The rest of the story on acquisitions

[skeet]

I posted a little blurb in one of my posts about pawn shoppin the other day. Mentioned I got a Bushnell Trophy and a set of new RCBS carbide dies. Guys.. I have been pawn shoppin all summer and can tell you..there are some bargains to be had out there!!~ With the economy in the tank the way it is, people are gettin rid of stuff in Pawn Shops..but the pawn shops aren't selling like they want to. I have a friend who is a manager of a pawn shop (hardly ever get anything there though) and he said buyin is easy..selling sucks. I said in the other post I got a new set of 45 Colt dies for 15 bucks..carbide too..but I got 4 sets of new carbides all for 15 each..the others I will sell as I already have them...and it pays for my addictions..you know..all that reloading stuff. I also got an older Weaver 3x9 in exc condition for an even 20 bucks..I will more than double that price when i sell it and an older Redfield 4x scope..one chipped edge of the objective lens but 20 bucks also.. I'll put it on a rifle I keep around for a camp gun..in case somebodies gun breaks down.. It's an old Rem 721 in 270. Ugly but still shoots. No I ain't makin a living at it but it is still fun. And to top it off..I've been lookin for a good 22 semi auto handgun...and don't want a Ruger or Browning.. Shooting the High Standard makes me nervous as it is in really good condition and with the box and papers..more of a collectible than a shooter...so I'm gonna sell it. A guy I hunt with some went back to Ohio and came up with a S&W 41 with 2 barrels ..guy wanted 700 bucks and he called me..OF COURSE I WANT IT!! He bought it for 650 so I think I have my nice 22 semi auto.. Still a few guns around at yard sales but the prices are really rising around here. People are gettin nervous about the election coming up.. Most hate to even think it..but feel Nobama is gonna win again..what with the fix being in and election fraud and idiots thinkin Nobama wants to help 'em. Y'all ought to check out the pawn shops and see what might be available..and don't be afraid to offer a cheap price. They just might take it.. And if ya get a few things you don't want or need..sell and pay fer yer addiction. Or call me. I might just want it LOL!!

[skeet]

Well the fellow got back with the 41 today. Haven't gotten it yet cause he has a place in Montana and after the trip back they stayed at the place up there.. But..I found my extra mags today. One of the bbls needs a reblue..but I'll do a rust blue on it and be done with it. Have to get my chemicals together..and get some of the fine grit cloth Brownell's sells. I don't use a buffing wheel. I'll post a few pics when I get it and as I reblue the barrel. Rust blued stuff is usually gorgeous.. Then I'm gonna get the High Standard Tournament Military gone sometime soon..nice gun in it's box with papers. My addictions are still in place I can tell ya.

[skeeter@ccia.com]

Can be an interesting hobby...never know what run into now and then...I did a Rust blue on a TC I built way back and when laying next to the one that was blue?..Looked pretty nice in my book..I like it that way...and by the way, sold them both way back...would like to see the photos when you are done.

[Rapier]

Skeet,
Did Birmingham this past weekend, bought more than I sold but there were a lot of folks looking at black guns, not much buying, I could see, except for dealers buying.
Ed

[skeet]

Ed..BTDT. I usually do sell more than i buy though. I just got some parts for the old Stevens 311 20 ga ordered. They actually had (supposedly) what I needed. I only paid 50 bucks for the gun and I guess 20 more bucks won't break me. Got some parts from Remington for my ol 1100 410..and it was complete except for the springs..but I called and they sent 'em out today..LOL. I have noticed that people are buying black guns. But money is TIGHT. really tight. Course we don't have any big cities like Birmingham up here..work is out there but it is not booming cept in North Dakota. . Certain guns are kind of hard to get around here..the AR 10s are at a premium.. When I do a show I don't take CCs. But that is the only available money some people have.. And to be honest I really don't want to be responsible for people getiin farther into debt. Heck the best rates i am getting on investments right now is only 3 1/2 percent..tax free of course...cept a couple in the 5-6% and another still at 7%..but not much in those accounts..so money is tighter for me too. If I didn't sell some of this stuff I wouldn't be able to buy. On another note..talked to a fellow yesterday and bought another AR from him..Bushmaster with 4 mags scope mount case and some extras I'll never use. Paid 650 for it. Don't think the guy has ever shot it..He bought it when there was some concern on getting one. I actually traded for most of the price..I had a Rem 742(with one of those 10 round mags) in 308 and he wanted any semi auto in 308..and figured he was better off with a hunting gun rather than an AR.. What were ammo prices like at the show??..they are fair around here..but primers are rising a bit..again. Oh at the last show i attended..the dealers were trading crap like crazy..but weren't selling all that well.

Oh..not into Brownings all that much..but a fellow offered me a Browning Safari Belgian Bolt gun in 30-06 with a Leupold Vx II 4-12..The gun is easily 98-99% with a few slight handling marks on the bottom of the stock. Not knowing about Brownings..ya have any idea of value?? He is askin 1100

[Rapier]

There were several buys at the show and as usual with a good buy, your traveling mate tells you just after..... A guy had a pile of Win white box 223 ammo for $4.00 a box. By the time I was told, zip was left. I had paid 12.6 cents a round for primed and processed military in Tulsa. But commercial loaded for 20 cents is quite a deal. I found some Rem Express 7.5s at 1 1/8 in 16ga for $10 but passed as my 16s are all old and I wanted regular target stuff for them. I was walking down the isle behind a guy who stopped and scooped up 4 boxes of Hornady 224 bullets for $5 each. Luck of the line on that deal.

