Did you ever go shopping for a Ruger...

[Mr. D]

...and come home with a Smith & Wesson?

Well, I went gun shopping on Saturday - I was lookin' for a carry piece. I was interested in an sp101, but I thought I'd take a look at the used guns first. Well, one gun jumped out at me from among all the brand new Tauruses and Smiths - a used 36-1, blued, three-inch barrel, .38 spl for $325. Bought it, brought it home, tried it out - shoots great! The double-action trigger is a little heavy, but very smooth. The single-action trigger is as light as anyone could wish for - almost a hair trigger.

So here it is - my second revolver, my first Smith, my first carry piece (to be - I'm only 20 right now).

~Dale

 

[Shade00]

Very nice gun. Congrats! That's a great price, too. Looks like a heavy barrel. I have a 3" nickel 36 and I think it's fantastic - but I'm a sucker for just about any J-frame.

 

[NG VI]

That is a beautiful revolver! There is a used 36 Ladysmith that was at my local gun store the last few times I was in there, and I can't stop holding it, wanting it, needing it. The owner likes to show the new stainless S&Ws two shelves higher, but they don't interest me in the slightest.

Those are also some really good-looking and unique grips. What are they?

 

[Mr. D]

Pretty sure they're walnut. I'll be shooting with a buddy tonight who is a carpenter, so I'll get him to confirm that. I've never seen grips quite like these. Usually I don't go for the over-sized or finger-grip grips, but the finger grips on these are subtle enough that I actually like the looks. And they aren't so over-sized that they dwarf the gun - they just help to fill up your hand a bit. Makes it very easy to shoot. The finish is pretty cool too - you can't see it very well in the pictures, but it is a very hard, shiny finish, probably from years of handling by its previous owner.

~Dale

 

[Bozo]

Just curious, but if you are only 20, how did you buy it?

 

[Mr. D]

Well, technically, I didn't, but since parents or grandparents can give a handgun to children or grandchildren without incurring paperwork, my dad bought it for me, then gave it to me. Same thing with my first revolver, a New Vaquero, blued, 5.5" barrel, .357.

BTW, I still want an SP101, once I can afford it, and when I get one, it will probably be promoted to carry piece, but there is no denying that this gun definitely has a certain charm about it, being a vintage S&W and all. Makes me want to get more like it!

~Dale

 

[Shade00]

Do it then. Once I got started on Smith J-frames... I couldn't stop. Still haven't. Got my eye on two that I'm picking up in about two weeks. That'll make my J-frame count.... 7. Might even consider adding a new-production Model 63 or Model 40 to my collection. Who knows.

That doesn't mean I don't have an eye for Rugers - if I could find some more in good condition for the price I paid for my Speed Six I would definitely have more. However, I do want to add a .38 SP-101 2" to my collection sooner or later; bobbed hammer and all.

 

[NG VI]

Ooooh do us a favor and "edit" your posts for us, what you have described *sounds* like it could be illegal.

 

[Mr. D]

Well, it's not, but there ya go.

Shade,

I will, never you fear! However, there are a few other guns a little higher on the priority list, so subsequent J-frames will have to wait a bit.

~Dale

 

[Drgong]

nice, VERY nice. I did the same thing a while back, was almost SURE I was going to get a SP101, and put a Model 15 S&W on layaway...

 

[pmbiker]

Nice piece.

I have it's nickel plated brother and and it's a great shooter and a breeze to carry and conceal. In this age of ballistics tests, one-shot-stop data and "9mm vs .45" arguments, a 3" .38 in my waistband still gives me a secure feeling.

When you get around to shopping for concealment type grips look at Eagle grips Secret Service model. I have rosewoods on my blue snubbie and ebony on my nickel 3". I switch over to Herretts shooting stars for plinking.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Watch out, they have a tendency to multiply.

 

[Drgong]

^^^

Indeed, I need to stop looking at this, otherwise I will find a model 36 for summer carry...

 

[Shade00]

Here's my 3" Model 36. This gun is fantastic! If I could ever find a Tyler grip for it I'd put magnas back on it, but this oversized S&W grip works great for now:

Just for kicks, here are my other flat latch J-frames, a Model 37 (my wife's carry gun - great little gun), and a pre-Model 34. The pre-Model 34 sees more range time than any other gun. Put 150 rounds through it yesterday. Tight as can be. Not pictured are my minty Model 32-1 and my Model 60.

 

[MCgunner]

Looks like a baby M10 HB. LOL Nice gun. Not sure if I like the grip, but that's real easy to change and a very personal thing.

 

[Bennett Prescott]

The last time I went to a gun store looking for something, it was a knife. I left with a Surefire E2D LED Defender and a Ruger 10/22. Had to go back the next day and buy the knife.

I don't go to gun stores looking for anything in particular any more. I only have myself to blame.

 

[novaDAK]

Here's my model 64-5...you could say I was shopping for a Ruger (specifically a security six/service six/speed six, .357) on the gun forum classifieds, but found a great deal on the Smith, so I got it. My father has a security six, and he's already told me that once he gets a 'replacement' (either a GP100 or another security six) that I can have his What a great dad!

But for the time being, .38spl does all I can ask of a defensive purpose revolver (because I can shoot it very well, both DA and SA).



Comparing my Smith to my dad's Ruger, I can tell the Ruger's definately built stronger and can take .357's all day long, which is why as much as I wish I had a model 65 instead, having a 64 that can only shoot .38 is nice too because I don't have to worry about previous owners wearing the gun out by shooting a ton of heavy .357s though it

 

[shooterfromtexas]

I love the Ruger revolvers. A little heavy, but I know they re built tough.

 

[Gator]

3" 36s are great, and you got a good deal. Congrats! But, what you and your Dad did could be a straw purchase (did you give him any money?) so you may want to leave that part of the story out from now on.

Enjoy the Smith though!

 

[Mr. D]

Ok, so I asked my wood expert about the grips - he said that they are either cocobolo or wenge wood.

Something interesting: when I examined this gun at first, I noticed that there was no corrosion at all on the top strap. Hardly even a mark at all - just a barely discernible line. Because of that, I figured that it had been fired very few times. I confirmed that yesterday because I took it out and put about 100 rounds through it. By the time I was finished, there was some scuffing of the finish on the top of the left grip. It came from the rims of the shells rubbing against it when they were ejected. I tried several different ways, and there is no way to eject the shells that they don't rub just a little bit, so there is no way the previous owner put anything near 100 rounds through it before, or the grip would have already been scuffed. Very interesting, considering the big wide drag mark around the cylinder, and the rather prominent wear around the muzzle.

~Dale

 

[NG VI]

Looks like a baby M10 HB.

You know, that may be why it looks so good. I tend to like slightly scaled down guns, like my CZ PCR looks just like a scaled down 75B. Looks really good.

Very interesting, considering the big wide drag mark around the cylinder, and the rather prominent wear around the muzzle.

Could be holster wear. Maybe the previous owner liked to carry it but wasn't a big shooter. Also the grips could have been a new addition not long before he sold it.