Guns that you shouldn't have let go

[ancient-one]

Dorothy's nephew bought one of the early Ruger S.A. 357's for use in fast draw competitions. He had cut away part of the trigger guard and because of the light trigger pull I am sure he did some work in that area. Later his hands became so disfigured with arthritis that he could hardly pick up anything.
One time while visiting him in Colorado he handed me the whole rig, belt, holster and gun and said it's yours, I wanted you to have it because you will know how to be safe with the modifications that I did.
I kept the outfit for years hanging on a peg on a coat rack. I shot it once and the trigger was so light that it was dangerous. I didn't want my grandson or great grandson getting hold of it. One of my friends wanted the gun and he was gun savvy enough to handle it so I sold(practically gave it to him) it to him.
What I should have done was send it in for the modification and it would have been safe to shoot or pass on to my grandson. I have always wondered if I had of sent it with a note explaining the guns history, would Ruger have returned it with a new frame along with the modification.

[Echo40]

Fortunately, I've seen so many threads on the subject just as I was getting into firearms that I developed a strict policy against selling any of my firearms.

I've got more than enough regrets in my life without selling off treasured possessions on impulse, and fortunately my general lack of funds has resulted in me only purchasing firearms that I was 100% sure that I wanted first, so there's less temptation for me to sell off any of my guns since I absolutely love them all.

[mikerjf]

I regret surprisingly few of the guns I've sold off.

There was a really cool Beretta 948, 22 auto. Really fun to shoot but had some kind of issue, would occasionally let off a couple/three rounds at a time. Never even tried to fix it, just traded it in, but in retrospect I should have put in the effort.

I like J frames so much that I wish I'd kept my first, a 2" Model 60.

[ContinentalOp]

Only 2 guns I really regret selling, my 3" 65 and 2" 64.

Sometimes I wish I still had my Gen3 Glock 23, but then it passes.

[ggibson511960]

A few years ago I carried a Luger, P-38 and a Python to the Tulsa gun show. They never made it to the show. I was besieged at my motel. I netted a bunch of cash, and every now and then regret selling them because I know I'll never have another, especially at the ridiculously low prices I paid for them 25 years ago, vs. the even more ridiculous prices of today, but I gained a lesson. I never shot them and none of my heirs has any interest in them. I have far more than enough firearms for recreation, so I'm fine with somebody having them that wants them. They will face the same decision point. I've had my fun and the firearms hobby is passing into a new phase with expensive and scarce guns, ammunition, and ever more restrictions.

[Flattop5]

1. S&W Model 60, stainless .38 snubby revolver, 2" barrel, pinned barrel, made circa 1979. Near mint. Like a fool, I traded it off circa 1981. Happily, I later replaced it -- although the new one (made circa 1984) does not have a pinned barrel.

2. Remington Model 1100 semi-auto shotgun, 12 gauge. Excellent condition. But I needed the money. Now, the money is gone, and so is the gun.



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[OLDSTER]

My list is long, and I'd be sobbing before I could finish posting.

[mauser9]

Yeah a couple. A S&W 39-2 and the Model 19 snubby. Paid $125 and $180 back in the 70s respectively. Always looking for the perfect 1 gun. Ha the jokes on me!! Heard they are going for a lot more than that now!. A least I got a CS-9 and always held onto my 1100 TB shotgun.

[mckenney99]

As soon as I graduated from the Academy I bought a 2in M64 as a backup gun to my issued M10HB and as a off duty gun. After carrying it for several years I learned about the M49 and traded the M64 in towards a new M49. I now regret letting the M64 go as it was a tremendous shooter.

When the M649 first came out I figured it would be the perfect upgrade to replace the M49, so the M49 went as a trade-in for the new M649 which I carried as one of my backup guns until I retired.

By the time I retired I was a died in the wool 1911 carrier off duty and figured I would never have a need for the M649 so I sold it to one of my old retired Sergeants. I now really regret selling that M649 as we traveled a lot of miles together.

