Ammo Considerations

I've only shot the modern rendition of the Smith and Wesson M&P a couple of times, and I was impressed. To me, it seemed to be a decently designed, reliable and accurate pistol. It felt good in my hand, and the controls were instinctive. Reading about the torture test of the M&P on pistoltraining.com attested to the plastic M&P's durability. It seemed to be a good gun if a person wanted a plastic fantastic.

So when I walked into Neil's pawn shop today and saw two black polymer M&Ps among the Glocks, I was surprised and a bit interested. (There was only a S&W Model 66 and a Taurus 1911 to draw my attention elsewhere.) I quickly noted that one M&P was priced at $519. The other was $349. The less expensive pistol did not seem to have that much wear than the other, but then I noticed..... The $519 gun was chambered in 9mm. The less expensive pistol was in 40S&W. Popularity of caliber does play a role at the used gun counter, something for any new gun purchaser and future gun trader to consider.

At Kenny's pawn shop, I noted yet another used M&P. This one, like Neil's, was priced at $350. It was chambered in .357 Sig. Curious, I drove to the big box sporting goods store nearby, to get a retail price on a new Smith & Wesson M&P. The same pistol, in 9mm as Neil had sold new for $549 plus tax. I'm pretty certain Neil was giving himself some bargaining room with favored customers. While at the big box store, I noted the new .22LR Ar style rifle being put out by S&W was also on hand, priced at a nice $449. Hmmmmmmmmm.

Unneeded Boxes

"Hey Xavier, I've got something you might want," chortled Kenny as the cowbell announced my entrance into his pawn shop this afternoon. I strolled over to the gun case, and peered through the glass. Not much was appealing in the case, only one handgun caught my eye, and even it was pretty pedestrian. I already had a stainless four inch Smith & Wesson, actually. I have several.

"Ok, whatcha got?" I asked.

Kenny pulled four gray Ruger boxes from underneath the counter. "I found these in the backroom and I thought you might want them," explained Kenny. Two of the plastic boxews were for Ruger revolvers, a handgun of which I own exactly zilch. The other two boxes were for Ruger semi-automatic 9mm pistols. Again, I lacked the pistol that would fit in the plastic contours. both semi-auto boxes had a new spare 9mm magazine inside. "Three bucks each," said Kenny.

I don't have the guns to go in the boxes, but I decided that i may come across someone who does. The magazines will make decent trade fodder at the next gun show. I pulled out my wallet....

The Camera

Kenny's pawn shop was first on my list as I drove through a drizzling rain today. Kenny waved me on over as I walked in dripping from the rain. "Hey Xav, I've got one for you!" he said cheerily.

Kenny pulled a blued Model 10 snubby from underneath the counter. It was a nice pinned square butt revolver, and the action was smooth and light. I already had a blue Model 10 snub though, as well as a nickel one. Kenny had a $319 price tag hanging on the trigger guard. "Know what Kenny?" I said, "You need to get this one for yourself."

"You're not interested?"

"Well, I've already got one. They are excellent revolvers, a great CCW piece." Kenny nodded. I continued, "Where are you at on getting your permit?"

"I'm still waiting on a class," said Kenny.

I gave Kenny the phone number of a friend, and suggested he get in touch. We talked a bit more, and I excused myself to head over to Neil's shop.

I hopped over a couple of puddles to make it to Neil's door, but it was warm inside. As usual, Neil was reading the classified ads. I went straight to the gun counter. Underneath the glass was a Model 19-2. It had aftermarket thumb rest grips on it, as well as a trigger shoe. Always curious, I asked to see it. Neil removed it from the case and I checked the cylinder. Then the trigger. I was hoping for a slick trigger job, but the double action trigger was no different than any other Model 19, and not as good as some I've tried. The high points of the cylinder had thin bluing, and the muzzle was silver. At $299, I might have purchased the revolver if it had a little less finish wear and the original grips. I handed it back without a bid. "Xav, I can knock off ten percent for you," said Neil.

Two-seventy wasn't a happy price for me either. I thanked Neil and turned to leave. As I was exiting the store, I noticed a Nikon camera on the camera shelf. When I was in the Navy, I maintained my sanity with a Minolta X-700, developing film at ports all around the Pacific. When digital photography came along, I stuck to my film roots for a while, but finally went digital. Digital photography allowed me to quickly share images online, a major point, but I still craved the control of the SLR. My Minolta and all it's lenses were put away for when I knew I wanted printed images. That became less and less frequent.

The camera that grabbed my attention was a Nikon D-200. I really had no idea what it was or what it was worth, but Neil had a $499 tag on it. Attached to the bottom was what appeared to be a motor drive, although I didn't know why a digital camera would need such. The lens had huge, clear glass, although a couple of nicks were present on the rim. I tried to turn it on, but the batteries were dead. Instead, I committed Nikon D-200 to memory and drove home to research it.

I liked what I saw. Nikon glass. 10.2 megapixels. Unlimited capabilities. I could really get back into photography again. I read some more, and all the reviews were positive. I saw that Neil's price was fantastic, considering that I was getting a lens and multi-power battery pack. After a couple of hours of research, I drove back to Neil's pawn shop.

I walked in casually to find Neil haggling with a customer over the Model 19. The Nikon was gone. Gone just that quickly. Damn. I should have just bought it. Disgusted with myself, I left the store. I had gotten about five blocks from Neil's pawn shop when I decided to return and possibly get the Model 19. I turned around and drove back.

The puddles had gotten smaller, and I walked through them as i went back into the shop. Neil was nose deep in the classifieds again. "Did you sell that Smith, Neil?" I asked.

"Yeah. Didn't make a dime off it either," replied Neil. I knew better.

"Neil, who bought that Nikon camera you had up there?" I asked, pointing to the empty space between the video cameras.

"Oh, nobody. I saw you looking at it, so I hooked up the charger in back to charge up the batteries," said Neil. "You interested?"

"I might be," I responded. "Does it work?"

"Well, you need a card of some type to hold the pictures, but it all powers up," said Neil as he retrieved the big black camera from his office.

"Hmmmmm," I pondered. "will you give me your usual 30 day guarantee?"

"Sure."

"OK, What's your best price?" I asked.

"Ah jeeze, I just got beat on that Smith & Wesson," Neil squealed.

"I'm not going to beat you, I just want your best price," I countered.

"How about $450?" asked Neil.

"Four-fifty means lay away," I parried. "Four hundred cash and carry today, right now."

"Plus tax?"

"Deal," I smiled.

Two Models of 1905

I finally went by Neil's pawn shop and paid off the Model 10-8 that I had placed on lay away back in October. The sale price on the nickel service revolver was $239, and I only had $37 more dollars to pay.

At one time not long ago, I would have passed on a Model 10 that was over two hundred bucks, but times have changed. You just don't see them what I used pay any more. I suppose that goes for a lot of things. Earlier in the week I looked over a blued Model 37 with a three inch barrel, but the $425 price tag switched me off cold. I'm willing to recognize the prices have gone up a bit, but I'm not willing to pay 2015 prices yet.

