Posted on 09/23/2009 6:19:16 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!
So here's a late second-generation 645 and an early third generation 4586. Internally, they're nearly identical, and about 50% of the internal parts are interchangeable, with the "older" 645 having a hammer marked, "only 4506", visible only when torn down.
These were (and still are) the peak of development of all-metal SA/DA .45s, and were used by a lot of police agencies because of their accuracy, refined trigger system, and dependability. These two veterans can still handle their end of things better than I can uphold my end of the partnership.
I still have my own work cut out for me, but at the current price of ammo, I may not practice a lot for quite a while. But they're ready to go for another 20 or 30 years before another checkup.
Evening Win-Mag. Nice looking old Smiths. Very nice pair. The old full size SW semis are great guns, solid and reliable. Tested (rented) a 5906 way back when, when the PDs were releasing the old ones. Darn near tripped the trigger on that one or it’s big brother, the one you got. Kudos on fine old SWs.
I hear what you say about ammo prices, the prices are coming down but not enough to suit me. Luckily I reload and have been able to continue to replace components as consumed. Some of the old price tags really get you shaking your head, just a few short years ago or certainly before BHO, prices are just about double those halcyon days just 6-10 years ago. Big Sigh and Bigger Grumble.
You ever see a ‘used’ gun that was darn near too nice to shoot? Well, my LGS/Range has a NIB SW 39-2. They haven’t made them in years. Appears a fella walked in an sold it. I fondled it, I doubt it has ever had a round through it. Extra Magazine still in the SW waxed paper. Could I shoot it? I just don’t know. p.s. I surely don’t need a safe queen but.
Been shooting pins, me and my geezer shooting buddies enjoy shooting real fast and hitting the pins. About a dozen or so shoot weekly. Several are very serious, most (like us) just enjoy shooting something different. I do like my old red/green dot although I can still work with irons. Not over the hill - yet.
OB
It has never quite happened to me, mainly because something I was looking at was relatively modern. Or it was literally unfired, like my Colt 1903 (made in 1928), but had recent mishandling, degrading the pristine surface with one big scrape, and a gouge from being dropped while still in the box. So I was thrilled to fire something out of the time machine, once I spent a day with penetrating oil and a no-mar plastic hammer to break up and flush the original oil, which had oxidized over the decades into something like concrete. Sweetest-shooting, most accurate .32 I ever tried.
I'd like to extend a sincere thanks to people who trade in near-new weapons with minor cosmetic "issues". It's the only way I could get some of these long-discontinued classics at an affordable price, and shootable condition.
So far, I've never seen a NIB-classic like a S&W Model 39 in the "used" counter. That's one temptation I hope to never face. That's why that 98% blued Colt Python saved my soul, because I've fired it, and can keep my dad's unfired stainless steel one as an honored safe queen.
First, ammunition is being elevated to "luxury cult icon". A couple of things I saw today.
Nothing special about either item, except that it exists, and comes in deluxe packaging.
The Winchester .22s come in a wooden presentation case. No word if fine furniture woods will be available any time soon. Special hundred-round packaging inside the crate.
The American Eagle .45ACP comes in special packaging for those people who just bought a handgun with one extra magazine, and they realize they also need a "box of bullets" to complete their last-ditch defense system. So in one box you get 100 rounds of ball ammo, highly recommended for the practice you should do prior to your existential emergency. Plus 20 rounds of high-performance defense ammo for your two magazines for when the unthinkable shows up in your life.
So if you just bought your one-and-only handgun, and figure one box of bullets will complete your salvation, at least think of an assortment like this in one handy package. Someone has already done all the thinking for you that they, in good conscience, can do. :)
Lookin’ good.
Around here, Cabela’s has been eating everybody’s lunch for blammo availability for months. Lake City 5.56 green tips in a 250-rd box? You betcha. Per-customer limit? Only on .22LR, but there usually is some.
You’re a lot closer to the Dundee Mecca; have you had a look there lately?
Two of them, serial numbers 101 and 102, appeared in a factory shipment from CZ, along with some very nice, but otherwise hum-drum products. The store owner call CZ-USA, and since he can get instant access to the president of the company, asked him "what gives" with the two super-leet items. He was told this was CZ's way of apologizing for being two years behind on the store's pre-paid backorders of 300 weapons. He also said they were currently the only two Titans available for sale, because the Dan Wesson "skunk works" has gone back to building their three variation of 10mm race guns. The price will be marked up only about $100 for profit, in the hope of moving these things fast, probably via online sale. Anybody in the Detroit area with that kind of money would probably insist on a private "trunk show" at their estate, rather than setting foot in their plebeian store, which is currently jammed with guys in hunter orange doing a last-second sighting-in for today's opening day of the deer season.
