Missmarked by seller

[Leslie Sapp]

Mainegrw's thread about a missmarked gun got me to thinking.

I recently bought at an online auction a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5 x 55 Swedish at considerably less than it should have gone for.

It was marked as "Winchester Model 700 in 6.5 x 700"........

I thought I'd start a thread where others could relate similar anecdotes.

[bigolddave]

Many years ago I went to the only local pawn shop on my lunch hour. This shop always had a lot of guns. They had a K38 in the case, for $75; decent price, but not a steal. I looked closer, and realized it was actually a 38/44 Outdoorsman, just about mint. Couldn't get my checkbook out any faster without setting it on fire! Have seen a lot more the other way over the years.

[JJEH]

A few years ago I was looking for a specific video camera on ebay. I found an auction where a business offered it for considerably less than the going price... it said factory new product and they had several in stock. IIRC the price was $99 instead of $999. Me being a wise guy bought 3 instead of just one. Ebay didn't allow it... but I guess that's different.

[two-bit cowboy]

I love this sort of stuff!

Some sellers ain't seen the football since the kickoff.

I picked up this rusty, worn 3" Baby Chiefs Special for $238.

Serial number 30375, and it shipped in July '53, about five years before model numbers showed up.

Other than the 11 two-digit serial numbered 3" Baby Chiefs that went to Brazil in 1951, it's the lowest known serial number 3" Baby on the forum, and there are only 10 known, period, according to threads from yesteryear.

The title of the seller's ad read, “Smith & Wesson model 36 38S&W spl.”

I guess nobody wanted a rusty Model 36. I've been offered many multiples of what I paid since I cleaned it up a bit. It's my most cherished Chiefs Special, and I have a fair few.

[Absalom]

I found an “old Smith & Wesson M&P” advertised, according to the seller “with the bluing all worn off”. After confirming the serial per e-mail, which still didn’t ring any bell with the seller, I paid an attractive price for an original-finish Victory in good condition

[Rob613]

I have the opposite Victory story that still haunts me...

Wife and I were on a road trip and I stopped at a couple shops along the way. One had a lot of modern black guns with a couple revolvers in a case.

They had a “refinished Model 10” for $199. I knew nothing of SW revolvers at the time. I learned later, as I started my SW education on revolvers, that it was a Victory and recall it being in great shape.

[Dave_n]

I referred to this under a different topic. Saw an old Browning High Power in my LGS that was heavily discounted because it was an Inglis and not a BHP. So I picked up a slightly used Mk 2* for a song. My LGS was not happy when they realized that the same pistol (6 numbers greater) was on the front of the Guns and Ammo "Great Guns" book which they were selling. Dave_n

[deadin]

Garage sale... Not sure just what it was other than some form of a Trapdoor that looked like it had been "sporterized". I figured any 45/70 had to be worth the $200 asked.
(Turned out to be a whole lot better...)



I did have to replace the front sight, tang sight, hammer screw and wiping rod. (I replicated the tang sight and wiping rod from original specs. The front sight is an Axtell copy and the hammer screw is surplus.)

[gregintenn]

I once went to an estate auction. The only mention of anything I was interested in simply read "rifle".
$400 later, I left with a nearly mint pre 64 model 70 Winchester heavy barrel in 220 swift, with original sling and a 12 x Redfield.

[Big Cholla]

It was 1980 and I was in a very small mountain town in SW New Mexico. I had stopped for a bite to eat and to fill up my pickup while returning home from one of our construction jobs. I noticed a small hardware store a few doors down from the cafe so wandered in to see what sort of treasures they had. In a far corner I noticed what was then called a "Lawyer's Chest". It had glass doors over the contents. I looked thru the dirty glass and noticed way in the back what looked like a firearm box. I asked for some help and the lady clerk told me that yes, she believed that there were a couple of new guns in that chest for sale. She and I dug out four S&W boxes that all contained new S&Ws. I noticed that the boxes were dusty and probably had never been opened since being put in the chest. The original price tags were on all boxes and were dated. .... From some 10 years prior. I knew immediately that all those prices were way below that day's price. I asked if the price tags were all still good and the clerk assured me that they were. I bought all four S&Ws. I sold three of them at the next gun show in Phoenix and kept a Model 19-3, 6" bbl. with diamond grips. It also had the target trigger and hammer. I don't recall what I made on the three I sold, but of course now I wish I had just kept them NIB. I also sold the M 19 about 15 years later for a very big profit and have now lived to regret doing that. .... :-(

[Tom K]

I saw a 1917 on Gunbroker with this as part of the description: "Has the King adjustable sights on the rear, was sent to King Sight Co in the 1940's."



