Alright, I was thinking the other day about a gun I had that I sold years back. It was my first gun I ever bought myself (not my first gun though) and I sold it about 4 or 5 years ago. It was a 12g Stoeger Coach Gun. I loved it. I had just gotten into westerns a lot back then and I bought myself a coach gun finally and it was so cool. I sold it and kicked myself in the but for a few years. Thankfully I had sold it to a coworker and he ended up selling back to me about 2 years ago!!

I hear plenty of stories of people selling guns and kicking themselves in the butt, but not often do I hear about people getting it back. Does anyone else have a story where they sold a gun they loved and ended up getting it back???

I have this stupid thing with small revolvers...not sure what my deal is, but I keep buying/selling them. Since 2004:

-Old Charter Arms .38 revolver (traded)
-S&W 637 (traded)
-S&W Bodyguard .38 (traded)
-Ruger SP101 (.357) (traded)
-S&W 637 (traded)
-Charter Arms .44spcl Bulldog (current)

...and now I'm getting that pointless itch for another small revolver. What in the hell is wrong with me? I get one, decide I don't like small revolvers, and then shed the thing.

I regretted selling my first colt govt model years ago,but I needed the money for a motorcyle.The bikes are long gone and the colts been replaced several times

There are several I’ve regretted selling, but have yet to find replacements. The following are replacements of guns sold:

66-1 2.5”
629-2 Mountain Revolver
625-2 45 Cal Model of 1988

This kind of thing only happened to me with books.

And I didn't traded them or sold them. Only lented them to the wrong person.

Don't do that anymore. I mean lent books.

Colt 1911 Combat Commander 9mm in early 1974.
Bought it new when I finally got a good paying job with IHC.
Traded it, now regret it big time.

Regret selling many of them and regret BUYING a lot of them.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I will probably never get back the exact same guns I sold, as I did my sales through auction houses. But I have slowly been replacing some of the same type of guns I had to sell when I lost my job. And over the weekend I found a gun that replaced one I never expected to run into again. Years ago I had a Browning High Power with a Bo-Mar rib and Bar-Sto barrel. At the gun show over the weekend I stumbled across a Browning High Power with a Bo-Mar rib that a dealer friend acquired out of a New York policeman's estate that was used for competition. What were the chances? I have it now.

Twice, a Winchester BB XTR 375, & a Sig p220 45acp in stainless. If anyone comes across a Ruger Redhawk 357 5" barrel with the Jack Weigand hybraport package, that will be # 3. WITH ANY LUCK.

Dang, I don't know, next time keep it just in case! However, if you traded it for something you really like, then it's acceptable!

Ouch that one has to hurt. First Colt gone and the motorcycle you used the money towards is gone too. I'd say it's cool if you got the motorcycle, but yeah. Sorry to hear that.

Very happy to hear that!

I should've mentioned in my OP, did anyone get the exact same gun back? Not so much a replacement, which that's a good story to hear too, but did anyone buy back the exact same one they sold?

I think you're the only person I've ever seen who regrets BUYING guns!! I am sorry to hear that. Can you elaborate??

I have one book I loaned out that I never got back. Not happy about it. Another is the Hell's Angels book by Hunter S. Thompson and it was a gift. Almost lost that one twice, but managed to get it back both times. I no longer loan out books, especially to people that I figured probably aren't even going to open the thing.

The only other guns I ever got rid of were a Bersa Thunder 380 and a brand new Sig p320 full size in 40 S&W. The Bersa I didn't care for once I started shooting it, the Sig I loved but I can't say that I miss it. I will probably get another one day, but I traded the 2 of those in a 3 way trade for my first Smith, a 15-3 blued snub in mint condition. That is a gun I've wanted since I was a kid. Looooong before I ever even like revolvers, I saw a gun, either a square butt, blued Model 10 snub, or the snub 15,csnt remember which, but I'm pretty sure it was the 15. For many many years of my life, I was NOT a fan of blued guns, and I did NOT like revolvers at all. I've been shooting semi-autos and revolvers since I was a kid so I had experience with both, but never liked the revolvers until about a year and a half ago. Once I saw this 15-3, I realized it was the one from when I was a kid. Funny thing is for so many years I couldn't stand the blued look and I especially didn't like the blued with the wood contrast. If I could go back in time I'd slap my younger self. Nowadays, blued ESPECIALLY with the wood is my favorite of all. I have 3 blued revolvers and two nickel, one being my 1873 replica.

