This was an interesting story, to say the least - especially with the P-26 Dragoon. That one started out as a random, early-morning Facebook check. The post the guy made was almost quite literally, "Hey guys, I have this moron, I think its a Finn. What can you tell me?" No pics at first, I almost scrolled right by it, but I clicked because I was curious. Eventually he posted a barrel shank picture, okay so its a P-series, no biggie. Well then he posted a side profile of the whole rifle. That's a dragoon!
So I messaged him, asked for more detailed pics. Sure enough I was right, a P-26 M91 Dragoon. I told him if he decided to sell to let me know, I'd make an offer. The next day he PMs me and asks what my offer is. I made the offer and he said he needed to think on it. We eventually agreed to a price and we set up a time and place to meet to do the deal.
A few days later I ended up getting a message from a friend/fellow collector on Facebook who said they had a discussion with him and they were pretty sure he was considering backing out on our deal, screenshots of the conversation included to confirm. I confronted the guy and he blocked me. Figured it was long gone...
A few weeks went by and I got a PM from another fellow collector, saying he received a massage from someone and that apparently a third P-26 Dragoon was found in a matter of weeks. They sent pics and sure enough, same rifle. Original guy was out fishing for offers on the gun. Basically the whole ordeal was beginning to feel like a big tease at this point.
I moved on...then a few weeks went by...
Got a PM from yet another fellow collector, "Hey, what ever happened with that P-series dragoon?" Turns out the guy messaged him, looking for offers. I just about shut my computer off and went to bed. Really?! WTF?! Another tease?
Sure enough, no tease. My friend and same fellow collector went and met the guy one evening and picked it up for me. I had already paid for the 1894 pictured here from him, he had offered to pick up the P-26 and I pay him back. What a guy!! (By the way Greg, you're awesome!)
Anyways, work schedules conflicted and he wasn't able to ship, plus his box got accidentally thrown away at work, so I offered to meet up with him and pick them up. I left yesterday morning and 8 hours later I was back home, Dragoons in hand.
I'm still in shock that the P-26 even made it into my hands. A BIG thanks to my friend for helping me acquire these two lovely rifles!
Hope you enjoyed my story! Here's the pics:
(Also included pics of my M91 Infantry rifles alongside the M91 Dragoons)
1894 M91 Dragoon
1894 M91 Dragoon & 1893 M91
P-26 M91 Dragoon
P-26 M91 Dragoon & P-26 M91
1894 & P-26 M91 Dragoons
(Sorry, my phone decided to randomly delete the barrel shank picture of the two dragoons together, but I'm sure by now you have the idea) ;)
