Guess what I bought today...

A new gun! Yes!

No, actually its not a new gun, its a rather old gun actually, a Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolver in 357 magnum. It looks like this one. It is wearing a Hogue grip and a trigger shoe and overall, its not very shiny. The bluing is worn thin and the evidence of a bit of rust shows around some of the edges. But it locks up tight, the bore is shiny and the gun looks like it was somebody's trusted companion for many years. It just has that look of wear in the cosmetics but care in the internals that said to me that somebody loved and carried that gun without regard if it stayed "pretty."

I found it at the Cash America Pawn Shop and you'll be jealous when I tell you the price was just $219 & tax... My trusted religious artifacts dealer Bob advised me on some things to look for this afternoon and suggested that if the gun was in good condition I should buy it without delay. Which I did! Its on layaway right now and should come home next week or the week after.

Once upon a time, many years ago, I had another Model 19 like this one. It was a polished stainless version, wore the same Hogue stocks and was sold early in my married days to this BSU. The rent needed paid and the gun had to go. Now I've got another one and this one has character on display from every angle.

Now I'll need a holster or two, a gun rug and a new caliber of ammo to buy to keep it fed. And since its a 357, I'll need 2 flavors of ammo for it, 38 Special for all the time shooting, and full-house 357 Magnum ammo for when it gets loaded up for duty.

This would be a great time to jingle my tip jar, if you've been waiting for a reason...