I just thought of something else, maybe you haven't found the smaller revolver that really works for you. Maybe you want one, but each time you try it isn't what you thought it would be?? Before I got a Model 36 I was dead set on buying nothing but round butt Smiths. I didn't like the square butt at all on any gun. THANKFULLY I saw a RB 36 at a gun show and when I held it, I didn't like it at all. It just didn't fit my hand right whatsoever. If I would've ordered online I would've been very disappointed and probably traded it. So I took a chance I bought a square butt 36 online and it is absolutely perfect!! So perfect in fact that I bought 2 of them. I have one nickel and one blued and pretty much any other J frame I buy will be a SB EXCEPT for a Model 38 & 49 as they only come in RB. I don't like the Model 40/640 or 42/642 so that won't be an issue. I really want a J frame in 32 long, but it will have to be a Model 31 because it's a square butt. As far as square butts on other frame sizes, I have grown to love a SB K frame as well. I'm sure I'd like SB N frames too. I really am trying to find a beautiful blued or nickel RB Model 10 snub, but I love the SB ones too now. Never thought I would, but after having my Model 15 snub, it's grown on me quite a bit.

My first centerfire rifle was a Winchester 94 that I bought for $75. About a year or two later, I bought my Remington 760 that i still shoot. My wife said, "you don't need 2 hunting rifles," so I sold the 94 to my dad to give to my brother. I tried for years to buy it back, even offering 3 times what I paid originally. No deal. When my son started hunting, brother loaned him the Winchester for the first 2 years. I then found my son a nice Savage 30.30 bolt action. Well my son said he didn't like the bolt, he liked the 94 better. I said tough, this one is yours, that one isnt. I was relating the story to my brother, and he asked, "a bolt action 30.30?". I replied yes. He promptly said, "I'll trade you"....so now my son has my original 30.30, and my brother's son shoots the savage. Of course the original purchase was over 40 years ago and it was about 22 years ago that I finally got it back.


Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Model 14-4. Bought new in 1984-5, Never fired. Traded for a used Sig P220 45 acp (still have it) in 1991-2. Fast forward to 2003-4. I walked in to the reincarnation of the shop I traded the 14. The guy who bought the 14 from the first shop was sitting at the counter (I new him and had spent a little time around him), I checked out the used pistol case and in it was a 14. I asked to handle it and asked the guy sitting there if this had been his gun? He said he had started to downsize and it was here on consignment. No box, no tools. Original grips replaced with goodyears. (Do you still have the stuff that went with it? No, I never keep that junk!) Ok, soooo, I go and check my bank balance and I can barely afford it but I ain't letting it get away again. Back to the shop, later that day, and make my best cash deal. Paid more for it used than I paid for it new but it is mine! Still have it and it doesn't get shot often but it is a good unit.

I sold my 4" Model 29-2 to a friend.

It took me at least five years to get it back.

My sad tale of woe after sending it back to S&W to get a factory defect in the forcing cone repaired has been related previously.

I built a nice Springfield 03 30-06 when I was about 17. It kicked like a mule. I had a muzzle brake installed. I went to the local Fajen stock dealer and hand picked a nice Monte Carlo stock for it with Cocobolo trim on the fore end and grip. I hand finished it and bedded the barrel and action to the stock with Accraglass. Then installed a nice 3 to 9 power scope. Did a lot of handloading for it. One of my best friends was looking for a rifle for his Dad who I liked. Anyway, in a weak moment, I sold it to him then wished I hadn’t. Turned out his Dad was left-handed and decided to buy a left-handed action rifle, so I got a chance to buy it back and did. I kept it and used it for many, many years and just about a week ago, I gave it to my son who I expect to pass it on to my oldest grandson. It.’s still a very pretty and great shooting rifle. And back in the family to stay for a couple more generations I hope.

Bob


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My first S&W revolver, a Model 18, I foolishly sold when I had a number of .22 revolvers, was younger, and thought, 'I can always replace it for $500'.

Well, years went by, friends owned it, shot it, dropped it on the rocks, fired untold number of rounds through it, didn't oil or wipe it down to my level of satisfaction, and just used the heck out of it. ( I used it a lot too before selling or rather trading in this case.)

About 10 years go by, I am offered the exact same gun I sold, considerably worse for the wear, at more money that I traded it for. Ya, of course I bought it. I seldom take it out and shoot it anymore. I just keep it as a memory of what really got me interested in S&W's.

At the time, $500.00 was a ton of money to me. I was in college and just starting out in life...it was more than my rent. About once a year, I just take it outside here on the farm and shoot a couple cylinders full in to a big target (milk jug) and think how that one S&W started me on the journey.

Funny thing is I traded it for a model 36 that I think I owned a grand total of 9 months.......oops!

