Ever find a gun you thought you would never find or afford?
- Thread starter bushmaster1313
- Start date
A M21 Winchester with double triggers, ejectors and splinter fore end. It's hard to find one with those spec. but patience and paying too much finally paid off. Larry
model70hunter
Member
I think I saw your likeness on a poster in the post office.
Nice job. I would have too.
I've picked up a few nice ones from individuals over the years.
My wife and I stopped at a hard to deal with LGS in the STL Metro area. I have bought a couple of guns there but did not go there often.
I was picking up a few reloading items. As I paid an older gent was trying to sell them a pre 64 Model 70 in 30-06 I believe it was from 1939. Blue was 75-85% but the gent had shortened the stock and butchered putting the curved metal plate back on. The LGS did not want it at 400 and lowballed him, the bbl'd action was worth $400.
We left at the same time. And by changc we were parked next to each other. The gent was in his 70's. As an after thought I asked him what would he take. He said he'd pawed it before and only got $200. He needed more this time and would take 400. I've bought a couple over the years at 250 to 350 and that was over 20 years prior. I had 8 or 10 pre 64's at the house. I was thinking and he said his old time friend was coming to visit and he wanted to have a billfold full of cash so the guy wouldn't think he was hurting.
He went on to tell me another friend older than him had bought the gun new and he bought it years ago for deer hunting when his old buddy quit the woods.
He said give me 375, I said follow me to the ATM on the corner and I'll give you 400.
We both left happy. Oddly enough my wife never said a word about upping the price. Perhaps like I she thought pay it forward, some day we'll be old and perhaps need a break.
I cut the stock right and added a red Win pad. Refinished the stock and put a scope on it. I killed quite a few deer with it. Sold it with a bunch of pre 64's when I retired.
hangnoose
Member
FINDING THEM IS EASY.
I seem to find sweet deals all the time, more so when I'm broke, before Christmas, the wife's birthday, our anniversary, Mothers day. Paying for them is the hard part. If you go by income, then I'd not be able to afford 90+% of the 25 or so I have now. I missed a sweet deal on an Anchutz 22lr target rifle by app 10 seconds. I did snag a 1974-78 (without getting the paperwork) nib Remington 40 X in 223 with a Leupold fixed 24x benchrest scope for 1,000$. That was a tough negotiation with multiple interested buyers. Beginning asking was around 1500$, but the seller mentioned he was going to Vegas & we would continue bidding when he got back. Who is gonna say no to 1,000 cash when they are heading out the door for Vegas?
I seem to find sweet deals all the time, more so when I'm broke, before Christmas, the wife's birthday, our anniversary, Mothers day. Paying for them is the hard part. If you go by income, then I'd not be able to afford 90+% of the 25 or so I have now. I missed a sweet deal on an Anchutz 22lr target rifle by app 10 seconds. I did snag a 1974-78 (without getting the paperwork) nib Remington 40 X in 223 with a Leupold fixed 24x benchrest scope for 1,000$. That was a tough negotiation with multiple interested buyers. Beginning asking was around 1500$, but the seller mentioned he was going to Vegas & we would continue bidding when he got back. Who is gonna say no to 1,000 cash when they are heading out the door for Vegas?
loeman
Member
Just two come to mind. First a pristine and early commercial Sig P210 made in 1952 with original but ratty box. I paid $500 for it about 15 years ago.
More recently I had just about given up trying to find a superb but reasonably priced HK P7 with box, docs etc. when I walked into a LGS and found one on consignment for $600. I don't think it was ever fired. Sorry, I don't have a pic of it.
Sig P210 (1952)
More recently I had just about given up trying to find a superb but reasonably priced HK P7 with box, docs etc. when I walked into a LGS and found one on consignment for $600. I don't think it was ever fired. Sorry, I don't have a pic of it.
