Frulk
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2018
- Messages
- 1,596
Friend stops 2 Saturdays ago...sends a text ahead to say he's dropping something off". Meet him out on the driveway and ask what's up. He reaches over and picks up a small gun box/locker/safe and hands it to me and says "Can't find the key and the battery is dead so can't get it open....whatever is in there is yours". Backs off the driveway and heads off.
I have the exact box in my truck and once or twice the battery died but I knew where the key was and it wasn't a problem. So I take it to the work bench. These boxes aren't meant for long term secure storage or to foil a serious criminal. I use mine for short term hidden storage if I'm heading into a place (primarily fed blds) that don't allow or screen for CCW's. I don't keep guns in them overnight and realize they only provide some deterrence to the druggie/thug who's looking to make a quick score at a moment of opportunity.
So I go to work on the box...A few minutes later it pops open with the assistance of a very large flat head screwdriver. This brief exercise made me realize that I need to upgrade the one I have (and I will shortly).
Inside I find this Ruger P89 I gave my bud about 5-6 years ago at the time I was liquidating all the 9mm's I owned. I was looking to reduce calibers and was well stocked with CCW sub compact .40's. He's moving back east and now reducing his gun collection down to a couple of plinkers and his carry gun (SIG). I originally bought it off another bud in the late 90's when he was going to the academy to become an LEO around San Antonio. He wanted to buy a GLOCK and practice with it as that was their carry weapon is the story I remember. I think he eventually ended up with the Bexar County Sheriff's office. At the time I paid $200. That I do remember.
I unloaded the mags.
I'm really not a semi-auto fan. I own them. The run of the mil ones just don't do anything for me...by run of the mil I mean polymer framed versions...GLOCKS....XD's (I own them and others) and so forth. Some of the higher end steel stuff does appeal to me...Coonan, 1911's those I can warm up to...but here's the thing...I like these darn heavy, bulky all metal utilitarian service pistols that Ruger pumped out for a few years in various guises...Damn if I can explain the attraction. Anyway...So I check it out and put it in the safe....it will prob sit in there until I give up the ghost and never be shot.
Then, this PAST Saturday I go to an antique gun show. I'm out west. Shows out here have a lot of lever guns and single actions...in fact they make up the bulk of the stuff for sale. I was hoping that I might find a full stocked CVA BP rifle in .45 cal or maybe a Ruger .32 H&R or something else I’m interested in.
It was actually a VERY decent show with almost 95% of the tables having guns vs. beef jerky, Pakistani knives and so forth. Prices were high but a lot of cool stuff I gravitate to. Probably 5-10 Ruger #1's but not in calibers I was hoping for. None were internationals : ( A few low and highwalls. Savage 99's were well represented and prices indicated they were now becoming collectible. Thankfully I have representative samples in the two calibers I want and wasn't motivated towards buying one. For some years they and the Win 88 were running well below the radar but that seems to have changed now.
While perusing one table I noticed a stainless Ruger P94DC in .40 S&W that looked like it left the factory yesterday. Just a couple of very minor handling marks you have to search for. I asked if I could pick it up and the vendor said sure. I racked the slide, dropped the hammer with the decock, did a once over and then looked at the price on the tag. $389. As luck would have it I didn't bring my concealed carry license, so he had to run a background check that cleared almost instantaneously. Must be my ex-altar boy credentials. I handed him the cash and about 10 minutes later I walked out with another Ruger P series auto. A model which as I mentioned earlier, I have a strange attraction to that I can't explain.
I ran the SN once I made it home. It was shipped in 1999. A quick disassembly and clean and lube job and into the safe it went next to the P89. One difference between the P89 and the 94 is I'm flush to the gills in .40 S&W ammo and this gun will get some use shortly at my local range.
I have the exact box in my truck and once or twice the battery died but I knew where the key was and it wasn't a problem. So I take it to the work bench. These boxes aren't meant for long term secure storage or to foil a serious criminal. I use mine for short term hidden storage if I'm heading into a place (primarily fed blds) that don't allow or screen for CCW's. I don't keep guns in them overnight and realize they only provide some deterrence to the druggie/thug who's looking to make a quick score at a moment of opportunity.
So I go to work on the box...A few minutes later it pops open with the assistance of a very large flat head screwdriver. This brief exercise made me realize that I need to upgrade the one I have (and I will shortly).
Inside I find this Ruger P89 I gave my bud about 5-6 years ago at the time I was liquidating all the 9mm's I owned. I was looking to reduce calibers and was well stocked with CCW sub compact .40's. He's moving back east and now reducing his gun collection down to a couple of plinkers and his carry gun (SIG). I originally bought it off another bud in the late 90's when he was going to the academy to become an LEO around San Antonio. He wanted to buy a GLOCK and practice with it as that was their carry weapon is the story I remember. I think he eventually ended up with the Bexar County Sheriff's office. At the time I paid $200. That I do remember.
I unloaded the mags.
I'm really not a semi-auto fan. I own them. The run of the mil ones just don't do anything for me...by run of the mil I mean polymer framed versions...GLOCKS....XD's (I own them and others) and so forth. Some of the higher end steel stuff does appeal to me...Coonan, 1911's those I can warm up to...but here's the thing...I like these darn heavy, bulky all metal utilitarian service pistols that Ruger pumped out for a few years in various guises...Damn if I can explain the attraction. Anyway...So I check it out and put it in the safe....it will prob sit in there until I give up the ghost and never be shot.
Then, this PAST Saturday I go to an antique gun show. I'm out west. Shows out here have a lot of lever guns and single actions...in fact they make up the bulk of the stuff for sale. I was hoping that I might find a full stocked CVA BP rifle in .45 cal or maybe a Ruger .32 H&R or something else I’m interested in.
It was actually a VERY decent show with almost 95% of the tables having guns vs. beef jerky, Pakistani knives and so forth. Prices were high but a lot of cool stuff I gravitate to. Probably 5-10 Ruger #1's but not in calibers I was hoping for. None were internationals : ( A few low and highwalls. Savage 99's were well represented and prices indicated they were now becoming collectible. Thankfully I have representative samples in the two calibers I want and wasn't motivated towards buying one. For some years they and the Win 88 were running well below the radar but that seems to have changed now.
While perusing one table I noticed a stainless Ruger P94DC in .40 S&W that looked like it left the factory yesterday. Just a couple of very minor handling marks you have to search for. I asked if I could pick it up and the vendor said sure. I racked the slide, dropped the hammer with the decock, did a once over and then looked at the price on the tag. $389. As luck would have it I didn't bring my concealed carry license, so he had to run a background check that cleared almost instantaneously. Must be my ex-altar boy credentials. I handed him the cash and about 10 minutes later I walked out with another Ruger P series auto. A model which as I mentioned earlier, I have a strange attraction to that I can't explain.
I ran the SN once I made it home. It was shipped in 1999. A quick disassembly and clean and lube job and into the safe it went next to the P89. One difference between the P89 and the 94 is I'm flush to the gills in .40 S&W ammo and this gun will get some use shortly at my local range.
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