Fresh From The Pawn Shop

mk70ss · March 22, 2023, 03:29 PM

Brought this one home today. An Astra 960 .38 Special. It is the same size as a S&W N frame. It has a pinned barrel and recessed chambers. Great trigger and just some good old fashioned honest holster wear. Not a bad gun for $355.00

armoredman · March 22, 2023, 04:09 PM

Heck, if that a real T-Grip, that's worth money too. Nice find.

kenny53 · March 22, 2023, 07:30 PM

That is a nice looking gun. Please let us know how it shoots.

smee78 · March 25, 2023, 08:30 PM

Thats what I enjoy about pawnshops, you never know what you may find. Looks like a really nice solid addition.

bamaranger · March 27, 2023, 10:19 PM

I thought it WAS an N-frame till I read the medallion on the grip.

I've been searching for an N-frame T-grip for some time.

41 Magnum · March 30, 2023, 06:04 PM

That is really great !! If it is the same quality as the .44 Mag. You are going to love it !!!

natman · March 31, 2023, 10:32 AM

I have one of those with a 6" barrel in 45 Colt. Very accurate and one of my favorites.

SIGSHR · March 31, 2023, 11:00 AM

On another board a member said it's sort of a contemporary S&W 38-44 Outdoorsman.

arquebus357 · March 31, 2023, 11:27 AM

Does it have the adjustable trigger mechanism inside the grip frame ? Nice pick-up. I would have been on it like ducks on a June bug. Spanish firearms gained a bad reputation from cottage industry semi-autos supplied to the French during WWI.

Sarge · March 31, 2023, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natman

I have one of those with a 6" barrel in 45 Colt. Very accurate and one of my favorites.

Indeed they are.

https://www.thesixgunjournal.net/the...tion-revolver/

lowercase · March 31, 2023, 06:44 PM

Congrats! That's beautiful. I'm still kicking myself for not jumping on one of those 960s when they were coming into the country as surplus. A lot of Astras have an adjustment ring under the grips where you can adjust the trigger weight. Interesting design.

Absolutely no clue if this is true, and not suggesting you try it, but when studying the 960, I remember reading that the 960 was designed as a .357. It was sold in .38 configuration because some police departments didn't want to use .357s. However, the basic gun in many (if not all) cases is still the .357, and just is stamped .38 spl. Supposedly, .357s fit in the cylinder no problem because the only difference was the caliber stamping. Hopefully, someone who knows more than I will chime in.

As far as Astras, I own a .44 Terminator in almost mint condition. Have the box and everything.

mk70ss · March 31, 2023, 08:26 PM

I have a Terminator .44 magnum as well. The early Astras were solid, good guns.

S&W-Keeper · April 2, 2023, 08:59 PM

I used to find mint Smith and Wesson's. I bought probably a dozen.i don't see many anymore.

armoredman · April 2, 2023, 11:10 PM

A side note - I stopped by my local pawnshop, and saw the gun section was down by about 3/4. Turned out ATFE had decided to go after them for every wrong comma on their 4473s and the owner is getting rid of guns/ammo, to avoid any future hassles. No, no screaming deals - the staff will get those. Seriously blows as this place was my go-to to receive firearms with a transfer fee of only $10.

V35 · April 4, 2023, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armoredman

A side note - I stopped by my local pawnshop, and saw the gun section was down by about 3/4.

Support your LGS. One day you may set foot in it for the last time, without even knowing it.

**4V50 Gary** · April 4, 2023, 10:32 PM

I hated Tyler T-grips when I was young. Get a bigger grip I thought. Now I think they're the cat's meow. Clever way to keep the original grips and get a better purchase on the grip. Enjoy.

March 22, 2023, 03:29 PM	#1
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,564	Fresh From The Pawn Shop Brought this one home today. An Astra 960 .38 Special. It is the same size as a S&W N frame. It has a pinned barrel and recessed chambers. Great trigger and just some good old fashioned honest holster wear. Not a bad gun for $355.00 __________________ Say when.....

March 25, 2023, 08:30 PM	#4
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,897	Thats what I enjoy about pawnshops, you never know what you may find. Looks like a really nice solid addition. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

March 27, 2023, 10:19 PM	#5
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,049	thought I thought it WAS an N-frame till I read the medallion on the grip. I've been searching for an N-frame T-grip for some time.

March 30, 2023, 06:04 PM	#6
41 Magnum Member Join Date: August 31, 2010 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 66	That is really great !! If it is the same quality as the .44 Mag. You are going to love it !!! __________________ I have gotten smarter as I've aged, . . . . . . . . No, Really !!!

March 31, 2023, 10:32 AM	#7
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,578	I have one of those with a 6" barrel in 45 Colt. Very accurate and one of my favorites. __________________ Time Travelers' Wisdom: Never Do Yesterday What Should Be Done Tomorrow. If At Last You Do Succeed, Never Try Again.

March 22, 2023, 04:09 PM	#2
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,243	Heck, if that a real T-Grip, that's worth money too. Nice find.

March 22, 2023, 07:30 PM	#3
kenny53 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2015 Location: My back yard Posts: 971	That is a nice looking gun. Please let us know how it shoots.

March 31, 2023, 11:00 AM	#8
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,688	On another board a member said it's sort of a contemporary S&W 38-44 Outdoorsman.

March 31, 2023, 11:27 AM	#9
arquebus357 Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2016 Location: Atlanta, Georgia area Posts: 455	Does it have the adjustable trigger mechanism inside the grip frame ? Nice pick-up. I would have been on it like ducks on a June bug. Spanish firearms gained a bad reputation from cottage industry semi-autos supplied to the French during WWI.

March 31, 2023, 06:44 PM	#11
lowercase Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2012 Posts: 287	Congrats! That's beautiful. I'm still kicking myself for not jumping on one of those 960s when they were coming into the country as surplus. A lot of Astras have an adjustment ring under the grips where you can adjust the trigger weight. Interesting design. Absolutely no clue if this is true, and not suggesting you try it, but when studying the 960, I remember reading that the 960 was designed as a .357. It was sold in .38 configuration because some police departments didn't want to use .357s. However, the basic gun in many (if not all) cases is still the .357, and just is stamped .38 spl. Supposedly, .357s fit in the cylinder no problem because the only difference was the caliber stamping. Hopefully, someone who knows more than I will chime in. As far as Astras, I own a .44 Terminator in almost mint condition. Have the box and everything. Last edited by lowercase; March 31, 2023 at 06:50 PM.

March 31, 2023, 08:26 PM	#12
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,564	I have a Terminator .44 magnum as well. The early Astras were solid, good guns. __________________ Say when.....

April 2, 2023, 08:59 PM	#13
S&W-Keeper Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2009 Location: SE-SC Posts: 443	I used to find mint Smith and Wesson's. I bought probably a dozen.i don't see many anymore.

April 2, 2023, 11:10 PM	#14
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,243	A side note - I stopped by my local pawnshop, and saw the gun section was down by about 3/4. Turned out ATFE had decided to go after them for every wrong comma on their 4473s and the owner is getting rid of guns/ammo, to avoid any future hassles. No, no screaming deals - the staff will get those. Seriously blows as this place was my go-to to receive firearms with a transfer fee of only $10.

April 4, 2023, 10:32 PM	#16
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,746	I hated Tyler T-grips when I was young. Get a bigger grip I thought. Now I think they're the cat's meow. Clever way to keep the original grips and get a better purchase on the grip. Enjoy. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

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