Sig P210 (1952)
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Back in the 1980s, I was visiting Redstone Arsenal, taking a computer course. On the weekend I did the gun and pawn shops in Huntsville. I was in 'Paul's Pistol Parlor', which had mostly shotguns (I think it's shotguns only for deer in Alabama). Next to the door a customer was talking to the guy behind the counter. The latter said: "Here's Kaiser Bill's Pistol' and handed this obviously European revolver to the customer. I wasn't too intrested in European revolvers, but when the customer cocked it and that mainspring guide came out the front of the pistol, I almost soiled myself.
I waited until the customer had left and asked to see the pistol. It was a Mauser solid frame Zig Zag. I bought it for $150. When I got it home, it had one more surprise: a 44 cleaning rod wouldn't go down the bore; it was a 9mm (DWM #6).
Hinged frame zig-zags are scarce enough, and bring well up into four figures. But at one time I beat the bushes enthusiastically for zig-zag data, and only found three other solid frames, the highest serial number being 65. Mine is the ONLY 9mm solid frame I've ever been able to locate, and it's SN 4. It's in excellent condition, but is missing the ejector rod which is retained by a catch under the barrel and extends back through the cylinder pivot shaft.
The cartridge is identical to the 38 special but about 1/4 inch shorter. I made up some and shot it with light loads of smokeless. Winced every time I pulled the trigger, and quit after a little while. I wouldn't mind shooting it with black powder, however. It would be hard to get accuracy, as the bullet is a heel type, the same diameter as the cartridge.
I waited until the customer had left and asked to see the pistol. It was a Mauser solid frame Zig Zag. I bought it for $150. When I got it home, it had one more surprise: a 44 cleaning rod wouldn't go down the bore; it was a 9mm (DWM #6).
Hinged frame zig-zags are scarce enough, and bring well up into four figures. But at one time I beat the bushes enthusiastically for zig-zag data, and only found three other solid frames, the highest serial number being 65. Mine is the ONLY 9mm solid frame I've ever been able to locate, and it's SN 4. It's in excellent condition, but is missing the ejector rod which is retained by a catch under the barrel and extends back through the cylinder pivot shaft.
The cartridge is identical to the 38 special but about 1/4 inch shorter. I made up some and shot it with light loads of smokeless. Winced every time I pulled the trigger, and quit after a little while. I wouldn't mind shooting it with black powder, however. It would be hard to get accuracy, as the bullet is a heel type, the same diameter as the cartridge.
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I found this 5 screw Pre-29 at a small shop in the mid-90s. I knew at the time that the barrel length was probably not correct. I traded in a 29-3 with an 8 3/8" barrel, to help lower the price a bit.
After taking it home, I sent away for a factory letter, which was my first factory latter, and it came back stating that the pistol originally was shipped in 1956 with a 6.5" barrel, then sent back to the factory and had the then new 8 3/8" barrel put on and returned to the owner in the presentation case. I have since found out from Doc44 here on this forum that the case is quite rare by itself.
I also never thought I would have an engraved pistols either, but this 1st Model, 3rd Issue followed me home a few years later. Sent for a factory letter on this one as well, which was my second factory letter, and found out it left the factory 1872 as an engraved pistol.
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I have acquired two (2) sidearms I did not think I would ever own.
A 1940 Mauser Luger and a H&K P7M8.
There are so many I would love to have and who knows, the quest continues.
But remember, the joy is in the quest.
A 1940 Mauser Luger and a H&K P7M8.
There are so many I would love to have and who knows, the quest continues.
But remember, the joy is in the quest.
SilentKnight
Member
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I inherited an 1886 original Winchester 45-70. It is a shooter but kicks like a mule. No pad. About 5 rounds and you have trouble not flinching when shooting targets. Accurate but you have to shoot it to be good with it. Needs 405 grain bullets like it was meant to shoot. Pushing that much out of it hurts on paper targets. I love it. Heavy in the field. Full length tube. One of my most prized possessions. Good friend left it to me. God bless him.
