So what have you let slip through your fingers? Here are a few of my missed moments.

Steyr GB - Buddy with an FFL back in the early to mid 1980's picked up a couple of the parkerized versions, NIB out of Shotgun News. Don't recall what he wanted for one but had him order me a Colt Series 80 GM instead. Cost me $385, all in for the Colt which was a pretty good price as I recall. Still got the Colt but kinda wish I'd opted for the Steyr.

Rogak P18 - Fast forward a few decades and I run across one of these things, LNIB. I knew their history but it must have been my regret about not getting the GB when I had the chance. Finally decided to go for it but when I went back to the store it was gone.

Star PD - Always wanted one and finally found a blued model with wood stocks, LNIB. IIRC the guy at the gun show wanted around $400. Thought about it all day Saturday, went back to the show on Sunday but it was gone. Still looking for another one.

Colt Python Target - Not that long ago I ran across one of these in a local shop. Very nice shape with a price of $800. Wasn't familiar with it, in fact wasn't aware they made a Python in .38 Special. Went home and did some research and found out that not only was it legit but being bright nickel it was one of only 251 made. It too was gone before I got back.

M1941 Johnson rifle - My father and I were in western Oregon in 1978 and saw one of these in a little trading post type store with a price of $450. Thought it was interesting and told my dad I was thinking about getting it. He said something along the lines of, "what are you going to do with an old Army rifle?" I always listened to my dad growing up. In this instance I wish I hadn't.

So those are my regrets, what are yours?

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BCCI Life Member #2068

A SIG P210 (newer German production models). This one had a silver finish. Thought it would always be there on the website, then it was sold.

The stupidest trick I ever pulled was at a small show in WVA. A
guy had a boxed pair of English dbl. shotguns, 410g. / docs
tools and cleaning kit. The were very plain guns but excellent
shape. He wanted he wanted $1800. I didn't buy, thought about
all night and drove back down to be there when they open.
He had sold 1 gun and case for $1000, put me down in the jaws
and didn't by the survivor either. That was 10 yrs ago and I still
kick myself over it.

Ugh....lot's and all cheap too.

Two or three 25-2s

Two or three Browning Hi Powers

27-2, 57 & 29-3 8 3/8"

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

I have only one I can think of and it is enough that I remember it but I can't bring myself to term it a "regret." Big gun show probably 5+ years ago now, seller had a S&W 547, 4", minty with original box and a price tag of $400 I think, and that was negotiable. I found it odd and interesting but only as a curiosity... didn't seem like something I would get a lot of joy out of, so I passed.

These days I find their market prices to be inflated, the raw numbers don't make them "rare" in the way I would use the term "rare." If I actually had bought that one back then... I suspect my biggest joy today would be in selling it at the market price.

I would typically end my post here -but- the original post ended with the word "regret." My biggest regret in my life with firearms is one I detailed in this thread:
S&W Mod 52: my biggest regret in handgunning

ONLY 1 THAT STILLS HITS HOME! Don't remember the technical Model it was. Here we go. Hand ejector. N frame. 44 Special. 4". Can't remember the sights. Model of 1926, or 1950? Service stocks. At the local show some years back. Older gentleman had it at a table. Believe it was priced at $650. It was nice condition for it's age. I did not have that much money. I looked at it again. He asked me if I noticed anything. Looked again, and someone scratched in (deeply) SS# by the side of the stock on the frame. Still thought about it, and offered him ALL the money I had including change. It was $556.00. He said yes, and lo & behold, I felt that I could not live with it like that. Passed. I was "STUPID", and still should have done it. Maybe target stocks would have hidden it. MY ONLY GUN REGRET! Bob

1) The 3953s that were cheap at CDNN about 10 years ago.

2) Any H&K P7 that I saw for under $900.

3) The $550 Garand I looked at in a gun store.

4) A Mosin PEM sniper at an auction I thought was a fake, but was real and sold cheap.

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Release the Kraken

There's a LH Mauser 3000 in 243 out there that I sold.
I think it was the only one I ever actually saw in person and I have no clue why I sold it.
I also traded-sold through not 1 but 2 in 375 H&H.
But it's the 243 that I wish I had back.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Nothing grand or extravagant, but I saw a Ruger Redhawk in 41 mag with a 5 1/2" barrel. Looked brand new and the guy was asking $400. I had the cash with me but talked myself out of buying it. Got home and thought about it and went back the next day to buy it. Gone.

