Frugal pistol acquisition

[mongoslow]

I'm a trader,horse swapper and deal hunter by nature, I do believe that you get what you pay for where quality is concerned but like most I'm a cheapskate and I want that quality as cheap as I can find it.
My current crop of pistols is for the most part a portrait of luck and hard shopping,


The Sig 1911 Nitron =free! A gift from my best friend

The Sig P229=$600 (G23 and a little cash)

The Sig P6=$310

The USP =$350

The Shield=$425 ( bought 2nd year of production )

My total=$1685 for 5 pistols

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZcnJ6JGoKh6Ib1eV2
How frugal/lucky of a shopper are you? Share your best deals and guns with us

 

[entropy]

When I worked at several gun shops I acquired some guns for free; a .410 H&R left for repair, the owner had died. Boss said "Make it disappear". Same for a set of .50 Hawken rifle and Pistol, they were getting out of BP (that didn't last long!) "get 'em out of here!" A customer brought in an Ithaca 37 and a bag of old paper shells- the grand kids had found it in his closet. The store didn't even make him an offer and he wanted them gone. I assured him it would have a good home. I cleaned it up, cold blued the receiver, and had a grouse gun for a while. Sold the Cutts Compensator extra chokes at a show, and gave the gun to a friend as a wedding gift. (Her ex had taken his shotgun with him in the divorce.) Gave the bag of shells to a friend with the Stevens 311 I found him for $75. I traded labor (cleaning up the gunsmithing shop) during the winter months for a few 'parts' guns at another shop I smithed for. Theat's just the free ones, then there were the good bargains......

 

[BobWright]

I'm a trader,horse swapper and deal hunter by nature, I do believe that you get what you pay for where quality is concerned but like most I'm a cheapskate and I want that quality as cheap as I can find it.
My current crop of pistols is for the most part a portrait of luck and hard shopping,


The Sig 1911 Nitron =free! A gift from my best friendView attachment 764710

The Sig P229=$600 (G23 and a little cash)

The Sig P6=$310

The USP =$350

The Shield=$425 ( bought 2nd year of production )

My total=$1685 for 5 pistols

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZcnJ6JGoKh6Ib1eV2
How frugal/lucky of a shopper are you? Share your best deals and guns with us View attachment 764711

You've sure got some good trading material there!

Bob Wright

 

[omega5]

Years ago, a good friend of mine was at an estate auction/sale. He'd bought an M1, an Enfield and a
couple other long guns. A Colt 45, 70 series came up and no one bid on it. He called me and told me
about it. I told him if they reopened the bid, start at $20 and I'd go as high as $300. He called back
later and told me he did just that and no one bid but me. I got that pistol for $20 bucks. He couldn't
believe it and neither could I. It was a week before he got to come by the house and he brought it
and a S&W 29 4" that looks like it just left S&W. He offered a straight trade. I already had 2 1911's
so I jumped at it. End of story, I have a beautiful S&W model 29 and only have $20 bucks invested
in it.
Never was that lucky again.
Dano

 

[buck460XVR]

My total=$1685 for 5 pistols


How frugal/lucky of a shopper are you? Share your best deals and guns with us

I have a hard time considering the "gift" as a purchase, even tho it is a acquisition, since you did not go out and actively seek to purchase it. I have quite a few guns that have been handed down to me from my dad and grandfather, plus a few that were gifts from friends and relatives. While they have value, and some considerable, I don't consider them as purchases and thus not really a "great deal".

That said, just a few years back, I had told the owner of my LGS I was looking for a Colt 1911. A few weeks later he called and said he had just taken one in trade by a woman who could not load the mags because of her long fingernails. He said I could have it for what he had into it. A stainless 1991 with less than 50 rounds thru it, LNIB for $500. A few months back I was in my local Ace Hardware when I spotted a 4" 686 with a price tag of $499 on it. Figuring it must be used in rough shape I was surprised to find out it was a brand new gun just brought in from a sister store. Afterchecking it out with a fine-toothed comb, asking them twice if the price was correct, and being affirmed it was, I said "I'll take it", eventho I already had 3 other 686s including a prelock, hammer mounted firing pin, 4''. Wasn't until after we had transferred the gun(this store makes you pay upfront for the transfer fee for handguns before making the sale) they discovered they had mispriced it. Too bad for them. Still those prices mean nuttin' to me as the real value in any firearm I own is the pleasure and usefulness I get from them. The new 4' 686 made a great gift to my youngest son. I'm sure the value he will put on it is more than I paid.
.

