Pawn Shop Score!

2411 Views 23 Replies 16 Participants Last post by machinegunt, Aug 1, 2008

doubleclaw

Discussion Starter · Jul 22, 2008

3

I've been looking for another AK to play around with lately, and I stopped by a local pawn shop to see if they had anything interesting, and I hit the jackpot:

There was a Maadi ARM hanging on the wall with a Chinese 40 round flatback mag hanging out of it, and a price tag of $439.00. I got to chatting with one of the owners, and he said that it belonged to an older fellow, and that it looked like the guy had just left it lying around after he bought it. He said that the box and everything that came with it was in the back, and would come with the rifle. It had plenty of dust on it, but no visible signs of use, so I decided to make it mine.

Once I got it paid for and boxed up, the owner handed me back my credit card and said, "Just so you know, that rifle belonged to a Medal of Honor recipient who used to live around here. He died not too long ago, and his widow brought that gun in here and sold it to us because she didn't have much use for it, anyway."

That perked me up a bit, :shock: and I said,"It wasn't Jack Lucas, was it?"

And the owner said, "Yep, that's him." Holy moly, I thought. :dance:

Now I own Jack Lucas' AK-47! I can't believe my luck. This is too friggin' cool!

Here's a couple of pics of the rifle:

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1 - 20 of 24 Posts

Fireman

· #2 · Jul 22, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Lucas

One helluva man!!!

When I was a kid I read the book Iwo Jima by Robert Leckie(another WW2 Marine). I still rememeber the story of the Marine who dove on one grenade and them pulled the second one under him. Good to know he lived a long full life.

Slinger646

· #3 · Jul 22, 2008

Dood, you should ask his widow if she would be willing to fill out an affidavit on it, for documentation.

catsailer40

· #4 · Jul 22, 2008

he had good taste in guns :hail:

Grim Reaper

· #5 · Jul 22, 2008

you should ask his widow if she would be willing to fill out an affidavit on it, for documentation

ABSOLUTELY !!! And asap! It doesn't have to be anything fancy: just write out a statement and have her to sign it, or better, have her write it out. To have provenance for an item handed down to someone makes it even more valuable as time goes by. Do it quick !

doubleclaw

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 22, 2008

I'm definitely going to get in touch with Mrs. Lucas about an affidavit.

I went through the rifle this afternoon, and cleaned it up.

It's unfired. :dance:

prdtr86

· #7 · Jul 22, 2008

talk about a hell of a deal!!!! way to go man!

JoeMomma

· #8 · Jul 22, 2008

Grim Reaper said:
you should ask his widow if she would be willing to fill out an affidavit on it, for documentation

Click to expand...

ABSOLUTELY !!! And asap! It doesn't have to be anything fancy: just write out a statement and have her to sign it, or better, have her write it out. To have provenance for an item handed down to someone makes it even more valuable as time goes by. Do it quick !

+1000 I have a rifle that comes from an authors personal collection, and is in all his books dealing with the subject. Nice score!

red_metallic

· #9 · Jul 22, 2008

Slinger646 said:
Dood, you should ask his widow if she would be willing to fill out an affidavit on it, for documentation.

I don't know if I would go knocking on the widow's door for a provenance letter. The gun shop owner likely has some back-up paperwork that you can get copies of. The man died June 8, let the lady be.

Templar

· #10 · Jul 22, 2008

Very cool, but I agree with red_metallic.

doubleclaw

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 22, 2008

Truth to tell, I have reservations about getting in touch with Mrs. Lucas for the purpose of getting a provenance letter, but I wonder if I could get a copy of the 4473 from the pawn shop?

Still, whether or not I get any paperwork "proving" that he owned it or not, it's still a cool piece to have in my collection, and I won't part with it for love or money.

Robpiat

· #12 · Jul 22, 2008

I think the letter is probably worth some $$$. Offer to send her for a day at the spa or to donate to a charity.

Nevermind...She is the wife of a MoH Marine....Offer her a day at the range!

doubleclaw

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 22, 2008

I'm going to make some inquiries around town with some people I know, and approach the idea of a provenance affidavit/letter very gradually and see where that leads.

I plan to keep this rifle and hand it down to my son with my signed copy of Mr. lucas' book, so I think she might unerstand that.

I just don't want to come off as being crass, y'know?

Grim Reaper

· #14 · Jul 22, 2008

I plan to keep this rifle and hand it down to my son with my signed copy of Mr. lucas' book, so I think she might unerstand that.

It should, of course, be sensitively done, in light of the circumstances, however, given your intentions to honor her husband's memory I believe that she will be glad to do so. It is important that she understand that it is in his honor, not just a speculative way to jack up the value of it. Your heart is in the right place and your intentions are honorable: I can't see you being disrespectful of her grief or of her privacy. Sensitivity and respect are the rule here, and you seem to possess both.

catsailer40

· #15 · Jul 22, 2008

doubleclaw said:
Truth to tell, I have reservations about getting in touch with Mrs. Lucas for the purpose of getting a provenance letter, but I wonder if I could get a copy of the 4473 from the pawn shop?

Still, whether or not I get any paperwork "proving" that he owned it or not, it's still a cool piece to have in my collection, and I won't part with it for love or money.

i dont think they can just give those out... and do you really have to fill out a 4473 on a trade/sale? ive never done it...

Slinger646

· #16 · Jul 22, 2008

doubleclaw said:
I'm going to make some inquiries around town with some people I know, and approach the idea of a provenance affidavit/letter very gradually and see where that leads.

I plan to keep this rifle and hand it down to my son with my signed copy of Mr. lucas' book, so I think she might unerstand that.

I just don't want to come off as being crass, y'know?

10-4, I didnt read the wiki, I definitely agree on giving it some time but asking never hurt anyone, and the worst she could say is no, which leaves you right where you are now.

I doubt you could get a copy of the 4473, but you could get a signed statement from the worker :mrgreen:

MachineGunEddie

· #17 · Jul 24, 2008

awesome score

doubleclaw

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 1, 2008

The transformation begins!

I found a black pistol grip in my spare parts box that looks very close to the Egyptian export model type(Might even be one; I have no idea where it came from, it was just included in a pile of parts I got from a guy on arfcom), which is going on the rifle tomorrow, along with a G2 FCG.

I just sealed the deal on a crutch stock from mrmason.

Now I'm looking for a good US made slant brake and some magazine followers and floorplates to get 'er compliant and ready for the range.

Soon this piece will look like it should! Will post pics when I get her put together properly.

JimM44

· #19 · Aug 1, 2008

If you're going to change the configuration don't bother asking for a letter, it's not the same rifle once you do that.

All the collectors on here know what I'm talking about.

Alfred

· #20 · Aug 1, 2008

Show a little respect leave the Lady alone. :roll:

The pawn shop can supply you with a copy of her name date and signature. :wink:

Then get the arbitrary from the newspaper cut it out make copies.

Then go to kinkos and have it all plastic coated.
Alfred :wink:

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

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