A 6904 for $225. An ex-LEO brought in a box of handguns the local G/S to sell. They E-mailed me and I got over there in time to miss a deal on a M-59 but bought the 6904. Broke it down to clean and it looked like it had never been fired. Put about 400 rounds thru it since and it has become one of my favorites.

I feel my best buy was a NIB S&W Model 64-3 3 inch barrel still with the tools wrapped in plastic and the original warranty card.
It letters to Boston Police Dept and is marked BPD-13 (lucky 13)
I was telling a dealer at a local gun show that I collect BPD Boston Police guns and a guy overheard me and offered to sell me his new in box model 64. It was never issued and never shot. I got it for $300, this was last year.
The problem is I can never shoot it, but to solve that I got another M64 BPD marked, was in same shipment as BPD13, this one is BPD85 got it from a forum member.
Oh to the forum members if you have any of those nasty Glocks or Colts that are BPD or Boston Police marked contact me and I can help you get rid of them

Two come to mind. 1990, Ruger SP101 22LR for $100.00 at a gun show in HI. Honolulu gun range had a table full of them (rental guns, that were being replaced). I wish I had the money to buy a dozen of them, but I was a PFC and broke, so I only got one.

The second is a North American Arms 22LR for $1.00 last year. One of my supervisors hated it and knew I was/am a "gun nut" so she sold it to me for a buck.

S&W Model 31 in prestine condition for $50.00. It belonged to the father of a fellow worker. His wife did not want a gun in the house so he asked if I would give him $25 for it. I told him that it was worth much more and to see what he could get at a gun store. He said that he didn't want the hassel so we settled on $50.

My RIA stainless 1911. Got it $100-$150 (depending on who's selling) cheaper than retail/other second hand sales.

4566 with night sights, extra brand new recoil spring, and three magazines plus factory box for $400.00

again not a smith but i bought a luger 1906 american eagle fat barrel in probably 95% condition for $600, i had no idea what it was worth, so i thought i would go out on a limb and pay that much because i liked the eagle on the receiver

My best buy was a Winchester Model 57 I paid $20.00. I waited two years until I was legal to purchase the rifle. I checked every week to see if the local hardware store still had it for sale. I think the owner saved it for me until I was old enough. It is hard to find people like that anymore.

My buddy has that same 4566 gun and he added the Hogue grips. It was a huge improvement.

Dan Wesson 15T with 6" barrel and Hogue grip. Paid about $300 for it brand new.

This gun has the sweetest trigger right out of the box. I'll be stunned if I ever find a nicer or more accurate hand gun.

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Freedom isn't free.

I picked up a 6" 6 shot 617 at a gun shop three years back for $450, it was used but in great condition. I haven't seen anything close to that since.

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Si vis pacem, para bellum

a model 66-2,3 in.,for 350.00...........and a model 27-2,and 29-2 both as new in presentation boxes,tools etc,blue,8 3/8 barrel........450 each otd

In 1999, I ordered a new S&W Mod 908 w/ two mags for $389 from a LGS. I think it was a decent deal, as it is my favorite SD handgun to this day.

681 for $275

Pre lock PC 586-5 L-comp for $425

4513TSW for $325

4563TSW for $375

3 inch 66-2 for $350

Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I paid $300 for a W. German marked, LNIB Sig P228 with everything that came with the gun from the factory.

One of our boom operators was preparing for a nasty divorce and he didn't want his soon-to-be ex to possibly end up with the pistol.

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MSgt, USAF
(Retired)

My other one is a 4" blue Colt Python with the box and all the goodies that I bought from an individual in Richmond, VA for $150.00, in 1970. Low round count, but it did have a small amount of blue wear at the muzzle from a holster. I still shoot it today and IT HAS NEVER GONE OUT OF TIME!

medxam

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

M&P 45 FS w/ 3 mags for 300 otd......

Not a Smith. FEG PJK-9HP, Hungarian Hi-Power copy. Came with Novak rear, Trijicon front, extended safety. Shoots as well as my FN/Brownings, nicer finish. $350 plus trigger/sear job and Herretts.