I took the modern day Model of 1905 home and cleaned it up, and then found some period appropriate magna grips in my spares box. It's my first heavy barrel Model 10. I've just always preferred the taper barreled M&P, but I have to admit the heavy barrel handles nicely. When compared with my eighty-eight dollar Model of 1905 (no change) that I picked up at the last gun show, the Model 10-8 looks like a jewel.

The Model of 1905 was the first five screw Smith & Wesson revolver. It was manufactured for one year before the first change occurred. There is something about those old brown revolvers that I enjoy. They are invariably inexpensive, they are about as tactical as a pair of Hush Puppies, and the patina reeks of a past unknown. Yeah, I appreciate the old beater guns nobody else wants too.

Priorities

At Kenny's pawn shop, I found a Star Model A Super today. It's a little unusual to find old mil-surp weapons in pawn shops around here, but there it was. I'm not all that well versed in Star pistols, other than the Model B and the Model BM, both of which are 9mm parabellum. I own a star Model B and a Model BM, both purchased as surplus. They have been decent guns. Whether or not this pistol was 9mm Largo or not was pertinent. As far as I know, no American manufacturer provides 9mm Largo ammunition.

Kenny's Star Model A Super was in decent enough shape, with the original unchipped wooden grips. I turned it over in my hands trying to remember whether it was chambered in parabellum or 9mm Largo. The pistol had some sort of lever set into the right side. I had no idea what the function of that was. I discovered later that it was a retro-fitted takedown lever, part of which makes a Super super. Another thought that came to mind is that parts for Star mil-surp pistols have become as scarce as turtle teeth. Finally, next to the importer's mark, I saw the caliber. 9mm Largo. Last year, these pistols were surplused for $139. Kenny was wanting $209 for the old pistol. I handed it back to him.

I drove over to Wal-Mart, and after several minutes, found a parking place. At the ammunition counter inside, I spied four 100 round boxes of Winchester "white box" 45 ACP. "I'll take all four of the forty five auto, and one of the .38 specials" I told the matronly clerk, pointing to the boxes. A yellow tag reading $38.86 was on the shelf beneath them. This was going to hurt, but not as bad as it might next month.

The clerk stooped down to retrieve the boxes, and as she did, she revealed four more behind them. "Tell you what ma'am, I'll take all eight of those," I said.

Placing them on the counter, she asked "Still want the .38s?"

"No, I'll pass on the .58s today," I replied.

As she rang up the ammunition, I remarked that they may be back down to twenty bucks a box next month. "I wouldn't plan on that," she told me. The total came to $255.76 plus tax. As I wheeled my loaded down buggy out the automated doors, the math wasn't adding up in my head. Driving home, I looked at my receipt. I had been charged $31.97 a box for the ammunition. "Just in time," I whispered.

Outa Lay Away

Back in July of 2008 I placed a SW1911 on lay away at Neil's pawn shop. Over the past six months I have been placing a few bucks on it here and there. Today, when I entered Neil's shop again, I only had $47.89 left to pay on the stainless steel pistol. I decided to go ahead and take it home.

Paying for a firearm in this manner is basically painless. You still have to buy within your means, but it is amazing the limit we can place on financial pain by paying over time.

I am not sure what I will do with this pistol...... Hell, I already have three SW1911s. A gun show is coming later this month, and perhaps I will trade it off for something i like better. It's funny how I can easily justify another Colt or Smith & Wesson revolver, but another SW1911 makes me doubt my senses. The SW1911 is a solid 1911 though, and for the $650 price tag spread out over time, it was difficult to pass up.

Two Tauri

I stopped in Kenny's pawn shop this afternoon to see if the Colt 1903 Hammerless was still around. Regrettably, it had vanished. In it's place was a different rendition of John Moses Browning's gun designs, a blued Taurus PT1911. I didn't want to look too interested, so I asked to see the Taurus P92 that was still gathering dust.

The PT92 is a near copy of the Beretta 92 series of pistol. Some shooters actually prefer the Taurus P92 because the safety is not on the slide. I acted interested in the old Taurus while gazing at the PT1911 past it under the glass. Kenny had the PT1911 tagged at $549. That was too much in my book to pay for that pistol used.

Finally, I asked to take a look at the Brazilian 1911. When I dropped the magazine out, I noted that it was coated with what appeared to be motor oil. I locked back the slide and saw the barrel was coated with the same stuff. I am not familiar with the ins and outs of the PT1911, perhaps this was factory preservative. The barrel hood certainly appeared unblemished. Perhaps this was an unfired pistol. At $549, it should be.

I had to convince myself not to put this gun on lay away. I didn't care for the widely spaced slide serrations. The Hienie straight eight rear sight was not my cup of tea. It appeared to be installed as an afterthought, hanging over the round of the slide. I despised the lock on the hammer. Why make such a part, one that gets slammed around like crazy, delicate with itty bitty internal mechanisms? Unless they did it so the lock/hammer would immediately be swapped out, I have to question that design. The frame had a blocky front strap.

The fitting of the Taurus was excellent for a production gun. No sloppiness what so ever. The checkering on the front strap was nice. I prefer a smooth front strap, but if you like checkering, Taurus did an excellent job on it, unlike Smith & Wesson's clumsy checkering attempt on the SW1911. The checkering underneath the Taurus trigger guard is a nice custom touch, although it will certainly chew up a holster's leather. The trigger itself was very nice. Crisp.

There were enough features in the Taurus PT1911 that I did not care for. I handed the gun back to Kenny. At $549, I could have purchased the pistol new any time, any place. At $449, I might be back............

Michael Bane's PT1911 Review

Shooting Times PT1911 Review

Gun Blast PT1911 Review

B.B. Pelletier's PT1911 Review

Ruger MKII 50th Anniversary

A year and a half ago, I was considering purchasing a Ruger 50th Anniversary MKII at a local pawn shop. I passed on the pistol each time due to a price that I thought was a bit too high considering the pistol's condition. At $175, it sold to someone else. I continually kicked myself each time I thought about it.

That was the history as I entered the Spotted Dog gun and outdoor gear emporium. As usual, I walked past the hunting gear and straight down the glass cases full of handguns. When a salesman asked if he could assist me, I had already determined there were no used Colt 1911s available.

"That Ruger, can I have a look at it?" I pointed. He opened the case and removed a blue 4 inch MKII with the 50th Anniversary crest on the receiver. While not a perfect reproduction of the Ruger Standard by any means, minor design details such as he lack of scallops on the rear of the receiver caught my eye. The plastic red eagle grips suffered from battered checkering. The pistol did have good bluing, and no rust though.

I turned over the tag to take a look. $249. Damn. Just a few years ago, the four inch taper barreled Ruger MKII sold for that new. "Those are fine pistols," related the salesman. "And that one is a special 50th Anniversary model. Limited edition."

"I see." I tried to look skeptical. "Do you have the box?"

"Let me check," he replied and he disappeared into a back room. Moments later, he emerged with the bad news. No box. I gave a disappointed look. "I tell you what, I'll cut you a deal........." he ventured.

"Spare magazine? I inquired.

"No, but I'll let you have it for $219."

"What is the tax here?"

"Two twenty out the door," the salesman countered.

I did some quick mental math. I pulled out my wallet. I took the pistol home.

