Short of funds back then, and not enough space to list them all here now.

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No baby we aint

Well, in a moment of temporary sanity, I elected to replace a long lost 586 no dash, just have not held it yet. I check the USPS Tracking sight every hour on the hour. I hope credit card interest does not go too high before I pay it off.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Back in the early 70's, Dad, (RIP), was trying to decide between a Colt Series 70 in 38 Super and a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. Both were $125. Dad chose the Colt. I know, we should've bought both. Heavy sigh.

A 45 caliber Mac 10 semi-auto that fired from an open bolt. My friend was selling it about 40 years ago. It would just have been a cool gun to have.

You can never have too many .30 carbines !!

In the early 80’s had a buddy that was a factory rep for HK who had taken in about a dozen Colt M16’s on trade that had only been rack guns and never in the field… He needed help financing the deal and I made him a short term loan of 3K and two months later I got my 3K back and a free M16 as interest… Form 4’s were approved in about 2 months then. I could have had as many M16’s as I wanted for $300 each. Prior to the 86 MG ban, I sold mine for 2K.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

A few good ones slipped through my fingers over the years, but you can't have everything and I did well enough. I suppose, I would have liked a 9mm Luger and M1 carbine to look at, but no matter.

M2HB transferable…$15k new in the crate. Easily 5x that now.

I think a Ma Deuce HB would be a prize even at today's prices.

About every 3rd gen S&W Performance Center gun I ran into while the real PC shop was still making them. Especially a full size 945.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Browning HI-Power
Colt SAA
S&W Model 19 4"

Many other but those come to mind .

Savage 99 takedown in 250-3000.

In the mid 70s a gas station in the next town had 3 or 4 Colt New Service revolvers in .45 Colt and .44-40. All in good or better shape couple of 7.5"s and one 5". The most expensive was $295. I was driving a $500 truck, and wanted a .44 Special so...

About the same time I was offered a Whitney-Kennedy rifle in .45-60 for $150. New 94 Winchesters were going for $55. What did I want with an off brand gun in an obsolete caliber?

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I need ammo, not a ride.

About 1964, stopped to look at a Luger advertised in the local paper for $35. I was making $1.25 an hour, so...

And of course all those guns in the classified section or display ads in American Rifleman. Should have bought a car load of Webleys, Enfields, M1 Carbines, etc.

Wish a did not have that "trader impulse" back in the day myself. Guess we are guilty of it sometimes. kinda miss that $180 Model 19 snubby or the $125 Model 39-2 bought in the 70s.

I should have too, but I was only 12 years old.

A 20 gauge Ithaca model 37..........If I run across one now it's gonna be mine if I can afford it.

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S&W Accumulator

As a kid, that was the stuff of dreams.

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No baby we aint

Browsed a local shop about 20 years ago and there was a 12 ga. Beretta 686 Essential in the shotgun rack. Same gun as the Onyx and Silver Pigeon, but in basic blue metal. It came with several chokes and the box, and the price was $750, as I recall. With family finances tight, I passed. I told my wife about it, and she suggested I put it on layaway and pay over time. Naturally it was gone when I went back. Haven't seen one since for less than twice the price.

About 10 years ago I was in the Lapd gun store and I saw a beautiful Beretta cheetah 22 caliber in a presentation box for only $325 I knew back then that was gonna be worth a lot more one day but I just didn’t pull the trigger. Oh well…..thanks for reminding me!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...