There is one thing about traveling down memory lane, I remembered all the great guns I should have kept.
When I worked as a reserve police officer, we provided our own revolvers. I carried a Colt Trooper (old model not a Mark III) that had a complete action job by F. Bob Chow one of the famous pistol smiths of the day. That thing was like oiled silk, accurate to a fault. Won some police match trophies with it. I can remember that Colt, but not the gun I traded it for. It's nice to know you could purchase your Smith.
Then there was the heavy slide 1911 competition pistol I had, also by Bob Chow. Bo-Mar sights and rib, the works. Shot the ten ring out consistently. Why I sold it off is still a mystery - but must have been the allure of something new, flashy and completely forgettable.
While some folks may not understand sentimental attachment to firearms, they represent eras in our lives, those formative experiences and adventures. Maybe that's why museums are full of weapons, armor and battlefield memorabilia. That's the reason I asked my wife to reconsider selling off her first two pistols, a custom Colt 1911 built by Micro Sight and a Colt Woodsman Target. The money they could bring will disappear in a flash on stuff of little value, while the memories tell us who we are and where we came from. It must be time for another trip to the shooting range, I'll ask if she wants to go.
I started my law enforcement career in Jan 86 after retiring from the Air Force. Revolvers were still the norm and I started with a Smith Model 28. When the "L" fram came on the scene, I traded the "boat anchor for a 686. Our department only allowed the guys on the SWAT team to carry semi-auto. I made the team in 88 and retired the 686 for a Smith Model 39. Sweet semi-auto that shot extremely well. Along come Smith with the 5906 and I just had to have one so trhe M39 was traded away. Shortly after I started carrying my 5906 the department decided to go semi-auto and went with the 5906. I got the .45 bug when Snith brought out the 4506 and had to have one so the 5906 was traded towards one.
I transferred to the drug unit in 1990 and the 4506 was another "boat anchor" working in civilian cloths. I sold the Smith and bought a Sig 220. I was hooked after that and carried my 220 right up to leaving the department in 2007 to work in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor at Kandahar AB. I retired after I got back from Afghanistan in 08 and now spend my time reloading, building long range rifles, shooting out to 1k on a friends range and building ARs.
GaCop...thanks for sharing. I picked up a real cherry 686 a few years back. Don't shoot it much but she sure is a real sweet heart. I've had a couple get away that I wish I had back;
One was a S&W Model 57, recessed cylinder, pinned barrel, bright blue in a wood presentation case. I parted with it years ago, really hated too but I wanted to go to Camp Perry so something had to go.
The other was a double lugged M1A, woodland cammo stock, put together by Clint Fowler. I won many a match with that thing and its the won I earned Presidents Hundred with. Needed the funds to put together a couple of AR's which is where the hardware was heading too then. I still have a couple of M1A's one is a double lugged just like the other one except the stock is black (both were McMillan's) and it has an Obermeyer stainless (5R) barrel. I set a NRA record with that one and I kept it primarly because the round count was higher on the green gun.
Jim White wrote:GaCop...thanks for sharing. I picked up a real cherry 686 a few years back. Don't shoot it much but she sure is a real sweet heart. I've had a couple get away that I wish I had back;
One was a S&W Model 57, recessed cylinder, pinned barrel, bright blue in a wood presentation case. I parted with it years ago, really hated too but I wanted to go to Camp Perry so something had to go.
The other was a double lugged M1A, woodland cammo stock, put together by Clint Fowler. I won many a match with that thing and its the won I earned Presidents Hundred with. Needed the funds to put together a couple of AR's which is where the hardware was heading too then. I still have a couple of M1A's one is a double lugged just like the other one except the stock is black (both were McMillan's) and it has an Obermeyer stainless (5R) barrel. I set a NRA record with that one and I kept it primarly because the round count was higher on the green gun.
Jim
I loved the 686. I got to the point I could chew the "X" ring out of a B-27 target at 25 yards.
It's been many years since I've shot/owned a M-57. I too wish I still had mine. Same goes for the Model 29 with 6" barrel I had.
GaCop wrote: I loved the 686. I got to the point I could chew the "X" ring out of a B-27 target at 25 yards.
It's been many years since I've shot/owned a M-57. I too wish I still had mine. Same goes for the Model 29 with 6" barrel I had.
My 1st 29 was a 6" nickle 29-3 IIRC. I traded it off for a Ruger Redhawk which I kept for a year, which I further traded for a 629 Classic hunter w/unflutted cylinders & Hogue grips...she's a keeper.
Gary