Have read about the 2nd Boer War 1893 Mausers many times over 40 years or so, and how the Boers used them to teach the British a thing or two about long range accuracy. In all this time have never seen one until last month. Sitting pitifully in the "junk gun" rack at my favorite pawn shop. The nasty varnish and the stock carving surely didn't help matters...unless you know that the Boers sometimes did carve their buttstocks! A couple weeks of cleaning and "non original" varnish removal... and:
The owner's names were often removed as a precaution when the Brits started hanging Boers that they could link to the insurrection via their firearms. Seems to be the case here.
Bore's cleaning up nicely, too, and headspacing is spot on.
Markings and serial number (380) confirm that it was part of a commercial DWM contract of 10,000 that went to South Africa in 1897.
More exciting find than my Lemat and, maybe, my Remington Model 10 trench gun, both of which were good and severely underpriced acquisitions!
The owner's names were often removed as a precaution when the Brits started hanging Boers that they could link to the insurrection via their firearms. Seems to be the case here.
Bore's cleaning up nicely, too, and headspacing is spot on.
Markings and serial number (380) confirm that it was part of a commercial DWM contract of 10,000 that went to South Africa in 1897.
More exciting find than my Lemat and, maybe, my Remington Model 10 trench gun, both of which were good and severely underpriced acquisitions!
Same here. I waited forty years to get a nice SXS. My Beretta 471 is fabulous! Not top of the line, but perfect for me.
From the comments I get in the field, many others have the same dream.
Yes........ luck is a good thing..................
Registered Mag. at a early 2000s 6" 28 price.
My carry 3" 66............ unrecognized as a uncommon barrel length....... listed on tag as 2 1/2"
A couple of model 17s used but not abused.
A 98%+ Pre 39 that brought 4X's what I paid for it.
course it took decades.......................
Registered Mag. at a early 2000s 6" 28 price.
My carry 3" 66............ unrecognized as a uncommon barrel length....... listed on tag as 2 1/2"
A couple of model 17s used but not abused.
A 98%+ Pre 39 that brought 4X's what I paid for it.
course it took decades.......................
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mg357
Absent Comrade
Yes
For years and years I have been a fan of the Andy Griffith show and I wanted a Colt official police .38 caliber revolver just the like the one barney carried.
And for years and years I searched and I searched but no luck on those rare occasions I did see one it was to expensive.
Then one day I went to this little mom & pop gun shop in Pekin Illinois that I visit regularly and their in one of the display case's was a colt official police .38 caliber revolver with a 4 inch barrel and nickel finish for $200.
I examined that gun and I said to myself "Aside from the finish this is the exact same revolver that Barney fife carried."
That same day I went home counted my gun fund money and I had exactly $200 in the fund so I called the store and asked them to hold the gun for me and that I would be down their the next day to buy it.
The next day after breakfast dad and I got into his truck and he took every shortcut he knew between our house and that gun store.
When the store opened I went in their point out the gun in the display case the nice lady behind the counter took it out of the case I handed her the money.
after the paperwork and the back round check was done I was the proud owner of a Colt official police .38 caliber.
I sold it a few years later because my family needed the money after I sold it I cried and cursed for over a week. And to this day all these years later whenever I go to a gun store I look for it hoping and praying to find it.
For years and years I have been a fan of the Andy Griffith show and I wanted a Colt official police .38 caliber revolver just the like the one barney carried.
And for years and years I searched and I searched but no luck on those rare occasions I did see one it was to expensive.
Then one day I went to this little mom & pop gun shop in Pekin Illinois that I visit regularly and their in one of the display case's was a colt official police .38 caliber revolver with a 4 inch barrel and nickel finish for $200.
I examined that gun and I said to myself "Aside from the finish this is the exact same revolver that Barney fife carried."
That same day I went home counted my gun fund money and I had exactly $200 in the fund so I called the store and asked them to hold the gun for me and that I would be down their the next day to buy it.
The next day after breakfast dad and I got into his truck and he took every shortcut he knew between our house and that gun store.