 

[John Joseph]

I'm waiting to come across a $100 S&W Highway Patrolman, or Beretta Model 70

 

[John Joseph]

I'm still waiting.

 

[Purple Bikerr]

I bought a NIB Colt O1991 for $550 off GB this past June.

 

[bannockburn]

Picked up a CZ P01 awhile back for around $450 and the salesman asked me if I would be interested in the Kadet .22 conversion assembly for it. He said he would make me a great deal on it: $250 if I took it right now. Needless to say I took it right now!

Got a sweet deal (old buddy of mine worked behind the counter at the LGS), on a LNIB SIG P229R, with the SRT, three extra mags, and night sights: $499. Same good buddy salted away a mint-in-the-box S&W Model 34 for me as he knew I had a fine appreciation for older Smiths. That one was $399.

Came across a mint-in-the-box nickel plated Baby Browning Lightweight; same price as the S&W Model 34: $399. Also had a mint (no pouch), Browning Model 1910/1955 for $300.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Does it count if I have a Cabelas card and got several pistols “free” from points...including a Springfield EMP 9?

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Does it count if I have a Cabelas card and got several pistols “free” from points...including a Springfield EMP 9?

That's cheating....LOL

 

[Twiki357]

About a year ago I got a S&W model 30-1 on Gunbroker for $255. The seller was a kitchen table FFL selling the gun for a neighbor. The right grip was pretty dirty and a little scratched up. It came with a holster that looked like it had been used as a dog toy. The seller didn’t give much of a description except that it looked a little worn. I doubt that he had even taken it out of the holster. Because other than the right grip, the gun was like new.

 

[Tallball]

Recently...

Beretta PX4 40 caliber $179
Berretta 96 $236
Kel-Tec 9mm carbine $117
Tanfoglio Witness 40 caliber $249
Tanfoglio Witness 45acp $249
Sig P230 around $250 (misremember the exact price)
Rossi 720 44 special $250

These are all in the last six months or so. To me bargain hunting is one of the most fun parts of collecting. That, and shooting them, of course!

Spare magazines for the Sig aren't cheap or easy to come by. The first time I took it to the range, they had three random used magazines for sale for $10 or $15 apiece (they didn't even know what guns they were for). Naturally one of them happened to be for the Sig. Sometimes it's just as good to be lucky as smart!

 

[jmace57]

I won a NIB CZ-85 in 9x21 caliber for $230 a few years ago. Bought a 9x19 barrel and had it fitted for $95. Still have the unfired 9x21 barrel.

I won a Femaru Model 37 for $40 and a Astra 1921 (9mm Largo) for $60 in the same auction 4 or 5 years ago.

I won a brand new (but 20 year old) Marlin 60 for $50 in another auction.

 

[bassjam]

My best deal is a LNIB S&W 442 that I received in trade, I only had $275 in the gun I traded for it.
I also bought a USP .45 a few year ago for $400, but later passed the deal along to a buddy for $450 and included 2 boxes of ammo.
And I've inherited half of my grandpa and 2 uncles' guns because my brother and I are the only ones in the family who shoot, the most valuable one is a Colt Anaconda. But that (along with the others) will never get sold so it really doesn't matter what it's worth.

 

[Poper]

Years ago, a good friend of mine was at an estate auction/sale. He'd bought an M1, an Enfield and a
couple other long guns. A Colt 45, 70 series came up and no one bid on it. He called me and told me
about it. I told him if they reopened the bid, start at $20 and I'd go as high as $300. He called back
later and told me he did just that and no one bid but me. I got that pistol for $20 bucks. He couldn't
believe it and neither could I. It was a week before he got to come by the house and he brought it
and a S&W 29 4" that looks like it just left S&W. He offered a straight trade. I already had 2 1911's
so I jumped at it. End of story, I have a beautiful S&W model 29 and only have $20 bucks invested
in it.
Never was that lucky again.
Dano

I think you used all your luck up on that one acquisition!

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

My two best deals we're my LC 9s for $200 and my Turkish 1911 for $370.

I'm always looking for a deal...

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Does it count if I have a Cabelas card and got several pistols “free” from points...including a Springfield EMP 9?

I'm in the same boat. Haven't gotten any guns for free yet, but I have gotten them for very low prices by trading and using points.

Paid $250 for a Sig P556.
Paid $250 for a HK45
Paid $150 for a VP9.

It is cheating though.

 

[BearBrimstone]

My most recent acquisition was a brand new Springfield XDm 40 for $300. I also purchased a Marlin 1895 brand new for $265 total after rebate last year at Walmart. Gotta love clearance prices.