Went To The Albuquerque Gun Show

[semperfi71]

I took some cash and some guns to turn into cash. I traded into a M34-1 that appears to have never been fired and is pristine else-wise. I was looking for other Smiths and some time ago decided I didn't want a M34 but then I saw this one and went weak-knee'd. Here's a pic.

I bought the below "other gun" outright. I know I'm a two-timing, inconsiderate brute, but when one has an addiction to guns one cannot control it or stay monogamous either.

I saw a M65-3 supposedly with box for $450.00 and a M27-2 NIB [blue cardboard box] with all the accessories for $750.00. There was a nice M19-3 blued 6 inch for $450.00 as well. It had a little holster wear at the muzzle and on the leading edges of the cylinder only.

There were other S & W's there but the above ones were the only ones that interested me...but alas; only enough dinero for the two I traded/bought.

I'm gonna have to start mowin' the neighbor's lawns and pick up some extra gun-fund cash!

 

[bubbajoe45]

I wasn't too hot on these either . . . until I held this little critter. It very quickly grew on me.

 

[jeffrey]

I think that I saw the two you bought, that is, if they were still there on Sunday morning. Was this the same gentleman who had a scratched-up 2-inch model 940 for $695 (I think it was). I would love a 2-inch 940, but not in that condition for that price.

I certainly didn't see the 65-3, or I would have been really tempted! But apart from one vendor who had a number of Smiths, I really didn't see a whole lot that I wanted, especially for the prices people were asking.

 

[sw44spl]

very nice guns you got there.

 

[ENGINE18]

Very nice. A 2-inch J .22 has to be the ideal training platform for other, larger-caliber J-frames. Wish I had one.

 

[Art Doc]

It's cute. My FiL has one just like it. He owned a gas station in the 1960s and one day a guy pulled in and said he was broke and needed gas to get home. He offered a new looking 2" M34 in the box for a tank of gas*. He still has the gun after nearly 45 years and is the only revolver he has ever owned.

*1965 price of gas? 40 cents? 20 gallons would be $8. Not bad for a Model 34 even then.

 

[semperfi71]

SaxonPig, great story. I have heard it was common back in the day for a variety of firearms to get traded off for gas, food, lodging. This was back in the days before welfare and a person had to "trade" in order to survive.

jefferey, I picked these two up on Saturday. The M65-3 [I almost bought it instead of the Colt] was on a table, about center row, in the west hall. The gentleman had about 15 [mostly Smiths] handguns on a clean table, each gun with a wooden "holder-upper-dickey-hoo-thing". He also had a M586 I swore I would buy the first time I saw it. A matt-blue 4 inch with a roundbutt configuration in Hogue's rubbers. This particular handgun, to me, is the nicest handling revolver save a Colt S/A. But I passed it up. I suspected the M65-3 would have sold sooner or later, too nice a handgun to leave alone and there were a few people eyeing it.

bubbajoe, your opinion mates with mine. It's like not wanting another puppy until someone shoves one in your hand. Too cute and handy to put down.

Thanks for the positive comments from all.

I really think most legitimate gun owners do not buy out of need but out of lust. Every handgun I have just looks good to me, or feels good. I suppose its like owning a retinue of autos, looks and fashion sold more cars than did reliability.

 

[Jack Flash]

Hearing SP's story, my first thought is "how did he know it wasn't hot?" I suppose that's one of those instances where you just have to size up the person and make your best judgement. If the man was a thief, he probably would have wanted more than a tank of gas for it.