If you had stuck up the pawn shop at which I once worked, you could have gotten yourself shot by a famous, engraved gun.
Under the counter was a Colt Python that had been owned by a local resident, a hometown boy made good; the beautiful royal blue Colt revolver had been engraved with an etching pen, in shaky cursive, on both sides of the frame and barrel, with "Junior Samples" in letters near half an inch high. As God is my witness, this is the truth.
The serial number, however, was not BR-549.
Wikipedia sez, "...The number also appears as a cell phone number on signs at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana cautioning against the use of cell phones."
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite guns is a Smith M&P circa 1929 that was bought at a place outside of Chicago. Real stag grips, and only a little muzzle wear would have kept it from 98%--EXCEPT--Prior owner(s) electropenciled "Gino" on one side and "Willie Robintino" on the other. As a result, purchased a couple years back for $75. Shoots like an absolute dream. Just wonder if Willie and Gino were the first two owners, or the first two victims...
ReplyDeleteBR 549 Cornpone as art. Over the holidays, the ex-teenage food processors and their posse were talking about car salemen. I jumped up, stuck a pillow under my t-shirt and launched into my best Hee Haw dramatization. Junior as car salesman. Deranged thespian. That's what the vacant quizzical looks on their faces communicated back at me. Not ONE of them had ever heard of Junior Samples or the BR 549 thing. Yet further proof of the degradation of American society.
ReplyDeleteStephen: Gloom, despare, and agony on me...
ReplyDeleteDid Junior fall on hard times and have to pawn the thing?
ReplyDeleteI do not know how we came into possession of Junior's heaters.
ReplyDeleteThe 16ga. Belgian Browning A5 had received the same treatment, BTW...
Your Google link has Junior passing away in 1983. Maybe one of his kids/heirs got hold of them and hocked them.
ReplyDeleteI just hate to think of Junior going to all the expense and trouble to doll up his favorite guns, then having to hock them for drinking money or something like that.