fat tom
Absent Comrade
Almost didn't go,but I had been hunting nearby with no luck,so I decided to go. It's a small show with about 100 tables,max. They hold it twice a year and I've never really seen too much that I was interested in,at least nothing that was priced within reason. But today,there were a few new vendors that I had never seen before. One fellow had two tables full of high-end,sub-guage double guns. Parkers,Smiths,Fox Sterlingworths,etc. I enjoyed looking and fondling them,but the prices were beyond my means. Saw only one Smith & wesson that tempted me,an S-series,4-screw .44 Magnum. It was an easy 95%,with nice Cokes. $1450,negotiable. I passed. About 3/4" of the way through,I came upon a guy with a table full of vintage holsters. Another of my vices. He had a couple of dozen Heisers (I've never seen more than one Heiser at any show in SC),a few by Lawrence,Eubanks and Colorado Saddlery. I went dizzy. After some lengthy negotiations as to a package deal,I walked away with ten Heisers,one CS and one Eubanks! Whew! Best lick I've ever made on fine vintage leather. Next aisle over,there'a an old guy with some old Colts. Prices were a little high,but he had a pencil-barrelled pre-Woodsman without a price on it,so I asked to look at it. After determining that all was well,I asked him how much. He says he ain't sure,let me look. So he spends five minutes consulting a spiral notebook and says "$450". I say I've just spent most of my cash on some holsters,will you take $400? He says O.K. Done deal! I'm broke,but happy.
f.t.

f.t.