When the store opened I went in their point out the gun in the display case the nice lady behind the counter took it out of the case I handed her the money.
after the paperwork and the back round check was done I was the proud owner of a Colt official police .38 caliber.
I sold it a few years later because my family needed the money after I sold it I cried and cursed for over a week. And to this day all these years later whenever I go to a gun store I look for it hoping and praying to find it.
Bill Bates
Member
This one: a pre Model 45 .22 LR "Post Office gun". Sure it isn't in great condition but that condition put it at a price level most of us could live with and many would jump all over.
Yep a couple of times, but about a month ago I scored a slightly defective Lawson 650 Mountaineer in 300WM. I've been wanting a full blown Lawson custom rifle since I was 13 years old... only took 27 years to find one I could reasonably afford. Picked it up the day before my 40th birthday. Can't tell from the horrible cell phone pics, but the epoxy finish on the stock is spiderwebbing. I might send it back to Lawson to have them refinish it, or I may just live with the disfigurement and make it my go to hunting rifle - the damage is purely cosmetic.
I recently traded into a S&W Model 64 (No dash). I had been wanting one for a long time and got lucky finding this one:
Me too! Exact same gun, pencil bbl Model 64 I had first seen in 1972. 40 years later, I walked into one NIB. Almost like a time capsule.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Oh, I got another one. I was checking the counter at an LGS, and spotted a Browning Medalist. LNIB. I had wanted one decades before, and there it was. Did some dealing, and got a good price on it.
Should I shoot it? HAH! I violated it like a teenage boy. Love to shoot it, but, lately, my M41 has been getting more trigger time.
Should I shoot it? HAH! I violated it like a teenage boy. Love to shoot it, but, lately, my M41 has been getting more trigger time.
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I have a Browning T2 T-bolt from the 1960s I bought new. It has the *** salt stock. Many years ago, I stripped off the factory shiny stuff, and oil finished the stock. It turned out super. You might consider that for your Lawson.
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Frank237
Absent Comrade
I've been fortunate to find several additions to the collection I never thought I'd find or afford.
Found a shooter grade 3" M-66-2 at a local show listed as a 2 1/2" gun. Snagged it for a bargain price. Had wanted one for about ten years.
At the Reno show five years back I fell into not one, but a pair of very nice pre M-29's, both 6 1/2" blued guns. One was an estate sale gun in the black cardboard presentation case. The other was a solid, original gun that had been used but not abused. Had I not found those two guns when I did, I doubt I could have afforded either of them even a few years later.
As I have luckily filled voids in the S&W revolver collection my WANTED items became the rarer models. Both tougher to find as well as expensive. One of these was an early Combat Magnum. I'd always been a fan of the CM but all of mine were later 19's and 66's.
I luckily found a very early CM last year at the Reno Show. Wrong stocks, but I also found a proper set of period correct stocks for a fair price at the same show.
Found a shooter grade 3" M-66-2 at a local show listed as a 2 1/2" gun. Snagged it for a bargain price. Had wanted one for about ten years.
At the Reno show five years back I fell into not one, but a pair of very nice pre M-29's, both 6 1/2" blued guns. One was an estate sale gun in the black cardboard presentation case. The other was a solid, original gun that had been used but not abused. Had I not found those two guns when I did, I doubt I could have afforded either of them even a few years later.
As I have luckily filled voids in the S&W revolver collection my WANTED items became the rarer models. Both tougher to find as well as expensive. One of these was an early Combat Magnum. I'd always been a fan of the CM but all of mine were later 19's and 66's.
I luckily found a very early CM last year at the Reno Show. Wrong stocks, but I also found a proper set of period correct stocks for a fair price at the same show.
I tend to have an affinity for rarer items, particularly custom-action German Weatherby Mk Vs with 26" bbls (specific enough for ya?)
The majority of the custom-action Mk Vs are either 24" guns or Japanese mfg. I've also been able to track down some of the rarer pre-ban rifles, particularly Belgian FALs and Valmets.
