Ever find a gun you thought you would never find or afford?

[625smith]

Lots of nice stories and firearms! I too have gotten lucky to find some. I found a 952 6" heavy slide online before the crazy prices. I also found a 646 at a Gander Mountain store. The clerk said to me "Why would anyone want a revolver in 40 S&W ?" I told him that I would be happy to take it off his hands!

 

[gen3guy]

I always wanted a Beretta Model 84. Not that they were particularly rare, but they were about $100 more than a new Model 92. After I quit smoking, my wife told me that I could spend a year's worth of cigarette money on anything I wanted. She didn't realize that smokes were $6 a pack. I got a new Model 84 and a Glock 21! Beretta has since stopped marketing the 84 in the U.S.

 

[jaymoore]

Possibly the least likely firearm that I "ought" to have is this:

An orginal LeMat!

It was missing the loading assembly (fairly common with these revolvers, apparently) and the selector spring was broken, but otherwise in very good shape. Having some new springs fitted, so maybe it'll get some range time this year.

 

[LLOYD17]

Triple Lock Target at a gun show and a price I had enough cash for. I love the re-blue as it's the only way I could afford it.

 

[fyimo]

I walked into a gun show about 8 years ago right when it opened and I found this S&W Model 17-4 with 8 3/8 inch barrel for $500. I bought it and it is my most accurate S&W revolver. I added the combat grips to dress it up a little bit and it's my favorite S&W revolver.
17-4

 

[primersp]

As&w16_4 ,6 inches ,rcbs dies, 3 lyman molds,500 starline 32mag cases new,some 32 long for350€,when i see the add on a board at thé range club,i take off and phone thé guy, it was 3 years that he wants sold thé revolver

 

[wundudnee]

Not the rarest or the most scarce, but the condition was excellent. Early one line, S serial#, 2" M&P. An older guy was carrying this around a gun show and about four guys were looking at it. I heard him say he wouldn't take less than $275.00 for it. I about had a nervous break down until the four guys handed it back to him.

I asked to see it, gave it a very quick look and told the seller to please hold it while I get my money out. I didn't argue the price.

Or maybe this model 57 for $400.00

 

[Muley Gil]

"(I think it's shotguns only for deer in Alabama)."

Not true. You can hunt deer with rifles, shotguns, handguns and muzzleloaders in Sweet Home Alabama. Certain limitations apply.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Here are three:

The Ithaca 4E was one of the few that ever come up on Gunbroker without a very high starting/reserve price

I got the Winchester 94 Riot in trade for a .308 Winchester 88 that I fired three times before I said never again.

I paid market price for the 1949 Model 70 in .257 Roberts. I never thought I would spend that kind of money for a gun.

 

[Arik]

Sure! This isn't anything fancy but Strictly utilitarian. Always wanted a HK USP 45. They are expensive, even used they are in the $600 range plus mags are $60 ea. Well right before new years my LGS took in two tone USP 45 that was a former police gun. It had some slide wear but I don't care about those things, plus it came with 3 extra mags and was priced under $400. On top of that I found CDNN had had HK 12 round mags for $40ea!!!

 

[CO_Kid]

No way I could afford one unless I save for years and years, but I'd love to have a martial Colt SAA.

 

[Skeet 028]

A few have come my way..I found a nice 27-2 3 1/2 incher at a gun show for 575 bucks. I also lucked into a New Ithaca Double engraved gun in 28 ga...for under 1000 bucks...one of only 6 or 7 made. Thinking of selling it when I get back east

 

[steamloco76]

One really stands out. I found a .38/44 Outdoorsman at the gun shop one mile from my house. They didn't realize what they had!
Solid 90% plus condition with a Call gold bead front sight and its original walnut service stocks. I had it lettered and it shipped in 1934.

 

[SuperMan]

Several that I can think of....

Back in the early 1970s when I had just started handgun shooting I wanted a S&W Model 53 .22 Jet with an extra rimfire cylinder. Looked for four years before my friend finally spotted one in a shop in Massachusetts while we were out shopping...have had that gun ever since and just turned it into a .327 Federal.





Back about the same time I read a gun magazine article about a Walther P38 in .22 Long Rifle. Not many were brought into the country. Saw several for sale over the years but always at "collector" prices. Finally about 2008 spotted one at one of the online auctions and was able to get it for under a grand. Have only seen a few for sale since and all well over a grand.





My favorite revolver is the 4" Model 57/657. Always wanted a first year of production 57 and dreamed about a factory Class A engraved model. Ended up finding a 1964 57 that was in excellent condition for a good price because it was minus the Cokes.





Then found a blue Class A 4" followed a year later by a nickel. Both were unfired. The blue has just the presentation case but the nickel is a complete in the packing box set. I saw two just like them sell for $3400 last year so it was a good investment.





Dreams do come true if you look long enough....Bob

 

[44wheelman]

I can tell you, I have never found affordable prices on anything I searched for, just lucky to stumble onto deals that didn't seam like deals at the time.

You must be either willing to take a risk, or have a broad spectrum of gun knowledge & values.

 

[foxy320]

always wanted a Savage Anschutz match 64 from reading about squirrel hunting with one. About 7 or 8 years ago my local pawn shop had one with a Fecker target scope from a guy I knew. He was there & I told him I'd take it. While waiting for paperwork to be done I mentioned I was looking for a Remington 540X to replace one I had stupidly sold a while back. He said he had one of those in the back of the shop he was also planning to have the shop sell. That one had Redfield iron sights. Got both of them & a case of Remington 22's for $1,500. Both shoot better than me and won't be going anywhere.

 

[rbrbrb6]

These are the most recent hard to find guns I was able to work out a deal on. The one Birdshead is a Texas Longhorn Arms Border Special in 44 mag and it was Bill Grover's personal gun that he carried and used. Bill was the owner of TLA. The other is not a single gun but a three gun set of TLA guns ordered with the same serial number and in the custom leather case. No one really knows how many o f these cased sets Bill made but it is very few and we think this is the only one where the set was made in 41 Magnum. Ironically I also found the TLA Improved #5 model in 41 mag that goes with this set as well.

 

[A10]

A couple. I had a nice Beretta over and under, but I'm not hunting birds any more so I sold it off. I also had a 4 inch Python, but didn't really like it.

 

[bushmaster1313]

 

[g8rb8]

Don't grimace or gag.

At one time I was collecting AK-47's. I had been aware of the Norinco 86S, a bull pup variant of the AK-47, but I was not seriously on the lookout for one because I never had much hope that I would ever see one. I considered bidding on the occasional one that would show up on Gun Broker but the auction price always went higher than I was comfortable bidding.

Then ....... a few years ago at a gun show, sitting at the back of a rifle rack, among a lot of other rifle racks crowded close together, I spied something different, and much shorter than all the other rifles. It was mostly hidden. I was curious and not really sure what it was. When I asked the vendor to pull the rifle out for me I think my pulse went up 20 beats when I saw what it was. It went up another 20 beats when when they affirmatively answered my question about the box and accessories. Depending on your point of view you might say it is interestingly ugly. Between the rifle and the background rug I hope you don't grimace or gag too much.