True Bargain Stories

[schmeky]

I posted on the Firing Line Forum about a "can't believe I got such a good deal" kinda thing.

True Story:

My wife and I went to an estate auction in 2002. The gun collection was incredible, top shelve everything, hundreds of firearms. I spied a new Ruger .357 Maximum and I told my wife that's the one I'm gonna' get. Well I began bidding and before long this Maximum was up to $700.00. I didn't get it and don't remember the winning bid.

Next up was a new S&W Model 29, 6.5" barrel, nickel, pinned and recessed, target hammer/trigger, W/O and red ramp sights. Gorgeous. No one would bid, then someone offered $300.00. I began bidding and within a minute or two I was the winning bidder at $375.00. I swear this is true. I have been accused of being a liar over this story in the past.

Shot some mild loads through it to check it out, cleaned it up and stowed it away. The action for a new gun is really slick too. Still can't believe what I paid for this beauty.

Anyone else got a good one?

 

[fugi]

I picked up an L1A1 at a gun show for $350 I think it was, built on a century receiver, but everything was very tight and in spec on it. it was that price because it short cycled and the gas selector wouldn't move, I popped the forearm off (which involves removing a single screw) and saw the gas tube pin had been backed out and was jamming against the selector. replaced it and it works great and is as accurate as I've seen them.

 

[Jim March]

Most of my favorite stories (including mine!) come from people interested in defensive or at least hunting/shooting guns who get deals because a gun is either cosmetically challenged or of a funky (or older) type that shoots great and was determined to be a good shooter via a "checkout" process (see stickied thread).

I had read something along those lines in '97 and was going through the "used stack" at Trader's in San Leandro when I came across my old Charter Arms Undercover. It had bizarre oversize grips on and the "blue" on the frame had gone brown. But looked OK otherwise and to this day it's the tightest action of any gun I've ever handled, matched only by good Colts and of course Freedom Arms. Best $186 I ever spent and even back then, in California that was a deal.

Now that said: I still recommend newbies stay with the big names, esp. Ruger or S&W unless you're very comfortable with "the checkout" and understand the history of what you're buying. Example: NEVER buy a "Charco" even though it's the same design as my gun. Never buy a Taurus with another importer's marks, it's old and yucko and it's made o' melted down butterknives from China forged by trained chimps on meth. Etcetera.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Ok, this isn't about a revolver...

But a pistol non the less, for a helluva price.

Wife and I went to a yard sale. Our first bun in the oven, so we were looking for kid stuffs. Crib and a dresser. She found this nice wood Graco crib with a dresser/changing table t'boot. They wanted $150. I saw this ammo can on a table. 1000rnds of military ball "Match 1975". -This was back in 90'. So 15yr old ammo didn't bother me. These weren't reloads. Then another 500rnds of brass. A Hoyt basket weave holster, with Law style black web leather belt, and a custom horizontal shoulder rig with double mag pouch for the opposite side. Fit me well. The seller worked security for our local small port. 45acp dies. Stock wood for a Colt Officers ACP. So, "where's the pistola", I ask. He brought out a Stainless Officers ACP with a Wilson Group Gripper kit. A set of wrap around Packmeyers too.

Out the door with the Crib, Dresser, Pistol and accessories for $450. We sold the crib and dresser a few years later, after our second son out grew them, for $150.

So I figure I got a SS Officer's ACP for less than $300 when you count in the rest of the accessories. I still use both holsters. The pistol feeds anything short of oatmeal. It's not as accurate as my Kimber, but it's one very nice carry piece.

-Steve

 

[Gewehr98]

Join the military.

Folks are always getting rid of things well below market value.

I paid $200 for a minty S&W 696 from a guy retiring and selling off parts of his collection.

I did something similar to get a new pre-'94 Colt Competition HBAR and new Oly Arms lower receiver in the fall of 1994. The fellow was separating and needed the money.

Not just guns, either. Frequent military moves mean lots of yard sales.