[AJ]

All of the ones that I sold, I wish I had back!!

[ContinentalOp]

Originally Posted by OLDSTER

My list is long, and I'd be sobbing before I could finish posting.

[deanodog]

Two stand out more than many others. S&W 22-4 acp and a 21-4
in 44 special. I had more than one of each and got traded out of all of them.

[d524ax]

I traded a never fired 19-4, 4" nickel straight up for a 29-3 6" blue. I still have the 29, but i wish i had kept the 19. Sometimes lessons are hard learned.

[loknload]

Two pieces I have now regretted selling,,,
1. No1 MKIII British Enfield,,, My first rifle I ever purchased.
2. Colt Trooper MK III ,,,, I purchased from an old friend of mine as he was leaving the police force. It was his duty weapon.
At the time I needed cash and I decided they were the ones to go. I know who has them but they will never sell them back.
From that point on I have never sold another gun except for one I really didn’t need and someone needed it more than me? It was a vintage Berra Md83 .380. It was a good little handgun but a friend of mine needed something for his wife and didn’t have a lot of money at the time.
But anything that I’ve really collected has never left once it hit the safe!

[Kinman]

Regarding Rugers, I've heard from a number of people that sent back old school single action Rugers built before the trigger block that Ruger sent them back with the trigger block installed. Probably in a way of covering their collective posteriors.
I regret letting go every Browning Hi Power I have ever owned, I believe at least six...always replacing the one let go with another one, this last one is the last one...unless a nice C-Code with fixed sights falls into my hands. I shot it today, always a pleasure to shoot.
Others firearms have come and gone, I'm sorry I let a Colt Officer's Match .38 with full King treatment go. I would have hung onto grandma's Brno mauser in .22 hornet but only miss is it for sentimental reasons.

[Black69]

Traded a nickel 39-2 for a New Ruger 30-06 with scope and sling and case and traded a 19-2 for a 66-2. Should have kept them both.

[RWPBR]

Too many to list, but I fondly remember a 1918 manufactured 1911 Model of US Army and a 44 triple lock that no longer reside in my safe.

[Deceasedeye]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who in order to get the gun you were in love with you had to sell or trade the one you had. I divorced 3 pythons, 2 lugers and a High power in order to move up to what was in my dreams at the time. If you looked up the word (fickle) in the dictionary you would find my picture!

[Ματθιας]

I had a NIB Gailil ARM in 7.62 that I sold when I was unemployed. I traded an early M1A and a Norinco Type 84S + cash to get the ARM.

I had two Colt Anacondas, one w/4in and the other 6in barrels.

The Galil I had no choice. The Anacondas, I didn't really want to sell them, but I got talked out of them.

[2152hq]

It hurts too much to think about them...too many to count.
The best thing to do is to rationalize the hurt away with the thought that the value was 'inflation adjusted''

But buying GI 1911's for $50, Luger's for $100 & Colt 1903's for $35 & $40,, then a couple yrs later selling them for what seemed like a Lotto Winners dream ticket come true is only a nightmare now when you think about it.

Later on I figured I smarten up a bit,, I learned to hang on to stuff.
Now I'm at the age where I wonder why I hang on to the stuff.

There is no easy way out of this.

[Pavia]

FN FNC Para and a S&W Model 25 in 45 Colt

[ralph7]

I sold a 3 digit 1911 in the late 80's for $700 at the Astroarena gun show in Houston.
It was a rattly, finish depleted bomb and I had paid little for it at a pawn shop.
Do I regret it? Yeah, kinda, in retrospect.
But I do remember the great feeling I had on making bank on a sale and that $700 went forward to buy other guns that have risen in value.

Just a matter of perspective.

[pmosley]

If I’d kept all the guns I’ve had in my life, I’d have double of what I have now........what I have now is double what I really need........I have plenty - no regrets


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[44wheelman]

Just 2 that didn’t shoot as well as I wanted; 1969 T series high power, brand new 1993 bright stainless Python....both woulda been worth at least 3-4x what I sold them for.

