Best Deal & Biggest Regret

[Halagar]

I was thinking about this the other day, and was curious what some people have had regarding the best deal they've gotten on a fire arm, and the one that they kicked themselves later for not buying.

Personally, both of mine are Rugers Mk I and II.

I ended up getting a Ruger Mk II Stainless 10" Bull Barrell for $275 early last year that was in great shape from a local pawnshop. He originally wanted $425, and when I asked what his best price was, he quoted the amount listed. I jumped right on it.

The biggest regret was late last year, when at a local gun show I ran into an old man who had a Ruger MK I from 1960 that he said he had only fired about a 100 rounds through. It was immaculate, and he had the original box etc. He wanted $350 for it...and I didn't have the cash as I had bought a nice 1911 earlier in the show.

So tell me your stories!

 

[shotgunjoel]

My best deal is the Spanish 1916 Civil Guard that I bought this last December for $80. That then infected me with Mauser fever. I passed up a really nice looking Yugo for $200. It had a good action, bore, and stock. If I had had someone else with me at the gun show to help talk me into it, it would be in my safe right now. I also regret passing on a Ruger Mk2 22/45 with 5 inch barrel that the dealer had $300 on. I thought to myself that if it was $250 and in my state I would have bought it (saw it at the Indy show). Because it was out of state I didn't even talk to the guy.

 

[Deus Machina]

My best deal: a S&W 486 no-dash with just a little honest wear at the muzzle and just starting to show the rotating line, that I traded a lathe with tooling that I quoted $375 for, and wasn't expecting the rush of messages I got.

My biggest regret: Passing up a couple $220 Saigas when I knew the Obama rush was coming. Rather than building up one and thinking I didn't need another, I could have converted them and sold them for $750 a pop.

 

[shotgunjoel]

My biggest regret: Passing up a couple $220 Saigas when I knew the Obama rush was coming. Rather than building up one and thinking I didn't need another, I could have converted them and sold them for $750 a pop.

Someone will be along shortly to lecture you, saying that that's illegal because you are "in the business" because you would have bought them just to resell. I personally think that you should be able to deal in small quantities without an FFL.

 

[Deus Machina]

Well, originally it was "I might not get this chance again" because I didn't think I'd actually see Saigas with $40 in parts go for $800.

 

[Ala Dan]

Best deal = Late '72 or very early '73 high polished blue COLT Agent for $120;
shows absolutely no signs of wear, but w/o box or doc's.

Biggest regret = having to trade my ANIB Seecamp LWS-32, to be able to
afford a trade that brought me the High Standard "Victor" model .22LR auto~!

 

[jiminhobesound]

Best Deals Passed Up

We old fogeys really blew it in the fifties and sixties. For those of you who were not around you would not believe the price for GI guns, 1911s, Garands, Lugers, P-38s, etc. If we were smart we would have bought as many as possible along with some of the classic guns such as Colt Woodsmans.

 

[chez323]

Best deal I ever got as far as I'm concerned was when I picked up a brand new, never fired Kimber Tactical Pro II from a guy for $800. Best deal I ever got!

Biggest regret? That's easy, saying I do to wife # 1......... lost my guns, my house and even my dog in that deal...... hands down worst deal ever!

 

[oldbear]

Not a deal at the time, but today it would be killer.

1970/71 bought a S&W M-10 2" NIB, less than $100.00, it's now on a long term (25 years) to a good friend, and yes he still has it.

1974 bought a S&W M-12 air weight 2" round butt, NIB, $125.00 out the door. Lent that one to a lady(?) friend who was having problems with a wacky Ex. Six or eights weeks later I found out the Ex. was the sane one. Haven't seen her of the 38 in years, and just as happy not to have!!

 

[Mk VII]

Not being in position to buy a really nice M1917 revolver that came up for sale; the one I've got now is not nearly as good.

 

[mrbro]

Didn't buy is easy. In the 70's I didn't buy a new Python for $275 and I didn't buy a new Mannlicher Model M Professional for $450.

 

[Grey_Mana]

Biggest regret: I coveted a certain gun, couldn't find it anywhere local. Went to a gun show, scoured the floor, found it for $100 more than I wanted to pay. Bought it. Went back in the gun show, saw a table I somehow missed with a crate of the same gun for $50 LESS than I had wanted to pay.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Biggest regret: I coveted a certain gun, couldn't find it anywhere local. Went to a gun show, scoured the floor, found it for $100 more than I wanted to pay. Bought it. Went back in the gun show, saw a table I somehow missed with a crate of the same gun for $50 LESS than I had wanted to pay.

I've done that with ammo at shows before. I bought 200 rounds of Argentine 7.62 NATO for $0.40 a round, and then saw it by the 50 cal can for a little over half that price. Granted, the 50 cal can was more than I wanted to buy (or carry around for that matter), but I would have bought a can if I hadn't already bought the other ammo.

 

[PGroenewold]

Best recent deal: Minty 7.62 x 39 Saiga at the local pawn shop last year for $180. I added a pistol grip, Tapco G2 fire control group and enough parts to meet 922(r), and it's been a fun, reliable shooter.

Biggest regret: Probably a tossup between my P3AT and my C91 Sporter (H&K G3 clone). The P3AT can't digest a single magazine without jamming, and I'm not sure how much time and money I want to keep dumping into a $250 pistol that I don't trust.

The C91 was a Century special and was constantly jamming, as their gun plumbers hadn't bothered to check the fit between the trunnion and the stamped "rails" in the receiver. The bolt rollers would frequently get stuck before the trunnion rather than inside its locking shoulders. It works fine now that I've identified and repaired the problem, but with all the time I spent troubleshooting and fixing it, I should have just spent a bit more up front and gotten something decent. Live and learn...

 

[CWL]

Regrets? Sold several pistols back when I needed the money and have always regretted it. Biggest regret? Selling my HK MP5 because I thought I could always buy another one if I ever wanted to... I live in CA.

Best deal? Bought my LNIB SigSauer P229 for $300.