primuspilum762
US Veteran
Greetings to all from SouthWest Illinois! First a bit about myself and then a story of a journey for a little Model-10/5 back home to me.
I am originally from East Saint Louis, Illinois. Those familiar with the place need no further explanation. Those not, well... Let's just say that it was once a nice city and a great place to grow-up but now is probably the most violent city in America by percentage of population. Anyway, I joined the Marines in 1975 and did my 4 years then got out for awhile. While out, I was a Deputy and carried a 4 inch Model-19 that I wish that I still had. I'm sure many can relate to that. Around the same time that I joined the Marines, my brother went to work for the A&S Railroad in East St Louis. Back then they still had the caboose's and he bought a Model-10/5 blued snub because he was worried about being stuck out there alone on the caboose. Later he became a Yard Master in the tower and had no need for protection anymore. My brother was never a gun guy like me so the snub was relegated to sitting in a closet for decades. For about 35 years I tried to talk him out of that snub! He would never shoot it but wouldn't part with it either for some reason.
But back to me. In 1982 I got tired of all the politics with the Sheriff's Department, quit, and went back in the Marines without ever looking back again. By the time I retired in Dec 1998, I had almost 24 years and 3 combat tours. After retiring I worked some security jobs for awhile before going to work for the same Railroad as my brother.
In 1986 my Mom finally talked me Dad into moving out of East St Louis. But before that happened I had given Dad a M1911 for home defence. Dad was a WWII Marine and was familiar with the M1911. Later I had bought a little Taurus Model-85 snub and when I showed it to my Dad, he told me that He liked it better than the M1911 as he was now in his late 70's and it was a little more easier for him. So I gave him the Taurus snub and took the 1911 back. Last year my Dad passed away at the age of 85. When we were cleaning out some of his stuff (Pop was a pack-rat that never threw anything out) my Mom told me that she really didn't feel comfortable with the Taurus as she was now too elderly to use it anyway. My brother and I both came to the conclusion that if She ever pointed it at a intruder that they were liable to take it away and use it on Her. So, I had the Taurus laying on the kitchen table in it's box waiting to take it home with me. My Brother and his wife were looking at it when out of the blue my brother said that he would trade me the Model-10 for it. I guess you already know what my answer was.
I took the snub to the range with me not long after and my best friend shot it too. We were both absolutely amazed at how accurate that 2" barreled snub shot. I was a competition shooter in the Marines but was not expecting that out of a snub! I always knew that snubs were self-defence/close range (Belly Gun's) weapons but I was able to keep all my rounds in the black out to 25 yards! My buddy isn't quite as good a shot as me but still managed some pretty tight groups himself.
Earlier this year I was diagnosed with a particulary aggressive form of Prostate Cancer. Luckily it was caught early. I had my Prostate removed on June 23rd and was off work for almost two months afterwards. It was during this period that I discovered that I cannot draw disabilty from the Railroad Retirement Board because I'm a Military Retiree and they said that would be double-dipping! Of course they had no answer as to why I have to pay into something that I cannot use. Things got really, really bad for awhile. I rent my home and was helping my 2nd daughter out for awhile. My son-in-law works construction and was getting much work due to the economy. They have 3 small children and I couldn't/wouldn't allow my Grandson's to suffer. My retirement pay after taxes only comes to $1400 a month so that was going far.
It was during this time that I had to do something that caused me the deepest sorrow. I had to sell all my weapons. Everything but a Mossberg Model-46 .22 rifle that was my Dad's and I learned to shoot with. Amongs't those was the Model-10 snub. Broke my heart!
A week ago I was able to talk the guy into selling me the Model-10 back. Not only that, He sold it back to me for what He paid for it! Maybe after my run of bad luck in the last year I'm finally being awarded some good fortune.
So you see, this little Model-10/5 2" snub that shows holster wear on the bluing and isn't all that desirable/collectible compared to other models is priceless to me. Sorry for the unusually long and drawn out Intro but this was my story.
