Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
Sometimes you find a nice gun that you have absolutely no need for, but it calls out to you. I keep swearing not to buy anymore K frame Smiths. I really don't need any more, unless there is something unusual or interesting about them.
Last week I was in a local shop and I spotted a very nice Model 14-3. Now I'm not one of those guys who claims a gun is unfired. This one had some powder residue on the frame around the firing pin hole. But it is as close to New In The Box as I have ever come across. Just the tiniest hint of a turn line, that's all. Chambers and bore are spotless. Not a scratch on the grips. It looks like it had six rounds fired through it, and it has been sitting in somebody's sock drawer for 40 years. SN is 5K235XX and The Book says 1973.
I have a couple of older K-38s, but I don't have a Model 14. So I started thinking what the heck. The gun was on consignment and the asking price was $599. I asked if the seller would take $500. The shop made the call and left a message. I bought some ammo and went home. I figured if the guy wanted to meet me halfway at $550 that would be fine. Later in the day the shop called and told me the seller had accepted my offer of $500. I said great, I would be in the following week to pick it up.
It gets better. When I showed up, the owner of the shop looked the gun over and said I had made a great purchase. I already knew that. He said if he had been aware of it he would probably have bought it himself. That's when I found out the gun came with the original box. Now I'm not one of those guys who thinks boxes are collectable, or should add to the price of the gun, but I do love the old blue boxes with the reenforced corners because that's the way Smiths came when I started buying them.
No, it was just the box, there were no papers or tools. Let's not get too greedy.
Then I had a little fun with my camera. I took out my Model 17-3, which I bought brand spanky new in 1975, and took a photo of them together.
OK, quick, which one is the 38 and which one is the 22? Can you tell? Ya gotta answer quick.
I have not shot the Model 14 yet, I intend to shoot it just a little bit, then do my best to keep it as pretty as the first owner did. My Model 17-3 is not quite so pretty, it has been shot a fair amount since I bought it back in 1975.
The problem is now, I am going to have to be on the lookout for a Model 16 (32 S&W Long) to complete the set.
Sometimes you find a nice gun that you have absolutely no need for, but it calls out to you. I keep swearing not to buy anymore K frame Smiths. I really don't need any more, unless there is something unusual or interesting about them.
Last week I was in a local shop and I spotted a very nice Model 14-3. Now I'm not one of those guys who claims a gun is unfired. This one had some powder residue on the frame around the firing pin hole. But it is as close to New In The Box as I have ever come across. Just the tiniest hint of a turn line, that's all. Chambers and bore are spotless. Not a scratch on the grips. It looks like it had six rounds fired through it, and it has been sitting in somebody's sock drawer for 40 years. SN is 5K235XX and The Book says 1973.
I have a couple of older K-38s, but I don't have a Model 14. So I started thinking what the heck. The gun was on consignment and the asking price was $599. I asked if the seller would take $500. The shop made the call and left a message. I bought some ammo and went home. I figured if the guy wanted to meet me halfway at $550 that would be fine. Later in the day the shop called and told me the seller had accepted my offer of $500. I said great, I would be in the following week to pick it up.
It gets better. When I showed up, the owner of the shop looked the gun over and said I had made a great purchase. I already knew that. He said if he had been aware of it he would probably have bought it himself. That's when I found out the gun came with the original box. Now I'm not one of those guys who thinks boxes are collectable, or should add to the price of the gun, but I do love the old blue boxes with the reenforced corners because that's the way Smiths came when I started buying them.
No, it was just the box, there were no papers or tools. Let's not get too greedy.
Then I had a little fun with my camera. I took out my Model 17-3, which I bought brand spanky new in 1975, and took a photo of them together.
OK, quick, which one is the 38 and which one is the 22? Can you tell? Ya gotta answer quick.
I have not shot the Model 14 yet, I intend to shoot it just a little bit, then do my best to keep it as pretty as the first owner did. My Model 17-3 is not quite so pretty, it has been shot a fair amount since I bought it back in 1975.
The problem is now, I am going to have to be on the lookout for a Model 16 (32 S&W Long) to complete the set.