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Pre GCA of 1968 Walther PPK-L .22lr, 99%, box and extra magazine........$35.00. Sure like to find more like this one. /MK

Just this year I picked up this 5" 27-2 for $279. No box or papers, but grips number to the gun.

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SFC, US Army, Retired

I picked up this 646 for $350 with case, paper work, and moonclips.

I picked up a Norinco 1911 Government Clone for $200 in the late 80's and added $300 more to my gunsmith to make it into this.

winchester 1200 for $125 sold for 350 helped me buy 629 nd for 775
or 14-4 for 400 light blueing damage on cylinder from storage in leather holster -very accurate shooter

All of them. They have all served their intended purpose admirably, regardless of what that purpose was. I have never suffered from buyers remorse with any gun. I cannot say the same about cars.....

2 in 1 week.

The first was a nickel 6" model 19-2, in itself something that there aren't many of. It was wearing a set of Kearsarge stocks and turned out to be a gun owned by the man who was the craftsman behind Kearsarge.

The 2nd gun appeared 2 days later. It occupied the very same spot the 19-2 had been in, another nickel gun, a model 19 according to the used tag. But when I picked the gun up, there was no model number stamped on the frame, and I realized I was looking at a Combat Magnum misidentified as a Model 19. It too, was wearing a set of stocks that turned out to be Kearsarge, although this time they were a smooth set. From the first serial number block of 5000 too.

I have since acquired the provenance of these guns, and have managed to track down and make known the relevant story of Kearsarge, because of "discovering" the 2 revolvers.

I paid $375 each.



Here is the CM wearing the smooth Kearsarge stocks.



Here is the 19-2 with Kearsarge stocks, and below is the same revolver with the same type of target stocks it shipped with.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

A Winchester model 1892 Trapper's Carbine in 25-20 WCF for $50. It was in fair shape, built in 1917 if my research (and memory) serve me correctly.

It's a REALLY SMALL gun, only a 16" barrel, made to be carried on horseback.

An old friend found it in her grandmother's house when she was being moved to an assisted care facility. I got the phone call asking me what she should do with it. I replied, "Well... I'm not a Winchester guy, but I'm pretty sure it worth some decent money." (I was trying to provide honest counsel.)

She said, "I'm handling a big estate for Grandma, and I don't need to mess around with little things. How can I get rid of this?" I told her she could surrender it to the police during one of their gun buy-back programs, and get $50 or so... but I'm sure it's worth much more than that.

Anyway, she told me to either buy it for $50 or take it to the police for her.

I made MY CHOICE. Need I say more?

When I went to pick it up she showed me ANOTHER gun she recently found... a little Colt .25 ACP. I paid $50 for that one too.

Best wishes,

Mr. Wonderful

Then, getting this one back, the first handgun I owned, almost 30 years after selling it to pay a couple of bills, that was a pretty good deal too.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

Not a Smith... a Remington, Hepburn single shot that the gun shop thought ha been "customized". Got it for $275i n 1974. Was a factory Creedmore made for the 1885 1000 yard matches. I can't imagine what it wold be worth today if I stil had it.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

An L.C. Smith Double barrel shotgun. 10 Gauge, damascus barrels, beautiful scroll work. Push the front trigger forward to break open the gun. Took 3 inch brass shells. Bought it from the Military Inn in Detroit when I was 15 for $20.00. Sold it when I was 21 and stupid. It would be worth several thousand today.

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Why, I aughta.....

12 years ago, part of an estate sale handled by a dealer. $495 NIB. Here she is.
DLB

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Be Kind! John 3:16,14:27

My best buy was a 25-2 Jovion off GB for $600 this last summer. the guy did'nt know what he had. Had it lettered as such. just saw one go on GB for over $1600

Two tone Walther (Smith) PPK/S ANIB with C/T laser for $375. Bought it here in the classifieds from a nice gentleman in Florida. I already had one but liked it enough to pick up another. The mags needed to be broken in but after a couple of weeks sitting loaded in the safe they are fine, too. Ran fine with my older ones so I knew it was the mags.

Perhaps the previous owner was having trouble but didn't know it was just the mags and instead of finding the problem just sold it off. MSRP on that gun is $859. My oldest daughter is very happy.