It didn't really look like a King conversion to me but I thought I'd go ahead and bid on it. When I lettered it, Roy said this:


When Roy says that something is "rare", that gets my attention. And the S&WHF said this and sent me copies of the documents:


The SCSW says that there were perhaps five Target 1917s built, but discussion on the Forum with Jim Fisher may push that number up to 10 or so. Still pretty uncommon.

[robvious]

went to an auction... no one wanted the old Remington plinkers.. I managed to grab a 572SB Speedmaster smoothbore pump 22 for less than $175... goofy luck

[Ματθιας]

I have two stories.

I was a pawn shop and there was an M1 Garand that had a price tag of $3000. It supposedly had all kinds of custom work done to it - at least that's what the seller told them when it was traded for something else. It was built on a cast Century receiver.

The other one was an early Colt 1911 - also at a pawn shop. It had no finish and judging the patina, it had been without for decades. Anyway, it was priced at $350, and my buddy managed to talk them down to $275 due to condition. It had all kinds of British proof marks.

[steelslaver]

My 455 triple lock was marked as a 1917 45

[LVSteve]

I once came across an online estate auction where every milsurp was described as a Mauser. One of them was, and it went for proper money.

I got an old Finnish warhorse, a Mosin M28 for a ridiculous low bid because of its "been there, done that" stock and I think the local buyers thought the petrified Sisu grease in the barrel was rust. Won on an $85 bid. Shipping and fees were nearly another $60, lol.

I've scored other unusual milsurps at great prices because they were misrepresented in the listing.

[Frank237]

I have bought not one, but TWO three inch M-66's listed as 2 1/2" guns. And amazingly both were priced fairly.

[hittman77]

Small town gun store ..... tag said "Old Model Single Six - $350.00".

It was a .357 Blackhawk flattop with 4 5/8 inch barrel and 5 digit serial number in about 95% condition.

[4T5GUY]

I’ve got a few firearms that were either mis-marked by mistake or ignorance. Magazines are another great thing to find mis-marked cause some just see what they are stated to be and are not interested in that particular mag.

My VERY BEST find was a S&W custom 41, made by an “unknown” maker in Riverside CA. (Research, research, research.)

Yep it was and still is one of the 37-43, (per Jim Merritt,) S&W 41 Field Guns that Bob made. This one he did for his good friend and landlord Dr. David Dixon, (the original designer of the Loveless Davis Fighter.)

Jim

[austintexas]

I picked up a 3 1/2 inch Registered Magnum at a pawnshop, tagged M-28 highway patrolman. Got it for $350 after I haggled him down from $450.
SWCA 892

[Loyaljeeper]

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Two years ago I stopped in a pawn shop in my hometown about 15 minutes from where I currently live. I see a “S&W” tag. At first glance I thought it was marked $899 and thought what I nice honest 19 snubby. I look closer and see that it is actually marked $399. I look it over, it has honest wear, and the moving parts feel like they are on ball bearings they are so smooth. I decide in my head that I’m buying it. I ask the clerk how much. He said, “We can do $339 plus tax and check. We sell the new ones for $399.” He points to a new j frame in the counter for $399. I left with a 1977 Model 19 and they got my $360 dollars.

[hkcavalier]

This was sold locally as a Model 39 for $375 back in 2018.

[Truckin]

I couldn’t decide to go to an estate auction with a lot of guns or to an estate auction with a lot of gas & oil signs, pumps etc. I went to the gas & oil auction and did not see the “usual” gun buyers. There was a Win Mod 12 that the auctioneer said had a sawed off barrel however when I looked at it there was three grooves on the underneath side at the end of the of the barrel and a tiny flaming bomb on the receiver end of the barrel. I got that “sawed” off mod 12 for $210. I also picked up a single shot cap & ball pistol and a few porcelain signs. A very good day.

[gregintenn]

Went to another auction to see what was advertised as an “old revolver”. Turns out it was a Remington Navy cartridge conversion with ivory grips! No finish left, but tight as new. I got it for $150.

[jmace57]

I have one 38/44 HD "Model 10" I got in an online auction for the "Model 10" price.

