The Gun that Got Away?

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CmdrSlander

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What firearm did you almost buy, or decide to sell, that you have regretted not having ever since?

Mine was a nearly pristine M1917 Enfield (bluing etc. was perfect, stock was okay) that I decided against buying at a pawnshop a few years ago. In my defense it was overpriced, but I doubt I'll find one locally again and online firearms purchase are tricky for me as the only nearby FFL hates people who buy guns online :cuss:.
 
Mine was a 1903A4 Springfield I bought from DCM in 1965 for $12. I made a sporter with a Fajen stock and a cheap Tasco scope, had it blued by a friend and it was a real shooter. I could shoot 100yd groups of 1/2- 3/4" from a rest with no problems. I got the itch for a Ruger Model1 in 22/250. After the trade the Ruger never shot a group less than 1 1/2". I wish I could get my ol' friend back!
 
Didn't the M1903A4 use that disgraceful two groove war emergency barrel? Did you replace it to pull off that kind of accuracy?
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One of the most accurate 03-A3s I've ever seen had a two groove barrel. A friend of mine owns it and set a record for open sighted rifles at a local range that still stands.

But to stay on topic: In the early 80s I was talking to a dealer here in town and asked him about a Thompson SMG. "About $1200, including paperwork".

The bad part was, I could have afforded the gun at the time, but decided against it. :banghead:
 
I didn't buy more M1 Carbines from the CMP when they were in stock a few years back

To my everlasting shame and regret, I should have cleaned them out
 
there are realy just 2 that I remember

about 12 years ago I went to a mans house who listed a gun collection for sale in our local paper, I was offered a stv40 for 400$.....I ended up buying 2 enfields instead....

afew years ago at a local gun show there was a type 38 Arisaka with matching bolt full mum and original dust cover. tokyo arsenal metal was very pristine and bore was great.
left to go to the ATM to get cash (I hadn't really planned on buying anything that day)and when I returned it was gone.
 
Mine is not very exciting at all. My brother talked me into trading my Marlin (925 ?) in .22 lr. for one in 22 mag. I was only 12 or 13 so I obviously didn't have much money for ammo and I just couldn't stand the cost of the ammo for the mag to just plink around. I loved that little .22 lr. and have always regretted trading it. I have a son now and tried to find one like I had but I haven't been able to find one with the checkered stock and the hooded front sight. Like I said not exciting but definitely a regret.
 
Of the guns I've sold over the years, I only regret selling 2 of them: A Bushy AR and an 870. That 870 was a sweet shooter.
 
Larry Ashcraft said:
One of the most accurate 03-A3s I've ever seen had a two groove barrel. A friend of mine owns it and set a record for open sighted rifles at a local range that still stands.

But to stay on topic: In the early 80s I was talking to a dealer here in town and asked him about a Thompson SMG. "About $1200, including paperwork".

The bad part was, I could have afforded the gun at the time, but decided against it. :banghead:
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Really, I've read reports that they were inadequate as marksmen's weapons, but I trust your experience over random stuff I've read.
 
My 03A4 had a 4 groove barrel. I had an o3A3 that had a 2 groove barrel and it shot really well. I had iron sights on that gun, so I didn't get the small groups that I got with the o3A4, but it shot some 1 1/2" groups with the iron sights. I just wonder how well the 03A4 would have shot with a good scope instead of that old Tasco. The Tasco had large cross hairs that didn't center themselves in the sight field.
I just couldn't afford anything better.
BTW selling the 03A3 was my 2nd worst gun decision.
 
What firearm did you almost buy, or decide to sell, that you have regretted not having ever since?
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About 90% of them... :banghead:

But my top 2: Winchester M1 Carbine with an original paratrooper stock and standard stock - bought in 1987 for $150.00;
Smith & Wesson Model 625 .45 ACP "Model of 1989" 3" barrel round butt - bought new in 1989.
 
Like statelineblues, all of them I've sold. However, there was one in particular. A Browning AN-M2 .30 cal machine gun. This is the aircraft mounted gun with a rate of fire around 1500 rpm. I built one out of parts about 1963 and shot the heck out of it, back when corrosive .30-06 ammo was available for about 2 to 3 cents a round if you bargained a bit. I registered three of these during the 1968 amnesty, and the last one I sold was a beautiful Colt manufactured gun, complete with spade grips.

I sold it for $800 in 1979. Today it would be worth around $25,000. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
medalguy said:
I sold it for $800 in 1979. Today it would be worth around $25,000. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
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Ouch! It's amazing what a little gov't meddling will do to prices.


I passed on a really sweet pristine Garand for $400 in '98 I think. Passed on a decent shooter grade for $500 in '08. Passed on a LNIB Ruger MkII 10" for $300. I'm upset I went all last year and didn't buy a CMP Garand. These are all still around, I'll get to them eventually.
 
German G-43 being sold at an estate sale for $350.

Don't get me wrong, I was going to buy it, told the lady I'd have to hit the bank real quick to get the cash, be back in a few minutes. Guy behind me as I was saying this, reached into his pocket and handed her $350 cash on the spot and walked away with it smiling :(
 
I had an original Belgian Browning SA .22 that I traded away for a cheap Marlin .22 mag. I liked the Marlin, but I've regretted the trade every day since. That little Browny was one of the nicest firearms I've ever owned.
 
I nearly made the deal of my life about a month ago.

I check a certain local gun classifieds site almost daily, and one night I noticed an ad for a really clean Ruger Security Six, nickel finish (of course it was actually stainless), four inch barrel, original wood grips for the advertised price of only $250. It was for sale at a pawn shop about five miles away from where I work which opened at 9am the next day. I took an early lunch around 11am and sped all the way to the shop, only to find it had been sold as soon as they opened the doors at 9am, and I was the fifth person who had asked about the gun that day.
 
I missed one last year - an H&R Shikari rifle in .44 mag (the guy who beat me to it, I think, bought it to resell). But I wasn't able to pay his asking price, though I could have (and would have) paid the original price. I guess "he who snoozes, loses."
 
I really wish I had bought one of the Sig P6s when they were imported and sold for just north of $250. I keep hoping more come in.
 
Should have bought a few cases of SKS back in early 90's when they were $85.I just bought one. Also missed on a couple absentee bids by just a few bucks.
 
A Para P14 with a Surefire 610R. It was their "milspec" model, but the front sight had been replaced with a night sight in what looked to be in a Novak dovetail, and the rear sight appeared to be a milspec, that lacked the white dots that so many manufactures enjoy putting on sights.

I saw it on a Tuesday, told the dealer I'd have to sleep on it, but would probably pick it up Friday.

He's closed on Wednesday, when I decided I would go ahead and get it. Didn't see the point in putting money on it Thursday and picking it up the next day. Lesson learned, he sold it right before closing time on Thurdsay.
 
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