I'm not a big fan of deer-hunting in Michigan, because I estimate 50% of the guys and gals that actually leave the hunting camp with a loaded weapon are drunk. Still, with a million-plus heavily-armed hunters, the number of KIA will be substantially lower than Detroit, which has no hunting season of any kind, and a smaller population. Carbon monoxide, heater fires, and medical problems are the biggest killers, just like in Detroit in cold weather. The first casualty report should be in the Saturday papers for the hunting season, while a respectful silence is maintained for most of the City's woes.
I’ve got a couple of the Winchester .22 boxes with a big Cabella’s logo imprinted on the ends.
Wow! Factory original wooden crates, or someone in the back room with a rubber stamp? :)
Buddy at work is salavating over that specific 10mm 1911 variant. He volunteered for all the OT he can muster as his wife said he could have it if he earned it per se... :o)
I’m packing a 10mm Glock Long SLide from Lone wolf for hog hunting here. Hard casts makes it a great pork and mud rig.
Albeit I would love to have the Dan Wesson 10mm ..... just have priorities right now and tools that already fit my specific needs !!
Awesome stuff !
Stay safe !
Dundee is still over an hour's drive for me, so it's not exactly around the corner compared to 15 minutes to my regular store one suburb away.
One the left is the CZ P-09 in 9mm, to go along with the one I bought a few months ago in .40S&W. I've included a copy of their final exams from the factory.
I'm not ready to shoot that well with them yet, but when I'm ready, I know the weapons will be waiting for me. I can pretty well fake "halfway decent" today.
And a minor note for collectors: the two magazines that came with the 9mm have a slightly-restyled base plate, which better matches the contours of the front straps and the bottom of the frame. .
Factory original wooden crates with inked logos on each end.
Have you ever carried a handgun that had an attached lanyard? Was it a bother?
No, never needed to use a lanyard, but never bothered to remove the loop, either. It's mainly a military requirement in combat zones now. If you carry concealed, it doesn't make much sense having something that looks like a fishing line running into some location of your clothes. There's hundreds of ways to make one, from handmade to systems integrated into your battle rattle. Some are just like pocket reels for keys, but powerful enough to slowly pull the weapon back to you.
If I ever need to carry openly, I'll use some sort of lanyard, along with a secure-enough holster to announce that I'm serious enough about just retaining my weapon, so don't try your luck by making me draw it. :)
And in situations where the handgun is part of your badge of power, a fancy lanyard that contrasts with your uniform is part of the regalia, even if you just have a whistle on the end of it. :)
No, over , in and around water I used one..... Carry a Ruger Redhawk 44 mag in a Diamond D chest rig w a lanyard when fishing in places where I am not on top of food chain .
They sell some really nice ones that will coil like the telephone cord yet stronger with good solid attachments. I just use some small French clips with braided 550 cord for mine. Use em only for hunting these days, as stated when on or over the water....
Stay safe
The company president looked at the page and said, "OMG! That price is over two years old, and was never updated because we never had another one to sell until now. We're going to take that page down now, and add another $1000 to the price."
The one gun had the new price tag on before it was put in the display case with the other Dan Wesson items. And the owner was relieved that Number Two Son got lazy, and never yet put them on the web set at the wrong price. But he says the Titan will be online tomorrow at the correct price. :)
That’s OK. I wasn’t really considering buying them both anyway. .........LOL
The serial number indicates it was made in 1966, with the "diamond" in the grip going away the next year. The Model 36, the patriarch of a large line of J-frames, was discontinued in 1999. The new designs carry the old model numbers, to some extent, but are vastly different internally, and externally.
As with anything good that arrives via time machine, the previous owner kept everything intact, and may not even have fired it.
I noticed a light coating of rust on the trigger rebound spring when I removed the grips, so I will open the revolver up (I've done dozens of S&W J, K, L, and N-frames, and they're identical internally), and replace the little coil springs with new ones. It will no longer be pristine untouched-original internally, but nobody knew then, or now, how to guarantee fifty years of perfect spring life. A few dollars of new springs, identical to the ones used back then, will leave this unfired safe princess ready for another almost-fifty years of pampered luxury, but still ready to roll into action instantly, if needs arise.
I had no idea this gun was in the display case, but it was so pretty, just based on age, condition, and sterling reputation, that I had to buy it just so it could continue to be pampered. Another owner might have done the same thing, or maybe not. But like a puppy from an animal shelter, I can at least rest easy knowing this one will be well cared-for.
A it warms my engineering heart to see something so classic. Well designed enough to last and last still, ready to fully perform it intended function.
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