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Rather be outdoors

traded off a Colt Lawman Mark 3 my dad got me & almost immediately was sorry I did About a year later the pawn shop where I traded it had it back in the display case. Bought it back for less then I got on the trade & will never let it go again. Also bought a High Standard Sentinel Mark 1 22LR to replace the one I foolishly let go.

THAT IS AWESOME!!! WOW 22 years later!! That is too cool. At least it was in the family, but very glad to hear you got it back.

This is replacing the 27-something I sold in 1983
Wrong serial number and better condition, but everything else the same

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

WOW! THAT'S AWESOME!! What are the chances?? That one is the same exact one you originally had correct?? Of course they didn't keep the grips/box and so on. At least you got it back though!! That makes me so happy to hear. Does suck about the other stuff, especially the grips. That's one thing I insist on with the old revolvers I will only buy if it has its original grips. Box is nice, but grips are a must. Happy to hear that.

At least you got it! Happy to hear that!

That's cool! Great story and I'm very happy for you!

That's awesome you got it back! Sucks that it wasn't taken care of properly and paying more the second time around, but at least you got back. It wouldn't be so bad trading it, if you greatly coveted the gun you traded it for, but yeah that sucks only 9 months! My Model 15-3 I will never ever ever sell. Actually any of my old guns. I don't care how desperate for money I am, I will not sell them. My Shotgun will never be sold again ever and the gun my dad gave me, and the one he sold my aunt that she ended up giving me I will always keep as well. I always said I'd never get rid of a gun again after selling my Shotgun for fear of seller's remorse, but the two I traded for my 15 were well worth it. I'd do it again. In all, I only lost about 100 bucks total. A guy who wanted my Sig really badly, before the failed drop test thank God, gave me 525. I paid 535 for it brand new. Of course I only put 64 rounds through it so it was still like new and only a few months old, but I got all but 10 bucks back on it. Though by that point they were already selling for 630 bucks so we both made out. I do not miss those 2 guns, but the ones now I cannot let go not even for a trade on something else I really want. My 15 is one of about 5 bucket list guns I have. It's the only one I can cross off my list to date.

I am VERY happy to hear that!! Especially if your pops bought it for you, that is so cool you got it back. The gun my dad gave me and the one he sold my aunt that she ended up giving me will never leave me. When I die, my God son will get them both along with any other guns I get along the way.

That is a VERY nice gun. I want one myself one day. Probably blued, but there are a few Smiths and Colts I want both a blued and nickel finish of. That model might end up being one of those models.

Yes, Etalksalot it is the same gun. The owner of the first shop told me who he sold it to and talked me out of a half case of Rem. 148 gr. HBWCs for the guy to shoot out of it. The gun was still unfired when I traded it but, obviously that had changed when I got it back. I had bought the gun to shoot in Distinguished PPC matches (only stock guns allowed, with the exception of grips and trigger work) I never got a chance to take it to a match and then left law enforcement a couple years latter. Grips are one of those thing that I, like many LEOs, when wheel guns were king, changed out almost as soon as I got a new shooter. I still have a few pair but buy them when the price is reasonable (which is not very often, now days) Lack of factory grips may cause me to dicker but usually won't stop me from buying a gun I want.

I hear ya. Yeah I'm kind of a nut about the grips. I think I'm the only person who just passionately loves magna grips. I just absolutely love the contrast of the blued or nickel with the wood, especially the blued finish. It just hypnotizes me. The nickel looks great with wood, but I also like the look of fake ivory and fake pearl with it. I don't care for those on a blued gun for some reason though I know many people really like that. I have a set of fake ivory and fake pearl grips for my nickel Chief and the pearl has been on since I got them in the mail a couple weeks ago. I love magna grips on anything from a snub up to a 4 inch barrel. The 4 inch 19's and 581/681's look great with square butt magnas. I just love it that way. I am particular about having the original grips though. Box and papers are nice, but that wouldn't affect me buying a gun, but the original grips are a must have even if they are target grips. I saw a very nice Model 10 blued snub online I wanted, but it had huge Pachmayr grips and I just couldn't bring myself to buy it. Although I did think long and hard about it because for the great condition the price was better than right, but I a blued, RB snub Model 10 is one of my few bucket list guns. I really want a nickel one as well and both with a SB too, but the blued RB snub 10 is a gun I have wanted for some time so when I do get one, it has to be in great shape and has to have the original magna grips with it. I saw a picture of an 80's snub 686 that came stock with magna grips that was just awesome looking that way. I don't care much for the finger groove grips, and ever since I have been wanting a snub, blued 586 from the 80's and I want to put magnas on it, but at the price they go for, it is a bucket list gun too. I did see a beautiful polished 80's 686 with stock magnas at a gun show a few weeks back, and that show is only twice a year. He had all the same guns from last years show plus more so if he still has it this September, I'm hoping to walk out with it next time. It looks like a nickel finish due to the polishing and they never made snub nickel 586's, so I hope desperately to be able to buy it, providing he still has it. Fingers crossed. I just kind of feel that those old magna grips are as classic and timeless as the guns themselves and since I like all things classic, I love to keep them original. Plus I love the way the magnas feel too, love shooting with them as well. Again, I must be the only person I know who feels this way.

