I cleaned out two file folders of old receipts of guns I no longer own. Before the receipts hit the shredder I'm posting date, dollar amount and fire arm. At the time these guns were purchased, it was not spur of the moment, it was serious money, and I had to ponder the purchase for several minutes. A flash from the past in chronological order:
May 1973 $134 used Remington 700 in 30-06 My first center fire rifle to go deer hunting. In October 1973 I was in Thailand for final year of service.
May 1974 $50 new Winchester M290 semi-auto 22 LR rifle [Thailand BX]
August 1983 $81 new Leupold M8-2x pistol scope mail order from S.A. Wentling Co.
June 1984(?) $345 new S&W M1500 in 222 Remington with varmint weight bull barrel.
August 1984 $318 new Ruger Redhawk 7-1/2" barrel in 357 magnum.
December 1984 $360 new S&W M581 357 magnum ($244) with a BoMar sight rib installed by gunsmith.
The only one I regret selling.
August 1988 $610 new Sig Sauer 9 MM semi-auto pistol (full size)
April 1989 $130 used Remington M1917 Enfield in 30-06 all original including shot out barrel. After new barrel, etc -- a new Rem M700 was cheaper.
October 1989 $398 new Ruger M77 in 280 Remington Express
February 1991 $56 used Remington XP-100 223 Rem, traded Marlin 1894 44 mag lever rifle -- my best gun deal ever, inaccurate rifle for tack driver pistol.
October 1992 $340 sold Rem 1100 12 ga shotgun, MEC 600 loader, hulls, wads, shot.
October 1992 $325 used Remington 600 in .222 Rem with soft case
August 1993 $300 used S&W M459 semi-auto nickeled in 9 MM w/ 2 magazines.
January 1994 $350 used heavy barrel Ruger #1 in 25-06.
March 1994 $400 used S&W M27 8-3/8 barrel
November 1994 $73.45 used British 303 Enfield, manufactured in Long Branch, Canada 1943
February 1995 $318 used S&W M586 6" barrel nickel plated.
July 1995 $652 new Sig Sauer model 226, 9 MM
October 1998 $425 used Ruger #1 in 7 MM Rem magnum.
October 1998 $445 used S&W 686 6" barrel with power port.
December 2004 Free, sold for $425 Springfield 1911-A1 45 ACP, a WW2 tribute pistol I won in a pistol match drawing.