Regrets Only

[Bellevance]

It seems that almost every handgun enthusiast has a story about the gun he wishes he had never parted company with. If you're interested in posting your story of regret, I suspect many on this forum would be interested in reading it.

Here's mine. In 1970 I bought my first revolver, a Smith K-22 Masterpiece .22 Magnum, THTT, with the 8 3/8-inch barrel, like new, for $103--and the guy threw in a tooled holster and belt. It was a beautiful specimen. The truth is I never did much more with it than ventilate cans and paper and one or two woodchucks (though I used to look at it a lot), but I did love that gun. Then in 1973 I met a red-haired woman who rode bicycles, so I sold the Smith for the cash I had in it in order to afford a new Italian ten-speed bike. Needless to say, the redhead and the bike are long gone, but if I still had that K-22 I believe I would be a happier man today.

Bellevance

[VA27]

Back in the 70's I bought a brand spanking new Pasadena AutoMag for $198!!! After a while I traded it for a Colt SAA. The SAA is long gone, too! A double-whammie. I get sad everytime I think about it. Thanks for ruining my Christmas,Bellevance!:banghead:

[Baphomet]

Sold: 6" Colt Python and "matching" .22 Diamondback. Both were purchased NIB.

Need I say more?

The one and only gun deal I still regret, even after 20 years. Some mistakes you just don't get over. The D-Back maybe not quite so much, since I never could seem to hit with it for whatever reason. But that Python deal? Nothing but sadness and regret.

[tubeshooter]

Thanks for ruining my Christmas,Bellevance!

I agree with VA27; let's keep it on the merry side of things.


Postpone thread 'til January?

[hexidismal]

I haven't parted with a handgun yet. A rifle though, yes, a story I recently related in another thread with a very similar theme to this one over in the rifle section.

[steveracer]

All original, perfect condition, number 66 of 500.
Sold it to buy my wife a semester of education. Money well spent, but I should have sold a Springfield.

[Harry Paget Flashman]

A DWM Luger made in 1939. Sold it for $200 in 1977.

[Sven]

My dad had some heirlooms stolen out of a car in the 80s - guns that my grandfather and great-grandfather had owned. :(

[Dienekes]

I have had enough good fortune in life, with guns and more important things, that I can afford to be philosophical about the ones "that got away". Women included... Just makes me appreciate what I have a bit more. I do tend to wonder what I was thinking when I let a couple of them (the guns) go, though.

It's all on loan anyway...

[jame]

The first handgun I ever purchased, a stainless Ruger Securiy Six-6". I had the time, tools, and inclination at the time to completly dis-assemble the gun, hand polish every part, (no grinding! Polish only), and install lighter springs..

I cast bullets and handloaded for it. Hell, I could even sqirrel hunt with that gun. It would absolutely "thread a needle."

A buddy talked me into trading it for a Python. I hated it, and promptly sold it.

It will NEVER be replaced.

[10-Ring]

:banghead: The one that got away isn't a handguns but a long gun. I would have to say it was my HK 93 and 94

[tubeshooter]

It's all on loan anyway...

+2. Deep, and worth remembering.


So to those with regret, don't beat yourselves up too bad...

[Bellevance]

I didn't mean to make anybody feel grumpy during the holidays by bringing up a sore subject. (Sorry, VA27 and Tubeshooter!) But you sit over a cup of coffee with another collector for fifteen minutes, and often he'll launch into the wistful story of his own lost gem. Things like that just stay with us, and I actually kind of like those stories.

I think that the complement to our wistfulness must be the appreciation we feel for what we have, whether it's our children, our good health, or our prized guns. The firearms forums are packed with look-what-I-just-found! posts along with gorgeous pictures. So I believe that what we have acquired in our lives generally compensates pretty well for what we may have lost. Most of us are fortunate to be able to indulge our love of a fine gun to the extent that we do.

And sure, Dienekes is right to point out that all that we have is only "on loan," and yet that goes for everything, doesn't it? Everything is temporary. Therefore, if we're lucky, our possessions are as permanent as our lives are permanent, and that's permanent enough for me. Well, almost. :)

Seriously, happy holidays, everybody.