I am originally from East Saint Louis, Illinois. Those familiar with the place need no further explanation. Those not, well... Let's just say that it was once a nice city and a great place to grow-up but now is probably the most violent city in America by percentage of population. Anyway, I joined the Marines in 1975 and did my 4 years then got out for awhile. While out, I was a Deputy and carried a 4 inch Model-19 that I wish that I still had. I'm sure many can relate to that. Around the same time that I joined the Marines, my brother went to work for the A&S Railroad in East St Louis. Back then they still had the caboose's and he bought a Model-10/5 blued snub because he was worried about being stuck out there alone on the caboose. Later he became a Yard Master in the tower and had no need for protection anymore. My brother was never a gun guy like me so the snub was relegated to sitting in a closet for decades. For about 35 years I tried to talk him out of that snub! He would never shoot it but wouldn't part with it either for some reason.
But back to me. In 1982 I got tired of all the politics with the Sheriff's Department, quit, and went back in the Marines without ever looking back again. By the time I retired in Dec 1998, I had almost 24 years and 3 combat tours. After retiring I worked some security jobs for awhile before going to work for the same Railroad as my brother.
In 1986 my Mom finally talked me Dad into moving out of East St Louis. But before that happened I had given Dad a M1911 for home defence. Dad was a WWII Marine and was familiar with the M1911. Later I had bought a little Taurus Model-85 snub and when I showed it to my Dad, he told me that He liked it better than the M1911 as he was now in his late 70's and it was a little more easier for him. So I gave him the Taurus snub and took the 1911 back. Last year my Dad passed away at the age of 85. When we were cleaning out some of his stuff (Pop was a pack-rat that never threw anything out) my Mom told me that she really didn't feel comfortable with the Taurus as she was now too elderly to use it anyway. My brother and I both came to the conclusion that if She ever pointed it at a intruder that they were liable to take it away and use it on Her. So, I had the Taurus laying on the kitchen table in it's box waiting to take it home with me. My Brother and his wife were looking at it when out of the blue my brother said that he would trade me the Model-10 for it. I guess you already know what my answer was.
I took the snub to the range with me not long after and my best friend shot it too. We were both absolutely amazed at how accurate that 2" barreled snub shot. I was a competition shooter in the Marines but was not expecting that out of a snub! I always knew that snubs were self-defence/close range (Belly Gun's) weapons but I was able to keep all my rounds in the black out to 25 yards! My buddy isn't quite as good a shot as me but still managed some pretty tight groups himself.
Earlier this year I was diagnosed with a particulary aggressive form of Prostate Cancer. Luckily it was caught early. I had my Prostate removed on June 23rd and was off work for almost two months afterwards. It was during this period that I discovered that I cannot draw disabilty from the Railroad Retirement Board because I'm a Military Retiree and they said that would be double-dipping! Of course they had no answer as to why I have to pay into something that I cannot use. Things got really, really bad for awhile. I rent my home and was helping my 2nd daughter out for awhile. My son-in-law works construction and was getting much work due to the economy. They have 3 small children and I couldn't/wouldn't allow my Grandson's to suffer. My retirement pay after taxes only comes to $1400 a month so that was going far.
It was during this time that I had to do something that caused me the deepest sorrow. I had to sell all my weapons. Everything but a Mossberg Model-46 .22 rifle that was my Dad's and I learned to shoot with. Amongs't those was the Model-10 snub. Broke my heart!
A week ago I was able to talk the guy into selling me the Model-10 back. Not only that, He sold it back to me for what He paid for it! Maybe after my run of bad luck in the last year I'm finally being awarded some good fortune.
So you see, this little Model-10/5 2" snub that shows holster wear on the bluing and isn't all that desirable/collectible compared to other models is priceless to me. Sorry for the unusually long and drawn out Intro but this was my story.