A Vintage Carry Gun

I stopped in Kenny's pawn shop this afternoon when I left work. He had several Ruger centerfire autoloaders, a Springfield XD, and the Taurus P92 was still gathering dust. Among the handguns though, was a shiny Colt.

Specifically, it was a 1903 Hammerless in .32 ACP. It appeared to me to be a Type 4, with the original magazine. The nickel finish was well worn, and I wasn't sure if it was original. The wood grips did not appear to be original either. The pistol had just come out of hock, and did not yet have a price tag. I asked Kenny how much he wanted for it.

"How about three hundred?"

"You're dreaming!" I handed it back to Kenny, and he placed it back in the case.

The Colt 1903 Hammerless is a 32 caliber pistol that makes a very nice carry gun if you feel comfortable with the bullet size, and if you can use the sights. I recall reading somewhere about a Colt 1903 that had Novak sights installed and the front strap checkered. As a durable alternative to the KelTec P32, a Colt 1903 in good shape is a viable carry option. They carry like a dream.

Several years ago I purchased a Colt 1903 at a gun show for $240. It had very little blue left, and I probably paid too much, but I wanted the pistol for my wife. It has been a reliable shooter, although accuracy is not all I would like it to be.

If you purchase one of these pistols, be sure to get one with the original Colt magazine. Aftermarket mags are generally a recipe for poor feeding, and the originals are hard to come by and pricey if you do find one. Buy the pistol in the best condition that you can afford, and if possible shoot it first. Do not purchase a non-functional example, unless it is for parts. Parts are generally unavailable. Reproduction grips are available from Vintage Gun Grips Inc and NC Ordnance.

A plethora of information concerning these fine little carry guns can be found at Sam Lisker's website, Colt Autos.com. Before making a purchase, learn as much as you can there, compare the pistol you are considering to the many photos and run the serial number through the data base to determine the year it was manufactured.

Perhaps I will check back in a few days to see if Kenny adjusted his price.

Shinola

There was a familiar figure in Neil's pawn shop as I entered it's door today. I recognized the fellow as one who sells on Gun Broker, and a man who I have actually purchased a gun or two from in the past. He was picking up a black 1911. The Gun Broker guy had a couple of sycophants along with him and the three of them were crowding the counter, so I loitered nearby looking at jewelry. The pistol he was picking up appeared to be a Kimber, and I surmised that it must have been the "Punisher gun" that I had missed a while back, only now it had the original grips installed. I spied a shiny revolver in the case though, and I waited.

From my perspective, the revolver appeared to be a heavy barreled nickel Model 10 with aftermarket grips. Finally, as Neil finished his deal, I caught his eye and said "Neil, let me see that Model 10 you have in there."

Neil retrieved the four inch service revolver from the case. I looked it over, and while it was in need of a good cleaning, the gun was in good shape. The nickel was flaking in a couple of spots at the muzzle, but the screws were untouched. It was a Model 18-8. Pinned.

Neil had a $239 price hung on the revolver. Not too long ago, I had passed up Model 10 revolvers that exceeded two hundred in price. In fact, one, a round butt pencil barrel gun still bugs me at times. If this were a three inch gun, I'd be on it like black on Shinola. Finally, Gun Broker guy asked me, "You gonna buy that gun?"

I put it on lay away.

Glocks

I went by Kenny's pawn Shop today. He had a selection of semi-automatics underneath the glass. The Llama was still gathering dust alongside the Taurus P92. Sharing the dust was the James Bond P99 Walther incarnation. That was a rather forgettable pistol after the movie hit the DVD sale rack. Along with the Walther Kenny did have several Glocks available though.

I confess that I am not a Glock fan. I respect their reliability, and they are certainly durable. They are accurate enough. I dislike the safety on the trigger. The whole idea seems silly to me. A gun ought not go off unless the trigger is pulled. So to make the gun safer through a mechanical means, it only follows that the mechanical safety be independent of the trigger.

Oh, I know that the safety being on the trigger supposedly makes it less likely to be forgotten about in a life threatening crisis. No argument there. It also makes the safety less likely to be effective if something accidentally enters the trigger guard and presses the trigger. By contrast, the 1911 uses the thumb's placement in the firing grip to disengage the safety. When combined with the necessity of pulling the Glock trigger in the field stripping process, I simply prefer another design.

I dislike the idea of plastic sights. In a gun as well engineered as the Glock, why it doesn't come from the factory with aluminum sights dovetailed front and rear is beyond me. I am not a 1911 fanatic that spits on the ground when Glocks are mentioned. I did own one at one time. A Glock 26. The plastic sights were a primary reason I traded it off.

In trained hands, the Glock is an amazingly competent fighting gun. In my hands, although the grip angle is similar to the Ruger MKII, it does not seem to fit well. As a result, I do not shoot the pistol as well as I feel I should be able to.

Now I know that I speak heresy to some of the most die hard brand disciples in combat pistoldom. I fully expect to hear from them in my comments here. Guys, I just shoot the 1911 faster and more accurately than the Glock. I do not find perfection in a shovelmaker's pistol. If you do, Glocks seem to be running around $425 to $450 used in my area, but Kenny has a Glock 26 with three magazines available for $379.

Riot Gun

I stopped by Neil's Pawn Shop today, QJ wanted to put a few bucks on his Browning Buckmark, and he had asked me to go with him. As they were passing cash, I was scanning the long gun rack behind the counter.

"Say Neil, isn't the barrel a bit short on that one?" I asked. I pointed to an oily stocked shotgun that looked like it had seen better days.

"Nope," said Neil, "That's a police gun."

"Let me have a look."

Neil handed the shotgun over, and went back to trying to sell QJ a zippered gun rug. The beat up wood was impregnated with old oil, and was sticky in a few places. The recoil pad was hard with age. Barely visible in the grain of the stock was a stenciled 6, as well as LPS6 underneath the forend. Oddly, the forend was an extended type, not really my choice, but apparently authentic. I took a look at the rollmark on the barrel. RIOT. The old gun definitely appeared to be a past lawman's weapon.

I held down the slide release and opened the chamber. Clean. Although the furniture looked like it had been bounced around in the trunk of a police cruiser, the action was like new.

"How much you want?" I asked.

"A hundred and thirty," came the response.

"One ten," I countered.

"I can't make any money like that Xavier........"

I wavered. Lord knows I have enough combat shotguns. Still, this old girl had waited patiently for years to be run hard. It was speaking to me. "I tell you what Neil, give QJ that gun rug, and I'll give you one twenty nine."

Neil looked at me, then at QJ. "Damn. I'm double teamed," he said, "Deal."

A KelTec PF9

I visited Neil's pawn shop this afternoon, and among his handgun selection was a KelTec 9mm pistol with a grip that spoke of something new. Gone was the sharp polymer checkering that had caused me to apply emery paper to my P-32. This pistol had raised pads on a black plastic grip frame. It appeared to be a single stack gun with the extractor and rear sight attached with Allen screws. I made a mental note of the price and tried not to look too interested. Neil wanted $219 for the gun.

