Hanging around gun forums is dangerous. Dangerous to my bank account, that is. I should know better. A couple of weeks ago someone mentioned a gun shop that I didn’t even know existed. Well, I guess “exist” is subject to definition. In this case, it’s not a physical store, it’s an on line enterprise. Which I didn’t know when I was directed there and started looking. In the long run, it didn’t matter because I found a very nice Smith & Wesson Model 3904 9mm semi automatic.

The Third Generation S&W semi automatics in 9mm are like Lays potato chips to me. No one (well I) can’t have just one. It’s not a purely emotional thing, because they come in a wide variety of styles and essentially five sizes. Full size double stack, full size single stack, compact double stack, compact single stack, and sub compact single stack. No other caliber S&W semi autos come in such a wide variety. In addition to the different sizes, they come in steel, stainless steel, and a variety of alloys. Oh, did I mention traditional single/double action and double action only variants. There are people who try to collect at least one of each model. I’m not that bad, at least not so far as I’ve striven to keep my addiction in check. With limited success of course.

Anyway, I looked at the pictures on line, called the seller, made a deal contingent on an in person inspection and arranged to do the deal.

Today was the day and I drove out to his place to take a look and make my decision.

Of course my household appliances don’t like it when I spend money on things I actually enjoy, so the washer machine picked today to have it’s transmission go huckle, buckle, bean stock, and die a noisy, smelly death.

Sigh.

At the behest of Mrs. TOTWTYTR, I took a good look at the washing machine, determined that it was not something simple like a belt, or a switch, or anything else that I could repair economically. Or at all for that matter. A washing machine transmission doesn’t cost as much as an automobile transmission, but it’s not cheap. Especially not for a 12 year old machine. Which is about what a modern washing machine lasts, actually a bit more than the mean. They used to be good for 20 years, but that was 32 years ago when we bought our first washer.

I told the Mrs. that we’d go out washing machine shopping once I got back from firearm shopping. I’ll leave it to my reader to decide which one is more enjoyable. And not surprisingly, less expensive.

I went out and bought the pistol and came back home. I took one more look at the washer in the forlorn hope that maybe I’d missed the simple fix. Fat chance.

So, here’s a picture of the 3904. You’ll excuse me if I don’t show you a picture of the washing machine as we’ve ordered it but it’s not here yet.

After I got back home I placed the S&W into the gun safe and off we went to Sears. We like Sears for appliances because if you hit it right, you can get a good deal off of their regular prices. We hit it about right and found a nice full size machine for about twice what I paid for the pistol.

Although I’ll enjoy using the pistol more, the truth is that all the pistol can do to my laundry is put holes in it. Which presumably the washer won’t do. It should however clean my clothes, even after a day at the range.

On the other hand, I can hand the pistol down to my son or grandson. That’s not likely with the washer.

Well, we bought both, so it’s OK. Well, I bought the pistol and WE bought the washer. Mrs. TOTWTYTR has no interest in shooting, so I don’t have to share with her. I have no interest in doing laundry, but surprisingly she still expects me to share the laundry duties.

Oh well, such is married life. At least she didn’t insist I not buy the pistol, some wives would. I’m pretty lucky when you come right down to it.

Surprisingly she didn’t think it was funny when I handed her the receipt for the washer and said, “Happy Mothers Day, dear”.