Always ask what's in the back room (long-winded)

[Shear_stress]

Followed the country two-lane to my favorite gun store this afternoon. The primary mission was pay off the balance of a neat early 1960s Colt Detective Special. Of course, I had an ulterior motive.

A phone call earlier in the day confirmed that that one early 1970s nickel, 2 1/2" barreled Python was indeed still on the shelf after two months. The Python was not perfect. It could more charitably be described as a "shooter". On the other hand, it's rare for the price of even an imperfect Python to be within the realm of possibility for mortals like me. Time to make an offer and see what happened.

Got to the shop and the proprietor greeted me with, "The Python's still here." I took care of the Detective Special paperwork and asked to see the other gun. Nope, the Python hadn't gotten any prettier since I saw it last. That spot of nickel was still missing on the right side. The ejector rod was still dinged. Someone's initials were still carved on the bottom of the stocks. Still, it was worth a try.

As it turned out, someone had just placed an offer on the Python, an offer the consigning owner hadn't yet had a chance to accept or refuse. The dealer asked if I wanted to submit a higher bid. I turned down the opportunity. The other guy beat me to the gun, fair and square.

That was when something made me ask, "So have you got anything else in the back?" The dealer didn't think so, but offered to check. Five minutes later, he returned. . . with another Python. Apparently, this one had been in the shop all of two hours. It was a Royal Blue six-incher from the mid-70s, in almost perfect shape save for a little swipe of finish wear at the muzzle. The asking price was the same as the nickeled Python. All the shop needed was ten percent down.

Moral of the story: always ask what's in the back!

 

[jamz]

Wow, congrats on a great find!!

-James

 

[Mac Attack]

I totally am in agreement with you. I stopped by my local gun shop this week to check out their consignment display case hoping but not expecting to find a deal especially a Colt 1903 in .32 ACP. Not to my surprise there was no Colt 1903 or deals to be had. Since I went out of my way to stop by the shop I decided to stay for a bit and struck up a conversation with the shops former gunsmith who happened to be there. One thing led to another and the topic of Colt 1903's came up. The 'Smith' said that he happened to have one in the back that someone used to pay him for his smith work.

It was a 1908 in .380 which is better than I could have expected. Long story short, I now have a new toy

 

[Shear_stress]

Mac--good call on that 1908. Sometimes it really does pay to ask.

Now, besides paying off that Python, I need to locate a set of factory target grips. My gun comes with a hideous (albeit comfortable) set of Colt-marked Hogues.

Second moral of the story: the deals are still out there, despite all the internet price gouging.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Amen. A few years ago I was in a pawn shop that I'd bought some used tools and 2 single-shot shotguns from before. I made at least monthly stops there and usually bought something. I was just browsing but didn't see anything I needed. On the way out the door the owner said, "Hey, I have something in the back room that just came in last night, a Krag..."

"I'll buy it!", I said. (Never was a clever negotiator.) I got a Krag carbine (1899 built) for $400.

I was over in Gulf Breeze looking at pistols. I was in my .32/.380 "acquisition phase". They had some nice older Savage, Remington and Ortgeis pistols that were out of my price range. I hate leaving a gun store empty-handed so as I was about to leave I asked if he had any Ruger Security-Six's. To my surprise he had 3 in the back. Lord knows why they weren't on display. All 3 were NIB, albeit the cardboard was tattered. I left with one of them.

Just in the past few weeks I got an email flyer from CDNN with a huge list of used gun close outs. They had listed a Polish .38 revolver (Gward/Guard) that I thought was a one-of-a-kind so I bought it. I was so taken with its appearance and quality that after receiving it I called CDNN just to see if they had another one. They had 78 left. I bought 3 more.

Moral of the story: always ask what's in the back! Amen to that!

 

[jimmy]

Good advice. When the folks at the local gunshop in my area get in multiples of the same milsurp, they always look them over and put the one in the poorest condition in the display case first, and keep the rest in the back. The one in the best condition is always saved for last. If I ask whether they have more in the back, they'll bring out the others. But if I don't specifically ask, they don't offer!