Warbird

I don't usually like to post pics of my guns or really let people now who I am or what I buy. However, I make this exception because I feel like it is good info for local folks to know of good work done here in Tennessee. My 1911 is not new really, but to me. I call it my mutt 1911, or frankengun or maybe it is better to be referred to as a Meistergun. It was built by Jeff Meister down at Hero Gear. There are no two stock parts on this gun I don't think. Kimber stainless frame, bobtailed with an Ed Brown bobtail and grips and checkered very nicely for an excellent grip Commander slide- 4.25"- I don't like the Kimber 4" bushingless, painted black in a durable finish. Lowered ejection port, but not flared, I don't have time to reload ammo, so why bother Novak Sights Kart barrel, crowned match bushing internal components are all Cylinder and Slide, Wilson or Brown I wanted a basic combat ready piece, everything made for carry, durability and functionality. He does nice work and I would recommend him. And we all know Joe is a good, straight talking businessman. What I like about working with a local builder is he knows his gun. He will do whatever you want done for it to fit your needs. And maybe most importantly, if something isn't right you don't have to send it back to a manufacturer and try and tell them it is doing this or isn't doing that. You can just take it back to the man who built it. For me that is worth a heck of a lot. Oh and it doesn't have to cost you your life savings, nor do you have to have everything done at once. Just my thoughts.

While I usually could come up with some difference in philosophy or opinion in a post that long, nothing comes to mind. Excellent post. Like you, I had criticisms on both sides and was disappointed the last thread was closed.

Surely there are more TGO members on that side of town who can go out and support the NRA. This group should have a large contingent at many banquets across the state with the number of active members in the bigger cities.

This +100 I will in fact say since you are new, do not go practice. Find a good carry holster for the gun you will be carrying and go take an intermediate class. Do not go practice, unless you are good friends with a highly trained individual who can give you personal training. Barring that go take a class. Do Not have to undo bad habits. It is always easier to create good habits from the start. A good class will be invaluable, you don't even know. AS Rumsfeld says, you don't know what you don't know and being new to this you don't know a whole lot. But, only after a class will you start to 'get it' After the class then practice practice practice. That's my advice..

The most affordable insurance I have seen is one available through your NRA membership, if you are a member.

We need Jack Ryan to go convince them to defect and give us those subs.

Now the 204 is a really sweet cracker. Nothing sounds like a 204. Fun gun to shoot. It's the the perfect Duiker hunting gun.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was in the Declaration of Independence, not the constitution as an above poster said. The phrase life liberty and property goes back to John Locke's 2nd treatise on gov and the rights of man. Locke was one of the father's of the enlightenment age and the liberty movement. His words inspired much of the Founding Father's of our country to act. As a British subject the property part referred to the lack of ability to own private property. Everyone essentially had to pay tribute or rent from the King or one of his personally selected Lord's. I am certain you are right people would distort this just as they distort the all created equal part to their own justifications. naturally we are not all created equal, except in the eyes of God, and all have certain natural rights.

Not quite correct. They were referrng to the Anglican Church. The Catholic church was run out of England nearly 2 centuries before by King Henry VIII. At the time of the revolution here in the colonies everyone paid tribute to the Anglican Church. A couple of the colonies in the northeast had managed to minimize this, but not completely. Back then you could worship pretty much as you pleased, but had to attend the Anglican church once a month, if not you were fined. Everyone was expected to "tithe" to the Anglican church whether they gave to their own church or not. This was the cause of the "establishment clause" in the constitution, then end to this practice.

I met the guys who make the bag. I handled it a bit and was very impressed with its rugged manufacture. Seemed like a product that would hold up.

It is possible they will ask you to see it, but not usually. In Nashville they almost never ask you to stick around because the scanner is on the other side of the ticket counter and the agent usually takes the bag. In some airports where you have to take your bag to the TSA they will have you stay there and lock the gun case and your baggage after they search it. Funny but they usually just look at the gun and almost never inspect at all. Then they run their little explosives test after wiping your bag with a special cloth. I carry firearms on flights all the time and have never had a problem. I always carry the locked gun case in my locked baggage. I have a special case which allows me to store my O/U shotgun in the bottom of my Boyt Bag. The only guns I ever have to check by themselves is rifles. The only time taking guns on flights is a hassle is when I take them out of the country.

It's a lot of fun. And it is a challenge. Most groundhogs are shot while walking around on the ground. Many PD's bite it while sticking their head up out of a hole, they are far smaller than a groundhog and they really only stick up 4-6 inches and that is at distances as far away as 600+ yards. Not a challenge? Scoff... I have shot the plague infested, cattle killing vermin in CO, WY and SD. Shot em with .223, 22 mag, 204, 22-250. It's a great bit of fun and you are helping out the ranchers.

I'd say that guy is full of crap. If there was an FBI agent in there carrying he isn't going to be disarmed. Most casino security is nothing like mall cops, but they are not going to disarm a federal agent.

I certainly hope he is kidding, because it is the most absurd way to carry a firearm I have ever seen I do believe. That makes mexican carry look safe by comparison. Those gun clips are worthless anyway and a really good way to ruin and rust the finish of a good gun.