 

[GunNut]

If I post my great deals i'm sure they will be held against me when selling.

I've ended up with some great deals in the past.

How about a Ruger SP101 for $75?

Colt New Frontier .44Special w/.44/40 Cylinder for $475?

I'm sure there are more, but can't remember right now.

My goal is to always buy low enough, so that I can sell and make a profit if need be.

Steve

 

[XavierBreath]

S&W M&P $89 at a pawn shop.


Cimarron Thunderers $125 each, NIB.
The guy thought they were blackpowder.

there are others...........

 

[wundudnee]

I got this .38 Colt Diamondback off an individual's table at a gunshow for $370.00. It was filthy, but cleaned up like new.

I found this High Standard Double Nine "Natchez" at a garage sale with a tooled holster for $150.00. Any of you that collect High Standards know how hard that one is to find.

 

[schmeky]

Many years ago I walked into a pawn shop in Ruston Louisiana. I spotted an early model 3 screw low serial number flat-top Ruger Blackhawk, 4 5/8" barrel in .357. The gun was in excellent mechanical condition, blue was about 95%but the grips were split and beat up.

Asking price was $175.00 (to high back then). I talked the guy down to $150.00 OTD. Could not find any grip panels, I sent Ruger a letter (now you know how long ago this was) and they indicated grips were no longer available. I found some walnut stock and made my own grips.

Kept this pistol for over 10 years, then sold it. D_mn.

 

[parolebear]

Best Bargain

We all have a few stories. I have a MAS 36, 1937 mfg., never redone for $50., a Colt Diamondback, nickel, .38 LNIB for 220.00. My story is the one that I did not buy.

A close friend died about 1983. His son (who did not like guns) called and offered to sell me a few guns from his father's collection (huge). I was cop making $4.50 per hour and newly married. I went over to see what he wanted me to look at. He had 30-40 handguns laying on the table. There were two in the box Colt Ace's, 29, 41, Python, couple of 19's, 1911's you get the picture. He said give me $2500.00. I did not have 2500 in credit from a loanshark. he then said take them sell them until you get 2500 and mail the money and keep the others. I SAID NO.

KICK ME!!!!!

 

[Lou22]

About a year ago I was looking on Gunbroker for a modestly priced .38 snubbie. Found a new Charter 2000 Undercover in stainless for $168 plus shipping. The dealer was going out of business and selling everything at cost. I had heard mixed reviews on Charters, but thought it worth a try at the price. It turned out to be an excellent shooter, 100% reliable with very mild recoil (it has big rubber grips). Also lightweight at (I believe) at 15oz. It is a great CC gun. I keep 158gr lead hollow points in it.

Lou

 

[armoredman]

Whoops, wrong section.

 

[Snarlingiron]

Around 1978 or so, I was living in Waco, Tx. and was running a small gun repair / blueing operation with my brother. The local police held an auction of confiscated guns. I went down and bid on quit a few, but only got one. No one else bid. It was an FN Hi Power with no magazine. My bid... $12.50. Ordered a mag from Brownells, had my brother polish and blue it, and I still take it to the range and fire it on a regular basis today. Probably the best deal I ever got.

 

[Antihero]

We all have a few stories. I have a MAS 36, 1937 mfg., never redone for $50., a Colt Diamondback, nickel, .38 LNIB for 220.00. My story is the one that I did not buy.

A close friend died about 1983. His son (who did not like guns) called and offered to sell me a few guns from his father's collection (huge). I was cop making $4.50 per hour and newly married. I went over to see what he wanted me to look at. He had 30-40 handguns laying on the table. There were two in the box Colt Ace's, 29, 41, Python, couple of 19's, 1911's you get the picture. He said give me $2500.00. I did not have 2500 in credit from a loanshark. he then said take them sell them until you get 2500 and mail the money and keep the others. I SAID NO.

KICK ME!!!!!

(sends electronic kick thru moniter to parolebear's computer)

I have to say my soul cried a little when i read the end of your story.

