Your most 'interesting' gun purchase

Traded a 400 small block in pieces for a No4 Mk1.

A year later almost to the day I reversed the trade with the guy as I had just bought a 69 Chevy truck that needed an engine.

Around spring of 2000 I was at a gun show about 40 miles from home. I'd been shooting high power for a while (match rifle). I ran across a model 70 factory match rifle with original sights, hand stop and sling for $450. It had been re barrelled to .308, which was what mine is chambered in. Serial number was in the 1964 range so it was push feed. I was thinking it would make a good back up gun but having just recently marrying wife number 2, I wasn't sure how she'd react to another match rifle when I could only shoot one at a time. So I left it there. When I got home, the wife and I talked about all the great items I saw (It was a good show). When I casually mentioned the Model 70 and the price, she asked why I wasn't showing it to her. Two minutes later we were back on the road and 45 minutes later I offered the guy $400 and I had my back up. I tried it out and shot pretty good. A couple of years later a neighbor showed interest in shooting 600 yard (mid range prone) matches with me. I let him use my back up and he was hooked. He asked if I'd be interested in selling it. He raises cattle for a living and I countered with trading it for a young bred cow. Through the years that cow paid for the rifle many times over.

Many years ago I was in a local discount store sporting good dept. and spotted a Remington Nylon 66 with a discount tag on it. I asked the counter guy how much and he said $75 because we aren't going to carry them any more. He said they would mark it down $5 per week until it sold. I told him I would be back when it got to $50. He said "if you have $50 now it's yours". I did and it was. Still have it and at the OGCA shows they sell for at least $350.

I bought a S&W Model 18, the .22 LR Masterpiece, in 1983. I decided to pair it with a Model 15 in .38 Special about 15 years later (hey, money was tight!). My son’s sister in law’s father in law (!) worked at a pawn shop, so I called Carl and asked if he had a 15 in the shop. He did. By any chance did it come with the box? It did. And with papers and tools. How much? $245.

As I left his shop, he said, “I let that go too cheap.”

I turned around, smiled and replied, “Yes, you did.”

Best deal I ever got.

I live in the blackbelt part of AL and theirs still a lot of farming around here so people are generally more familiar with tractors than guns. So when I tell people I have an International Harvester rifle (M1 Garand) I frequently get some confused looks, one day I’m gonna buy a old Husqvarna rifle of some fashion mainly because people don’t seem to know about them either.

I was lusting over a friend's S&W Model 10 that he had inherited from his uncle and was just gathering dust in his safe. It was in about 99% condition on the gun itself, but the grips were aftermarket, old and cracked and had been repaired and varnished to an insane thickness. I had grips so I didn't care. I asked him how much he wanted for it and he gave me a price that even now (It was about 2006 or 7) would make me choke. I said, "Where are you getting that price from?", and picked up one of the "Book of Gun Values". I told him he's off by a mile, but he insisted that the price was correct, and he knocked off $50 for the grips. I took the book and said, "Show me that price, and I'll pay for it, if not, I will pay the listed price for one in excellent shape, less $50 for the grips!". He took the bet, and couldn't find that insane price for a Model 10 anywhere. I think I ended up paying $285 for it, in the box with the tools and paperwork. I sold it a few months back for $750, after a friend saw it and offered me that much. His dad carried one for about 35 years as a small town police officer/chief, and he said he never has seen one in as nice of shape as it was in.

electricfactory said:

which I decided I couldn't live without

Click to expand...

When things are purchased with this mindset, it can get more interesting more often, as you will do and tolerate things you normally wouldn't.

Friend of mine at the gym knows I'm a gun guy. Showed me a picture of a rifle his friend had for sale. Looked like a Russian SKS which would be a nice addition to my Norinco and Yugo. Called the guy. Said he wanted $350. I asked if he would take $300. He said no, but he would throw in some ammo. Drove out to look at it. 1951 Tula, partial refurb in very good condition. Said I'd take it. He hauled out the ammo, 1750 rounds! I told him he was underpricing the deal. He said it was his dad's rifle, he had no interest in it and was glad to see it go to someone who appreciated it.

I've told this one before. In 1962 I was working at a Coast to Coast store that carried firearms. Guy came in several times lusting after a cheap .22 semi auto that he couldn't afford. I asked him if he had anything he could trade in. Said he had his grandfather's rifle but couldn't get ammo for it. What he brought in was a Marlin 1893 in .38-55. I offered him $25 and he took it. One of the most accurate lever guns I own.

I sat down to a late lunch one day and was looking at another forum and saw that someone had posted a great deal on surplus riot shotguns, and ended up with one of these for $265 OTD including the case.



Ohio National Guard 870 Wingmaster with folding stock of which there were only ~400 ever made.

Even with the metal stock, it's a sweet shooting shotgun.

Bought a Kreighoff K-80 Parcours from Dupont Kreighoff. Closest I will ever come to a bespoke firearm. Picked the engraving pattern, the wood, shad it sent to Briley to be thin walled and to get SideKick 2.0s. The gun is just beautiful and makes me smile every time I see it. Still don't shoot it as well as my $1000 391, but I will eventually get there. Good thing I enjotyed the process, because unless I win the lottery, it won't happen again. I sometimes fantasize about a full on custom Perazzi, hand engraved, custom fitted, and a top to Italy (or 2) to boot. Unlikely, but dreams can't hurt you.

Regards,

Kris

Mid '90s, the local Dick's in central NY had a "scratch and dent" sale in the hunting department that included several firearms. One was a Remington 541-T. It was new, but had been handled a lot. IIRC they were asking just south of $300. I offered $225. Manager okayed the deal. I don't still own it ... sold it a couple of years ago for more than three times what I paid for it. Still have a pic, though.