Guns Regretfully Sold or Traded but Re-aquired

Etalksalot · #51 03-01-2018, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John H/PA

Upon entering the academy in Jul'72, I bought a colt detective special for court-carry and off-duty. I retired in Aug'98 and sold it to another officer. When he retired in Oct'17, he sold it back to me. I feel I was lucky to get it back, always wished I would have never sold it. Don't think I will do that again.

Nice! That was a long time to go without it, almost 20 years! Glad you got it back!

Etalksalot · #52 03-01-2018, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old&slow

I sold or traded a Springfield 1911 I had, to a friend. It had been complete gone over by a very good gunsmith / friend of mine. New Wilson barrel ,, Bomar sights ,, beavertail ,, etc. etc. etc. Best shooting 1911 I ever owned.
( have No idea why I went totally stupid and sold it)

I don't remember exacly how the trade went. Anyway , I ended up with a Kimber 1911 that I wanted out of the deal.. I regretted getting rid of the Springfield from day one. The guy I sold it to, shot great with it, and just loved it..

Years later he was going thru a divorce. Needed / wanted some money and offered to sell it back to me.. I think I about tore my pants pocket off getting my wallet out..

So now I have the Kimber and the Springfield.
I've thought about willing it back to him, when I'm gone,, hopefully that won't happen for quite awhile..

Well, I hate to hear your buddy had to go through a divorce for you to get it back, but I'm glad you did!! That's awesome! Seems like it's best to sell it to your friends or someone you know if you want to get it back. I'm glad I sold it to my coworker and I'm glad that's the one it went to because he told me the first time I asked that he would sell it back to me.

Etalksalot · #53 03-01-2018, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donn

Back in the 80's, dad had a 4" Model 19 I was extremely fond of. However, he wasn't and had a buyer for it. He knew how I felt, said he'd keep it for me. I had little kids and no money, told him if somebody had money in their hand, let it go. Fast forward to a few years back. I'm at the LGS lamenting how hard a good Model 19 was to find. The owner came out with a pristine Combat Magnum in the box with all the paperwork it came with. It's been in my safe ever since.

Was that the same one you originally had or a different one? Either way still nice that you got a great one.

desi2358 · #54 03-01-2018, 12:28 PM

I have regretted selling several guns to the point I bought the same model gun to replace it later. I did sell and buy back the same gun twice from the same guy though. I had sold him a Colt Targetsman and later bought it back. He then bought it back from me a few months later. Much later (@ 4 years if I remember correctly) he stopped by work with a couple guns for sale including the Colt. Gave me a good asking price so I bought them. That was @ 20 years ago and no, it's not for sale anymore.

Etalksalot · #55 03-04-2018, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desi2358

I have regretted selling several guns to the point I bought the same model gun to replace it later. I did sell and buy back the same gun twice from the same guy though. I had sold him a Colt Targetsman and later bought it back. He then bought it back from me a few months later. Much later (@ 4 years if I remember correctly) he stopped by work with a couple guns for sale including the Colt. Gave me a good asking price so I bought them. That was @ 20 years ago and no, it's not for sale anymore.

THAT is a unique story. Never heard of anyone selling AND buying it back TWICE!! Glad to know you got it back. Didn't learn that lesson the first time, but I'm glad you did the second time around.

Qc Pistolero · #56 03-04-2018, 09:18 PM

In 1988,S&W came out with a .45 ACP revolver Model 1988.It was a N frame,satin stainless with a 5'' full underlug.The gun shot extremely good,SA and DA was sweet and it was 1 of 5000.
I am known to sometimes have an air bubble burst into my brains;I sold it(major bubble)I still want to attach a rope to my right ankle,put over my right shoulder and violently pull that rope for selling it.
Good news,I saw it at my shooting range a few weeks ago and it belongs to one of my friends.Short of threathening him of the worst things a human being could do to him,I'm short of arguments to convince him to sell it to me(yes'I've tried double $$ he paid for it).But I won't give up.I hope to write an happy conclusion soon here about this.

rbrbrb6 · #57 03-05-2018, 01:31 AM

I currently have at least three guns I sold, regretted then actually bought the same gun back from the guy I sold them to!
One is a USFA single action, one is a Texas Longhorn Arms West Texas Flat Top Target and one is a Texas Longhorn Arms Improved #5 in 41 mag.

kennyb · #58 03-08-2018, 12:08 AM

I bought my first handgun (colt detective special) in 1974...kept it maybe 6 months and sold it to a friend.I kept thinking about this gun in the past couple years....so..what the heck I called my friend..haven't seen him in many years.He still had it!! it took three calls but I finally wrestled it away from him! Nowhere near the price I sold it for LOL.I was excited,after 43 years to have it back.No chance of it leaving again!

spdguns · #59 03-08-2018, 07:53 AM

In '84 I bought a brand new Colt AR-15 slab side green label. I paid under $400 for it and that included 100 rds of ammo. It was after I graduated from college and had my first real job. I sold it to a buddy in '93 right before the "first" assault weapons ban and made a pile of money on it. After the bottom fell out of the AR market a few years later, I bought it back cheap. I still have it.