Now one of our guys bought a Rock River 5.56 Operator for $995 and I came close to buying the 308 version for $1,500. But it is new and no one knew anything about different uppers and the ability to use say an AR-10 upper in the RRA Operator. The Operator in 308 weighs about 9.5 pounds a good bit lighter than the AR-10 and especially my old AR-10T which required a gun bearer to follow you around.

Oh, I did trade off my Browning Grade V gun for a Browning sxs BSS 20ga with 28 inch barrels, plus a pile of green dollars for boot. I happen to have a carrying case and hard trunk for it so all is well. I bought a Para Ord CCW LDA stainless gun in the box. Both nice guns. Then I went looking for 45 bullets, just bullets, only thing I found were 230gr FMJs, perhaps a bullet shortage there.

I just got my imitation ivory grips back yesterday, had the laser guy put the 101st patch on the right grip and the Recondo patch on the left grip. I got those grips at the show for a test bed. They look pretty good, now to the store for some India Ink. If it works out, I will try a set of white bone grips on my long slide and the CCW-LDA.
Ed

[skeet]

Yep..show finds are kinda spotty..but if ya find something good ya gotta get 'em. I have a couple of Par guns. one of the little LDA 6 shooters. it's a two tone one and really pretty. Not a great shooter as far as accuracy but it is a gun for easy carry. I think you will like that one..the other Para is a P-12..pretty thick for a carry gun so think I am going to sell it. Hard to find quality 45 bullets... Bought a bunch of Gold Dots a year or 2 ago.. Loaded them into new cases and put 'em in an ammo can. The Bushmaster I got is a carbine with the carry handle. Not all that fond of the ones with the handle..so think I will swap out the upper and go with some type of flattop on it. Ed if ya have some prussian blue..take some.. add a little alcohol to it and use it.. I use an old tube of Prussian blue to check the bedding on all my rifles when I get them.. Going to a show this coming weekend..just lookin..not selling.

[Rapier]

Skeet,
Did the grips yesterday evening with India Ink. The smith that did this before, that I helped with the handgun, said he wiped the grips off with a soft rag. Well, once I saw that the ink wiped off, sorta, but left a light black smear around the engraving I realized a 500 grit buffing wheel was in order. So, luckily I have such a critter. When finished with the very light application I also realized that the look I saw on his grips was after he had buffed them. I also recalled that he would not exactly tell you all of what he did, all the time.

That is OK though, I got even. He was not a 1911 smith. He could not get a 1911 to perform, so he went off to pick up the son at school. I fixed the gun, sat it in the middle of his bench and put a full mag of empty cases on top. Locked up his shop and left! He called, "What did you do to this gun?" I would not tell him for a year. Just a little funny for your day.
Ed

[skeet]

Ed Post a picture when ya get it together and have time. Bet it's purty. Umm..have a friend looking for a set of Ivory checkered gips for a 45.. If ya see a set let me know. He has a nice Ithaca 45 pimp gun(all nickled) he wants to make purtier..or so he says. Picked up the Smith M-41 today. I did REALLY good on it. It came with the original barrel and a Clark Custom barrel too. The custom bbl has been shot but not much. It is set up like the original but also has a Weaver base on it for Red Dots etc. Also has 2 mags and the grips are adjustable for target shooting..but they are gonna go. I'll put a set of original or a set of something near the factory grips. The factory bbl is also drilled and tapped for a mount. Cleaned her up a bit and it do shoot. Better'n me. I'll post a picture or 2 of it here tomorrow. Along with a few other recent buys. Got a S&W M-19 at the local pawn shop. Out the door for 250. Pretty?? Not hardly but it is in good tight condition( a cops gun for certain and almost unfired) and for that kinda money..course I'll buy. Going in momma's truck as her carry around gun. I also got a really nice S&W M-60 3 inch 357 with adj sights. Paid a bit much at 475..but gonna sell the M-36 S&W momma carries and let her carry the M-60 Smith.. She likes it and it resides in her pocketbook as we speak. She said i can't even touch it. Course that's what she said about her LOL!! Bought a Remington Standard Weight 1100 20 ga 3 inch vent rib gun too. Gonna replace mine with it and part mine out. Mine ain't purty..this one is. Got another 45 of a sort not long ago too. and others...

[Rapier]

Skeet,
Here are the grips. Engraving done by Infinite Lasers in Destin, FL

Rt grip is 101st Airborne Patch
Lft grip is Recondo patch of the 101st "old school" pre dating SF, SOG school.
Ed

[skeet]

Nice.. I'm usually just a wood grip guy..but those could be usable for me. The 19 I got has a set of ugly Hogues on it. Gotta replace them..but momma likes the way they feel. I'm recutting the checkering on an OLD set of S&W grips for a K frame. The old diamond magna grips. Picked 'em up for 5 bucks. That coloring is giving me a couple of ideas..maybe a red white and blue color scheme on a set of grips..hmmm

[Rapier]

Skeet,
Drew at Infinite did a nice job on the grips. He is a retired EOD guy, been to the box many times. So giving his new business a hand up works well for me. I had him make a promotion gift for the son, I took an old 100 count walnut cigar box, refinished it and had Drew engrave the top with my son's name in a circle with the Combat Rescue Officer's flash, green feet and the Old Crow character, mascot of the CROs.

Unless those Magnum grips are really messed up, they are selling at between 30 and 65 now actually closer to 65 than 30. Matter of fact, the new 19 four inch I just got had a pair on it and I replaced them with Packmeyers I bought for 10, then put the wood grips away in a box.
Ed