So, as the title states, I recently purchased an 18-3 in very, very nice condition. But the best part of this purchase is that I got this little jewel for $200. The guy who sold it to me got it from his dad just before he died and had absolutely no clue as to it's value or quality. He told me he wanted to sell it, I asked him how much, he said is $200 to much, I handed him the money and walked away smiling ear to ear.

Yep, I don't usually run into great deals very often, got lucky this time.

The only place where the blueing is rubbing off it a tiny area near the muzzle. Very light turn line, grips are fine, it's probably 95%.
Here's a pic next to my M66. For some reason I'm having problems posting the pic. I'm guessing I have to have posted "X" number of posts before being allowed to post pics?

Congratulations on your purchase and luck.

Welcome to the forum

I hope this seller was not a friend, because you stole the gun

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

We've had these threads before and I have typically taken the high road. If you knew what it was worth, I sort of think it was only right to help educate that fella. Deals are everywhere, but somehow doesn't feel right when it is on the back of someone who just doesn't know. I guess that to me there is just a fundamental difference between getting a great deal and just plain taking advantage of someone who doesn't know.

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

There always seems to be at least one.

Clarify? If you're referencing me, I'm good with that. What the OP did, just plain isn't right. I'm a full on capitalist by every stretch of the term, but I also carry a belt load of integrity and me teaching someone about the hobby we all hold dear is worth way more than a "deal".

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

This day and time information is so easy to obtain. If the guy had done just a little research he could have more money in his pocket. Is it our job or duty to educate him?
To be honest I'm a little torn on a situation like this. I understand what mod34 is saying but where do you draw the line.
My luckiest buy ever was an original 5" 44 Magnum found on a table full of S&Ws that a guy was selling at a gun show. I got it at an unbelievable price. Most the other guns were priced as expected. Should I have told him he had it priced way to low?
Now if it's some widow that's trying to sell her husband's gun...

Tend to agree with you, on the other hand the son's eagerness to sell his Dad's gun mitigates to some degree my sympathy for him. My Dad never owned a gun, wish he had, I'd cherish it and never sell it, and pass it along to son/grandsons.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

1) Yes it is our responsibility to teach.

2) I can't hold the fact that it was his dad's against him. I have a good few of my dad's, but they hold no memory for me. We didn't hunt with 'em, collect them or even discuss them. They "existed" not to be touched, fondled and/or spoken of. Those hold no "nostalgia" for me. Will I sell 'em, likely not, but not because of "ownership" provenance. I'm not being rude, but it is simply because he and I didn't share a memory of any of 'em.

3) If one gets a deal at a gun show, NICE SCORE and likely very well earned! Entirely different scenario.

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

Who are we to judge? The seller had a wealth of information available with a quick search if he wanted. IMHO not the buyers job to educate him. Guessing both parties were fine with the transaction.

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Pass it on.
Mark

OK. Maybe 5-6 years ago I had 2 garage sale guys looking mostly for jewelry/silver sets/coins. I had an agreement to bump their purchase price on any "hunting supplies" same day, or if too expensive, run, get it and give a finder's fee. Went well for a few years. One deal was maybe 30 miles away. An original S&W ".44 magnum", "coke grips", in the "clamshell" case. Widow wanted $250 because it "was like new." I raced over but another guy I know beat me to it, paid the $250 and sold it for $800 same day. I could have paid $600 and sold it quick for $2500 (way more today). For the life of me I can't see the right or wrong in any of this. Business is business, some win some lose. Bob and his buyer won, me and the "widderwoman" lost although she never even knew it. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Well there’s more than just one, happen to agree with you mod34.

Now, having said that, it’s absolutely none of my business.

As to the guy being able to find the value with a simple Google search, that’s just not completely true. Many, many people don’t even have enough basic knowledge to know what they are reading. And therefore unable to accurately consider the sliding scale of values based on manufacturer, condition, accessories, caliber, rarity, age...and many more factors.

Just my two cents...If it were a friend of mine, and the same circumstances, we would have a conversation of the estimated value of the gun, and then we could talk about friend pricing. But that’s just me, and I wouldn’t risk ruining a friendship for a couple of hundred bucks.

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Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672

I don't see anything about a friend.

I didn’t either, just my assumption based on the circumstances, family knowledge, knowing the guy knew nothing about guns, etc.

Could be completely wrong, just an opinion.

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Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672

FWIW: Many years ago, a patient walked into my office asking if I was interested in "a plastic rifle, in .22 lr. It says Remington, but it may as well say Mattel. Looks like a toy. I don't want it or need it. Is it worth $50.00 to you?" Hoping it might be Nylon 66, I told him I was interested. He goes out to his car and returns with a Nylon 66 wrapped in a plastic trash bag. I told him what it was, and it was worth more than what he was asking. He looked annoyed (I had know him for years) and asked if I wanted it or not. Sometimes you have to learn when to take "yes" for an answer.

Well, I think folks are gonna do what they do, but I don't think braggin' about getting one over on somebody ought to be one of those "do's."
Like the smart kids say, YMMV.