This evening, I went online to KTOG.org, a forum that I once frequented when I first bought my P-32. I still carry my P-32, and it has been a good little gun. I had to "fluff & buff" it, and it is a .32 ACP, which I'm not too fond of, but it provides me the option of packing something when I would otherwise be packing nothing. Even though I considered their products to be starter kits to a carry gun, KelTec customer service has always been exemplary. This might be a decent bicycle gun. I was hopeful..... I began to read........

I found this thread, a synopsis of the PF9 and it's tribulations in early production.

More:
Mousegun's Review of the PF9
Gun Blast Review of the PF9
Ed Buffaloe's Review of the PF9

Extremes

Something told me to go visit Kenny after work today. The bell clanged announcing my arrival at his pawn shop, and he came up from the back. "Xavier, I've got one I think you will want!" he exclaimed. I inquired, and learned he had received a gold plated Desert Eagle in hock. I felt a lump in my throat, along with the taste of my 12:00 salad with blue cheese dressing. My head bobbed a bit as my cricoid struggled to keep the blue cheese down, and I politely told Kenny that I did not think I could afford such a fine weapon.

Not too much had changed under the glass at Kenny's. The Llama 1911 style pistol was still there, as well as a Beretta 92FS and a beat up Taurus clone of it. Kenny had a couple of Ruger centerfire semi-autos as well. Nothing really interesting. I began to scan the rifle and shotgun rack when a little .22 rifle caught my eye.

A few years back I had purchased a Norinco copy of John Moses Browning's .22 caliber auto rifle. I had cost me $129 new at a gun show. I had shot a couple of the Browning 22 Autos, and I had liked them. They shouldered well, and were a light, accurate .22 rifle.Although I liked the way the Brownings felt, and though the Norinco felt the same, the Norinco 22 was roughly crafted, and it was never reliable. After a year of trying to force reliability into a stubborn commie copy, I traded it off for another gun.

The large hang tag on Kenny's .22 rifle sang a siren's call to me...... $129. I asked to see it, and was surprised to find it to be a Grade 1 Browning. Although made in Japan in 1980, not Belgium, it was never the less a nice rifle. While I was checking it to see if it had a cartridge in the chamber, Kenny asked me what it was. "An old timey twenty-two," I told him.

"Think it's worth much?" he asked.

"Oh, it's worth what it's priced at, I reckon," I replied as I broke out my wallet.

Missed Punishment

As I walked into Neil's pawn shop this afternoon, I noticed that he still had a Glock for $419, but several of the other handguns that had been in his case were gone. I broke out my wallet to place some more money on my SW1911 and get ahead of the curve on picking it up. I put $340 on it. Next payment due in November.

Neil smiled, and told me I had missed the prize he placed on the shelf this morning. "A Kimber Custom II. Didn't last two hours. It had those Punisher skull grips," he said proudly.

I tried to look disappointed. I didn't tell him I would likely have passed anyway. I don't care for the Series II Kimbers, and I would not want comic book grips. Unless of course, they were Shang Chi grips.

Unscrupulous Rumours

From a forum post:

So far all my gun purchases have been new. I'm not above saving money but I never felt right about pawn shop purchases. Do you trust them? Have you ever been burned in a pawn shop deal? Stolen merchandise? How do you tell a reputable pawn shop?

I buy a lot of guns from pawn shops. Some are dusty with high prices, others are clean and motivated to move merchandise.

There are several things to understand about pawn shops.

First, they are primarily financial institutions. They are lending agencies with a license to protect. They will protect that license to lend money, as it is their livelihood. They are not likely to risk it knowingly selling somebody's stolen second hand stuff. Being a FFL is second to being a financial institution with these guys. They do not have to sell guns. They do not need to sell guns to make a living. They make a living lending money. If they can break even on selling a gun to a fellow they like, they will. They already made their money on the loan in interest. Let them make a bit on the gun too, and you will become a cherished customer. If you treat him with respect and he believes you will return again, there is a fair chance he will sell you the gun for a small profit over what he loaned on it. Treat the pawn broker with disdain, and you will never find a deal there. He doesn't have to sell to you. Remember.......He may have made his money on that gun in interest and having it go in and out of hock. It is not merchandise. It was collateral.

Second, in most states the Sheriff's department has a pawn detail that regularly goes to pawn shops comparing the serial numbers on pawned items, including tools and guns, to lists of items reported stolen. Pawn brokers are pretty adept at spotting a thief. They do not want to loan money on a stolen item and then lose their collateral. If someone walks into a pawn shop with a Fender Telecaster and can't play it, chances are he won't be pawning it either. Pawnbrokers do not work as fences for known thieves. Doing so places their license as a financial/lending institution at risk. Plus they lose their collateral on money they loaned.

Third, pawn shops help people. Let's suppose you need money. Suppose your engine just blew up in your automobile, and you do not have the money it takes to replace or repair it, and you need to get to work so you can go on living. You have no money in the bank. Your friends don't either. You either don't want to go to the bank and take out a loan for the small amount needed, or your credit sucks and you can't. You can take out high interest pay day loans, you can use a high interest credit card, or you can see a pawnbroker.

At the pawnbroker's shop, you can walk in with an item of value, whether it be a firearm, a piece of jewelry, a camera, or whatever. He will appraise it, offer a loan based on that appraisal, and if you accept his offer, you sign a few documents to make certain you understand the deal, and you walk out with cash. That's it.

Pay back the loan at any time, or on schedule with the interest contained in the deal, and you get your property back. It's that simple. On a firearm, yes, you go through NICS.

Now let's suppose you experience a downward turn of fortune, and have a problem paying the loan back. You will not have a black mark on your credit score as a result. Try that with Visa or a pay day loan place. At the pawn shop, you just lose your property if you default on the loan. That's all. You have a clean slate. If it was a family heirloom that you pawned, either you should not have pawned it, you should have paid back the loan, or if neither of those are possible, you have the option of pawning something less precious to you and buying your heirloom back before someone else buys it.

While your property is in pawn, it is kept in a place that is reasonable for it's security, and the pawnbroker is responsible for it's condition. If it's a gun or jewelry, it is kept under a double lock, same as a FFL. Most likely, that entails a walk-in safe. I was surprised to learn how many hunters pawn their favorite rifles in the off season for safe keeping. In August, they pay off the remainder of the loan, take the rifle out of pawn, and go hunting. If it is burned, damaged, or whatever, the pawnbroker's insurance covers it, not the owner's homeowner's insurance. I know construction workers and contractors that do the same with their tools in the off season.

After hurricane Katrina, the pawn shops in my area were hopping for about two years as people who evacuated......... Good people, respectable people, who had a driver's license, a credit card or two and a car full of belongings and family, went about re-establishing their lives. Would the banks loan them money for gas or a hotel room? No way. They had no address any more. Would the cash advance places loan them money for gas or a hotel room? Not without a job. They could, however, walk into a pawn shop along their way to a final destination with a driver's license and a small item of value such as a diamond ring, or a handgun, and leave in 15 minutes with money for gas and a hotel room. If they never came back with their property, and a lot of them did not, it was simply resold. Folks like myself came and purchased the collateral.

Think about this....... The next week could bring any number of us to a situation where we need cash right then. It could be an auto accident, a natural disaster, a death in the family, or even a great deal on a once in a lifetime firearm that we need cash for. Cash right then. You could use the Visa or go to a pay day loan place. Or you could take something to into a pawn shop and learn a new tactic of survival in a declining economy. Your choice.

