Friday Gun Pr0n #149

Continuing the tradition of posting gun pr0n from readers, here's a picture featuring a fine firearm being wielded by a fine gentleman:

Smith & Wesson Model 19 in action

That's Ross, someone I'm proud to call friend, a fellow MA gunnie who has attended a bloggershoot or two over the years. He's a commenter over at the Northeastshooters forum, which is where I first met him; over the years we've gotten together at various shoots, gun shows, and even the S&W Factory tour. I'll let Ross explain the picture:

That was taken at The Village Idiot Fundraiser Shoot. The gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 19 with a 4" bbl, manufactured in 1970. I purchased it in 1981 at a gun shop in Bayonne, NJ. The shop owner told me it was a cop's gun that had been sent in for a trigger job but while it was being worked on, the cop decided to retire and told the smith to put it in the showcase. Price? $150, plus $10 for a set of Siles grips (to this day I despise the "square butt" grip style...).

I sold it in 1994 or so to my best friend (he was there when I bought it and asked me if I ever sold it to call him first) because I had just gotten into semi-autos and got tired of cleaning SIX chambers. Hey, I was young and stupid... After about 5 years I realized I wanted it back. It took me TEN YEARS to talk my friend into selling
it back to me - traded a 4" Mod 66 to him for it, too. I don't care - she's MINE again, and I will not part with her until after I no longer have a need for any firearm. My will has it going to my favorite nephew, and that's the only way I'll part with her ever again... when I'm dead.

I love that picture - a Jew smokin' a stogie touching off a .357 Magnum round from his prized revolver. That's America right there, folks. The story just makes it that much better, and the fact that it's a venerable S&W Model 19? Well, that's just the icing on the happy gunnie cake.

Thanks for sending it along, Ross!

That is all.