Close But No Cigar: The Guns You Settled For

RayRay7 · Nov 13, 2020

I recently bought the 75th edition of Gun Digest, which prompted me to pull out the 50th edition that my dad bought me as a kid. I had poured over all the pages endlessly in those years. That book, along with many magazines, paved the way for my ‘bucket list/holy grails’.

But we all know that we don’t always get what we want. It could be funding, timing, rarity, etc.; sometimes it’s just not meant to be.

And sometimes, we settle for something that’s just close enough...

This is an ad from that 50th edition of the digest on the then recently introduced 640 in .357. Always wanted one, but never got it. Instead, I’ve picked up a 642pc and a 340 to date.

I still hope to get one...one day.

Let’s see ‘em - what have you settled with? A 25-5 when you wanted a 29-6, a CS40 when you wanted a Shorty Forty (both real examples for me).

max503 · Nov 13, 2020

A Taurus PT 92. I wanted a CZ 75 but they cost way more. I like the Taurus but it has rails and I don't like rails.

Patrick L · Nov 13, 2020

A 6 inch blued Model 27-2 when I really wanted a nickel long tom. It was the first 27 I actually found after about a year of searching. Man people just weren't getting rid of them!

BUT, I finally got my shiny long one, and now am glad I got both!

TTSH · Nov 13, 2020

RayRay7 said:
Close But No Cigar: The Guns You Settled For

Oh, lots and lots of compromises.

I live in loony moonbat Massachusetts, so often it's a case of what they allow you to buy vs. what you really want.

Top 5 examples:

1) I wanted a 6" Colt Python. I settled for a 6" S&W Model 586

2) I wanted a Browning Hi-Power. I settled for a Tisas Hi-Power clone.

3) I wanted a late production Model 4506-1. I settled for an early production Model 4506 (No Dash).

4) I wanted a Model 5903TSW FS. I settled for a Model 5906 AS

5) I wanted a 10-round Sig P227. I settled for a 10-round Rock Island 1911A2

two-bit cowboy · Nov 13, 2020

After the Chiefs Special bug bit me I poured through the
old Chiefs threads like you read that old "bible."

S&W made the original Baby Chiefs Specials from 1950 - 1954

My want list grew exponentially.

- I wanted a nickel Baby Chiefs. (still looking)

- I wanted a square butt Baby Chiefs. (still looking)

- I wanted a 3" Baby Chiefs.

One day while I was searching the auction sites, I saw this ad:
“Smith & Wesson model 36 38S&W spl”.

Well, it wasn't a Model 36 -- they didn't appear till '58 -- but it
was a 3" Baby Chiefs Special. It was rusted, had a broken
hammer, and it seemed not many folks were interested.

I won it for $238.

I had a 3" Baby Chiefs, but I settled for an abused one.

My lgs felt so badly for me he didn't even charge his normal
transfer fee.

I cleaned it up.

I found and bought a nearly pristine 3" Baby Chiefs Special
about a year later.

Then a funny thing happened.

The one I settled for has now become my favorite off all my
Chiefs. It's a year younger than me, and its character seems to
tell the story of my life: old 'n' crusty, but I'm told I clean up
well.

RayRay7 · Nov 13, 2020

I feel your pain - we have to deal with the roster over here in CA plus the premium for almost everything...makes finding the cool stuff a bit harder.

TTSH said:
Oh, lots and lots of compromises. I live in loony moonbat Massachusetts, so often it's a case of what they allow you to buy vs. what you really want.

Top 5 examples:

1) I wanted a 6" Colt Python. I settled for a 6" S&W Model 586

2) I wanted a Browning Hi-Power. I settled for a Tisas Hi-Power clone.

3) I wanted a late production Model 4506-1. I settled for an early production Model 4506 (No Dash).

4) I wanted a Model 5903TSW FS. I settled for a Model 5906 AS

5) I wanted a 10-round Sig P227. I settled for a 10-round Rock Island 1911A2

max503 · Nov 13, 2020

Always wanted a 2 inch round butt S&W Model 10. Ended up with a Taurus 605.