 

[bpisler]

1) Near new old school charter arms 44 spl
bulldog with a 3" barrel.150 bucks at a local
didn't look like it had ever been fired.It shots
tight groups with my reloads and i a part
time CCW piece.

2) About 3 years ago i bought a colt offical
police 38spl in great shape for 139 bucks
at a pawn shop.I later found out it had been
made in 1934 and was still a great shooter.
I later sold it to a person who collected old
colts for 375 dollars

3) i save the best for last,i was in a pawn
shop looikg at over priced beat up revolvers.
I saw a S&W 12-3 sitting in a factory box.They
had it priced at 275 dollars.I looked at it more
closely and it appeared to be unfired except
at the factory.There was no hint of a turn line
on the cylinder.It was in the factory box with
papers and tools.I bought it but could never
bring my self to shot it.It was later sold for
425 dollars to a friend.

 

[wnycollector]

I picked up a 1937 S27 K98 for $85 at a gun show last fall! The gun had a paper tag that had it labeled as a yugo mauser! The gun is NOT a russian capture (all waffen eagles intact!) but all the #'s dont match.

 

[Bob79]

Hey, isn't this the revolver section

Anyways, about a year ago I got a S&W 442 (no dash) that was excellent to LNIB for $285 OTD.

 

[cpirtle]

A few weeks ago I picked up a ~1967 S&W Model 19 in near mint condition with no drag line for $240 at Gander Mountain.Kid told me he thought it was a Taurus


I also bought a Stainless Ruger Old Army this year, NIB for $225 at an auction.

 

[Dravur]

3 years ago...

A friend and I were chatting about guns and he showed me a pristine Colt Diamondback with a 4" barrell in .38. Nice gun and he offered to sell it to me for $200. After my heart started, I bought it.

I also picked up my carry gun, an HK P7 for $500 with 5 magazines....I had it hard chromed for another $120

 

[stormwaltz]

My uncle got a sweet .357 Dan Wesson that I've enjoyed shooting recently, believe it came with a holster. It's in mint condition basically, got it for $300 or so because the guy selling it thought that Dan Wesson was a ripoff of a S&W

 

[parolebear]

KICK

Thanks Antihero, I need it 25 years later.

Last September, I bought a in the wrapper Enfield for $75.00 it was 1955 Faz in the wax.

 

[Confederate]

I got two Ruger Security-Six stainless 6-inch FBI Academy commemoratives for $185 apiece (including shipping) back in the early '80s. I wondered what the catch was as both guns came with wooden presentation cases and nice presentation grips. I got both of them in and they looked fine, but when I broke them down, I saw that there light rust on the insides. It was a light coat, but it was all over.

Instead of sending them back to the wholesaler, I sent them to Ruger who had them both back to me in no time spit cleaned and polished. I still have them, as a matter of fact.

 

[XavierBreath]

S&W Model of 1899



This'un don't look like much......but I paid $69 for it.

 

[Colonel Plink]

Got a pristine Security Six for $250 once. Wish I hadn't sold it. The best deal I've gotten so far was a T-99 (7.7 Jap) for $35.00. The stock was all chewed up, so I've been sporterizing it the last few years. I've sunk a total of $75.00 into it and it'll shoot 2" at 100 yards with open sights. Once I get the bolt cut and bent, I'll have it drilled and tapped.

 

[honkeoki]

At the gun show last year I found a S&W 442 for $225. The bluing was worn consistently with lots of carry but there wasn't much of a drag ring. I did the checkout and then stood over the revolver -- held it in my hand -- until the guy running the table sold it to me.

There was no rust. The internals were perfect. It even came with a set of rosewood combat grips.

I traded it on a Kahr p40 covert. Gigantic mistake.

Several months later, I picked up a CZ-75 for $225. The front sight had popped off and someone soldered a replacement on slide. It shot about 5" high at 10 yards. I Dremeled the front sight down and now it's an outstanding shooter.

But I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about that 442...