Nothing special in my case, but about 15 years ago I sold a 3rd gen Glock 23 to a friend who reeeeeeeally wanted it. I didn't know at the time that Glock triggers are not all exactly the same, grip frame dimensions vary slightly, etc. This particular G23 is a early 3rd gen and fit my hand very well, had an excellent trigger (for a striker fired gun), and was a great shooter.

Never saw him again, found the exact gun in a pawn shop 2 years later. I don't think he ever shot or carried it. Happy to have it back and carry it often to this day.

I have a reacquired a few...

-Winchester 94, sold to a friend a few years back and ended up buying it back not long ago.
-Mossberg 500 Cruiser desert camp sold to same friend, he didn’t care for it so I reacquired.
-1968 Colt Commander LW. Purchased in 2008, sold it to a friend/FFL only to buy it back in May 2009 when things had financially stabilized.

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Some Might Say.

I traded away two 4” S&Ws and replaced them with the exact same guns. Traded Model 24-3 to my brother for a 175 Harley. Later sold it and bought the gun back. It cost $375 new then $350 the last time. Traded a Model 18-3 for an Italian single action then bought it back about 15 years later. Cost $189 first then $450.

Bought a 1936 RM in a pawnshop for $225 in 1997. Gun was all original and about 90%. Sold it two years later at a handsome profit and regretted it immediately. Reacquired the same gun from the guy I sold it to in 2011, but I had to pay a stupid tax to get it back.

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Everybody could shoot

Wow, 25 years later huh? That's awesome! Glad to hear it.

Wow, that's a unique situation though! Sell it to a friend and stumble upon it in a random pawn shop, nice! Glad to hear it.

Haha, I like that term stupid tax. Very cool you got it back so far down the road.

NICE! I find it interesting when someone re-aquires multiple guns back. Glad to hear it.

I realized I was off on that. It was actually closer to 15 years.

Haha, still that's very cool. That's a long time to elapse without it just to find it again.

Yes! I sold off my Model 581 to a co-worker during a divorce. It was my first personally owned duty revolver. Years later, I was really missing that one, so I asked the guy if he still had it. He did and we worked out a trade. I don’t know if he kept it in a toolbox, tackle box or what, but it was all dinged up and rusty. Couldn’t have that, so I sent it off and had it returned in perfect, like new condition. That revolver is not going anywhere while I am still here!

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In 1980 I bought a new 4" blue M25-5. I round butted it and carried off and on for a couple of years. My lieutenant at the PD took a shine to it and I sold it to him. He later retired and became a police chief in western Kentucky.

In 2007, he had retired for good and moved back to Alabama. I got in touch with him and asked if he would sell it back to me. He said yes and I bought it back for $350. In 2009, he passed away. The M25-5 will NOT be sold again, at least while I am above ground.

When I was in college in the mid 1970s, a local gun shop had a commercial Colt Government Model for sale. It was serial number C88!! Of course, being a poor student, I couldn't afford it. A few years later, the shop was sold. I had no idea what happened to C88.

Fast forward to the mid 1990s. I was at a Birmingham, Alabama gun show. I was walking the aisles and stopped at a table that had a few handguns on display. There was C88! I asked the owner about it and he told me that it had been his father's .45 and that his dad had sold in around 1970. He had found it again in the early '90s and had bought it back. I told him that it had sat in a display case in Auburn, Alabama for several years. He was glad to know a little bit more of its journeys through the years. Needless to say, he didn't want to sell it.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

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.

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..

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.

That is a very nice gun! I want a 4 inch gun, maybe two, but I'm mostly into snubs. The only 4 inch guns I really want is a 19 (which is what I wanted first for some time) and a 581 which is now I think my favorite 4 inch revolver regardless of caliber, like it's my favorite 357, but probably favorite overall in 4 inch. I also love the snub 19's, but 9nce I discovered the snub 586, that is now at least tied with the 19. I don't much care for longer barrel 586/686 with the adjustable sights, I prefer the 581 4 inch over the 586/686. Nice gun, glad you got it back.

Those are both awesome stories. I really like the C88 story. You had it happen to you, but to see someone else and having seen that same gun during its journey is pretty cool. Thanks for sharing. Glad you got your gun back.