real well and feels like nothing in the hand after holding the 640 or 66. I think you'll like it

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The M-36 will probably be a delight. The M-38 is an Airweight and shouldn't be fired with plus P ammo. The TPH has the reputation of working best in .25 ACP. Good luck.

What are your gun laws like? Can you actually carry any handgun?
Use one for self defense? To kill a dangerous snake or wild dog, etc.? Can you, as a cop, carry off duty?

All I know of Australian cops is what I see on YouTube, modern traffic enforcement, mainly in Victoria, and the old, "Blue Heelers" TV series. And I read some of the Scobie Malone books and saw a movie or two, where the late Rod Taylor played Malone.

I also watched, "Sea Patrol" on YouTube. Is Kirsty Lee Allan getting many new roles on TV there? She played "Bomber" Brown, my favorite Sea Patrol character. And I liked the cast of, "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World". Most were Aussies and they filmed in Queensland. But I read that the series was never really shown in Australia. It was made for a Canadian firm that had North American distribution in mind, although the show, 1999-2002, has since been seen in many countries. There are fan fiction stories about it and one author has readers in over 60 nations!

Oh: what is the exchange rate between Australian dollars and US dollars? I think the dollars were adopted in the 1960's there? BTW, my favorite bank teller is from Melbourne, but they transferred her to a different branch.
 
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Texas Star;- I'll try and answer your questions as best I can.

1. Following the Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania, Australian gun laws dramatically changed in 1996. Whilst gun laws are administer by each State, the Federal Government at the time, with bipartisan support, put together a National Firearms Agreement. There are some minor differences between States, but overall, they are generally the same. So to possess a Firearm, you must licensed and the firearm must be registered.

2. There are no provisions for civilian conceal carry handguns.

3. Everyone has the right to self defense however self defense is not a legitimate/genuine reason in Australia for possession of a Firearm. Genuine reasons include Target Shooting, Hunting, Collecting, Pest Control, Professional Hunter and Pest Control, and Employment as a Security Guard.

4. Protection against Animals is another issue as most Native Animals are Protected. Would also depend on whether you are on private land or National/State Parks.

5. Generally there is no provision in our state for Off Duty carry unless there is a specific threat to the Officer and approved by the Commission. However you can carry your Arms and Appointments home if permission granted by your Commander and you have an approved safe.

6. Sorry mate, but never watched an episode of "Sea Patrol" but my parents were fans of it. There was a much older 1980's ABC show called "Patrol Boat" which was excellent. The Wife was a big fan of "Blue Heelers" so I ended up watching some of it.

7. I think at the moment our $ AU is about 0.78 cents to the $USD. We seem to get ripped off here with gun prices compared to the same product in the USA. However, due to our restrictive laws, there are some items that I'd love to ship back to the USA and put on Gunbroker to see how they would go. We seem to have quite a few M1 Carbines on the Used Market which I think would bring in a few dollars more if sold in the US. The $AU was floated in the early 1980's from memory.

Hope this answers your questions. Cheers
 
Moo Moo-

Thanks. The only issue is that I heard on Blue Heelers that the AU dollar dated to the 1960's. Some guy was bemoaning the change in currency from the old system of pounds and shillings, etc.

But just because it was on TV doesn't mean it was correct.
 
Yeah, sorry. I get what you mean now. Yes, the currency changed when we went from the Imperial system to the Metric. Without looking that up, I think that was 1966 (a few years before I was born).
 
Thanks for sending us Mel Gibson love his movies.If ya get tne chance gather some of those M1 carbines and send them on over lol

Mel actually was born in the USA and moved out to Australia when he was a child. So we actually sent him back....lol. Yes, his movies are great and did a lot for Australia. Similar for Russell Crowe who was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia. (Actually a girl I went to Primary School with, claimed Mel Gibson was her uncle. Never saw any proof of it though).

Have a look at these M1 Carbine prices in $Aust Dollars. They seem to be way cheaper than what they are charging on Gunbroker. (Or are GB prices inflated?)

Cleaver Firearms Products
 
Looks like great prices on cool guns! I particularly like the model 38. I'm really hoping to find one or an old model 40 or 42. With the Walther, they look like a great trio of private eye guns.

I have a surplus model 10 with a 3" barrel from the Victoria police dept. They were being imported into the US a few years back. I love owning it because I'm sure there are some great back stories that come with the weapon. Unfortunately, I'll never know them. :(
 
"I have a surplus model 10 with a 3" barrel from the Victoria police dept. They were being imported into the US a few years back. I love owning it because I'm sure there are some great back stories that come with the weapon. Unfortunately, I'll never know them."

I have one also. Nice M10-5 that is great to shoot or CC.
And there are people in the USA that want the same laws you have here! :(
 
Yeah, all our NSW Police revolvers were destroyed by the State Government of the day. They did not want Police guns ending up in "criminal hands"; either here or in the USA. We transitioned to Glocks back in 1999. I believe Victoria and South Australia were the last to give up their wheel guns around 2013-2014. They went to S&W M&P's.

I'd love to see some photos of those VicPol model 10's if not too much trouble.
 
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