[Hardtarget]

I'm 56. So far I've never parted with a gun. All that have come to me have found a permanant home!
My regrets are the guns I didn't buy...but that has been discussed on other threads.
Mark.

[lee n. field]

Then in 1973 I met a red-haired woman who rode bicycles, so I sold the Smith for the cash I had in it in order to afford a new Italian ten-speed bike. Needless to say, the redhead and the bike are long gone,

But, you know, a red head, an Eye-talian 10 speed (back in the day, that was magic) -- it sounds like it was worth making the attempt.;)

[Furncliff]

I've only sold one firearm (gave two rifles to friends), it was a Ruger convertible six I bought in Europe at the PX (1965). Sold it to fellow worker in Yellowstone Park a few years later. I was going to college in Cal. and it would have been tricky keeping it (dorm..car??). Just lately have been missing it, I'd buy one of the old ones if it passed my way.

[mnrivrat]

"Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"

Not sure who to attribute that to , but it fits .

Top 5 : Colt Peacemaker .22/.22 mag.; Colt Diamondback 4" .22 LR ; Lew Horton S&W 686 RB 2&1/2" ; Colt AR-15 A2 CAR ; Colt Combat Commander Series 70 Custom . & a few more, but no point in continuing.

It is after all just stuff . While I may miss stuff once and awhile, it is the old friends, now gone ,that I miss every day.

[Soulrider]

In 1970 I brought a french model 1950 9mm back from Vietnam with me, sold it in 72 to pay the rent. Not much left from those days except pictures, would be nice to have kept the pistol.

[Logan5]

I can hardly bear to think about it... It was a NIB Colt Elite Ten/Forty.

[loadedround]

When that special run of S & W 3" Model 24's came out I traded a VG condition Colt 1911, made in 1916 w/ martial markings for that 44 Spec(list price 295.00). Ended up trading the Model 24 in for a shotgun. Know what that 1911 is worth today.

[JCF]

A near new condition Bren Ten. Traded 12 years ago for a 350 Rem Mag model 600. Loved the 600... wish I still had the Bren.

A matching Union Switch 1911 I picked up at a gunshow. Had it for two weeks. Got rid of it in a trade 14 years ago because the finish was too worn for my taste :banghead:

[MikeGei]

Had a Star M45 Firestar that I lost at a pawn shop before christmas about 5 years ago that was sweet, miss that one dearly. Just got one back this past thursday but it needs a slide pin.. been looking since..
Mike

[Mac Attack]

I bought a Mint Colt Trooper IV from a buddy who was down on his luck for $200. When I moved from the West Coast to the South I gave it as a gift to a friend of mine for helping me move. He ended up selling it for less than I paid for it. What a Dick!

I also sold a Turkish K98 in 8mm which I purchased back in the late 80's. I restored the gun and it looked great. When I moved from SoCal to GA I didn't think I would need it so I gave it away to another friend. Man I wish I would have kept that rifle:(

[Autolycus]

My Kimber Tactical Custom.

It just worked and felt great in the hands.

[Sistema1927]

Three.

LNIB Colt 1908 .380. This thing was complete to include the trigger tag and factory target.

Browning High-Power. This is the only weapon that I have had to "brandish" in defense of my life, not once, but twice. I don't think that I would be here today (at least in one piece) if it wasn't for that pistol.

Ithaca SKB 12 ga. OU with English grip stock. I have yet to find another shotgun that fits me like that one.

Sadly, all three of these were sold to pay for higher education. I look up at the Master's Degree on the office wall and figure that it was a good investment, but there are days when I wonder.

[Bunkerbuster]

I have few.

Sig P226 tactical with short trigger and lower hammer springs. I should've kept it.

[Zach S]

I traded a 2nd-gen G17 in on a Kimber Series I. I never regreted it, untill recently.

Inspired by Curare's G19, I took a soldering iron to my G19. I let the owner of the range see it, and he wanted me to do his G17. As it turns out, the G17 he wants me to stiple is the same one I traded in on the Kimber. Once I realized that, I started to miss it.

I'll bet that by the time I'm done with it, I'll be glad to see it gone.