Vintage Virgins: Show & Tell

[Confederate]

They're rare, and worse, they're rarely for sale, but they are out there. Buried in dask safes, nestled in amongst the well worn thumbbusters and powderburned autoloaders; there is, every now and again, a vintage virgin -- a beautifully blued or nickeled revolver -- the proverbial pearl of great price -- that someone, somewhere, would pay or trade almost anything for.

They lurk in the dark, springs taut, with pinned barrels, luxurious mile-deep blue, recessed chambers and slick, clean barrels, factory wood grips, unloaded and unused, cherished, but, alas, ignored. They know neither the smell of the range, nor the sharp reports of gunfire.

Some are time-honored Colts, slicked up Smiths or even early Rugers. One might be an early Colt Python or a mint, untouched Smith 13, still wrapped in brown vapor paper and sitting in its blue box. Such treasures are rare, but not unheard of. Are there any in your safe or hidey hole? If so, what are they? How did you come to own them and would you part with them if the price was right? If not, do you ever intend to fire them and where do you want them to go after you pass away?

Also, to those who can find them, please post photos.

 

[Eightball]

I own mine to use 'em. Doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy getting a "NIB" treasure to use at the range

 

[Avenger29]

"or even early Rugers"

I brought and now carry a cherry Ruger Security Six, stainless steel, 4" bbl. I don't think it was ever fired as it was PRISTINE when I brought it. I rectified that situation the night it came home with a box of Blazer .38spcls.

The only safe queen I have is my grandfather's old .22 rifle. I retired it in honor, because it has served so long and is pretty worn. I did buy a modern equivalent to replace it in service. Everything other than that rifle gets shot on a regular basis.

 

[Confederate]

My father had an old Remington 85 (?) when he was a kid. It was a .22LR that his father (the town drunk) helped him buy. It always had a lot of sentimental value to him and I set out to see if anyone had one.

I searched high and low and eventually found one. It was clean, practically unused; however, its wooden stock had been broken -- in anger from the looks of it. The bluing had been neglected, as had been the stock, but I had it reblued while I repaired and refinished the stock.

When it was finished, it looked NEW. The gunsmith and I figured that some kid probably shot something he shouldn't have, then had the gun broken by an irate adult or older brother. It was left around, was ultimately forgotten and left in the warm, dry attic. When the gun came back together, it was as if it were mint. The break in the stock wasn't even visible and the bluing was perfect. And though the gun was far from perfect as found, it was the only rifle in that model (in any condition) that I could find, period!

I still wonder if there's a perfect, mint gun in that make & model somewhere in someone's collection. I'm mostly interested in revolvers, of course, but it's the same overall idea.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I have a NIB Model 58 Smith, paid $250.00 about 10 years ago.

 

[Confederate]

I have a Smith 629 and 686, both first issues. They both are relics and represent better days. Today's Smiths are good guns, but they're not attractive. The stainless guns look like they're finished with sandpaper, and the hammers and triggers are neither stainless nor flashchromed, but are cheap top-hardened parts that detract from the looks. They're also soft on the inside.

I hope the 686s are still made to be Python-busters, but the first 686s were given special treatment and were about as good a gun as Smith ever produced. I also didn't like it when they stopped stamping their sideplates. (I had an early 4-incher and am soooo sorry I sold it.)

I'd also love to have one of the classic 66s w/recessed chambers and a vintage 27. But I did get some Ruger Security-Sixes before they dropped out of the line. (And I love those.)

 

[doc540]

unfired 1976 Colt Cobra

 

[slick6]

Awhile back I came across a widow who had kept her deceased, avid Ruger collector husband's entire gun collection hidden away for 32 years after her husband's demise-before deciding to sell off his collection! Since I'm a fan of the Ruger "Six-Series" revolvers, I was lucky enough to land a collection of eight extremely rare Ruger old frame Security and Speed-Six revolvers! I had to go through approximately, 50 NIB specimen's of these revolvers to have discovered the following "Gems"! Some of these are so rare that only a hand full are known to exist!:

Here is a photo of the group of eight collection in their original boxes:

In the following photo's I'll just show you a sampling of these NIB revolvers:

1)This is an Model SS-82, 2.75" Speed-Six chambered in .38 Special:

2)This picture is an Model SS-84, 4" Speed-Six chambered in .38 Special:

3)This picture is an Model SS-32, 2.75" Speed-Six, with a spurless hammer-extremely rare with only 2 or 3 known to exist!:

4)This picture is an Model SDA-32, 2.75" rare "Fixed Sight" Security-Six!

