My son and I attended the Eagle Gun Show in Oaks, PA last weekend. They claimed 2000 tables - I didn't count them, but there were a LOT of tables. We spend over 5 hours there.
I went hoping to find a nice CZ 75 (I'm not a fan of plastic pistols except for concealed carry) and possibly a Dan Wesson .44. I did find a nice unfired CZ 75 (the police version) for $480 after taxes and transfers.
The Dan Wesson large frames are, I admit, now getting too rich for my tastes. The lowest asking price I saw was $1500, though it was in nice shape.
Then I noticed, in the same case, a Ruger Redhawk .44 with a 7.5 in barrel, stainless steel, and Ruger wooden grips, in absolutely mint condition. Upon close inspection it did appear to have been fired, but certainly not much at all. Turns out it was the personal firearm of one of the people working the tables, who had used it briefly for hunting. After a second visit to the table (can't appear too interested), some bartering, and the dealer throwing in a Bianchi 111 Cyclone holster and a set of Pachmayr Presentation grips, we settled on $610 for the package.
This is not my first .44, as I have a New Model Super Blackhawk in that caliber, but it is my first stainless steel firearm. I'm well experienced in caring for blued and parkerized guns, but would appreciate any suggestions on keeping the stainless steel clean and well preserved.
Also, per the serial number, this gun was produced in the summer of 1981, making it an early issue of the gun. Does this seem to predate the assembly problems that led to barrel failures back in the mid-eighties?
I went hoping to find a nice CZ 75 (I'm not a fan of plastic pistols except for concealed carry) and possibly a Dan Wesson .44. I did find a nice unfired CZ 75 (the police version) for $480 after taxes and transfers.
The Dan Wesson large frames are, I admit, now getting too rich for my tastes. The lowest asking price I saw was $1500, though it was in nice shape.
Then I noticed, in the same case, a Ruger Redhawk .44 with a 7.5 in barrel, stainless steel, and Ruger wooden grips, in absolutely mint condition. Upon close inspection it did appear to have been fired, but certainly not much at all. Turns out it was the personal firearm of one of the people working the tables, who had used it briefly for hunting. After a second visit to the table (can't appear too interested), some bartering, and the dealer throwing in a Bianchi 111 Cyclone holster and a set of Pachmayr Presentation grips, we settled on $610 for the package.
This is not my first .44, as I have a New Model Super Blackhawk in that caliber, but it is my first stainless steel firearm. I'm well experienced in caring for blued and parkerized guns, but would appreciate any suggestions on keeping the stainless steel clean and well preserved.
Also, per the serial number, this gun was produced in the summer of 1981, making it an early issue of the gun. Does this seem to predate the assembly problems that led to barrel failures back in the mid-eighties?