Other interesting guns that I should have kept include a 1877 Winchester model 1873, 1900 win 1892, 1890’s Colt dbl bbl stage coach gun, & a 1903 Colt SAA, just because I’m not able to afford them at today’s prices. But that was all neat stuff I wasn’t going to use anyway.

[jeffrefrig]

1. My first shotgun Dad bought me. 16 gauge, single shot, Stevens, full choke, I got for Christmas when I was 11.
2. A model 870 12 gauge.
3. Marlin .30-30, 336 (I think) from the '40s. Got 2 deer with it.
Shutting down the steel mills was rough on us all in Western PA.

[Cellar Hound]

Early Interarms PPK...

Sold it a long time ago. Missed it so much that I bought one last year NIB. Only difference is that I paid four times as much for it.

[Dieseltech56]

I got rid of a 4 inch no dash 686 that I wish I had back. It had a cylinder that was slightly out of line and would tick a range rod on every chamber hole. It shot okay and didn’t spit but I had vowed to not keep any guns with issues. That was before I started tinkering and realized I could have fixed it myself.

[Stevens]

I have never sold any of mine. I still have the first one I bought, in 1966 a .22 H&R 900. I have 2 sons and 2 grandsons so I figure we'll just keep them in the family. Hopefully Uncle Sam will cooperate!
Steve W

[hittman77]

There are a few I regret not BUYING ..... honestly none I regret selling or trading. All the "gone" guns were (for the most part) enjoyed by me and served their purpose. It was time to move on.

I've never had a family heirloom gun but imagine I'd regret selling one.

[pawncop]

More than I care to recall.

Two are at the top of the list.

A model 19 and a 586 that were duty sidearms. Really wish I had them back.

[Mainsail]

Wish I had kept this one.

[jimmyj]

1. Dayton S&W Model 15 4" HB
2. U.S. Military issue Colt .32acp
3. DWM Navy P-08 Luger Dewey conversion
4. DWM 1915 P-08 Luger-all matching including two magazine
5. Camp Perry Model 1903 Springfield
6. S&W Model 13 3" RB
7. Winchester Model 1873 38/40 Rifle with original cleaning rod in butt stock trap
8. Winchester Model 92 38/40 Carbine
9. Winchester M1 Carbine-all original
10.M1 Carbine collection-one of each manufacturer
11. S&W Model 1950 .45acp Target
12. Model 1903 Springfield Sporter with 2.5 Redfield scope
13. S&W Model 1950 .45acp Military-nickeled with smoke pearl grips

[kmyers]

Browning Hi-Power Mark III I traded for the S&W model 25 we have here now. I wish I had kept the Browning and just paid for the Smith.

[The_Truth]

I had a Virginia State Police issued Model 64 4" SB at one point with a bronze Tgrip. Really regret letting that one go. Probably nothing special to most people, but it was a mate to my VSP 1076.

[Rpg]

I’m ashamed to say that I only regret selling one gun: a ‘70 series Gold Cup I sold to a friend at a good price.

He ended up reselling it.

My mistake was not conditioning the initial sale on my right of first refusal if he decided to sell it.

It’s a mistake I’ve never made again.

[reccpd101]

In 1978, I had an original Winchester 92 carbine that was professionally converted to 357 magnum. My wife's parents had issues and I had to change jobs and move closer to them. I had no surplus funds and sold all my guns but an airweight 38 to raise money for the move. I recently recovered my 66 2.5 inch that was my personal duty gun at the time. I know I'll never recover that Model 92 if I could find it. I regret selling the 92 but don't regret helping my in-laws. Their daughter & I have now been married 46 years.

[Drm50]

I don’t even want to talk about it. I dont look back, not because of spilled milk but the hundreds of guns I’ve owned wouldnt have be possible if I hadn’t traded. When I was at FT Bliss one guy had joined fast draw club in El Paso. He was on hunt for a gun to modify. He got a low serial number Ruger Black Hawk 44 and butchered it for the game.