To decide for yourself whether pawnbrokers are unscrupulous thieves, go here. To read my pawn shopping secrets, go here. To hear the rumours about unscrupulous pawn shops, just go to your local gun store and ask. Then follow the old guy behind the counter, you know, the one with the nice gun collection....... to his favorite pawn shop and watch him check the latest wares on his way home.

Another SW1911

I went by Neil's pawn shop today and I found a standard fixed sight Smith & Wesson 1911 among his wares. It was in great shape. It looked as though the past owner had ran a few rounds through it and put it away. The pistol was pristine.

It's slide had the later, more discrete laser applied markings. That was a good thing. It also had the original box, both magazines, and the documents. The only things that I didn't like about this pistol were the forward slide serrations and the zebra color scheme that S&W chose.

I turned over the price tag to see what Neil was wanting for the gun. $649. Quite a bit more than he was asking two years ago when I purchased my first SW1911 from him. I wasn't surprised. The pistol, which would sell for $750-800 new, was worth that.

Over the past two years or so, I have shot Smith and Wesson's version of John Moses' brainchild among my other 1911s. I was hesitant to take the plunge into SW1911s, even though the pistol was produced by a major manufacturer, simply because the external extractor gave me the heebie jeebies. Unlike other manufacturers who tried such an extractor in 1911s and failed, Smith & Wesson had a history of successful external extractors in their double action pistols. As a result, their external extractor in a 1911 works. Smith & Wesson 1911 pistols do have MIM parts. Some shooters see MIM as a step above bat guano, but there are well made MIM parts, and then there is crap. Kimber tried to go cheap and lost their stellar reputation to internet reports of failing MIM parts. Smith & Wesson continues to utilize top quality MIM parts. Having seen machined steel parts fail, MIM is a non-issue to me, as long as the parts are well made. Over all, I have found the 1911s from Smith & Wesson to be reliable, accurate and durable. In fact, if a person wants an updated 1911 with a beavertail and low profile sights, it is one of the best deals going.

I offered Neil $500 on the gun. "I'm only making thirty bucks on this one Xavier," he protested. I wasn't born yesterday. I know a haggling parry when I hear one. I started to say I would bring one of my SW1911s in for resale, but I have never lowered the price of a gun through argument. I asked Neil how firm his price was. "Sorry Xavier, I just put the gun out this morning. The price is firm. It will sell at that price," came the reply.

I looked the pistol over some more. Neil was right. At $650, it would sell. I thought about the Charter Arms Undercover I had missed out on last week. I thought about sending this pistol off to Jimmy Clark for a Meltdown. Another customer, a man I had seen at multiple gun shows, was loitering silently nearby. He was feigning interest in the MP3 players under the glass farther down. "Yep. At $650, it will sell," I told Neil. I handed the pistol back to him.

"How's about $140 on a lay away?" I asked as I reached for my wallet. As Neil banded up the pistol in it's box with my name on it, the loitering customer walked out the door without asking to see a thing.

A Good Home

Today, I made up my mind to possibly acquire the Charter Arms Undercover Neil had on his shelf. After several days of consideration and after reading Johnny's opinion of the gun, my willpower evaporated. The little revolver did, after all possess an interesting history, and as the little gun that could, it was a good option as a CCW gun. It would make a good addition to my accumulation. If the aluminum grip frame was still firmly attached to the steel portion of the frame, I would buy it. I stuffed $170 in my wallet, placed my Model 38 in my pocket and went back to Neil's pawn shop.

Neil looked up from his ever present classified ads as I walked in, the cowbell jangling on the door. "Which one did you come back for?" he asked.

"The Undercover," I replied.

"Sold it," he countered.

I was stunned. Apparently someone other than myself had seen the little wheelgun as a good deal. Perhaps it was a college student who resolved to never let a piece of human scum gun them down. Perhaps it was a real estate agent, or a car salesman who felt threatened by spooky clients. Perhaps it was a rookie on the force, or a battered wife who was finally ready to made a move out of a bad marriage. I didn't inquire as to who purchased the Undercover, but I hope it was someone who will carry it well. I'm sure it will serve it's purpose.

Undercover

I drove back over to Neil's pawn shop after work today to take another look at the Charter Arm's revolver he had in the case. It was a vintage Charter Arms Undercover, a 38 special snubnose. In it's day, the Undercover was a cost effective concealed carry piece favored by many cash strapped peace officers as a back-up gun.

Neil's example was a good one. A good bit of the finish was still there, although the frame had turned plum and the cylinder had bare metal showing. The Undercover was never the prettiest gun on the rack, it was just a hard working carry gun, so that was OK. Functionally it was a winner. The cylinder locked up well, and the trigger, although heavy, was smooth.

I thought about it a bit. Neil was wanting $159 for the Undercover. I decided to wait a while, not because the revolver was a bad gun, not because the deal wasn't decent, but because I wasn't sure I wanted to open up that door.

Now, I'm still thinking about that little hideout gun. $159 ain't bad.

JPG gives an expert synopsis of the Charter Arms Undercover.

Overstocked and Gilded Triggers

I drove over to Neil's pawn shop this afternoon, and his handgun shelves and rifle racks were packed. Unfortunately he did not have any 1911s or Smith & Wesson revolvers. What he did have though were Glocks. He had big Glocks and small Glocks, 9mm Glocks and "fohty" Glocks. All were priced at $419. All were in decent shape. Neil used to price used Glocks around $350. I guess prices are going up all over.

Among the Glocks, Neil had a three inch Ruger .357 for $299, as well as revolvers made by Rossi and Charter Arms. For a moment I thought he had an ugly 1911 in the case, but it was a Llama. They are not the same.

Neil also had three times his usual stock of power tools, and at least thirty bicycles. I asked him what happened. He said he bought out another pawn shop. Among the bikes was a Trek ZX1220 ($250) a Trek mountain bike for a similar price, and a Raleigh Technium ($40). I didn't need a new used bike that badly, so I wished Neil well with his new found stock and drove over to Kenny's.

Kenny's pawn shop is a hole in the wall place, and Kenny is always happy to see me. A couple of years ago, I taught Kenny basic gun handling skills, and he capitalized on it by becoming the "firearms specialist" of the pawn shop he helps manage. His shelves were Beretta city today. He had a Beretta 96, a Beretta 92, and even the Taurus copy of the Beretta 92. The Italian guns had fared better than the Brazilian over the years. Of course the Brazilian may have led a tough life. Kenny had the Berettas priced at $329 and $359. The Taurus was running $249.

I chatted with Kenny a bit about him getting a CCW. He is still wavering back and forth, and I emphasized that as a manager, known to be carrying cash for deposit, he would be foolhardy to not go armed. He agreed, but continued to procrastinate. As we were chatting, I noticed a shotgun on his rack with a shorter stock than the others. I asked to see it. It was a Mossberg 505C, a 20 gauge youth model.