5905 - yesterday

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

Lot's of guns that got away. One of the biggest regrets is the 686 Mountain Gun. Could've bought one shiny new for $425 when they came out, instead I suffered a rare attack of fiscal responsibility and refrained from buying it. Dumb!!!

Other lapses in judgement involved the 696ND, 66 snub, 65-3 3", 1911 with USMC provenance, 1941 Johnson, 629-2 Mountain Revolver, Colt Diamondback....

Man, now I'm really depressed. Think I'll go look at all the guns I did buy to cheer myself up.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

I have the mother of all "guns that got away" stories. I had a sponsor a few years back getting me into the world of national .22 bench rest shooting. He did great things for me including offering to sell me a Remington 40X with a Shillen barrel and a Timney trigger and a custom stock. It was built and tuned by a world class rifle builder. And the price - $1000. That rifle was easily worth 3X that amount and more. Probably it would have gone for about $3500 on the open market.

But it was just after Christmas and I had spent all my spending money on presents for the family. I asked if I could wait a bit and get one (he had 5 of them at the time) and he said sure. When I got back to him he said he had sold 4 and his rifle had messed up so he had to use the last one. Bye bye dream rifle.

I took the money I had for that rifle and bought a very nice Savage 12 LRPV .223 with a Target Accutrigger (much better than a normal Accutrigger - adjustable down to 6 oz.). That rifle shoots as good as any I've ever seen. The local gun club is ate up with them when it comes to their 600 yard competition. I know why. Mine will consistently shoot about a 5" group at 500 yards if the wind isn't bad. I waited like 3 years go get into that gun club and when I was talking to the range master when I finally got the call to sign up he asked me about what I wanted to do there. I told him I wanted to shoot in that 600 yard competition. He asked what rifle I would be using and when I told him I heard him sigh. He told me nearly every shooter there that was winning anything was using that same rifle. He knew it meant more competition for him.

So even though I missed out on a world class bench rest rifle I ended up with another great rifle. But it was about a third of the price of that 40X. Still price isn't everything. I like the rifle I got. But I certainly did let a whopper get away.

Not many. For the most part I have a short attention span and once the object is gone it's forgotten! However, I do have a morbid fascination with Mauser C96. Don't run into them often but when I do they're either too high priced for me or if they're affordable I have to go home and do research to make sure I'm not getting someones lemon. This has led to a few lost chances.

Possibly the batch of HK P7s my LGS got in about 6 years ago. All priced at $775. It was a small import batch from somewhere I forget. They were all this weird almost OD green park finish.

Everything else I'm kinda meh on. If it's gone it's gone

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

S&W Registered Magnum

A set of 6" Colt Pythons NIB's

Another Colt Series 70 Gold Cup

A Marlin (original) .38-55 in excellent shape

A 12 Gauge Midas Grade Browning Superposed

To make up for these that "got away", I've also got a longer list of the ones I didn't let get away

Mint Series 70 Gold Cup National Match just last week. The price was so reasonable I'm embarrassed to post it

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John

A 3" Model 65 LadySmith..... cus of the "LadySmith"

I had a choice between a Ruger Mk. I pistol and a Beretta 70s in .22LR.
Geoff
Who took the Ruger...now the Beretta 70s is very expensive and I traded off the Ruger and a Single Six Stainless convertible for a Ruger Mk. II T514 bull barrel.

I hope that wasn't recently! I have no problem with that logo. Those things are sweet looking.

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Because of the metric system?

A Webley-Fosbury automatic revolver in .455 several years ago for $250.00.

I may have told this before-

I passed on a pristine .22 Diamondback for 6 bills at a gunshow, trying to beat him down $50 bucks.
3 months later, that same Colt was still there. At $750! My pride wouldn't let me, but I probably shoulda snagged it at that price too.
There are a few others, but I've survived. That Colt still haunts my dreams, though....

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Because of the metric system?

no about 15 years ago........ I decided the next trip through that small town I'd buy it........ the FFL was killed in a car wreck...shop never reopened... no idea what happen to the inventory

Too many painful memories to list here. One in particular.

This LeFever 16 gauge I photographed for work. It was a someone's special order gun from Lefever with no grade stamp. It had characteristics of E and F grade guns with other special touches. The barrels were sound, it was tight as a tic , light and had good stock dimensions.

The price was right but I had already purchased a firearm that month and I would have really blown my gun buying budget so I passed and let it hit the shelf. It was gone the next day. I should have spent the money.

I regret to this day not buying that LeFever.