Wife and I went to the new James Bond movie last night...he is back to the PPK! How come when Bond shoots the PPK it sounds like a .45?

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I guess my best buy lately was a S&W 696 no dash looked unfired but not now for 400

My best bargain was a 19-4 snubby bought this year on this forum for $250. I was logged on at just the right time.
Nicest (rarest) find and at a bargain price was a Nickel .22LR Lady Smith 2nd Model with original box...I sold it to a collector of this
era.
I had a great year so I could go on for awhile...

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

The 1006 I bought a couple of years ago for $320 was a pretty decent deal.

Probably a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. It has had more than a
few rounds through it(no idea of round count, I've put 400 through
it)but it still shoots well & the trigger is the favorite of all my
semi's. Maybe because it was the first? I paid $150.00 for it.

A Parker Damascus barrel hammerless coin finish engraved stem to stern $115.00

1967 Browning Hi-Power 3 13 round mags $165.00

1911 A-1 Union Switch and Signal-trade for a Mossberg Cruiser!

Browning BSS 12 ga $200

my best gun buy was a beretta 8000 mini cougar 9mm for 450$. not a great deal, but still my best purchase. i was adopted and raised by my grandfather and I bought him the cougar for a birthday + fathers day present when he turned 70. i carry a 8045 45ACP mini cougar, and he carries the 8000 9mm. he got me my first gun (remington 7700 20G) and with tears, he told me i was the only person who ever bought him a gun. i'll never forget it.

I don't know if it was my all time best, but I'm pretty proud of this one- I scored this S&W 624 with CTC laser grips today at my local gun store for $475.

A gent walked into the Sheriffs office one night with a like new S&W 36. His wife wanted it out of the house because their kids were getting big enough to reach the top dresser drawer. $25.00 was the price he asked. I carried it in an ankle holster until I quit police work.

I bought a new Harris low bipod at an estate yard sale for .85 cents. It was the only gun item shown. I asked if there was more and got the old do you have leprosy look. Some years later a guy was trying to sell a Star 1911 semi-clone with a missing safety spring for enough to buy a Harris low bipod. I traded, bought a Colt 1911 spring with detent from Numrich plus postage, I had 2 dollars in the Star. It was LNIB, the guy said his Father in law never shot it, took it apart to clean it, lost the spring and it sat in the box for years because he could never find and source for Star parts. I had it for about 10 years, it was perfect for a luggage gun on trips. I sold it last year to a guy who has a bunch of Star pistols. I got about $325 for it, the money and profits off a couple of shotguns I had cleaned up paid for one of my S&W revolvers.

Sad story follows, if you cry easily please move on. In the mid 70's a Remington 03-A3 was making the rounds, It would be sold for about 20 bucks and then resold. A guy I worked with ended up with it. He told me the bore looked rusted shut. I traded him a gas powered used lawn mower for it. I took out my military surplus cleaning rod, bore cleaner and removed the cosmoline. The gun shot great. Again, if you are emotional move on, I then sporterized it. Oh how I cry when I think about it.......

I bought a very nice 27-2 in 3.5" a while back for about $500.
I bought a nice pre-27 in 6.5" for $950 last summer. Actually my wife bought it for me as a retirement gift.
I have about $4-500 in my Python I bought a few years ago.
I bought a pre 64 Model 70 Winchester in 270 WIN for $350.00 about 15 years ago. The stock had been slimmed down, nice checkering but needed refinished. The previous owner said it wouldn't hold zero. I glass bedded it, year after year it is now spot on. It also has the uncanny ability to lure deer. I have 4 pre 64's right now and had 12-15 until a few years ago, this one and the one I inherited from my late father go after I'm gone to grand kids.

I once bought a model 12 that would not work right for 50 or so dollars. My gut was right on, the action felt like one was moving in frozen sludge, yep WD 45 and dust bunnies, cleaned up really nice with solvent and a tooth brush. Oh, you really have to rinse a brush out good so your significant other doesn't taste Hopps residue in the AM.