Capt. F. · #60 03-08-2018, 08:35 AM

I've related this story before, so for those who may seen it, disregard.
In 1972 I acquired a Colt Woodsman 3rd issue, 6", adjustable sight .22 for $50 ( fellow gun trader financially strapped).
Six months later I sold it to a fellow worker for $75. Regretted it the next day.
Fast forward to 2002. Three months before I retired, guy I sold the gun to, whom I hadn't seen since 1972, showed up in my office to do some work. Talk got around to the Colt. Said his wife hated guns and wanted the Colt gone. Asked if I'd be interested in buying it back? How much? Said he didn't want to make any money off me so $75 would be fine.
Got the gun and a 1972 vintage 500 round unopened brick of .22's for - yep, $75! Will I part with it again? Nope.

Bruce C · #61 03-09-2018, 12:20 AM

Had a 3 screw Ruger .41 mag with a 4 digit serial number i traded at a gun and dog auction about 100 miles from home in the early 80's. The next week a guy carried into a gun shop about a mile from where I was living. About 25 years later the guy came walking in the store I was working at I knew he liked Rugers and asked him if he had any flat tops he wanted to sell. He went home and brung back at 357 flat top and the 41 I had traded over 20 years before so I bought both of them from him. Didn't think I would ever get the .41 back.

Etalksalot · #62 03-10-2018, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qc Pistolero

In 1988,S&W came out with a .45 ACP revolver Model 1988.It was a N frame,satin stainless with a 5'' full underlug.The gun shot extremely good,SA and DA was sweet and it was 1 of 5000.
I am known to sometimes have an air bubble burst into my brains;I sold it(major bubble)I still want to attach a rope to my right ankle,put over my right shoulder and violently pull that rope for selling it.
Good news,I saw it at my shooting range a few weeks ago and it belongs to one of my friends.Short of threathening him of the worst things a human being could do to him,I'm short of arguments to convince him to sell it to me(yes'I've tried double $$ he paid for it).But I won't give up.I hope to write an happy conclusion soon here about this.

I hope so too!! At least you've located it. Try the sentimental approach (if you haven't already). Hope it works out!

Etalksalot · #63 03-10-2018, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbrbrb6

I currently have at least three guns I sold, regretted then actually bought the same gun back from the guy I sold them to!
One is a USFA single action, one is a Texas Longhorn Arms West Texas Flat Top Target and one is a Texas Longhorn Arms Improved #5 in 41 mag.

NICE! I really like that top one. I love single action revolvers. I have one myself, but it's a cheap one and I would like to get a really nice one one day.

Etalksalot · #64 03-10-2018, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyb

I bought my first handgun (colt detective special) in 1974...kept it maybe 6 months and sold it to a friend.I kept thinking about this gun in the past couple years....so..what the heck I called my friend..haven't seen him in many years.He still had it!! it took three calls but I finally wrestled it away from him! Nowhere near the price I sold it for LOL.I was excited,after 43 years to have it back.No chance of it leaving again!

That's fantastic!! 43 years!! Wow. That is a very long time.

Etalksalot · #65 03-10-2018, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdguns

In '84 I bought a brand new Colt AR-15 slab side green label. I paid under $400 for it and that included 100 rds of ammo. It was after I graduated from college and had my first real job. I sold it to a buddy in '93 right before the "first" assault weapons ban and made a pile of money on it. After the bottom fell out of the AR market a few years later, I bought it back cheap. I still have it.

Now that's a nice deal!! Like buying and selling stocks except this you can have much more fun with than a stock!

Etalksalot · #66 03-10-2018, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. F.

I've related this story before, so for those who may seen it, disregard.
In 1972 I acquired a Colt Woodsman 3rd issue, 6", adjustable sight .22 for $50 ( fellow gun trader financially strapped).
Six months later I sold it to a fellow worker for $75. Regretted it the next day.
Fast forward to 2002. Three months before I retired, guy I sold the gun to, whom I hadn't seen since 1972, showed up in my office to do some work. Talk got around to the Colt. Said his wife hated guns and wanted the Colt gone. Asked if I'd be interested in buying it back? How much? Said he didn't want to make any money off me so $75 would be fine.
Got the gun and a 1972 vintage 500 round unopened brick of .22's for - yep, $75! Will I part with it again? Nope.

That's awesome! I paid the same for mine, but it was a cheap Shotgun and only a few years in between. Glad to hear that worked out for you so well!! Sucks for him, but great for you!

Etalksalot · #67 03-10-2018, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce C

Had a 3 screw Ruger .41 mag with a 4 digit serial number i traded at a gun and dog auction about 100 miles from home in the early 80's. The next week a guy carried into a gun shop about a mile from where I was living. About 25 years later the guy came walking in the store I was working at I knew he liked Rugers and asked him if he had any flat tops he wanted to sell. He went home and brung back at 357 flat top and the 41 I had traded over 20 years before so I bought both of them from him. Didn't think I would ever get the .41 back.

That's great!! What are the chances that he'd come back through and still have it?? That's awesome, I'm very happy you got it back. I told myself I'd never sell or trade another gun, but I did get rid of a Sig and a Bersa for a blued snub model 15 S&W in mint condition and haven't looked back! So I amended my philosophy to, "I won't sell or trade any guns I love." that will work for me. That Model 15, however, is a gun I have wanted since I was a kid and the Sig and Bersa I can find more if I ever want one, but I'm fine without them. My Model 15 is one of my all time favorite handguns ever made so that was well worth it. If I do trade or sell again though it will have to be to get something like that that I really want or else I won't do it.