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Bill Bates

The year is 1968. Phil Kogler, an area antique gun dealer, showed me a cased (O&L) Holland & Holland Model Deluxe 450/400 double rifle made in 1904. The rifle was in superb condition. Mr. Kogler was asking $2000.00 for it. If you feel queasy now, I offered $1300.00 - and he accepted my offer.

Since I wanted to use it, I looked for ammunition. I found it only as collectible, at $6-10.00 per cartridge.

Thirteen hundred dollars would have cleaned me out, and with ammunition so expensive that I could not afford to shoot it, I backed out of the deal.

Decades later, I identified a nearly identical rifle selling for $65,000.00. A few years after that - for $85,000.00.

I have not viewed any cased (O&L) Holland & Holland Model Deluxe or Royal Grade double rifles since.

I'm confident that in the history of poor gun-buying decisions, mine finishes in no worse than second place.

I also regret not buying a Model 65 Lady Smith.
Nothing brings out my soft Feminine side like a 357 Revolver!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Ruger #1 in 444
Ruger #1 in 6 mm
Marlin 39
Old Remington Fieldmaster 22

Just couldn't get off my wallet and they were gone

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

Ya, I held out hope for a 65NL........ heck I had a 3913NL....... was sure S&W would follow suit on the 65 LadySmith................................with a 65NL.... knew they would sell like hotcakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back in early 70s I use to drink a couple every night on the way
home in a little bar that's main customers were people from the
office buildings nearby. I had a Hawes SA 44 mg/ western rig
In a sack to show to a guy that was interested in it. Meanwhile
one of the other regulars came it, we were BSing about guns and
he ask to see it. He ask me if I would take trade, he had a 45
auto Army revolver he didn't want. Being a know it all at 21yr
I told him it had to be a 1911 or a 1917 revolver. We went back
and forth, he was aggravated that I thought he didn't know what
he had. He went home after it, a Webley Fosebrry 455. He was
so peeved he won't trade. I was aware of this guns existence but
it never dawned on me that was what he had. This is only one
that I ever ran across and if I hadn't been a know it all would have had it for a Hawes. Live & Learn.

When I was young and poor, I passed on many guns in the 70s and 80s that are worth a fortune now. Sigh..I thought fighting my whims was a good idea. I could have bought a "Honey West" model Hi-standard and a "Shell Scott" Colt Cobra but I felt silly and I already had a "Mike Hammer" 1911 and a "Matt Helm" Model 38. (see I got a S&W in there somehow)
Geoff
Who is older but no wiser...

Too many to relate, one that just came to mind was a Colt 1911 circa 1919, for 400 bucks. About 25 years ago.

If you were around in 50s & 60s you will realize that most average people didn't have a lot of disposable income. A candy
bar was a Nickle and a gallon of gas was 19cents. A dollar was
worth a dollar. Then in early 60s incomes started to rise, people
had some mad money. At the same time gun companies were
coming out with magnums and other "state of art" stuff in the
gun world. The older guns and lots of WW2 bring homes were
used as trade ins on the new stuff. The guns that are collectors
items now were just old stuff back then. Many of the military guns had little or no value. They were in barrels like axe handles
for $10@. This just didn't apply to guns, think of the things
people collect now. A lot of it was unwanted old stuff, discarded
to get the latest on the market. This was the period in history
that would have been the best time to gather up things that are
really hi dollar now. Has no comparison for passing up a deal on
a run of the mill item for $100 less than average price. In 1970
a Colt 1911 could be had for $100, now $800 ? This has more to
do with the value of the dollar than the value of the gun. Now
look at the value of a GI issue 1911. Would have been hard to get
$50 out of one in 1970- but now a "collector's item" and go for
big bucks.

Dang I thought I missed out when I had to pass up a rifle that was priced $2500 less than it should have been. Holland And Holland stuff is all crazy expensive now if you can find it at all.

That much was true where I grew up but people found a way to buy the guns they wanted. I saw more expensive guns in the early 60's than I've seen since except maybe in the gun library at Cabelas. We had probably the only real trap machine within 200 miles when I was a kid. Dad bought it for a specific reason expecting to sell it after he used it a while. He didn't lose any money on it but he sure attracted shotgun shooters from far and wide. Many of them brought two shotguns. One was for shooting and the other was for showing off. I saw a lot of Italian shotguns especially that were worth $2000-$3000 in 1960's money. I think they all belonged to guys who weren't married and had no kids. But they always laid them on our kitchen table while they shot at our trap range in the back yard. I could handle them all I wanted as long as I didn't touch the metal. No one wanted to find their prize shotgun rusted from skin oil which happens more often than people think. I've seen guns rust from people carrying them around for 15 minutes. But anyway there were some people who had really nice guns in the early 60's. It might have gone back into the late 50's too. I don't know exactly when it was. I was really young but I've loved nice shotguns ever since then.