Drm50 · Nov 13, 2020

I might waver a little on barrel length but not model or make. When I was young teenager had two buddies in early 20s and they worked in Alloy Mill.
Both had bought Hawks 44 mag SAs. I worked after school in a grocery store and only made $40 week. Saved up the money for the Hawes over couple months. Big day came to go get my Hawes. Got to LGS and had my money in hand when I saw Ruger SBH. Lost interest in Hawes instantly. The SBH was about double the price. I laid my money down on the Ruger.
Took another month or so but I think we’ll worth it. Both buddies ended up trading on SBHs. Since always hold out for the top shelf gun. It doesn’t have to be new to be better than cheap knockoffs.

Rpg · Nov 13, 2020

I always wanted a Holland & Holland or Purdey double shotgun but started with a Stevens 311 when I was 12.

Over the years, the closest I’ve come is Jeffrey, Reilly and Parker guns.

Buford57 · Nov 13, 2020

As a young officer I wanted a 5" M27 with a 2.5" M19 as a BUG/OD. The M27 was way out of my price range and the M19 was unobtainable in my area at the time. In the end I traded a pre-war M&P 6" and a Remington 870 for a 4" M28. My fiance bought me a 2" Colt Lawman MK III as an engagement present. I never regretted either. 42 years with the girl, for whom I did NOT have to settle.

stansdds · Nov 13, 2020

Back in the late 80's, I wanted a Tanfoglio TZ-75 Series 88 in 9x19mm with the extra .41AE barrel and magazine in the optional hard chrome finish. Ordered one and waited... and waited... and waited until one gun show where I found a brand new, blued TZ-75 Series 88 in 9x19. Might be just as well, the 41AE turned out to be a problematic feeder and is now relegated to the dust bin of calibers.

For a while, i really wanted a S&W Model 57, blued, six inch barrel. Never found one, but I did buy a Ruger Super Redhawk, which is accurate, handles any safe 44 Magnum load and is quite accurate.

Modified · Nov 13, 2020

Well dang, I had to think about this. I've settled for quite a few guns..

Starting off...I want this one:

but I have settled for these four (so far):

I guess I am just going to have to keep on settling for more of these as I come across them.

I wanted this gun...

Couldn't afford it (big surprise).

Settled for a..."knockoff":

which turned out later to be maybe the original...or certainly not a knockoff..

I wanted this gorgeous pair (in the 2015 Keith auction):

But that hammer price was just out of range no matter what I did.

So I had to settle for his 1911:

petepeterson · Nov 13, 2020

TTSH said:
Oh, lots and lots of compromises. I live in loony moonbat Massachusetts, so often it's a case of what they allow you to buy vs. what you really want.

Top 5 examples:

1) I wanted a 6" Colt Python. I settled for a 6" S&W Model 586

2) I wanted a Browning Hi-Power. I settled for a Tisas Hi-Power clone.

3) I wanted a late production Model 4506-1. I settled for an early production Model 4506 (No Dash).

4) I wanted a Model 5903TSW FS. I settled for a Model 5906 AS

5) I wanted a 10-round Sig P227. I settled for a 10-round Rock Island 1911A2

You wanted to live in America. You settled for the Northeast!

NYlakesider · Nov 13, 2020

Back in the early 1970s after about two years of fighting the buracaucy, I was authorized by the state to get/posses/own/shoot a handgun.

I had done my homework and had shot friends guns and for my first gun I wanted a Model 19 4''. Well so did just about every other pistol shooter and I tried to find one either new or good used. Stopped in again to a local LGS and he told me no dice, I do not even have a Colt, but I do have a brand new on the market Ruger Security Six.357 in 4'' want to see it. I said no I want a double action not a cowboy gun. He laughed and said I will go in the back and get it for you

I immediately like it, it felt good, he gave me a few bucks off and who knows when I might find a 19 I bought it. Gun worked out fine, fit the same holster as a Smith. Still have it and only a few years ago I sort of got a Model 19. I purchased a 66 2 1/2

Hey you never know!

MetalMan · Nov 13, 2020

Wanted a 60-10 but ended up with a 60-15.