Hmmmmm. A couple of years ago, Little Darling fell in love with shotgunning. Watching me run a combat shotgun, she wanted her own gun to make big holes and loud booms. I had managed to find a Western Field 20 gauge that I cut down the stock and barrel on to fit her, but of course, the action remained the same. She had, however, taken to it with an enthusiasm that brought a sparkle to my eye. The little Mossy had twin bead sights, and a shorter throw on the action to compensate for the smaller shooter. I looked over Kenny's youth shotgun. Youth shotguns seldom appeared for sale used. This was the first one I had seen used in over two years. Kenny was wanting $179 for it, and the condition was like new. It looked as though it had never cycled a shell. He had all the chokes and the choke wrench. I twirled the price tag and lifted an eyebrow at Kenny.

"That one's like brand new Xavier," he said, "It's a good price." He was right. Plus, it had a gold trigger, and Little Darling likes her triggers gilded. As I reached for my billfold Kenny clandestinely whispered "There's an old Smith in the back still in hoc....Next time you come through, I'll have the model number for you."

Loose Tools

After work today I went back to the new pawn shop in town to see if he had any new guns. Unfortunately, he had closed his doors early. I was near enough to Neil's pawn shop, so I drive on over. Neil was in the process of selling the nickel plated Smith & Wesson auto-pistol, and the rest of his handgun stock was gone. I was needing a 15mm wrench, so I wandered on over to the bins of loose tools.

I managed to find a 15mm wrench among the rusty and greasy tools, but in the process I also found quite a few nice open end and combination wrenches, a small pair of Channelock pliers (I always wanted those but could never justify the cost of a small pair), and two 3/8 inch rachets. One of the rachets was a Sears Craftsman. I don't really go for Craftsman tools, I'm more a Snap-On, Proto and MAC kind of guy. I'm a stickler for quality tools. There is nothing worse than a screwed up job in the rain in the middle of the night....... Unless it's the same job with a broken tool. Still it's hard to ignore the Craftsman bring it in if it's broken no questions asked replacement warranty. Heck, I could simply take this old Craftsman rachet to Sears and get a new one. I tossed it into my pile. All would be good for modifying if needed, loaning out if cheap enough, and abusing if necessary.

Once Neil was finished with the gun sale, I ambled up to the counter. "How much do you want for these," I asked.

"How much will you give me?"

"Oh I don't know......." I started to say five bucks, but I decided to play Neil's game. He began to sort them, ordering them into piles. Then he moved a small wrench to the opposite pile and clucked his tongue. He looked up at me and I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't really need them I guess........"

Neil began to key numbers into his adding machine. They were nice tools, but truth be told, I only needed the 15mm wrench. Finally Neil looked back at me and ventured "How about three sixty-seven?"

I tried not to look too surprised. I was expecting ten bucks. Maybe I had heard him wrong. Maybe he said $23.67. I took four dollars from my billfold and handed the cash to Neil. He took the money, rang up the sale and put the tools into a paper bag for me. Daaaaum! I tried to act nonchalant, asking about the possibility of a Smith & Wessons in hock. As usual, Neil just smiled, and kept the possibility to himself.

As I got back into my car, I realized I will never buy tools the same way again.

Pearls and Smiths

I drove over to Dave's pawn shop this afternoon. He had a Glock 27 in the case, as well as a S&W 22A, and some other plastic fantastic. At the end of the shelf though, cold Smith stainless beckoned me to make a closer examination. I asked Dave to remove a Smith & Wesson Model 66 from the case. It was an early production Model 66, no dash. The rear sight was stainless steel. The front was a plain stainless ramp. It was pinned and recessed. The grips were walnut targets. I looked the gun over, beamed a bore light up the barrel, and checked it for end shake. The old girl locked up tight. The rifling was sharp. There was some minor flame cutting on the top strap, and the grunge of poor storage was present on the exterior. Still, it was a P&R Smith, in original condition, and a rather obscure early example of the Model 66.

I thought about it a bit while Dave took care of another customer. Finally, I decided to pass. It was a stainless gun, not blue. I already had a Model 66, although it is not pinned or recessed. Finally, at $329, the price was OK, but not something to make me reach for my wallet. I handed the revolver back and came home.

I looked in my safe as soon as I got home, and retrieved the pearls I had purchased my wife for our anniversary. I wasn't certain when she would arrive home, but I wanted them in my pocket when she drove up. At four o'clock, Ilsa announced her arrival with a woof and a dash to the door. I gave her a hug, and wished her a happy anniversary. I pulled the pearls out of my pocket and placed them around my mate's neck. She squealed with delight. Then she asked what I wanted........

"Why a gun, of course."

"But you buy your own guns."

"I know, but there is one I saw today, and I wrote down the serial number......"

New Possibilities

I managed to hit a few pawn shops after work today. Kenny was excited to tell me he had been promoted to assistant manager when I walked in. He had several handguns under the glass, including a Ruger semi-auto, a Beretta 92FS, a Llama 1911 style pistol, and a Springfield XD. The Beretta was $359, the Llama was $279, and the XD was $449. I wasn't interested in any of them so Kenny and I chatted about his new job,and then I moved on.

On the way to Neil's place, I spotted a new pawn shop, so I swung into the parking lot. Inside, the owner had decorated up his gun displays with Spanish moss and such. The most interesting gun he had was a modern Spanish copy of the Smith & Wesson M&P. The rest of his stock was rough pot metal Ring of Fire type guns. I asked to have a look at the S&W copy, mostly out of courtesy and get a feel for the place. The owner told me exactly what the gun was, and asked what I was interested in. I told him.....Old 1911s and old Smiths. He then told me that when he had opened the previous week, he had quite a few old revolvers, with some Smiths among them, and they had sold like hot cakes. He also informed me that he would be getting a new "shipment" in soon. I told him I would check back with him in a week or so. The Spanish revolver was rather finish worn and it wore a $129 price tag. I handed it back and bade the owner goodbye.

Neil was chomping a cigar and reading the newspaper when I walked in. "Long time no see," he said. "Where have you been?"

"Been busy," I replied. Neil's handgun stock consisted of two Smith & Wesson auto pistols. I never could tell those apart. Of Neil's examples, one was nickel plated, and the other had a polymer frame. He was asking $300-325 for each one.

M-30

After work today, I drove over to Neil's pawn shop to see what kind of ordnance he had on the shelves. Only a 45 caliber Astra handgun and a slew of shotguns, muzzleloaders and deer rifles were available. I checked the electronics, someone had stolen our speakers at work, and I was looking for cheap replacements to screw to the walls. Neil did not have any speakers, but he did have an interesting bike.

I have yet to purchase myself a mountain bike, and hanging from Neil's bike rack was a Raleigh M-30. It looked like an older bike, and it was crusted with mud. Everything was there though, if a bit rusty. I looked at the price tag........$29.99. What?!! This was too cheap to resist. I took the bike down and Neil looked up from his newspaper in amazement. "You want a bike?" he inquired.

"Yeah," I replied, "I have been thinking about starting to ride one again, to get into shape and such." I flipped the bike and spun the wheels. They were true. The cromoly frame was straight. The brakes functioned. Heck, the parts were worth more than thirty bucks. I broke out my wallet, paid for it, and asked Neil to hold it for me until I got back with my bike rack. When I returned, I loaded the bike onto the rack, and I began to wonder if I was nuts. Heck it's a super inexpensive toss away bike. If it allows me to keep up with Little Darling on just a couple of off road trips, it is money well spent.

