Greetings Folks,
First and most importantly, I'd like to thank those of you who are responding and have responded to my plaintive wail for help... It is truly appreciated. Being a newbie in any field with is always hard, so much moreso with collectable firearms.
Roadkill - 600 dollars is the outside limit of what I will be able to afford... it is actually the top end of it soooo... maybe I can get a mongrel historically correct pistol? hehehehe
David O - I am sorry if I mis-communicated, I am not looking for M1 parts info.. I appreciate the link, but I'd say I am passingly familiar with the M1 parts as I put
this site together for the CMP. thanks tho!
Pete Ebbink - your suggestion to select an era is a good one and I think that Third Reich era in 9mm is exactly what I'd like to have, though a great deal on other 9mm is not out of the question. I vastly prefer military to civilian.
Also, if you are really serious about finding a gaggle of folks that would be wiling to help me find somehitng at the Reno show, I'd be quite willing to accept such a generous offer! I could certainly drive there on Saturday and would have the cash to do it if all goes well. Again though 600 is my uppermost limit... Would be very nice to have multiple opinions.
Herb - your addiction comments are scaring me and my wife.. I started out just wanting a shooter Garand and well now even SHE owns her own... oh oh! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
Steve you noted: "If you stick with the standard 4" military pistols in less than pristine condition, you are more likely to get what you pay for. Plus you will have one that you can afford to shoot!" That is pretty much how I am looking at this. While I'd not turn down a rare pistol (liek the flea market pistol some lucky guy got for 400 dollars and then had to rent a safety deposit box for) I'm certainly right in line with your thining here.
Most appreciate all the help and ideas folks... shoudl somehting come up before the show, I'd like to post about it here and see what people think... though with such an offer as noted above I think I'd be a fool not to take you guys up on it.
Any other hints, suggestions, opinions, and leads are welcome.
Thanks for the warm introduction to the forum.
Special thanks to John for the kind e-mails.
Charles