About 12 or 13 years ago, I bought a pair Bren Ten Marksman Specials from a guy in NY. About two weeks later, I get an e-mail from the same fellow wanting to sell a consecutively numbered set of Bren Ten Special Forces Lights for $3,500. I told him I would get back to him if I could put the required cash together. E-mailed him the next morning to tell him I had put the funds together and they were gone. About 10 years ago at a gun show, I passed on a four screw Pre-M29 8 3/8" in about 98% condition for $475 but no presentation case. Another slick move on my part. If you do this to any extent for any amount of time, you'll have one or two of these episodes of cranial-rectal inversion.

Bruce

I'm like Arik - once its gone I don't really think about it. Except........

About 2005 a small shop in Twin Falls had a 4" .38 Special Colt New Service with the USIBP marking on the backstrap. It was one of the guns my favorite psycho Charlie Askins had procured for the Border Patrol and personally sighted in by bending the front sight to or fro with a set of vice grips.

It was $1100, and I had this much (imagine me making a big ZERO with my fingers) in the gun fund. It would have to be a trade, and this guy was heartless. I had a Colt New Frontier and a very nice Remington 40X on the counter, with 1076 in reserve. He probably would have gone for all three, but I came to my senses and slunk out with my guns. It was gone a week later.

The only other one I still remind myself of was a Son Of Sam Charter .44 with the original grips at a notorious gougers in Farmington, NM. It was marked $250 and I think the novelty of seeing a decent price threw me. I went home, ate a sandwich, came back, and it was gone.

Other than those, I adopt the Doris Day approach: Que sera, sera.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

A lot of guys let their egos get in the way of an already fair deal. I never understood that, but I guess some feel cheated if a seller doesn't want to haggle or they simply want something for nothing. I've never regretted letting one go because of asking price or a seller unwilling to haggle. I did talk myself out of a wood lottery full tiger stripe turkish walnut CZ455FS, though, because I couldn't justify another .22. I came to my senses and went back a week later to buy it...yeah, you know how that story ends.

I was going to post a couple of mine but after reading about the H&H Double Rifle, I don't feel so bad anymore. Thanks.

In the early 70's was looking at a Colt Series 70 1911 in 38 Super and a Browning Hi-Power 9mm, both NIB. Gun shop owner said he'd sell either one for $125. Bought the Colt, should've bought both.

In the mid 70's, had a chance to buy a Ruger M77 in 270, NIB, already drilled & tapped for scope rings, for $180. First kid was on the way, decided to be responsible.

A few years back, had a chance to pick up a prime Springfield 03 for $600. Waited too long. The seller died, so did the deal.

Back in the early 80s, I could have bought Steyr AUGs for $450 all day long.....including the LH bolt conversion. I won't even go to where I let Lew Horton and other special editions go because I didn't know better......

I always say this,,,,

If you want it and you finally find one, the price is right, you better jump on it. At a gun show ask if you can pick it up to look at it and never put it down. The crowd will form around you as your looking. If you set it down someone else may pick it up. Trust me, trust no one.

I carry two plastics one I use regularly and pay it off monthly and one is paid off that's my gun card. I never held a gun I didn't like to own. First I need a reason to buy it.

On this forum, a NIB 19-5 4", complete with box and everything that came in it. I said "I'll take it" and he came back with, "just sold it".

Stu

4040 PD with 2 mags I stoped bidding at $350 still kicking myself, guy got it for $400

1972 , Dirty Harry had hit the screen and I wanted a 44 Magnum.
Hard to find one then. Spotted a 4 5/8 inch barreled Ruger Blackhawk in the dealers display case, down low, Tag was partly hidden by another tag on top but I saw the a 4* *** *agnum ! Oh yeah..44 Rem Magnum ..had to be..****n home , get cash, return .....dealer takes it out and it says 41 Rem Magnum....I'm crushed and tell the owner " I don't want it "...those words still haunt me to this day.
The model 58 in my Avatar didn't get away...I learned real fast just what a 41 magnum was , and how well it can do things ...but never did get a chance to get another 41 Ruger ...Opportunity doesn't knock twice !
Gary

A transferable ER Maples M2HB priced 15% under market by my estimate. Lost the ourchase while running the sellers FFL number through the national licensing center for some due diligence. It was less than ten minutes. About ten months later transferables had almost doubled in value. This was back in 2005.

