What is your "best buy" firearm?

Either my Mauser C96 Bolo for $400 or my 1958 Ithaca M37 16 gauge for $125. Probably the Ithaca as the Bolo needs work though even when that bill is paid, it's still cheap for a broom-handle.

My Japanese ariska rifle with intact mum for $40

Stainless and alloy Taurus PT945 police .45 acp, new, shoulder holster, and box of ammo for $21.50.

How I got this deal:
I went to a city auction where they auction unclaimed stolen merchandise, city office equipment, etc... There were either 3 or 4 office copiers with coalators and nobody was bidding on them. I knew they were expensive, so I bid and got them for $21.50 best I can recall. I gave all but the nicest one away, then I took it to my local pawn shop and told them I wanted to trade for a pistol. They said okay, pick one and we'll let you know. I picked that one, at $599.00 and asked for a holster and box of ammo. They agreed!

Actually three I find tough to choose betwixt.

Prebubbarized MN carbine, $25.00:

Colt 1873 SA (mfg 1886) in .44-40, $600.00:


JM Marlin Ballard #5 Pacific (mfg circa 1878 ) in .45-70, $600.00 :

A couple of months ago I picked up a cherry Smith and Wesson model 12 for $270....she is gorgeous....

Three years ago I found a S&W Model 13 3" round butt revolver for $320. It had seen cop duty and had a lot of holster time, but not much firing. VERY smooth trigger. The finish was a little rough. I got it reblued for $75 and it looks like new. Shoots so nicely.

I think I shot my wad on that deal, though. Doubt I'll ever get as good a deal again.

High Standard Double Nine, and leather rig for $20 cash and $20 credit.

I once traded a box of Wolf 7.62x39 for a H&R single shot 22. I love that gun, it lives under my back seat with a box of shorts and a box of longrifle's.

That was a great deal, I also bought a nib Swarovski 4x14x56 once for $400.

Twenty years ago my wing shooting and fly fishing mentor found a 20 gauge AyA that fit him better than the beautiful Union Armera he'd saved up for months to buy back in the 60s. The Union Armera had the Dakin name on it- they were the importer- and it was a true side lock, with beautiful engraving and a gorgeous piece of walnut. I paid him $1400 for the UA which meant I had to sell a telescope I'd just spent six months restoring as well as a lot of other toys. It's still the most expensive gun I've ever bought (that $1400 is about $2200 in 2012 dollars), and still the best buy I ever made.

Picked up a BRNO 611 in its original box with all paperwork including the factory test target at a local auction couple of years ago for $600. Don't believe she's ever been fired other than at the factory. The wood on this gun is too beautiful to describe. Most of the guns at the auction were every day hunting rifles and shotguns. When the BRNO came up, it was me and one other guy fighting it out. Everyone else must have thought we'd lost our minds bidding that much for a little .22 magnum. The hardest thing I've ever done was to put this beauty in the safe and not take her to the range. BTW, the 50 meter test target has all 3 holes touching about 1/2 inch left of center.

Also bought an older Browning take down rifle in .22 short in excellant condition at the same auction for $300. That may actually be a better purchase as the .22 short is rare and she sure is fun to shoot.

Sure am glad there's no thread on "The Worst Buy On A Firearm".

Pawn shop about 1990 had a Colt Detective Special with holster wear marked under $200. I asked to see it and the proprieter said it was broken. The action wouldn't cycle. I talked him down to $100 out the door.
Took it home and sprayed WD40 in it and set it aside. Next morning I tried it and the action was working perfectly--and it still does to this day!

just bought a Ruger Old Army 5.5" fixed sight for $278 otd. they sell on Gunbroker for north of $600

$900 gun show find. One went at auction for $2800.


(1 of 300) Lew Horton "Classic Gold Cup". Stainless frame Royal Blue slide, jeweled trigger-hammer-hood plus other Colt Custom Shop features.

Remington 870 HD (18", 6+1, black synthetic furniture) for $260 NIB.

Browning BPS 12 ga for 10 bucks. My dads boss knew I wanted a shotgun and brought one into the office one day when I was about 12 years old. He told my dad he was going to let me have it. My dad told him that he wanted to pay him for it. The boss looked at me and said "well son, how much money do you have on you?" I looked in my Transformers velcro wallet and saw a 10 dollar bill and told him that was all I had. He smiled and said that was his exact asking price. Still have the gun today and won't ever part with it.

Just bought a Remington 740ADL in 30'06 today for $275. Not my best buy but pretty good for a nice clean 740, with a williams FP sight.

A 1957 Winchester Model 70 in 243 with Leopold Vari X II - 3x9x40 for $375.00. Think I'll pass it on to my grandson...he's 4 now

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I have 2 S&W 3rd generation pistols I bought a couple years ago. Both LE trades, but very good condition. Both came with 6 OEM mags. $575 for the pair.
My other great find was a High Standard M103 sharpshooter with original box and manual in LNIB cond. for $200.
I also bought a Colt GC Trophy for $600.

Whether I want them or not, if I find good guns for cheap, I buy them. I know I can always get my money out of them. Although once I buy something, I'm hard pressed to part with them.

S&W Safety Hammerless, third model, $40.00.
Needs some work, timing, pitted, but should still be a good buy...

HK SL8 for $1700ish. I had been looking at getting one for years but they were always like $2200-2400 then I seen them for cheap on Buds.

I've had two pretty good deals over the years. First was a .223 Rem 788. I'd been looking for a varmint gun when this came along. It was a package deal: 788 with a Weatherby looking french walnut fully glass bedded stock put together by a German gunsmith. Also came with 3 mags, a Pecar 3-10x60 scope, Harris bipod, RCBS full length dies, 50 rounds loaded ammo that owner used for competition, and 100 pieces of brass. Price at the time in the U.S. for the scope alone was $600. Paid $350 for the package. Gun is a tack driver. My most accurate handload was 3/10 different than his competition load.

Second was a S&W M19 2 1/2 inch snubby. Was planning on buying a new one when a fellow decided he didn't like the recoil on the one he had. Sold me the M19 that had a trigger job, 2 leather holsters, 2 speed loaders and a 50 round box of factory ammo for $250.

A box new Ruger GP100 6" blued for $299, It was back before the '08 gun grabbin scare and price jump. I havent seen the same gun in 80-90% condition for under $400 lately.

I'll have to say it's the Saiga .223 I got for ~$270, purchased new from a local shop back before the previous presidential election. Many hundreds of rounds through it, and not a single malfunction of any kind, ever.

I bought a 1953 Colt woodsman for $100 once. Traded a derelict motorcycle for another of the 1936 variety. Felt quite good about both!

Like new completely stock Norinco 1911: $250

Like new 3rd gen Glock 17L: $400

NIB Norinco M1A: $700