GOOD LUCK!!!!
I'm pleased to announce I'm one up on you----one only. The place was SWCA Orlando, as I recall. The time was whenever that was. A small display was being laid out----six guns appropriately titled "The Ones You Never See"-----he had THAT right!!
I'm close enough to see the sign, but not close enough to see/identify the guns---up until this one---The .38 M&P Target Model of 1946 (the Mexican Model). They have an unusual/distinctive/misshapen/downright ugly appearance----and I had lusted after one for YEARS. I spotted that one right off----and was right there in about two seconds FLAT!! It was BRAND NEW---in THE box---to boot!! "WHERE did you get THAT?!!" I asked. The non-response response was "I just got it." "For how much?", I asked. He looked around (ostensibly to ensure no one else was within earshot), and named the figure. It was right about then I decided maybe I didn't need one of those as bad as I thought I did. Actually, I was pretty damn well certain I didn't need one.
And speaking of the Southwest Bunch gathering, this is the best Mexican Model story from there: Way back when I knew I had to have one of these things, I called Jinks. I asked him what I should expect to have to pay for a decent one. He laughed, and said, "Well, up until the last Southwest Bunch meeting, I'd have said $3,500, but now I don't know! There was a fellow there, and he'd brought his for show and tell. There was another fellow there who had one at home----consecutively numbered to the show and tell gun----and he HAD to have this one too. The bidding began. It stopped at $15,000---which was also declined." Then he laughed again. So I'd had fair warning----but I still at least sort of wanted one----in a pipe dream sort of way.
After Orlando? Forget about it---it ain't gonna' happen!!
Ralph Tremaine
If you join the SWCA, that list of things you have not seen gets a lot shorter, and quickly. This is a hint.
Having said that, one I have never seen is an early post-WW II .38 M & P Target known as the Mexican Model, even at the Southwest Bunch gatherings or a symposium.
I'm pleased to announce I'm one up on you----one only. The place was SWCA Orlando, as I recall. The time was whenever that was. A small display was being laid out----six guns appropriately titled "The Ones You Never See"-----he had THAT right!!
I'm close enough to see the sign, but not close enough to see/identify the guns---up until this one---The .38 M&P Target Model of 1946 (the Mexican Model). They have an unusual/distinctive/misshapen/downright ugly appearance----and I had lusted after one for YEARS. I spotted that one right off----and was right there in about two seconds FLAT!! It was BRAND NEW---in THE box---to boot!! "WHERE did you get THAT?!!" I asked. The non-response response was "I just got it." "For how much?", I asked. He looked around (ostensibly to ensure no one else was within earshot), and named the figure. It was right about then I decided maybe I didn't need one of those as bad as I thought I did. Actually, I was pretty damn well certain I didn't need one.
And speaking of the Southwest Bunch gathering, this is the best Mexican Model story from there: Way back when I knew I had to have one of these things, I called Jinks. I asked him what I should expect to have to pay for a decent one. He laughed, and said, "Well, up until the last Southwest Bunch meeting, I'd have said $3,500, but now I don't know! There was a fellow there, and he'd brought his for show and tell. There was another fellow there who had one at home----consecutively numbered to the show and tell gun----and he HAD to have this one too. The bidding began. It stopped at $15,000---which was also declined." Then he laughed again. So I'd had fair warning----but I still at least sort of wanted one----in a pipe dream sort of way.
After Orlando? Forget about it---it ain't gonna' happen!!
Ralph Tremaine
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