Thank you for clarifying that. I was going to state just that. Right to Work is not the same as employment at will.

I'd first take a repair to Grady Jones at the Collection Connection. If he can't fix it he will send you to someone who will do it right and for a fair price. The only man in Murfreesboro who knows more about working on guns than Grady is now retired.

I believe it to be what was called the Davenport Ejector, or the same as made with any number of other names they made the guns for. Probably made sometime in early 1900's. The were sold primarily by Sear's and from what I recall they sold for $6-$7 new. I am almost certain that is what that is, it has all the distinguishing markings. It is definitely a US made gun. The original Dav Ejector had an octagon breech, but not all of them did, especially the ones they made for others. Davenports have thus far never gathered a huge collector following. Most of them are worth around $100. Many hunters used them in the day. They were a step us from what is generally called hardware store guns, which came in hundreds of different names, but could be bought at local hardware stores, farming supply stores etc. The great satisfaction you have is a family historical piece where you now have a greater connection and story to pass along of the family.

restaurant? There's no restaurant sufficient for an FONRA event. I imagine they have it there because it is the only place large enough in the area to hold such an event at a reasonable cost.

I enjoy Dove hunting, but I go to Texas to hunt so I couldn't really help you much with the best places to shoot around here. I only know of a couple of fields and those owners use them for themselves and their invited guests. Save up, go to Cordoba, Argentina. You will shoot more dove there in 3 days than you could in a lifetime in Tennessee.

Yeah I think the key here is the box and paperwork. In recent auctions they have gone for more even with poorer finish with all of the side items than 'better' pieces without the other items. You may be right GC on the percentage. I always have a difficult time assessing w/o holding it, hence the primary reason I do not buy from AuctionArms or Gunbroker when it comes to collector pieces. I don't know if he is just curious or really wants to sell it. If he wants to sell it, tell him to watch the auctions of Kull, Greg Martin, Rock Island and Julia to see what they are selling for. Right now guns are a good investment. However, not all guns are selling well, just some. If he is in no rush he might be better off holding onto it for a year or two. In general gun auctions have had a very good year and a half despite the economy or possibly partially because of it. The largest price ever for a gun was at the end of last year, a Colt Walker sold at a Julia auction that set the buyer back over $900,000.

That's pretty much the key indicator right there. Not a collector, but a fun gun to own none the less.

Yep!

Well my issue with this Serpa holster is not the same as the original post, so forgive me, but I think it is still a valid point. I have witnessed on one occasion a Serpa which has dirt or some other foreign substance wedge itself into the locking mechanism. The lock simply would not budge. The gun had to be removed from the belt, and partially disassembled, a danger in itself, before it would let loose of the pistol. On another occasion I was discussing the Serpa with a friend and before I brought up this issue, he told me his problem with the holster was this same concern, he had likewise witnessed a similar event. Another firend of ours thought us full of **** and proceeded to prove us wrong and lo and behold he was able to recreate this. So I have no idea how much material it would take or exactly what kinds of material could cause this to happen. However, it is enough for me to stay from the holster. You may think it crazy, what are the chances I have to dive in the dirt before drawing, but hey I think about these things. That's just my 2c worth. I will also note in fairness that you may consider me biased. I have little Kydex experience, no training experience with the other types of Kydex locking systems on the market and am in general a leather guy through and through, so take my info opinion for what it is.

OK first you say it is in great condition and then say it is 9 out of ten, so this is saying 90%? 90% condition is about half or less what a 100% condition is worth. 100% would essentially be a gun that has never been fired is in all original condition with all materials and has no blemishes at all. 98% is essentially a similar gun, but one that has been fired, though no signs of wear or use exist on the gun. And so then it goes down from there, 96%, 94, etc etc. You can use excellent or good condition ideas on a modern combat pistol say, but not on collecting guns because no one in that indusrty prices things on such arbitrary and inexacting parameters. Remember collectors worthy guns are an investment for many people just like real estate, precious metals, stocks, etc. As I said in the other thread the place to go to find a value would be someone who sells guns or collects them, specializing in really collecting pieces, not just adding another gun to their numbers. Does that make sense? I don't know that I am explaining myself well. That all said, the demand for these is pretty high and since it seems he has original box and accessories, the 'package' can often bring more than a piece in even better condition w/o same extras. Hope this helps a bit.

There was a 6" Commercial Navy, with a Navy Rear Sight which can bring as much as $3k in 98%, which is extremely rare condition. There was also a Commercial Artillery model with an 8" bbl. There was no bbl naturally made in 7.25". So either it was measured wrong by your friend or their was crown damage at some point and the bbl was shortened. That model can bring as much as$4k+. This year despite the economy collectors guns have been above average, though for whatever some types of collectors are not going as well as others. It's always hard to say. I have rudimentary knowledge of the Luger, no expert here, but a friend of mine is. I would suggest looking at Auction Arms and seeing some prices, not as selling, but what things actually sold for, perhaps even the last few Rock Island, Kull, or James Julia Auctions sales prices. Other than that the best place to get an idea is a gun show. Best one soon would be the Missouri Valley Arms Show in Kansas City at the end of June. There will be several of the largest person collections of Lugers anywhere in the country.