CajunBass
Member
With all the Covid restrictions at the LGS, I haven't been going by there much this spring/summer. The mask I don't mind too much, but due to "social distancing" and panic buying, they've had to put a barricade around the handgun counter, and start a one out, one in, stand in line system. I got a semi-bad back, I'm old, and fat, and hate to stand in lines. So I haven't been going in.
Last week I finally got desperate, so I started to watch the shops online shopping. I saw a couple of good ones that got away, but that got the juices flowing again. Got up one morning and saw a Smith and Wesson Model 19-4 that they must have just put up. I knew it must have just gone up, because it was still there. I hit the "buy it" button and a few minutes later I got an email saying it was ready for pickup.
It turned out to be a 1980, 19-4, Pennsylvania State Police Model in what to my old eyes appears to be "unfired outside the factory" condition. There isn't even a turn line. It had the target hammer, trigger, trigger stop, and smooth presentation stocks. I was pleased to find out the cardboard box, all the papers, and the unopened "tool pack" with cleaning rod, brush, mop, and sight adjusting tool (screwdriver for those who don't speak Smith and Wesson) was all included.
Anything that looks like wear is poor lighting I promise. I know someone will ask, but I'll probably never shoot it. I've got other Model 19's for that. This one will be just for show.
I filled out the paperwork, found out the system was being it's usual annoying self, so my wife and I left to get something to eat. On the way out, I walked by the used handgun counter, and spotted what I thought was a Model 629 with a 4" barrel. Not wanting to make my wife wait longer, we left and I called back in to ask about the 629. Nope. Sorry. No 629 in the case. Oh well.
Wife and I ate, went home for a while, got a call and was told my background was back. Just on a chance, I grabbed a gun I didn't really care for and took it along "just in case." When we got there, praise be, there was no line to get into the handgun inner sanctum. I slipped in, went back and lo and behold, the SS N-frame was still there. But the guy who told me they didn't have a 629 was right. It was a 624 (44 Special) with a 4" barrel.
Now I really like the 44 Special, and I have an almost fetish for a 4" barrel revolver, so I couldn't start that trade fast enough. To make a long story just a little shorter, I ended up getting the 624 (no dash) from 1985 also.
It's been fired a few times, and the grips are aftermarket Eagle's but neither of those matter to me. Now to get busy and load some 44 Special ammo.
Last week I finally got desperate, so I started to watch the shops online shopping. I saw a couple of good ones that got away, but that got the juices flowing again. Got up one morning and saw a Smith and Wesson Model 19-4 that they must have just put up. I knew it must have just gone up, because it was still there. I hit the "buy it" button and a few minutes later I got an email saying it was ready for pickup.
It turned out to be a 1980, 19-4, Pennsylvania State Police Model in what to my old eyes appears to be "unfired outside the factory" condition. There isn't even a turn line. It had the target hammer, trigger, trigger stop, and smooth presentation stocks. I was pleased to find out the cardboard box, all the papers, and the unopened "tool pack" with cleaning rod, brush, mop, and sight adjusting tool (screwdriver for those who don't speak Smith and Wesson) was all included.
Anything that looks like wear is poor lighting I promise. I know someone will ask, but I'll probably never shoot it. I've got other Model 19's for that. This one will be just for show.
I filled out the paperwork, found out the system was being it's usual annoying self, so my wife and I left to get something to eat. On the way out, I walked by the used handgun counter, and spotted what I thought was a Model 629 with a 4" barrel. Not wanting to make my wife wait longer, we left and I called back in to ask about the 629. Nope. Sorry. No 629 in the case. Oh well.
Wife and I ate, went home for a while, got a call and was told my background was back. Just on a chance, I grabbed a gun I didn't really care for and took it along "just in case." When we got there, praise be, there was no line to get into the handgun inner sanctum. I slipped in, went back and lo and behold, the SS N-frame was still there. But the guy who told me they didn't have a 629 was right. It was a 624 (44 Special) with a 4" barrel.
Now I really like the 44 Special, and I have an almost fetish for a 4" barrel revolver, so I couldn't start that trade fast enough. To make a long story just a little shorter, I ended up getting the 624 (no dash) from 1985 also.
It's been fired a few times, and the grips are aftermarket Eagle's but neither of those matter to me. Now to get busy and load some 44 Special ammo.