The majority of the custom-action Mk Vs are either 24" guns or Japanese mfg. I've also been able to track down some of the rarer pre-ban rifles, particularly Belgian FALs and Valmets.
george_lehr
Member
I Just did a couple weeks ago, but didn't even know it until I got it home. A model 624 Lew Horton Combat Special.
Pics below; complete story here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...453331-even-blind-squirrel.html#post138814670
George
Pics below; complete story here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...453331-even-blind-squirrel.html#post138814670
George
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model70hunter
Member
I once had a collection of Weatherby rifles. Some of the early mauser action and German ones had the spider webbing.
The first was a Mauser action with a very low SN in 270 WBY. It shot like a lazer. I loved the gun, my Dad gave me his pre 64 Win M-70. Every year he'd ask if I killed my deer with his gun. I had to say no. I sold the WBY so I would use the old M-70 and killed my largest wall hanger with it. I now use the M70 until I take the 1st deer.
The WBY had the gloss finish with the spider web cracks, I hate shiny stocks and have always used 4 oooo steel wool to knock the shine off and then polish it well with rubbing compound and then stock wax. It leaves a hand rubbed oil finish look.
When I did it on the WBY to rid it of the shiny stock most of the webbing also vanished. With the satin sheen it was still there but not as heavy and harder too see.
I also did that to my German 300 WBY, a Browning BAR and a few others. I liked the results.
I remember reading about the Larson and always kept an eye open but never found one.
I tape off the checkering and work the stock down a little, don't take all the Polyurathane off.
I am a little different than most, I shoot my guns. I have a sneaking hunch that was what they were made for.
COLT PYTHON .357 from 1978
I found it at a gun show in Des Moines and SHMBO just happened to have the check book in her purse....bless her little ole heart!
I found it at a gun show in Des Moines and SHMBO just happened to have the check book in her purse....bless her little ole heart!
When I was a young man I had the chance to shoot Korth revolvers of affluent friends and was impressed by the obvious quality and amazing double action trigger.
I had lusted for a Korth for 30 years before I bought one.
A couple of years ago I decided to start a small collection and have no buyer's remorse in this case.
I had lusted for a Korth for 30 years before I bought one.
A couple of years ago I decided to start a small collection and have no buyer's remorse in this case.
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Ever find a gun you thought you would never see again?
When I turned 16 in 1959, I could legally own a rifle where I lived. I walked over to a local hardware store, plunked down my saved up newspaper and caddie money, and happily carried a Marlin 39A with a 4x Marlin scope back to my house. Forward to 1975, I moved into a new (to me) house where I met a wonderful couple who lived across the street. They were my parents' age, and became like a 2nd mother and father away from home. Forward to ~1990 - I had moved, they had moved, but we stayed in touch. One day he told me that squirrels were destroying his bird feeders, but he couldn't hit them with his Marlin bolt .22 because had knocked the scope out of zero. I gave him my rifle to use while I took his to re-zero it for him. It took longer than I expected because one of the mount screws was stripped, and between that and lots of work travel, a year or two passed. When I took the repaired rifle back, the new owners of his house told me he moved because his wife had a terminal illness, but didn't know where. I could not find a phone or a tax record for him. His first and last names were very common. After some more years, I remembered him mentioning a son by name. No record of him either. In 2013, while using the internet for genealogy, I stumbled upon my friend's obituary, where two more sons were named. No phone listings for them either. The obit mentioned that one son worked for the state Attorney General's office. I called the office - bingo - it was the right one. He told me that my friend and his wife moved in with the oldest son, hence no public record, that they both had passed on, and that he didn't have the gun. He gave me a contact for the other sons, and after 3 cancelled meet-ups, we made a connection and swapped; I had my first gun back after ~20 years, and he had his father's gun.
For years, I despaired of ever getting my first gun back, and it's now not ever going out without me. It's back in the corner, in its case, where it's never run out and shot anybody in 56 years.