[Ol' Drover]

A 44 Hand Ejector, Third Model, and probably a Wolf & Klar. The serial number on an old inventory card puts it within a couple hundred of the first of the third models to be shipped.

I traded for it in '68, carried it on duty for a while and then traded it for something I wanted more. Back then, it was not a classic or a collectible, just a used gun, but I still wish I had known better.

[vinny77]

No regrets, they come and they go. I stopped coveting when a life experience had me thinking I might not live to enjoy them. I beat it and now it’s just a lot of fun to buy and sell. What to really regret is this
redhead that I should have never let go!

[American1776]

two HK P7 PSPs. Should have kept them.

Ruger Alaskan in 454 Casull.

My two S&W model 58's.

My S&W model 539 which was NIB.

[sigp220.45]

At last count I had about a gross of guns in the house. I’ve probably owned three times as many. Buy, shoot, sell, trade, or keep. I look at guns as enjoyable certificates of deposit, to be cashed in as necessary. I don’t regret selling or trading a single one. Somebody else will own all of them someday, anyway.

[Hair Trigger]

I've sold several guns I've regretted letting go of in the years since, but only one that I have little to no hope of ever replacing. Back in about 1984, I bought a Daewoo K1A1 rifle; I sold it in 1998 to a friend that still has it. The picture isn't of the one I had, but mine was identical.

[ladder13]

Once they’re gone I hardly think of them. I sometimes think about what they’re worth today, but guns don’t/won’t fund my retirement, that’s already set.

[gasaman]

I had a NIB Colt (Custom Shop) Stainless 1911 70 series w/ high polish finish that I traded off for a Desert Eagle 44 mag.
That's my biggest regret in buying/selling firearms forays....

[The_Truth]

Originally Posted by ladder13

Once they’re gone I hardly think of them. I sometimes think about what they’re worth today, but guns don’t/won’t fund my retirement, that’s already set.

For some of us we accumulate when business is good just in case business is bad one day. I've got more money in my collection than I have money in the stock market.

[Andyd]

If I would have never sold or given away any gun, I would have far over 300 guns now. I still have way too many guns to shoot them regularly as it is.

I have not owned a gun that isn't replaceable but then, I am seeing firearms as firearms: made to be shot.

[THE PILGRIM]

That would be my Blue 19 that I bought in Guam and carried in SEA.
Nickel Gun never been West of Gallup.

[John Fugate]

I regret selling a new in the box Blue 1930’s 38/44 Smith Heavy Duty, it shipped with magnas. Absolute perfect gun 100%, no turnline or box rubs. Perfect box,, no upgrade possible in any possible direction. I just never sells guns like that once I put them in my collection. I owned the gun for roughly 20 years. The buyer which I had shown the gun to at a NRA event years ago nagged me to price it year after year. I finally opened my mouth and he bought it without flinching. Who pays 6500.00 for that gun, well he did. I am still sick about it. This is when it really hit me, it’s not about the money it’s about not having that gun I loved. It was a good lesson for me, never to price something unless you truly want to sell it. But I’ve been on the other side many times, I have way overpaid for stuff just because I wanted it. Buying with heart may not seem to be the wisest thing to do but what’s it worth to have what you really want. Gun collectors, real dyed in wool gun collectors know this feeling. Have you ever saw something and said ,, I’m going to own that, I don’t know what he wants for it, but I’m going to own it.

[stu1ritter]

In 1972 I was working at the Mercedes dealership in San Francisco and had F. Bob Chow build a fully accurized 1911 Colt Commander for me. I opened my own repair shop in Denver in 1975 and of course, money was very tight in the beginning and I had to sell it to keep the business going. Have always regretted letting it go.

Stu

[jamestx]

My 4” Nickel Python and my Colt LW Combat Commander my first carry gun.