My wife bought me a Weatherby MK V in 300 WBY for my birthday a few years ago. It is a low SN German one. She surprised me with it after I mentioned seeing it. It was marked at $1095 which is cheap. She asked me how I seem to be able to get reductions when gun buying. I tell her I look at the value, how long it's been for sale and go below what I think they'll take. I never gave it any thought. A week later she gives me the gun. She said I marched in, asked to look at it and said I'll give $850. She said they agreed so quickly she should have offered $750... But she was happy. I was real happy, a like new 50 year old WBY and a wife that can buy guns at a discount.

Pawn shop buys - 27-2, 5 inch and a 686-1, 4 inch. They were $275 and $325, but I no longer remember which cost which amount, not that it would matter. And at the time, I did not know what good deals they were. My last pawn shop buy was a 17-3 for $325. By then I knew.

Browning Nomad- bought from a co-worker- $150.00

Colt 1911 series 80 Bright stainless finish-$500.

Latest gun was a S&W 22A bought from Cabela's gun room for $206. Gun was used slightly but was in excellent shape. My 12 year old son spotted it and stood in front of it until I got a salesman. He was hoping I would buy it which I did. This was 2 years ago. I told him that it would be his when he is old enough. I have let him shoot it and clean it. It is a really accurate gun.

My best non S&W deal was on my Dan Wesson 715, near mint(One scratch on the shroud), 3 grips, some extra parts, the original box, a gun rug, and barrel wrench for $269. I couldn't understand why nobody bid on it except me. Other 715's, without accessories went for close to $400, and they didn't look as good. Until I saw it, and shot it, I kept thinking, 'What did I miss?". When my FFL called me and said, "It looks really good!", I was so relieved.

My best S&W deal was on a police trade in 5906, with two mags, in the plastic box with all the paperwork. It had barely been shot, apparently was used just for some kind of ceremonies, if the Spanish note in the box was correctly translated by my Ex-GF's dad, and is in great shape. A really nice gun for $325.

Two Norinco M1A clones at a gun show for $175 each in'97. I asked the dealer why so cheap and he said that his divorce was final on Monday and his wife got half of his inventory (It was on a Sunday). Replaced b**t ugly stocks, bolts, and hammer components. Made many people jealous.
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Boxers or briefs? At my age, Depends.

Smith 1911 model 108285, the plain jane 1911, for $510 about a month ago.

My "good deals" have mostly been in the seller's favor, but I was high bid on a pre 27,five inch, ( 70% or less, blue), accompanied by a Brauer Bros. cartridge belt and S&W # 21 24 holster for $375.00. This was in Dec. of 2010.

It has been shot a great deal, though still slick and perfect function, even at 50 plus years old. I think S prefix, N frame, shootable, no pit Smiths at that money are a solid gold find.

I would have been out at $350.00, but one of my "buddies" who likes to see me squirm jacked me up $25.00 right at the last.

After I won, and confronted him, ( in fun,) with a threat to have put a mirrored image of "G W High School Class of 1959", from my class ring up along-side his jaw, he laughed and swore he would have let me have it for his price..........Yeah; right says I !

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wanna do right-- not right now

The best buy I ever made was for an engraved Winchester Model 1873 carbine, bought at a flea market in El Paso for $100. That was about 30 years ago. I sold it to a Winchester collector a couple of months later for $800, which was about right at the time, considering it was not factory engraving and it was not in much better than "very good" shape.

Of the guns I have now, I think my "best buy" was this Winchester Model 64 Sporting rifle in 99% shape, with a factory-installed Redfield peep rear sight. This beauty was serialed in 1936 according to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and still looks like it just came off the factory floor. I paid about half of what it has been appraised for.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Never had one. NONE. Always paid the price and was never able to get a discount from any gun store. They must have seen comin.

I always felt like I got a great deal on my Ruger Mark I Target Model with 6 7/8" barrel. Paid $87.50 plus TTL for it brand new from an LGS in Austin. But that was 1978.

I went to the range with some church friends earlier this year. The guy in the lane next to me had a S&W 4006 and I told him I admired it and that I had wanted one for years but had never been able to find one when I could afford to buy it.

Long story short, he walked into church the next day and offered it to me for 200.00$. He told me he was more interested in his Springfield XD and he wanted to give me a good deal, I was on it like Jillian Michaels on a fat chick