So I am rewatching Shawshank Redemption. Morgan Freeman's character, Red, is out on parole in 1966, feeling mopey. He window shops at the same pawn shop Briggs did years earlier. There, on display, is a bunch of really nice Colt (medallions) handguns, then a couple Smiths (smaller, less shiny, medallions). Perfect to knock over the Piggly Wiggly where he works. He buys the compass instead to look for a cache in Buxton.
The thought occurred. What if I were transported back in time to the mid 60s. Besides saving 1964 and older quarters, buying gold and whatnot waiting for the mid 70s, then buying T-Bills and double digit inflation and a bunch of stocks I knew might go up in value, among other things, I'd eventually buy a firearm or two. Especially before 1968.
But what pre-1968 firearm would I buy, knowing all the history to come. Obviously, I like the 1911 now, but did they make decent ambi-safeties back then. A 1911 has less utility to me without it.
I'd probably end up with the ol' stand by revolver. Either M1917 style or Model 27. Model 60, too.
Wait til the early 80s to get a BAR or two.
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You couldn't buy gold other than jewelry during the 1960's, T-Bolt. Heinlein railed against this in his novel Glory Road.
well, the SECOND you can with the collapse of Bretton Woods, when it is a sky high, what? $40 an oz? Go ahead and sell your house and wife and kids and unload it when the price hits $600.
Buy machineguns. Guns that sold for LESS than the $200 NFA registration tax sell for $5000 now. In fact, guns could be found that (in 1968) had NO NFA registration tax, because they were registered DEWATs. For YEARS, DEWATs didn't even require formal NFA regsitration unless you wanted to reactivate them (unlike the post-1968 NFA & GCA, where DEWATs transfer tax free, but have to have formal NFA registration).
The trick is to have an identity (including a corporate identity) that can "decide" to sell or give you (say, in a bequest) the DEWAT sometime in the current period. Get ANY paperwork from the federal government that shows they are aware that your "holding identity" has that DEWAT (such as a bill of sale, or a letter from ATF saying, "Thompson SMG S/N XXXXXX has been deactivated in accordance with ATF regulations and the NFA".
Current day you can file NFA paperwork to reactivate the gun -- because a few years ago, the courts determined that the explicit language of the 1968 Gun Control Act that modified and reauthorized the 1934 NFA clearly states that ANY documents stating the US government knew a particular gun was in your possession are considered an NFA registration, even if never filed in the Registry. In fact, the case in question invloved a widow trying to sell her late husband's DEWAT Thompson for about $30,000. . .
Yes, but what pistol to select for day to day.
Python... :-)
When you get to the early '90's buy Anacondas.
Especially 4" .45 Colt polished examples.
$400 back then and $unobtainuim now.
Buy pantsloads of DEWATs in pre-1968, and buy any darned pistols you like now.
You can decide which pistol to carry day to day while having your morning constitutional on your gold plated toilet. LOL
Machine guns. All of them. Every one you could find. Nothing else. With paperwork.
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