Charles, funny story.

by Wildcat, Flint Hills of Kansas, Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 17:56 (4353 days ago) @ Charles

I hang out way too much at the only local gunshop. About ten or twelve years ago a lady came in with a Ruger box and wanted to give it to the shop owner to throw away. We looked inside and there sat a nickel 38-40 Colt New Service, stripped and disassembled, and some Ruger single action parts including a couple of grip frames. The owner suggested she sell it as it might be worth something. She turned to me and asked how much I had in my wallet. I never carry much cash and only had a twenty on board. She asked if I wanted it and I said sure, but twenty was way too low for all that. She insisted. There are a few small parts missing and its one of those projects I'm saving for when I have some time (retirement?).

Funny thing was, turned out it was the lady's father's revolver and he'd been a deputy in a neighboring county. It was his duty piece. A bank robbery in my town occurred in the early thirties and the bank they hit was the one my grandfather had his law office in. One of the robbers was killed at the scene and the remaining two ran past grandpa's office, pistol whipping a couple of folks in the process. This was pre-Kansas Highway Patrol. The only local Kansas State Police officer, who was a close friend of grandpa, and the neighboring county sheriff, set up an ambush and shot the robbers to ribbons as they tried to get away. My old New Service was used in the ambush. A close friend bought the gun used by the Kansas State Police officer's family recently. Its a Smith .44 Hand Ejector, 2nd Model, Target. Immaculate condition. Keep this going. Love your collection.