Great carry piece and accurate shooter...but oh that lock....

BigBill · Nov 13, 2020

I wanted a ruger Redhawk 41 mag/5.5” barrel in stainless and a Redhawk 357 mag/5.5” barrel in stainless. I settled for a s&w m57/6” a s&w m58/4” in 41 mag in nickel. Soon after the RedHawks show up, go figure.
A while back I wanted a new s&w m29-10 in nickel 6.5” barrel. I settled for a new s&w m29-10/6.5” in blue still unshot nib. For $699. A guy bought it and pawned it. I been wanting to get it nickeled along with my m28-0/6” hp 357.

tom turner · Nov 13, 2020

Looking for my 1st 1911 in .45ACP back in the early '80s, I bumped into and old retired combat infantry E-8 and asked his advice.

He'd ended up with a couple of government models from back in the day and would part with one it I wanted it. His main one was a Colt, and he'd acquired the other from a GI years ago but it was another make he couldn't recall, for several companies made them for Uncle Sam.

Naturally, I'd prefer a Colt but the other brand, made on contract would do fine I guess. Pressing for a make he said, they mainly made sewing machines, but he'd pull in out and call me back about the make for sure.

I called my brother, who had been into firearms for years and he exclaimed, "Did he say SINGER," and I replied yes. I then found out just how rare of a firearm it was!

Umm . . . calling the gentleman the next day, he'd pulled it out and discovered what he had too!

Alas, I settled for a nearly new Colt Combat Elite for $500 that was for sale locally . . . a 1st generation Colt Combat Elite which became quite a competition 1911 for me. I missed out on a Singer, but regretted later selling a great race gun after more modifications to a fine Colt 1911.

CQB27 · Nov 13, 2020

Since I was a kid reading the "SGT Rock of Easy Company" comic books I always wanted a Thompson Sub Machine Gun.

Never got one, and I reckon I never will. What did I settle for? Nothing comes close to a M1/M1A1 Thompson, so I guess I settled for not getting everything I want in life. I'm pretty happy these days with my small firearms collection anyway.

RayRay7 · Nov 13, 2020

Keep them comin’!

As a teen, I really wanted any smith N frame in .44 mag. Finally shot my first one at a demo day at the old Santa Anita range; it was a 629-4 mountain gun. I still have the target. At that same demo day they had a few for sale; I really wanted the mountain gun and/or this one 29-6. Alas, it was pricier that what my dad could afford at the time. Months later, we walked out of a Turners with a brand new Colt Anaconda...because if was a couple hundred bucks cheaper at the time.

The 25-5 was my first N frame years after I graduated college and I was working full time.

I also wanted a 657, and a Ruger SBH Hunter (thanks to Larry Kelly and JD Jones) - I’ve made due with a nickel 57 and a bisley hunter in .41, and got a regular SBH for fun...

Still working on that .44 N frame:

Rammer Jammer · Nov 13, 2020

I'm with you, better to hold out and buy exactly what you want then to compromise. Last year I decided on getting my first single action. I thought I was going to buy a Ruger Wrangler and enter single action ownership pretty simply with a cheap 22, but then I went whole hog and got myself a Talo special edition 44 Special stainless steel Black Hawk. Don't regret it one bit, my flattop is far superior to any Wrangler and just a few months ago I had the cash to pick up a Wrangler on the cheap and though I like it, I'm glad I went big and got myself the flattop first.

Drm50 said:
I might waver a little on barrel length but not model or make. When I was young teenager had two buddies in early 20s and they worked in Alloy Mill.
Both had bought Hawks 44 mag SAs. I worked after school in a grocery store and only made $40 week. Saved up the money for the Hawes over couple months. Big day came to go get my Hawes. Got to LGS and had my money in hand when I saw Ruger SBH. Lost interest in Hawes instantly. The SBH was about double the price. I laid my money down on the Ruger.
Took another month or so but I think we’ll worth it. Both buddies ended up trading on SBHs. Since always hold out for the top shelf gun. It doesn’t have to be new to be better than cheap knockoffs.

Close But No Cigar: The Guns You Settled For

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