I also got a M&P Model of 1905 mismarked as a "1902 Model" that was used in the Inter-Allied Games after WW1 for $175.

[Echo40]

Takes me back to my "meticulously reconditioned and refinished" Romanian Surplus Tokarev TTC which was in fact quite worn externally with a bit of surface rust, dirty on the inside, and the included magazine was all rusted out inside.

[tndrfttom]

In the 1990s I was at a local gun show where the dealer was just putting out his guns - mostly new guns but a few trade-ins. On the used gun table they had a Model 27 marked as a Model 15 for, I believe it was, $250. I asked if they were "firm" on the price and was told that was their best price for this early in the show. Needless to say it came home with me at the price they set.

[Drm50]

I went to auction every month, they would have about 500 guns and all kinds of gun misc. The Auctioneer does all the high end stuff and he will put in a trainee after about 4 hrs with his main shill to help run things. The later it gets the less people are there. After 11:00 pm it gets mighty thin.
I was waiting for them to clear out a bunch of cheap knives and get to some loading components. Auctioneer picked up box with one hand saying here’s another box of Late Night Knives. I just happened to see Cold Steel on box. The bid was x number of knives in box. I got bid at .40 cents x 20 some knives. The fun part was the Game Warden for next county north knew those knives were coming up and was sitting there waiting to bid on them. I had no idea they were there. He was hot they didn’t announce the knives as Cold Steel.

[foggbird]

About 1968, I was at a flea market and spotted a Spencer carbine. A kid was manning the booth and said he wouldn't sell it for less than $45 per his father's instructions. I was church mouse poor and only had $25. I found a guy who would take my $20 check and give me $20 in return. I bought it as fast as I could and got out of the flea market before anybody came after me. I still have it.

[Loyaljeeper]

Not a firearm, but three times in my life I have found very desirable Colt or S&W stocks in Hogue, Pachmayr, or Herrett packaging. I was in a pawn shop owned by a man I always liked talking to. I always wanted to buy something but never found anything to buy. I actually pointed out the K frame target grips in Hogue package marked $20. I told the lady working I will happily pay the asking price and tax if they are sure they want to sell them for $20. The old man overheard me, peaked around the corner, and quickly yelled, “Those aren’t for sale.” I proceeded to hand them to him. He said he payed top dollar for those and had a revolver to put them on. He pulled a 19 out of a drawer and unloaded it. I actually helped him put them on his little 19.

[TIMETRIPPER]

I see quit a few mismarked guns at auctions. Best find to date was a 4" 631 that was advertised and marked as a 63-1. It was unfired and had all the goodies. I had to pay what a nice 63 was bringing but it was still about half the price of of a 631.

My British service model triple lock was listed as simply being a 445 hand ejector. It was converted to 45 colt, but my winning bid was still well below the going price.
Both guns had pictures on the auctioneers website that clearly showed their real identity. It pays to look closely!

John

[Richard Simmons]

Early 6” nickel Model 57 with the original cokes and case with accessories was listed at a local auction as a Model 657. It came home with me.

[PALADIN85020]

This takes me back to a flea market in El Paso, Texas in the mid-1970s. My wife and I were looking around, and I spotted a pickup truck with the gate down, and a number of folks from another nation nearby had displayed a lever action rifle. I asked them in broken Spanish what they wanted for the "old rifle." They replied that they wanted $100 for it. I only had $50 on me, so I told them to hold it for me, and I'd be back with the money. I ran frantically around looking for my wife, and when I found her, I asked her to give me $50 and not to ask me any questions!

I went back and gave the fellas their money, walking away with a Model 1873 Winchester carbine in .44-40, engraved, with somewhat worn nickel plating. Its only real defect was that it was missing the action cover (not unusual for these guns); the bore was clean and the action worked perfectly.

I sent off for factory records and found it was not factory engraved, but still it was a pretty decent job.

I set up at a gun show following receipt of the records and brought the gun along. Right next to me was a Winchester collector. He asked me my price, and I told him $900 (worth a lot more in today's money).

He asked me if I'd take $800, I agreed, and didn't regret it; I was not into old Winchesters.

Best deal I ever made in those years!