Laser Beretta

After work today, I drove over to Dave's pawn shop to see what was on the racks. A good amount of deer rifles lined the wall. I thought about perhaps buying one, scavenging the Leupold scope off it for a Ruger 10/22, and then reselling the scopeless rifle for more than I paid this in September. That was how I scoped all my Rugers, but I have nine Ruger 10/22s that I built, modified or adopted. I simply could not justify another one, even if the scope was free.

I peered into the handgun case, and the pickings were pretty slim. There was a Beretta 92FS with Crimson Trace laser grips. It was in pretty good shape, and the laser worked. I did not care for the laser activation button placement, but then, I do not care for laser sights either. In my way of thinking, if I have time to paint a red dot on a target, I have the time to line up irons. Every time I have shot with laser sights, it seemed as though I shot slower, and less accurately. I suppose someone could say it was a lack of practice, but I wonder just how much practice one needs........I figure I've used them enough to know I shoot better with real sights. I would rather concentrate on avoidance, tactics, and the use of cover and concealment, as well as shooting a threat if need be. For the person who wonders "What if you are injured and can not physically align your sights?" Well, what if your battery goes dead when you need it most? We can "what if" ourselves to death.

Back in 1992, in the panic right before the assault weapons ban, I purchased a new Beretta 92FS for $560. I still have it. Since there would still be military and law enforcement full capacity magazines available, it seemed like a safe bet. Who would have thought there would be the dreaded "Law Enforcement Only" magazine selling for ten bucks a pop a decade later? I was fortunate enough to purchase a couple of full capacity mags at fair prices, and I also converted a two heel release 92S magazines to use with the 92FS.

Back then, the Italian wondernine had supplanted the venerable 1911 as the US military's sidearm. There were a lot of people who decried the change, who sought to find anything wrong with the Beretta possible, as though enough complaints would change the course of events. The Beretta grip was too fat. The round was anemic. The open slide fouled with sand. You name it. The truth is, bad press from hard head old gun writers and bad magazines plagued the M9. Yes, the slide cracked the back of it gave a SEAL a nose job while firing umpteenthousand hot rounds incessantly through the pistol. The pistol was redesigned to be stronger as a result. The locking blocks on the M9 eventually needed replacement. Newer pistols in the Beretta 92 series have plastic composite crap parts added now. I'm glad I got my Beretta 92FS when I did. It still shoots as reliably as ever. With the rising cost of ammunition, I may find myself shooting it more.

Dave was wanting $400 for his laser Beretta. I decided to pass.

Hi Power

I went to visit Neil after work today. He was reading over the classifieds and gnawing on his unit cigar as I walked in. He raised an eyebrow and inquired "Where you been? I tried to save one for ya........'

"Really? What?"

"A Colt pistol, in nine millimeter," replied Neil.

Dadgummit........."Did it look like the last one I bought?"

"No, it was better, a double action," replied Neil. "That's Ok though, I still have this one." Neil removed a Browning Hi Power from his case to show me. I know next to nothing about the Hi Power, except that some of the guys in my Navy days preferred it, and it is an old, reliable, double stacked single action 9mm handgun.

The Browning that Neil was trying to liquidate had a Pachmayr wrap around grip and a couple of magazines. It was a glossy blue, a nice pistol. I could not tell if it had been refinished, not knowing the level of polish the Browning metal should have beneath the bluing. The fittment of the pistol was excellent, and the bore looked good.

Other than the 1911, the Browning Hi Power is perhaps the most duplicated pistol design in the world. A few years back, surplus Hi Powers from Portugal were selling for $350 to $399 through importers. I could not bring myself to order one then. I always thought if I ever purchased one, it would be a Belgian Browning, in 9mm, not 40. This one was Belgian, but I still knew nothing about the pistol. I was unable to assess whether the deal was good or not. Neil wanted $550 for the pistol. He said he would take $500 when I handed it back to him. He rarely changed the price that easily on a gun I looked at. I let it go. I really do not need to open another gun accumulation door, and that is likely what I would be doing by buying the Hi Power. I decided to hold mymoney for another 1911 or maybe a Smith & Wesson or a .22 pistol. I wonder if I made a mistake........I'll see what Kenny has tomorrow

What to Look for if Buying a Used Hi Power by Stephen Camp

The Neos

After work today, I made a quick trip over to Kenny's pawn shop to see what was on the shelf. Kenny was turning a brisk business in jewelry, he had five men at his jewelry counter. I strolled over to the gun counter to see what was up for grabs. The handgun shelves were empty except for a Beretta Neos. Kenny also had a Winchester 1894on the shelves that looked like it might be an older one. I couldn't tell from across the counter. Kenny was tied up with the line of customers buying a last ditch present for their valentines.

I don't know to much about the Beretta Neos .22 pistol, except that it is of fairly recent manufacture, and it looks like a toy to me. Kenny had it priced at $179. That was attractive. I stared at it a bit through the glass. I thought about all the .22 handguns I already own. I never owned a Neos, and it was rather spacey looking in a Buck Rogers sort of way. A couple of Kenny's jewelry customers walked out, a couple more walked in and began browsing. I did not know how reliable or accurate the Neos might be, but I remember owners raving about them when they were new. Of course folks do that anyway when they buy the latest firearm. I did not know if the price was good, although, if it had been a Ruger MKII, I might have bought it.

I left Kenny's shop empty handed and went to get my valentine some roses and chocolate.

Jockey Shifts and Empty Shelves

I left work today with a vision of a Ruger Standard pistol laying in a pawn shop somewhere. I could see it clear as day, a square ejection port and a block rear sight. An early, early model. So I drove over to Neil's shop to see what was out on display.

Neil was reading the classified ads behind the counter when I walked in, a stogie clenched between his teeth. I was startled to see Neil's shelves empty. Every television and DVD player was gone. As I approached the counter, I saw one lone cowboy gun with pearlescent grips under the glass. "Damn, Neil," I said, "What happened? Did a hotel buy you out of TVs?"

"No," he replied, "It's just that time of year."

"Time of year?"

"Tax returns.........."

"Ah ha!"

I asked to see the cowboy gun. Neil said "Ten bucks if you can tell me what's wrong with it in thirty seconds......."

I looked it over quickly, it was an old Hawes 22 single action revolver. It had a cracked ejector rod housing. I pulled the hammer back, no full cock notch........"No full cock notch," I said.

"Really?"

"Yeah, look........"

"Damn....so that's why the firing pin was removed huh?"

I looked, and indeed, the firing pin was gone. "I got took on that one," Neil stated. I'll take the hundred I have in it........"

I thanked Neil for his generosity, but told him I just didn't have a place on my wall to hang it, and if I did, I would hang something else. Neil smirked. "Yeah, maybe I ought to put the thing on a nail by the register to remind me to look better at guns."

"Maybe a biker will buy it, thread the barrel, and screw it onto a jockey shifter," I suggested.

"Maybe......"

