I almost always plot and plan out my gun purchases, but I did do an impluse gun buy once:
I had been wanting a Spanish FR-8 rifle ever since I first shot my buddy's FR-8. However, all the ones I had ever come across had some issues or were way overpriced. Then I got a lead on a sorta local shop that had five to choose from (well, four, since the guy who gave me the lead got one for himself). This shop was well known for specializing in milsurps and I had never visited it before.
The day I get there I'm in milsurp heaven
. The entire north wall had nothing but US service rifles. Mosin Nagants, Mausers, SKS's, Hakims, and various others along the south wall, plus more guns on racks in the middle of the shop. I perused the FR-8's I saw but they didn't look too hot. They weren't bad, but I also wasn't completely sold on those examples.
Then I saw her.
A SMLE made at Lithgow in 1942 that had been FTR'ed with a perfect handguard and stock. 99% Blueing. The bore had a bit of pitting on the muzzle end, but that was the only issue. Some collector had brought in 11 Enfields to sell just two days ago. This was the nicest one still in the store. . . I have two No. 4 Enfields already, but no No. 1s, so I bought it. I figured I couldn't walk away from this one just to pick up a so-so FR-8.
It shoots great in spite of the pitting in the bore, and besides, I picked up a replacement barrel from Numrich for the future. I'm very pleased with it and it worked out doubly nice because last month I finally found a nice FR-8 (looks unissued after conversion) that I never would have tracked down if I had purchase one of the so-so examples I saw that day.