John

[Buford57]

In 1979 I was dating my current wife and she indicated an interest in taking up deer hunting. I had read the standard Hemingway, et al praise of the 6.5x54, 6.5x55 and .257 Roberts as "lady's rifles". LGS had two 6.5 Arisakas, a crudely shortened late-production fence post for $125 marked as "6.5 J@p" and a reblued, Bishop stocked specimen with a nicely crowned 18" barrel, Lyman front sight and Redfield receiver sight for $65 dollars marked "6.5x.257". Salesman said the lower price was due to the wildcat chambering and no dies available. I bought the nicer, cheaper gun and two boxes of .257 Roberts ammo. While searching the catalogs and Shotgun News for dies (which we used to do before the Internet) I decided to fire form the cases. A .257 Roberts would not chamber. But a 6.5 Arisaka would. Still have the woman, who still has the rifle.

Some of you have seen the post-war 3.5" nickle Pre-27 I used to own. It was purchased for $500 including shipping a few years ago on one of the auction sites, wearing ratty Pachs and marked as simply a "S&W .357 Magnum" which, ironically, was NOT a mismark, but apparently obscured its identity as something other than a 27-2, 19-3 or other more common item.

Cleaned up and lettered it was just too nice to keep and I converted it into a 25-5 and a BHP.

[panther]

A few years back I was in a pawn shop and looked at their shotguns. They had one that had been painted with a flat green paint. I could see that it was a semi auto 12ga. I could just barely read the Winchester name on the barrel. It was marked at $89. I got it, and decided to strip the paint off it. I figured at $89, It was worth the risk. Under that paint was a very nice Win model 50, pre 64 serial number, good bluing on the metal, nice walnut stock.

[gregintenn]

Another estate auction...this was advertised as a 308 rifle. I didn't really know what it was when I had the high bid of $150.
After getting home and doing some googling, it was a Santa Fe M59. Probably not a true prize, but worth multiples of my high bid.

[hkcavalier]

Originally Posted by gregintenn

Another estate auction...this was advertised as a 308 rifle. I didn't really know what it was when I had the high bid of $150.
After getting home and doing some googling, it was a Santa Fe M59. Probably not a true prize, but worth multiples of my high bid.

At $150 I'm assuming this auction was about 40 years ago?

[DWalt]

Sometime back in the mid-1980s, I went to a general auction in Midland TX. One item that came up was a big relic-condition C&B revolver, missing stocks. I didn't get a chance to examine it closely before it came up but I was pretty sure of what it was. I went ahead and bid on it and got it for, as I remember, around $200. It was a real Colt Walker and the markings were still legible. Got a fairly nice condition trapdoor Springfield at the same auction for not much more than that, and a fairly roachy Winchester 73 rifle in .32-20 with the bore rusted out. I sold the Walker a couple of years later for around $1500 at the Fort Worth gun show. I thought that was OK for a rusty relic, but I sort of wished I had kept it. Would probably be worth a lot more than $1500 today. I sold the 73 at a San Antonio gun show for about double what I paid. I still have the trapdoor Springfield.

[H Richard]

A few years ago I was looking for a Mod 39. As I roamed through an on-line gun business, I saw several Mod 39's. Not knowing if I would like one as much as I thought I would, I elected to looking at the lower priced ones. This store was pretty proud of most of it's guns, but this one didn't have a box but looked to be in really nice condition so I went for it, and it was old enough it was C&R eligible so it could ship to my door. It came looking even nicer than I thought and listed in to Roy for a shipping date. He responded with the date and a "This one is interesting, you should letter it", comment. I did, and it was by S/N in the area of the steel frames, but was an alloy frame and a single gun purchase by the Swedish Air Force as a test gun. As I was inspecting it it had no indication of ever having been fired. It had no re-import marks anywhere. It was so nice I decided not to shoot it, and a couple years later sold it for about double what I had paid for it, and still gave the buyer a good price on it.

[jamestx]

I got off GB a few years ago an RPB Sm11A1 Open Bolt MAC for a steal! $400 it was marked as Cobray 380 which is a different mfg and a closed bolt m12 380. An RPB open bolt is rare , rarest of the 3 made
In 1981 before the ATF stopped there production basically a well placed dime or a Quick file job on minutes makes them full auto. Avg price $1500-$2k year I’d say I stole it at $400.

[Glashaus]

The two 4” Heavy Duties that I have were both miss marked.

One was listed as a M10 M&P, the other was marked as a .38 Special S&W, Model 516-1, that was the assembly number on the crane. Both these were on GB auctions by different sellers.

