An Auto Mag Gripe

It has been observed by me over the years dealing with the Auto Mag that there seems to be a nasty combination of Macho with it being a high powered handgun, and greed as it's an expensive handgun.

I can certainly understand and empathize with the top AM authorities keeping their cards close to their chest or just not remembering anything.  It's amazing how quickly money will jog memories and loosen lips, so-to-speak.

The information and knowledge these "experts" have is valuable.  Having been burned by freely giving out useful information many many times, one becomes synical and very wary of answering any questions anymore. 

Here is an example of a recent "question" from a person who expects a detailed answer to her many questions.  She didn't have the time for punctuation or even a greeting.

"My question to you is ,the gun has X.X.X. on both clips on the bottom the initials are also on frame under the clip stop was this special order or the norm or maybe one of a kind I knew the man that bought the gun they are his initials if you can help me or give me some guidance I would appreciate it.

 

Sent from my iPad"

Let me tell you how these requests for info will end, 99% of the time.  I would write a detailed letter about the different grades the, Pasadena I guess, guns were offered in and tell her the date it was made and who assembled it. 

She will list the gun for sale and will include my write up as her product description and may site me as having intimate knowledge of the particular gun, including its condition.

 I will either never hear from her again or I will receive a request to write up another letter and sign it or have it notarized. 

You just feel USED after a while.  Jesus cured ten lepers and only one said thank you, why should I expect more ? 

Bad AM dealers don't last very long as this is a small community and word spreads, quickly. 

Here is a short story that is included in an article titled, "Auto Mag Rumors."

"There was an Auto Mag collector named, let's say, Berry, who didn’t last very long in the Auto Mag world.  With my educating him he was soon wheeling and dealing Auto Mags with the best of them.  Greed soon took over and he was pulling one stunt after another until the word spread about him and his name became Mudd.  I told him of the crushed magazine shells that the factory had.  He said he would like to see one so he could figure out how to make them useable.  I sent him one for free.  He then ground down a follower, installed it into the crushed magazine shell and sold it as a NOS Pasadena Auto Mag magazine.  After the buyer found it to be junk, Berry told the guy that he had gotten it from me.  Thanks Berry!  I told the guy to get his money back from Berry.

 Berry then took an Auto Mag emblem that was intended for a grip inlay, glued it onto a Zippo lighter and sold it to a collector as a "Club De Auto Mag lighter." 

Berry was also into MOPAR muscle cars.  A friend here in LA had a Canadian 71’ Hemi Cuda car that had a rusted out body.  I wanted a $100 finder’s fee to put him in touch with the friend who had it for sale.  I sent all the info on the car to Berry who waited too long to reply on buying it.  Now the engine was gone but Berry still wanted what was left.  He begged me for the contact info but I wouldn’t give it to him without the $100 fee being paid to me.  A few nights later, a couple of guys called me from a garage and demanded the contact info.  I told them I wanted a $100 finder’s fee first.  WHAT they said !  We just paid Barry a $200 finder’s fee and he gave us your number.  After I chewed out Berry he disappeared from the scene. "

 

It's tough out there...................Bruce Stark

 

Well Bruce,  I cannot say that I have suffered the kinds of situations that you have, but I have seen more than my share of the opportunistic, egotistical, transient Auto Mag collectors/resellers that seem to blow on and off the scene claiming to be the next big thing or that are only doing it for the “good” of the rest of us. 

 

Sadly they are always among us. 

 

After so many years of seeing the cycle repeat itself, I can now usually see the pattern pretty quickly; they always start out as extra polite, they buy up a bunch of stuff quick, promote themselves as the most honest person on the planet, then they start sharing their wealth of knowledge with us lowly and ignorant regular Auto Mag enthusiasts, they slowly start offering to “help” others find Auto Mag items or to sell their extras (always at a huge price) their arrogance level starts to rise beyond tolerable, much money and Auto Mag items change hands, and then when they burn their last bridge they vaporize. 

 

The list of flash in the pan Auto Mag experts is long, but their tenure is usually rather short (though some will have you believe they have been doing it since before recorded time).

 

I feel for you and relate to your frustration, but do not despair for too long as the “expert” and super Auto Mag collectors - knowledge oracles – broker/resellers  are usually exposed in time and then crawl back under the slimy rock from where they came. 

 

We can only hope we do not to get burned by them during their roller-coaster rise and fall. 

 

ATB

 

GH

Thanks guys.

Hi,
Is this the "Auto Mag Grips" thread? 
I was hoping Bruce was running another batch of those great Shooters Grips of his.

Oh wait,... it says "Auto Mag Gripe" not "Grips"  I guess I read the title too hastily.
My mistake, so sorry.

Never mind. ...

Seriously, Bruce, it's good to hear your point of view expressed, as it brings to light some of the pitfalls in this hobby that a lot us don't see in our very limited interactions with others interested in these collectible pistols, compared to how many you must come across.  It is little wonder you aren't more jaded by the behaviour of such buffoons, the longer you are in this hobby.  I count you among our "gurus" here on this forum, and along with other valued contributors in their fields of advice here, like Jason with his vast AMP dies knowledge, William in his custom grips and now barrels know-how, and up until very recently, Lee, (whose presence on this forum I miss), with all his vast historical info and valuable, sometimes amusing anecdotes, we are all the wiser, and  have all you guys to thank.  I could go on, but won't for brevity, so I apologize for not mentioning any other of our much valued members here.  I only hope I am able to retain a glimmer of all the good info I've learned about the Auto Mag since joining this forum, which by the way, we all have Ian to thank endlessly for it's mere existance. If possible, I will try (have tried) to pass on any of the small tidbits of knowledge I've acquired along the way, to further help out the rest of the genuine AMP fans here, and thus keep the circle going with good intentions all around. That's how this forum and circle of enthusiasts will endure, with honest help and advice, and less greed and skullduggery.  The con men will come and go, but the real friends and helpers are what makes this forum great.

Cheers.

Yes, Bruce I can see a story like that involving the 71 Hemi Cuda happening! That's too funny! Just like Auto Mags, the stories of old Hemi cars goes back many years. At one point  my local car club was involved in putting on the Musclecar Showdown. I was on one of the 2 man teams that brake torque the automatic cars to check for high stall converters. Since you mentioned the Hemi Cuda, one of the cars  we checked was a 71 Hemi Cuda convertible. At the time I was told it was the last Hemi Cuda made. At any rate, there were only 7 Hemi Cuda convertibles made and to think we got in the car and brake torqued it! That is a multi million dollar car now.  Coverage of the event was printed in Musclecar Review magazine back in 1987. Good times!