The one that got away

[imarangemaster]

When I was young and dumb (about 26 years ago, but who's counting) I was a city cop in Bellevue Washington. I was looking for a trunk gun (they weren't authorized, but if I needed it I didn't care). I had loved carbines since I first shot my cousin's NRA purchased DCM carbine at about age 8 (he was a Postal Inspector stationed in rural Kentucky). Being young and raising a family on a cop's pay, however, I had no money to buy one.

There was an old boy with a gunshop just off of the base of Bell-Red Rd who had a gun shop. One day I walked in there (about 1983) and he had an M1 carbine there. It was a Winchester. Unfortunately it had the ugly old flip sight, a skinny barrel band with no bayonet lug, and a funny flat bolt. It was sure ugly compared to the Korean and Vietnam war vintage M1/M2 carbines I was used to seeing (we had some still in our Air National security Police unit arms room, too).

But it was an M1 carbine, and a Winchester at that, so I figured it was probably a pretty good one, even if it was "ugly." I traded a Ruger Super Blackhawk (2nd year production), some ammo, and holsters, and a bolt .308 for it. I think he had about $600 on it (he said it was a collector grade, but I knew NOTHING), but that seems too high. I got the carbine, a couple 15 rounders, two 30 rounders, a canvas GI WW2 case, and a couple boxes of ammo. The only marking I think I remember was a W on the barrel and some markings on the stock, but don't remember what they were.

I knew nothing about carbines then, but it was in awesome condition and was a great shooter with a mint bore and crown. I actually got 2 MOA from it with Lake City Ammo. I was happy with it, but after a year I had an opportunity to trade it for an Armalite AR180 with mags. After all, Costa Mesa CA PD used 180s, so they must be good, I traded.

UGH!!!!!!! Was I stupid, or what. I ended up missing it, so I picked up a commercial (early Universal made with all GI parts and furniture except receiver) with all the "cool features" until about 1990 when I got an Inland and later an Underwood Blue Sky.

I SURE wish I had that carbine now....

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[Tired Retired]

The moral of the story???? Whats the difference between getting rid of a gun and getting rid of a wife - you don't pay alimony, you don't need a lawyer and you usually regret getting rid of the gun 6 months later!!!!

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Tired Retired, I take it you are divorced?

Been married 41 years, I probably would sell the Carbine's first.

$600 would have been a lot of money for a carbine in 1983 for me. Don't know if I would have paid that much back then. With an inflation table I found (Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2009) it say it would only be $1340 today. Which would be a bargan price. But I can't believe prices have only gone up 125% in 26 years.

I bought a 1982 car new for $11,000, today that make and model sells for $35,000+ that's 318%. That would put it at about $2500. That would seem more realistic to me.

[Tired Retired]

Jim, Just been married this one time - 21 years and counting. The observation is based on watching the breakup of marriages of many friends over the years. I learned one lesson from it all - its usually cheaper to keep her! Wouldn't trade mine for nothing - wait, anyone got a $5 bill????

I bought a Universal in 1984 for $145.00 used (plus tax) according the "ye ole' paperwork" files. I was in college plus working two jobs. I always had wanted a real USGI carbine, but its all I could find and afford at the time. Thats $301 today per your calculator. Seems the going rate is about $399 and up for those now (these kids will buy anything after last November), so I guess I should unload it and put the cash towards a RG Inland! Or I can just keep it as a lesson to my kids of what NOT to buy.

Rangermaster, I don't know what you paid for the Superblack Hawk, but I had one and regret getting rid of it. I am still looking to replace it. Ok, it was actually my wife's when we got married and it was her's to sell so she did about 10 years ago. On second thought, having a wife with a .44 Mag may be a bit dangerous once they head into those menopause years!

[imarangemaster]

Kept my wife, she is a good one. We are going on 37 years. I finally replaced the 44 mag with a 1977 built S$W 29-2, 8 3/8 with magnaporting. I just got it for $650 this year from that same cousin (now long retired Postal Inspector) who was partially responsible for my Carbine affinity (my dad and Uncles carrying them in WW2 helped).

As a side note, he used his carbine to win a turkey shoot in Kentucky way back when. He also used it to arrest a Post Office robber. When approaching the cabin, the guy shot at my cousin from inside the cabin, My cousin dumped one magazine into the front of the cabin so fast, they guy through his gun out and surrendered.

back to original topic, I sure wish I had that Winchester.

[Jim Nasium]

I met my wife at a Combat Pistol Match..... And she was entered!!! She can still shoot rings around me on any given day. She's deadly with a 1911 Colt semi-auto.
She has NEVER asked me about anything I have bought or traded for.... Well, with the occasional question "Let me try the trigger on that one !!"

Life is good in Prarie Dog Town!!!

Jim

P.S. You can see by my avatar that I have several "bad" habits!!

[Tired Retired]

What every guy dreams of... a wife that contibutes to his delinqueny...

Speaking of Winchester Carbines, CMP has both SG and RG listed as available again. I am debating about ordering one, but my card has not recovered from the recent find of reloading supplies I came across (got to buy them when you find them now). Has anyone heard what shape these current Winchester SG's are in?

[frankderrico]

My one that got away. Not a USGI carbine but a Chinese broomhandle in .45 ACP. I was young and into single action revolvers. I got the broomhandle from a guy at work who found it in a wall of an apartment building he owned and was remodeling. It was wrapped in a rag with three other revolvers. I got them all for $100.00. I traded the broomhandle for a Colt SAA at a gun store, this was about 1972. The kick was I had a good job, single, and lived at home, and had the money to buy the Colt. Lesson learned, don't get rid of any guns, keep them all.....Frank

[imarangemaster]

Can you imagine what an orignal 45 ACP Chinese Broomhandle is worth today? When I was on Bellevue PD, one of my friends was working the desk when an old lady came in with her dead husband's "red 9 Broomhandle" to turn it in for destruction. He told her to sell it, not destroy it, it was a collector piece. She sold it to him for $50 or something like that.

[frankderrico]

Rangemaster, I saw one at the Phoenix show last spring, $4,500.00 was the asking price. I kicked myself in the butt, then my wife kicked me in the butt.....Frank