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Thread: A sad state of affairs

  1. #1
    Site Supporter Lon's Avatar
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    A sad state of affairs

    Today I decided to go gun shop hopping. I'm looking for a couple different K frames (model 14 4" & a 2" model 15) so I decided to see if I could get lucky. I went to 9 different shops a various sizes. Most I hadn't been to before. 9 different shops full of almost nothing but soulless plastic bullet pushers. Most of them crappy soulless bullet pushers. I did not find a single used K frame in any of them. Only 2 used Smiths - a 325 Thunder Ranch and a post lock 686 4".

    At each store I also asked if they had any old junky K frame RB grips in a box in a back room. I need a pair to use as a guide for fixing the hack job SB to RB conversion on my M10. Nada. Only 1 had any old school grips at all.

    I guess I got spoiled growing up in and working in my brother in law's shop. They have old grips, old hard to find parts, old stocks, screws, etc. that they've accumulated over the 40+ years they've been in business. There just aren't very many shops like that around here anymore. Kinda sad.
    Formerly known as xpd54.
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  2. #2
    Member w provence's Avatar
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    Yes it is. I found an abused mod 15 a while back for $225. I bought it and sent it to a gunsmith for TLC. Nothing lately.


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    Bill

  3. #3
    Member JHC's Avatar
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    Locally this forum seems to have 90% of the classics I ever see. https://www.theoutdoorstrader.com/forums/handguns.72/


    Hardly any in the shops.
    “Remember, being healthy is basically just dying as slowly as possible,” Ricky Gervais

  4. #4
    banana republican blues's Avatar
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    The 2" square butt model 15, (Combat Masterpiece) was my first issued firearm. Ah, the good old days.
    There's nothing civil about this war.

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  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Lon View Post
    They have old grips, old hard to find parts, old stocks, screws, etc. that they've accumulated over the 40+ years they've been in business. There just aren't very many shops like that around here anymore. Kinda sad.
    I hear ya and I'm sympathetic but in the bicycle business that I know, the equivalent shops have long gone out of business cos you can't make a decent living keeping old stock hanging around, there's just precious little money in it.

    Is there a place online that specialises in the kind of kit you're looking for?

  6. #6
    Site Supporter Lon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hiro View Post
    Is there a place online that specialises in the kind of kit you're looking for?
    Yes and no. There's always gunbroker for guns and parts, but I really like to get my hands on something before I buy it. My brother in law and sisters shop still has a bunch of used parts if I want to go that route and they get in used Smiths on a regular basis but didn't have a 14 or 15. I was hoping 1 of the shops might have something that I wanted to at least handle and drool over. Nada for revolvers. One shop did have a CZ 712 3 gun shotgun that was nice. And a Benelli M2 3 gun shotgun that was even nicer. But no revolvers I was interested in. What's really sad is that that particular shop used to be the kind that had the old box of grips and parts, etc. But they sold to new owners last year and moved to a new building. I don't think the old stock stuff was part of the deal. Really cool shop though if you're into shotguns and reloading. They even have a full size stage coach inside. Custom made for this shop by the same company who made the one used in The Hateful Eight.

    I've had more luck finding used Smith wheel guns at a couple local pawn shops, but they're all overpriced and werent the specific models I wanted.

    If you know of any old school gun shops in southwest Ohio, please let me know.

    The other sad thing is listening to the gun shop commandos pontificate about this AR and that soulless plastic pistol ad nausem.
    Formerly known as xpd54.
    The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions or policies of my employer.
    www.gunsnobbery.wordpress.com

  7. #7
    Four String Fumbler Joe in PNG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lon View Post
    9 different shops full of almost nothing but soulless plastic bullet pushers. Most of them crappy soulless bullet pushers.
    Now, now, let's be fair. Don't forget all the soulless metal bullet pushers. We mustn't forget to throw scorn on all the 1911 like objects in the case too.

  8. #8
    Site Supporter Lon's Avatar
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    Don't forget all the soulless metal bullet pushers.
    True. There were a bunch of those as well.
    Formerly known as xpd54.
    The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions or policies of my employer.
    www.gunsnobbery.wordpress.com

  9. #9
    Site Supporter
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    The way to do it these days is to walk around with a grand or so in your pocket ready to whip out when you stumble across a nice example revolver (or a CC, but then you lose out on the personal sales).

    I scored a nice 38special Target Masterpiece ($350), a very clean 32SWL Hand Ejector ($175), a mint 10-7 pencil barrel ($200!), and a very under-priced 32SWL Model 16-2 ($500) by being ready to spend money even when I wasn't planning to. Re-reading that implies I got them all at once. Those purchases were over a period of years, but none would have lasted long if I hadn't been prepared to buy on a moment's notice.

    My LGS, VA Arms, seems to have more revolvers than the norm for this area, but they're more Colt than S&W these days with the S&Ws being newer or very worn 38s and 357s. The "unusual" calibers are drying up.

    Chris

  10. #10
    Site Supporter Tamara's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lon View Post
    I guess I got spoiled growing up in and working in my brother in law's shop. They have old grips, old hard to find parts, old stocks, screws, etc. that they've accumulated over the 40+ years they've been in business. There just aren't very many shops like that around here anymore. Kinda sad.
    A shop that's only been open two, five, or even ten years isn't going to have a bunch of old revolver stuff in it.

    Brutal Truth: The heyday of the affordable used Smith market is closing in on a decade in the rear view mirror now.

    Why aren't most of those cool old shops that were around in the revolver heyday still around? They went out of business because the average sole proprietor FFL has the finely honed business acumen of a meth addict getting ready to spend his income tax refund on Lotto tickets.
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