Aqualung
Blackhawk
A little context. Back in the late 60's, my dad had a Colt Cobra .38 that he kept in the house. I don't know where he got it, or the story behind it, but he talked about having it. My mother kept it loaded when he was traveling for work while she was alone with my sister.
Anyhow, sometime soon after I was born in '69 and they were living in NJ, he traded the Cobra off to his work buddy, "Wild Willie" for a Savage 99 in .300 Savage. He hunted with that Savage ever since until he pretty much gave up hunting a few years ago. In fact, when I got to hunting age, we got me my own Savage 99 as well.
Anyhow, fast forward a bunch of years and I'm now an expat from Jersey in PA and have gotten into handguns. That "lost" Cobra from our family history always intrigued me in the back of my mind...I've looked at gun shows and on Gunbroker and the "early" (pre-'72) models were always pretty scarce, beat up, rusted (not the frame, being the alloy model), going for stupid high prices, or a combination of those. I don't know why, as I'm not a Colt collector and it wasn't really a significant part of my family history, but the idea of having one always intrigued me...maybe a little of the "one that got away" thoughts.
Well, lo and behold, I saw a listing on this fine forum from none other than our very own @Far North Collector ! He was selling one that has some honest wear but not abuse. Anyhow, we made a deal and after some challenges in working out the shipping logistics to my FFL (some self-imposed limits that my local FFLs follow) that almost resulted in the deal's falling through, I now have a piece of "Aqualung Family History".
I gave it a good look and a cleaning (which it didn't really need)...and of course, the Aqualung Household-mandated CAT-Scan:
It's Bandit-Approved:
As expected, it's got some wear in spots and very slight (really need to be close to see) roughness/pitting from a lifetime of being a utility gun and not a safe queen. Nothing unexpected from a 1957 gun. I don't think it was shot much, as there's no rattle or looseness at all.
Here are some closer shots:
I am very happy to have this bit of family history and glad that it was through someone here on this forum. this is the third gun I've bought from someone on this forum and all have worked out great!
Thanks to Far North Collector for working with me in facing the challenge I found with my local FFLs.
Aqualung
Anyhow, sometime soon after I was born in '69 and they were living in NJ, he traded the Cobra off to his work buddy, "Wild Willie" for a Savage 99 in .300 Savage. He hunted with that Savage ever since until he pretty much gave up hunting a few years ago. In fact, when I got to hunting age, we got me my own Savage 99 as well.
Anyhow, fast forward a bunch of years and I'm now an expat from Jersey in PA and have gotten into handguns. That "lost" Cobra from our family history always intrigued me in the back of my mind...I've looked at gun shows and on Gunbroker and the "early" (pre-'72) models were always pretty scarce, beat up, rusted (not the frame, being the alloy model), going for stupid high prices, or a combination of those. I don't know why, as I'm not a Colt collector and it wasn't really a significant part of my family history, but the idea of having one always intrigued me...maybe a little of the "one that got away" thoughts.
Well, lo and behold, I saw a listing on this fine forum from none other than our very own @Far North Collector ! He was selling one that has some honest wear but not abuse. Anyhow, we made a deal and after some challenges in working out the shipping logistics to my FFL (some self-imposed limits that my local FFLs follow) that almost resulted in the deal's falling through, I now have a piece of "Aqualung Family History".
I gave it a good look and a cleaning (which it didn't really need)...and of course, the Aqualung Household-mandated CAT-Scan:
It's Bandit-Approved:
As expected, it's got some wear in spots and very slight (really need to be close to see) roughness/pitting from a lifetime of being a utility gun and not a safe queen. Nothing unexpected from a 1957 gun. I don't think it was shot much, as there's no rattle or looseness at all.
Here are some closer shots:
I am very happy to have this bit of family history and glad that it was through someone here on this forum. this is the third gun I've bought from someone on this forum and all have worked out great!
Thanks to Far North Collector for working with me in facing the challenge I found with my local FFLs.
Aqualung