Happy Mother's Day (gun store find)
This is why you should check every pawn shop and small gun store you drive by every time you drive by. I have found some great items at such places.
Last weekend on Mother's Day I was taking my kids to our gun club so they could use the archery range there, and so I could test fire my Whitney Wolverine after I installed new springs. On the way there we passed a shopping center that has a gun store that is one of the few gun stores in my general area that is open on Sunday.
I turned into the shopping center's parking lot and told my kids I was just going to run in and see if they had anything. I had bought a couple of nice items there in the past. My kids decided to go with me.
First I noticed a nice Colt New Service revolver up on the wall that was made in 1916. Then I checked out the used rifles out on some racks. I noticed a M1 Carbine with a very shiny stock. I thought it might be a commercial carbine as I picked it up.
First I noticed that it had a high-wood stock. And a Type I barrel band. And a flip rear sight. And a pushbutton safety. The receiver was marked Saginaw SG. Without saying a word I gave my son a look and silently pointed out the early features. I told my kids to guard it while I ran back to my car to grab a copy of my C&R license (I keep several copies in the glove compartment for opportunities like this) because I knew that gun store waived the background check and the $10 fee when I had bought things there.
As I was buying the carbine the guys at the store told me it had just come in that day. The same person who had brought in the carbine had also brought in the Colt revolver and a CZ Duo pocket pistol. If I hadn't stopped by the store I would have missed on a chance to buy it. Who knows if it would have been there the next time I was in that area (about 45 minutes from where I live).
After I got it home I noticed the buttplate has a PM-IP stamp,
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps0cdab9d2.jpg
the pushbutton safety is marked IP-A, and the magazine catch is marked IP-W. The serial number is in the S'G' Grand Rapids range but the prime marks are very faint if they are there.
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...psfbd996b5.jpg
The receiver has the locating hole and the hammer is a "fatboy"
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps49886077.jpg
the trigger housing and trigger are marked S'G'
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...psc60ffa57.jpg
and the sear is marked SW-S'G'.
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...psb55edbb9.jpg
The operating slide and blued flat bolt are marked S'G'. It has a Buffalo Arms barrel.
The stock and handguard have a shiny Tru-Oil type finish that I'll remove. The handguard is not marked. The stock has RSG in the sling well and there is a faint cartouche.
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd7d9073f.jpg
The Type I barrel band sling swivel is marked KV-S'G'
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...psda6547ec.jpg
The rear sight base and leaf are marked B-S'G'
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps84e257dc.jpg
The price? $699.
Appearance after removing the shiny finish. I used flaxseed oil (raw linseed oil) and it has produced a nice color in less than a week.
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...pse4c20723.jpg
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/t...psa45b3923.jpg
Again, make sure you check out the pawn shops and gun stores in your area on a regular basis. You'll find some gems, even in 2014.