5)This picture is an Model RDA-86, 6" rare adjustable sight Security-Six, chambered in .38 Special(Note: All production adjustable sighted Security-Sixes were only chambered in ..357 magnum!)and, this was one of less than 500 special Ruger contract guns!

6)This picture is an Model GA-34, 4" stainless Security-Six, chambered in .357 magnum. This is one of only a few stainless old frame Security-Sixes that were made on the tail-end of the old frame "Six-Series" production!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Cherry Rugers

 

[w_houle]

slick6, I feel happy for you, those are awesome!

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Wait...

There, I've got the drool wiped off. Those Rugers are sweet.

 

[Confederate]

Nice Ruger collection.

Years ago I found a couple of Speed-Sixes on sale for almost nothing. The reason? Because they were .38 Specials. I bought both and later had a gunsmith ream out the chambers to .357 mag. He did an exceptional job and because he was a stickler for detail, I ended up with two Speed-Sixes that are as accurate as these revolvers can be. I can drop a JHP bullet into each chamber and each one will catch in each! (Most of the time there will be one or two that will fall out, and this is normal for most revolvers. My Speed-Sixes, however, are so precise that accuracy is phenomenal!)

 

[slick6]

I certainly, appreciate all of your compliments on my early model Six Series Ruger collection-thankyou!

Since I was fortunate in acquiring these fine Ruger revolvers in their preserved, NIB condition, it was easy to see the wonderful quality that Bill Ruger had built into his first batch of double action revolvers. Everything from the quality of their blued finish and the wood used for the grips, to the overall workmanship in their build quality! It was just a shame, that these Six Series revolvers were unappreciated for so long! They are great guns and their unique modular construction was ahead of it's time when these guns were first introduced in 1971! I can truthfully say, that of all of the different Brands of revolvers that I've ever collected, that this little collection of Six Series revolvers are my most highly "prized"!

 

[pogo2]

Unfired model 19 with black matte finish

S&W model 19 revolvers have been out of production for quite a while. Most of the ones made had a blued finish, and some were nickel plated. A few were made on special order for law enforcement agencies in a matte black finish. The State Department Diplomatic Security Service and the Connecticut State Police were the two main customers, according to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.

Last year I bought a new in the box model 19-5 specimen from a dealer who acquired it from the original owner. I believe it was part of the lot purchased from S&W in the 1980s by the State Department. It came with rubber Pachmyer grips and I put on the Ahrends wood grips shown for the picture. I intend to keep it unfired and not turn the cylinder.

 

[KarenTOC]

I doubt I'll ever have safe queens. As a little girl, I loved dolls, and could never understand how my best friend could own pretty, fancy dolls and not actually PLAY with them! I appear to have the same attitude towards guns. I'm an accumulator, not a collector. But, if the right "safe queen" came my way, maybe I'd be tempted to just let it lie there and look pretty...

I acquired an unfired, but not pristine H&R 732 (.32 s&w, dob 1972) from a friend who had kept it in a dresser drawer. No box or papers, either. She asked me to "get rid of it" for her because she was afraid to touch it. I fired it. It's pretty horrible.

I bought a used PPK/s with case and all papers (Interarms, dob 1994) that looks like it's never been fired since it left the factory. However, it's not pristine. I suspect it was somebody's nightstand gun. No finish wear, but there's a scratch on the side. I got it around Christmas and still haven't fired it. I have only 1 box of .380 and I'm not going to use it up until I can find a box to replace it lol.

Those two are the closest I've been so far to anything even vaguely resembling a safe queen.

 

[Starter52]

My only safe queen is a nickel .38 Colt Diamondback still NIB. I'd almost rather have a well-used one that I could take out and shoot.