Gun Economics

After work today, I drove over to Kenny's pawn shop to see what was available. A grin crossed Kenny's face as I entered the shop, and he met me at the gun counter. Under his glass, Kenny had a couple of plastic pistols, but also a Beretta 92FS. The 92FS is a pistol that has not increased in price in the market. Back in 1991, when I purchased mine, they sold for about $550 new. They were the hot ticket item twenty years ago. Gun owners were facing the unknown realities of the Clinton Assault Weapon Ban, and the market for full capacity semi-automatic pistols was nuts with angst and trepidation. The Beretta 92FS still sells for about $550 new, but today there are also many used examples on the market for about $350 each.

Kenny's Beretta wore aftermarket Hogue grips with finger grooves, a definite minus for me. It was in good shape, it was early enough to have the metal trigger, safety, and guide rod. the action worked as slick as any Beretta, like oiled glass. Kenny did not have the box or the original grips. I saw he had it priced at $349. If I did not still have the Beretta 92FS that I purchased right after Lethal Weapon for $560, I might buy this one. Instead, I take my lesson on the realities of gun economics.

#497

Because of the new year and new deductibles on health care insurance, my case load was light today. I left the hospital early, and drove over to Neil's pawn shop. I could tell Neil was glad to see me, he looked up from his newspaper when I came through the door. He had an unusual supply of paintball guns in his case. That was a new one for me. In addition to the splatter toys, he had an air soft gun, a worn out cowboy gun, and a Glock. The case was so full of tacticality that I almost missed another black pistol at the bottom.

Neil must have seen the spark on my frontal lobe as my gaze fell on a Kimber. He put his paper down and got up to pull the pistol out for me. I opened the chamber, confirmed it was unloaded and began my 1911 checklist. Everything looked OK, but I wasn't pleased at all with the cheapo extended slide stop. The magazine follower would not raise it to engage the slide. It was a Pro Carry, a Series 1 Kimber....No firing pin safety and the extractor was inside the slide. The trigger was nice, and the pistol did not appear to have been used much. The sights had been changed out for Tru Glo replacements. I wondered if the rubber front strap covering concealed that awful Kimber checkering. That ugly Good Year thing would have to go. The rear of the slide was emblazoned with a NRA emblem on each side that proclaimed the pistol to be #497 of 750.

I asked if I could field strip the gun. It had a bushingless bull barrel, so I questioned Neil whether a box came with the pistol. He nodded and dug a plastic Kimber case from underneath the counter. Inside I found not only the documents and takedown tool, but also the original slide stop. I removed the slide and had a look. The pistol was dry as mummy crap. The frame was lightweight, probably aluminum, I thought. The mainspring housing was plastic. The interior of the gun showed no wear. I reassembled the pistol slowly as I calculated what it would take make it carry worthy. Nothing really, assuming it was reliable. Take off the finger groove rubber, and put 500 trouble free rounds down range through it.

I turned over the tag. $649. I asked Neil if he could go $550. He countered with $600. Deal.

Spotted Dog

I was driving out to see an old friend this afternoon when I found myself passing by The Spotted Dog sporting goods and pawn emporium. I decided to take a peek inside.

Along the South wall, I found a 30 foot counter of new handguns, three tier shelves under glass brimming with fine ordnance. The sales staff seemed to be rather young and inexperienced, with a grizzled gunsmith busily mounting a scope in the rear. I was asked twice if I needed any help as I scanned the racks. I found everything from a Kimber Warrior to a Bond derringer. Of interest was a Colt Defender.

The Colt Defender, alas, was a new pistol, priced at $849. That is an OK price, although I've seen better at gunshows here. It was one of the older Defenders with the swept back Novak style rear sight. I've thought about acquiring one, but have always held off. It's a sweet pistol, but anything it can do, my Colt Compact can do better. Never the less, the lightweight Defender is attractive......At the right price.

Interspersed among the new handguns, categorized by types, was my meat, the used guns. A used Colt XSE Government was present among the used stock. It was in good shape, and came with an extra magazine. It too, was priced at $849, and I knew I could find it for a hundred dollars less at the next gunshow as well.

Finally, among the revolvers, mostly Taurus, I spied old iron. The finish was AWOL on an old Smith & Wesson Regulation Police revolver. It did have the original grips though. Based on the I frame, the Regulation Police was a .38S&W with five holes in the cylinder. The old gal was more out of time than Tookie Williams. The finish was so poor that even a junk collector would carry it concealed. I had a young salesman ask me if I was interested in one of the Taurus revolvers.

"Not really. What's the price on that old girl?" I inquired.

He flipped the tag. $299. Unbelievable. I suppose the owner and staff expected every gun customer to haggle, and was hedging his bet with the first bid. Unfortunately, I could not even ante up in his game of gun counter poker.

I put my hands back in my pockets and went to see if they had a decent dog collar for Ilsa. They didn't. I left to go visit my friend.

Remington

I went by Neil's pawn shop this afternoon to check out his ordnance stock. There was nothing that interested me......He had a Taurus Raging Bull of some sort (I didn't even check the price), A HK USPc for $549, and a couple of S&W semi-automatic handguns. Neil also had an array of muzzle loader rifles and a few shotguns. It was disappointing to say the least. We talked a bit, and I ambled over to take a look at the tools. Standing in the corner was something I had thought about buying new. It was an electric pole saw.

A few years back, I was having a tree service cut a live oak in the back yard. Huge limbs were overhanging the roof, and after the last ice storm, i did not want to take any chances. It was my intent to be rid of the thing and grow grass. My wife, teary eyed and distraught convinced me to transform the old oak into a poodle tree. Over the past few years, limbs have been creeping ever closer to my roof again.

Realizing my folly in letting my wife keep the tree, but being unwilling to hire out a tree service again, i started shopping for something to keep the monster trimmed back annually. Here, in Neil's corner stood the answer for $49. To top it off, it was a Remington pole saw.

It looked to be pretty decent for the money, and Neil offered me his standard "If ya don't like it, bring it back" guarantee. Good enough for me. Fifty bucks later, I was loading it in the back of the Cherokee. Now, if I only have time to fire it up and try it out this weekend..........

Winchester Defender

I went into Kenny's pawn shop this afternoon. Among Kenny's shotguns I spied a Winchester with an extended magazine. It was a 1300 Defender. I squinted my eyes as Kenny was approaching,and read the $179 price tag. The shotgun appeared immaculate.

When Kenny arrived in front of me at the counter, I was peering through the glass at handguns.Kenny still had the Beretta 92FS, but he had sold the S&W Model 64. Nothing elsein the case interested me. I moved on to the electronics and I found a 4 GB iPod for $89. Good price, I supposed. I asked Kenny to open the case and let me have a look. He did, and I removed an aquamarine device from the case. My iPod had been stolen last week at work, so I was in the market for a replacement. I decided to buy it.

As Kenny was taking my money, I told him "You really oughta buy that shotgun Kenny."

"You mean that Winchester Xav?"

"Yeah, it would make a heck of a house gun for you."

"How did you know I was wanting it?" Kenny asked.

"It's a good gun," I said.

"Another two days and I can buy it," replied Kenny.

I hope nobody buys it out from under Kenny while he waits. It must be a quiet hell to see items purchased from under you as you are forced to wait to purchase because you are an employee.