When I turned 16 in 1959, I could legally own a rifle where I lived. I walked over to a local hardware store, plunked down my saved up newspaper and caddie money, and happily carried a Marlin 39A with a 4x Marlin scope back to my house. Forward to 1975, I moved into a new (to me) house where I met a wonderful couple who lived across the street. They were my parents' age, and became like a 2nd mother and father away from home. Forward to ~1990 - I had moved, they had moved, but we stayed in touch. One day he told me that squirrels were destroying his bird feeders, but he couldn't hit them with his Marlin bolt .22 because had knocked the scope out of zero. I gave him my rifle to use while I took his to re-zero it for him. It took longer than I expected because one of the mount screws was stripped, and between that and lots of work travel, a year or two passed. When I took the repaired rifle back, the new owners of his house told me he moved because his wife had a terminal illness, but didn't know where. I could not find a phone or a tax record for him. His first and last names were very common. After some more years, I remembered him mentioning a son by name. No record of him either. In 2013, while using the internet for genealogy, I stumbled upon my friend's obituary, where two more sons were named. No phone listings for them either. The obit mentioned that one son worked for the state Attorney General's office. I called the office - bingo - it was the right one. He told me that my friend and his wife moved in with the oldest son, hence no public record, that they both had passed on, and that he didn't have the gun. He gave me a contact for the other sons, and after 3 cancelled meet-ups, we made a connection and swapped; I had my first gun back after ~20 years, and he had his father's gun.
For years, I despaired of ever getting my first gun back, and it's now not ever going out without me. It's back in the corner, in its case, where it's never run out and shot anybody in 56 years.
I had posted this before but it sure fits in here.
I went to a local gun shop to try the feel of a Ruger revolver. As the gent behind the counter opened the case to reach for the Ruger, parked next to it was a S&W with a tag that read K-32 at $600.00. I looked up at the gent and told him I'd take the S&W. He then told me "You know the barrel has been cut down from 6" to the 4" I saw in the case". I said I didn't care. He then told me the grips didn't number. I told him I didn't care. I bought the 5 screw K-32 with the 4" barrel. Turned out to be one of ten K-32 Combat Masterpieces built in 1949. Lettered as K.32 Masterpiece Pre-Model 16. There were 10 built and the factory charged $6.00 to cut the barrels down to 4".
I went to a local gun shop to try the feel of a Ruger revolver. As the gent behind the counter opened the case to reach for the Ruger, parked next to it was a S&W with a tag that read K-32 at $600.00. I looked up at the gent and told him I'd take the S&W. He then told me "You know the barrel has been cut down from 6" to the 4" I saw in the case". I said I didn't care. He then told me the grips didn't number. I told him I didn't care. I bought the 5 screw K-32 with the 4" barrel. Turned out to be one of ten K-32 Combat Masterpieces built in 1949. Lettered as K.32 Masterpiece Pre-Model 16. There were 10 built and the factory charged $6.00 to cut the barrels down to 4".
They say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut
In close to 40 years of admiring these fine firearms, there are many Smith and Wessons that I am surprised I have found. This includes ones that I was actively seeking and others that simply appeared. Here are some fo my favorites:
One of the Master Engraved Deluxe Texas Ranger Commemoratives.
One of the Deluxe Texas Sesquicentennial Commemoratives.
One of the engraved, Nickel, model 45s
A 649 from the first day of production. One of the 25 selected to become a Special Engraved Limited Edition
Not only a 3566 Limited, but the one that had the second Performance Center fitted top end for shooting 40 S&W.
An unissued Rhode Island State Police model 66 with the factory installed lanyard loop
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rburg
Member
I see you still have the peep sight mounted. I've got one like yours, bought new by me in 1966. When I see them at gun shows and such, they never have the sight or single shot pieces. The T2 had the longer barrel and was nearly target gun accurate. Its been my go to 22 for the last 49 years.. coming up on 50.
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