[Dieseltech56]

I got my K22 from 1948 marked and priced as model 17

[brucev]

Once upon a time I went into a pawn shop looking for some Plymouth hubcaps. On the floor behind the sales counter was a pile of rifles. Out of the pile stuck the muzzle of a K-98. I thought it'd make a good rain gun. Bought it for $200 OTD. On my birthday. Got home. Took it apart. All matching number down to the capture screws, stock, etc., etc. A few years later it paid for a semester of college for one of my daughters.

When into a bait shop to buy some worms. In the rack was a little short barrel left-handed bolt action rifle that I didn't recognize. Turned out to be a Sako in .30-06 Springfield. Iron sights. 99% finish. Bought it for less than a used Remington. Hunted with it for a few years. Extremely accurate. Then my brother told me what I had. Did some looking around. My brother was right. Sold it to finance another semester of college. Praise the Lord!!! Sincerely. bruce.

[GypsmJim]

I went in Gander Mountain and saw a .357 marked as a Model 27. It looked unfired but it had a trigger shoe jnstalled. Looking at the crane and verified that it was a pre-27.

$295.

I couldn't get out my CC fast enough. The clerk said there was a problem with the trigger and that's why it was so cheap.

When inputting it into the cash register / computer the clerk said there was a problem. He suggested I let it go. I said no. I'll wait till it gets resolved. After an hour and a half they agreed to release it.

I suspect it was really $1295 but mismarked.

A year later I got a pre-14 there for $195. A good 95% and shoots like a dream.

They went out of business a year later.

[Redcoat3340]

I've had lightening strike twice: Once in a pawn shop with a Swedish Lahti I traded for a modestly nice Star Super B; and on Gunbroker where I found a S&W 38 special that was indeed a 38 special...on a .44 cal N frame. Nice shooter grade 38/44 for cheap.

I'm still look'n for one more.

[BAM-BAM]

couple come to mind...........


Smith & Wesson 9mm (one of the first 1600) marked as a Model 39 $300

3 inch Model 66 marked as a "S&W 66 .357" $320

Registered Magnum " S&W .357" $325

Awhile back....... but all in the 21st century!!!

A couple of my favorites;Two Beretta 92SB (round trigger guard) Compact Type-M (single stack). Italian guns w/ bright blue finish and walnut grips each had 3 or 4 mags ..... both as new in box... same local gunshop about a year apart,

Paid around $300 each ........ BBQ gun's

[Shark Bait]

This was advertised as a S&W .357 combat magnum with 3 1/2 inch barrel made in the 70s. The price was $626 firm.

[raljr1]

I did a fair amount of business at a local pawn shop. Mrs and I were in there one day and she was looking at diamonds to set into a new ring....i spotted a very pretty side by side shotgun on the wall. I looked at it while he showed her stones. Meanwhile, I called one of my employees and asked him to look up Simpson-Suhl...The pawn broker had the price at $399, and turned to me and said, Bob, I'll put that back for you." I replied, no, how much...he took $349. I took the gun to a gunsmith to do a better job with the fit of the recoil pad, and he offered me $1000 for it.....i declined....it may be the prettiest gun I own, and I still have it.

Robert

[Marshal Too Sweet]

About 5 years ago I was in a local Pawn Shop just looking, when I spotted a 1911 in the used gun case. I asked to look at it and it was a Colt Gunsite CCO in 45acp, that looked like new. The price was $500 with a zippered Gunsite case and 5 magazines. I asked what was bottom dollar and the lady said they didn't know much about the model, wasn't sure it was a real Colt. The frame and slide both had the Colt markings and the original Gunsite grips, not sure where they came up with this notion. She checked with the Manager and he said get our money back. $350 out the door, been my carry gun most days since. Probably my best buy !

[OLDSTER]

My best deal ever on a mis-marked gun. About 4 years back, a local guy had this for sale in the want ads. A friend tipped me off, and I nearly wrecked the car getting to the sellers house. It was advertised as a "S&W snubnosed revolver-no longer needed". So for $275.00 I brought home this mint "Model of 1953" Early Chiefs Special ( 4 screw), with matching grips". I doubt I'll ever top that one.

[David.Hylton]

I was in Cabela's a couple of years ago. They had had a used Remington 1911 in the case. I bought it and ended up with an excellent condition U.S. GI 1911 with a Remington Rand slide on a Colt Frame. It was less than 1/2 price of the CMP 1911s and the arsenal refinish was perfect.