There have been plenty over the years that I regret not buying but only a few that I owned and let get away.
1. 6" S&W 686 that my brother just had to have... he doesn't even remember what he traded it off for.
2. S&W model 60, gave it to same brother years ago. At least he still has that one. I just wish that I still had it.
3. Colt New Service .38-40. Sold it to buy a Luger, which turned out not to be as much fun to have and shoot as I thought it would be. Traded it for a Colt Commander which is fun to own and shoot. (Should have kept the NS).

I have never sold a gun, so nothing to regret there. I have passed on a few that I sort of wished I had bought, but the only one that rankles was that CZ82 that I thought $240 was too much for.

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Not in jail.

Few years ago I passed on a Colt Python stainless 6" barrel. For $250 I was pretty sure it was stolen.

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Isaiah 41:10

all of those $300 nib pythons I owned in the 1980's and especially this


had 200 in it and sold it for 1500 at a Louisville show late 90's
the guy who has it now wants a lot more than 1500 for it

also I had a berretta double 20 worked on by a couple of artisans friend in Florida, who's shop was known as old dominion gun works both are long gone by now , I set the gun on a table at the Dothan Alabama gun show a couple years later just to be a traffic stopper, and I put a price on it that I never dreamed someone would pay , I was wrong

I learned then not to put a price on something you did not want to sell

My most holy grail an M1941 johnson -- so many stories I used attend a regional gunshow guy lugged one around the SE for 4 years ( 2010) he never lowered his asking price He WANTED $3500. I attended a show he was at right before Christmas I had $2950 Cash I mentioned that he had carried it around for over 4 years to my knowledge I said it was my offer ( i could have kicked up another $100 with buddies ) He was firm at his $3500. anyway I quite going to shows about then .
A friend of mine attended a show in 2016 same guy same gun same $3500.
We laughed when my buddy told me BUT I bet he is still Lugging it around !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My most holy grail
To my research the JOHNSON was only issued to the USMC at the Canal and then removed from service
But at 65 yo I am not comming upon another one and It can rest

Another that got away BIG TIME ; I was really into Civil War pieces and was chasing a Brooklyn Firearms one on GB It had like 4 hours left .
I checked a local posting board and a guy had posted a COLT HAMERLESS in 380 with Pearl grips for $450 --------- I said I would look at it when the Brooklyn closed ----------- Well the Brooklyn went through the roof ,way beyond my plans .I called the guy with the 380 colt He said the gun had sold in 1 hour and he was actually working in my town and sold it there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ECCCCCCCCCCCCCCH

When I was in my late teens and early 20s I was ate up with Colt.

There was a pawn/gun so outside the Main gate to the Army base. He got more nice guns than one could count when guys pawned them a let them go.

I was into anything Colt, black powder and Winchester. In formation was harder to come by.


There were GIS that were finishing their 30 years and had done ww2 and Korea

I decided I wanted a S W large frame in 357.he had 2 that came out of pawn, he told I did not want those old long action Smiths. I passed, could have bought both for less than a higher patrolman.

Shortly thereafter a friend who collected Smiths really got on me for passing up 2 registered magnums.

Sadly this was the last ones I saw for sale. I've passed on quite a few other guns do to no extra money


At Tulsa one spring I was on fire, if you're lucky it happens once in your life.

I was using and turning for profit at warp speed.

I ended up with a Westley Richards heavy duck double.
I found 2 H& H guns, a Badminton SS in q2 and a large Mauser actions one in 375 H H.

The guy had owned them a long time said he had a small gun shop out on the hihj plains. He should not have traded for them. He wanted guns every day folks used or cash.

I could have traded some of the guns I had under our table and should have. This was Saturday. I hit the for running again. Trading for guns he mentioned. I was on a roll a hit it early Sunday am. I had picked up enough to get them by adding part of the cash I made. When I got to his table it was empty and he was gone. He told me he would be there till 3.

I asked the guy at the next table if he's stl at the show. He said he wasn't getting any lookers and left early

In hindsite I should have gone back Sat we've discussed my plan.

I had them in my hands, all I had to do was trade my good stuff. This happens when one gets greedy.

As you can tell I've never forgotten nor will I get over it.