Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Went to our local gun show this morning and a friend had an unusual amount of interesting goodie’s. The goodie’s came from the estate of a fellow that I worked with back in 1978. John was not a close friend but and acquaintance where we would bump into each other a couple times a season. John was 4 years my junior and worked at a local glass and paint store. He was always helpful with any kind of coatings and paints to take care of what ever bazaar projects a person could come up with.
Anyway John died last spring having health problems for the last couple years.
But, back to the G S finds.
Delmar, another friend was selling off reloading items for the family.
There was 6 Lyman 2 cavity molds and one Hensley & Gibbs for sale. 3 Lyman molds did not have handles but the other 4 did. They all need to be cleaned up and two need spure plates. I asked Delmar how much for all 7 molds. Price $100. Sold.
Lyman molds:
356402
358242
35863
358429
429421
452374
And the H&G #50
But then there was a basically new RCBS 10-10 powder scale for $30.
I was needing a scale for my Oregon reloading setup.
So being quite pleased with my finds I wondered over to a buddies table who happens to be a Smith & Wesson collector. At Last springs show I was asking him about model 30 and 31 Smiths and he scratched his head and said that he probably didn’t have any that he wanted to sell but. He might have said that he didn’t have any, can’t quite remember.
So walking up to his table he has a model 31-1, 17, 34, 2 k14’s one is a single action and a model 49. I was smelling a trap here, the kind of trap I was happy to jump in. I know he was thinking of me when he chose his wares for his table.
Well I have a stainless 63 at home and I have blue 34 waiting for me at my brothers in California, just got to pick it up. Don’t need more K14’s, desperately anyway. Not that fond of the model 17, or the 49’s, but I’ve been wanting a 31-1 for quite some time.
This model 31-1 was a first glance, sitting in a glass case, appeared to be in really fine shape. It was in the original box with all the paperwork. My friend pulled it out and did the standard safety check of swinging the cylinder out. Except it was stuck. With a little more effort it opened with a crackling sound. My friend looked up and said that he was sure it was unfired. The crackling was dried grease or whatever S&W use on their pistols. My friend had never opened the cylinder. The pistol has very light cylinder marks from being rotated in the past. There was no blue wear anywhere, barrel ends, cylinder, anywhere. After looking it over I’m convinced it is unfired as well. I can fix that.
I’m very pleased with this little pistol. It’s an itch that has been scratched most pleasantly.
Anyway John died last spring having health problems for the last couple years.
But, back to the G S finds.
Delmar, another friend was selling off reloading items for the family.
There was 6 Lyman 2 cavity molds and one Hensley & Gibbs for sale. 3 Lyman molds did not have handles but the other 4 did. They all need to be cleaned up and two need spure plates. I asked Delmar how much for all 7 molds. Price $100. Sold.
Lyman molds:
356402
358242
35863
358429
429421
452374
And the H&G #50
But then there was a basically new RCBS 10-10 powder scale for $30.
I was needing a scale for my Oregon reloading setup.
So being quite pleased with my finds I wondered over to a buddies table who happens to be a Smith & Wesson collector. At Last springs show I was asking him about model 30 and 31 Smiths and he scratched his head and said that he probably didn’t have any that he wanted to sell but. He might have said that he didn’t have any, can’t quite remember.
So walking up to his table he has a model 31-1, 17, 34, 2 k14’s one is a single action and a model 49. I was smelling a trap here, the kind of trap I was happy to jump in. I know he was thinking of me when he chose his wares for his table.
Well I have a stainless 63 at home and I have blue 34 waiting for me at my brothers in California, just got to pick it up. Don’t need more K14’s, desperately anyway. Not that fond of the model 17, or the 49’s, but I’ve been wanting a 31-1 for quite some time.
This model 31-1 was a first glance, sitting in a glass case, appeared to be in really fine shape. It was in the original box with all the paperwork. My friend pulled it out and did the standard safety check of swinging the cylinder out. Except it was stuck. With a little more effort it opened with a crackling sound. My friend looked up and said that he was sure it was unfired. The crackling was dried grease or whatever S&W use on their pistols. My friend had never opened the cylinder. The pistol has very light cylinder marks from being rotated in the past. There was no blue wear anywhere, barrel ends, cylinder, anywhere. After looking it over I’m convinced it is unfired as well. I can fix that.
I’m very pleased with this little pistol. It’s an itch that has been scratched most pleasantly.
I have seen exactly 1 J frame 32 in my life, and it was a 1 7/8" job with a price tag that was ludicrous at the time. I suppose I'll have to stick with being happy for you and very sad for me. All it needs to be perfect is a J frame adjustable sight to make it the perfect "32 Kit Gun"!!! Nice catch brother!
