Well since I get an involuntary day off and it would be ill advised to go anywhere with the roads like they are (I've got plenty of emergency food anyway if I need it), I thought I'd showcase something which is a mere gun to the rest of the world, but a priceless relic to me.
The tool in question is a pistol chambered in 9x19, a Ruger P85 Mark II to be exact. You won't find these for sale (new) anymore.
You see, this was my late father's pistol, and now it is mine. I always knew this gun would be mine someday. That day just came too soon.
Using Combatcarry.com's Gallery service, here's some visuals.
Here it is. This isn't all of the accessories I inherited for it, but this is all of the original factory gear he had for it. Everything you see came from the Ruger factory. Back then the pistol only came one way: with 15 round magazines. They didn't sell them with 10 rounders yet.
The blocky stylings that would be the hallmark of the future P series models are evident here.
I have shot this gun before, but the most remarkable thing I've observed about this gun versus the P89 I used to have is that this older gun actually seems a lot "tighter" for lack of a better word. It's like the P89 should have preceded this gun, as the older one seems to be a slight refinement.
The trigger is noticeably different. It's not as good as the trigger on my XD (then again this is a true double action pistol vs. what is technically a single action pistol), but it's smoother than other Rugers I've handled. This trigger isn't going to win anyone over, but it is noticeably better.
The controls, slide stop, safety, etc. seem to be more responsive and less prone to rattling.
It's still made out of cast parts, and it's still quite thick and blocky.
The infamous Ruger warning label is visible on this early model. I've encountered many who believe that label is strictly a modern phenomenon. Nope.
The lanyard ring is a little bit unusual to me. Don't see that on too many modern pistols any more.
On the left we have a modern P series magazine, and on the right one of the three original 15 rounders.
The original magazines work much, much better. The other ones will feed, but the problem is you have to really shove them in there good to get them to stay in there.
I wonder if filing a little bit on them wouldn't make them work better. There seems to be a catch on the front of the magazines that's in a slightly different place.
Theoretically any P89/95 etc. magazine should work in the P85, but I had the same problem with my P89. The aftermarket mags certainly worked and fed well, but simply inserting the magazine in a hurry necessitated slamming the magazine in quite forcefully.
It's not much of an issue as I will never CCW this gun. I will however shoot it, and keep it ready to go as my father did.
I will however look for the accessories and like in due time. The reason why is I will never sell this gun at any price. It served him for a lifetime, so taking care of me should be a cake walk for this pistol.
I have associated this gun with protection and safety from the things that go bump in the night for my entire life. I'm not about to stop now.