Fun day at the local auction

[41collector]

Flyer had advertised a #57 Magnum. I went to see if it was a Model 57 or a shift/3(#) 57. Unluckily for me it was the latter. A 27-2. A guy there with a tape measure measured the barrel and proclaimed it was a 5.5" barrel. He didn't measure from the cylinder face and seemed perturbed at me for saying how the barrel should be measured.
Another guy was upset that it wasn't a .41 Magnum, because as he started ".41 Magnums are rare".

Then there was the 14-3 in a 17-3 box. This one had all the others confused. One said it was a 14, because it had 14 in the INS box on the label. Even though it read 17-3 just above. Several others agreed until I informed them that the 14 in the INS box was the Inspector number, not a model number.
They kept arguing about how to tell if it was the correct box for the gun. I advised that the K number on the bottom of the label was the serial number and that it should match the number inside the yoke. It didn't, so they finally agreed that it wasn't the original box for the gun.
One of the locals mentioned that he could make the box match the gun as he had some labels.
The same guy with the tape, measured the barrel on the 14 and declared it to be 5.5 ", which didn't match the 6" marked on the label that had already been determined to be the wrong label!
I sometimes feel that my firearm knowledge is lacking, but I felt like a genius yesterday!
Since the #57 wasn't a rare .41 magnum, I left!

 

[bamabiker]

I would have stayed. Maybe the nuckleheads don't know what they are worth and would be amazed when I payed $300 for them.

 

[Raider]

Maybe you should have pointed out that the pistols were uber rare CTG models.

Charlie

 

[williamlayton]

I would have just told the guy that since the revolver didn't go with the box he could not sell it.
Blessings

 

[tops]

I was at an auction one time and a guy was looking at a pistol and he showed it to me and asked if I knew what would crack a frame and could it be fixed. I explained it was the side plate. He mumbled something and walked off. Larry

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Maybe you should have pointed out that the pistols were uber rare CTG models.

Charlie

 

[rock doc]

I was at an auction one time and a guy was looking at a pistol and he showed it to me and asked if I knew what would crack a frame and could it be fixed. I explained it was the side plate. He mumbled something and walked off. Larry

You should have said that JB Weld and a steady hand with a dremel would fix it, and then explain the side plate.

 

[rock doc]

Flyer had advertised a #57 Magnum. I went to see if it was a Model 57 or a shift/3(#) 57. Unluckily for me it was the latter. A 27-2. A guy there with a tape measure measured the barrel and proclaimed it was a 5.5" barrel. He didn't measure from the cylinder face and seemed perturbed at me for saying how the barrel should be measured.
Another guy was upset that it wasn't a .41 Magnum, because as he started ".41 Magnums are rare".

Then there was the 14-3 in a 17-3 box. This one had all the others confused. One said it was a 14, because it had 14 in the INS box on the label. Even though it read 17-3 just above. Several others agreed until I informed them that the 14 in the INS box was the Inspector number, not a model number.
They kept arguing about how to tell if it was the correct box for the gun. I advised that the K number on the bottom of the label was the serial number and that it should match the number inside the yoke. It didn't, so they finally agreed that it wasn't the original box for the gun.
One of the locals mentioned that he could make the box match the gun as he had some labels.
The same guy with the tape, measured the barrel on the 14 and declared it to be 5.5 ", which didn't match the 6" marked on the label that had already been determined to be the wrong label!
I sometimes feel that my firearm knowledge is lacking, but I felt like a genius yesterday!
Since the #57 wasn't a rare .41 magnum, I left!

41collector, you should post more often. Many here could learn from your knowledge/experiences. I've been hanging around here, but I'm no expert.

 

[Old Corp]

These are the same folks that walk in various GS's and mention that they are looking at 'Smith & Westerns'.

I see it about once every couple of weeks.

 

[chud333]

I'm always amazed at the knuckleheads i encounter at gun
auctions. They will bid up sorry condition and common guns
to more than what they go for brand new.
Unless it is a big/rare collection thats well advertised and has
really good stuff the local nuts come out of the woodwork.
I've seen many a Sears single shot 20 guage
go for 250-300 dollars or more simply because it was the
only gun in the estate auction???

Chuck

 

[Beemerguy53]

These are the same folks that walk in various GS's and mention that they are looking at 'Smith & Westerns'.

About 40 years ago, I worked at an import car dealer in Baltimore that sold MGs, Triumphs, Fiats, and Alfa Romeos.

We used to get people who thought the 'i' in Fiat was a lower case 'l', so of course they wanted to test drive a Flat...

 

[THE PILGRIM]

#57 could have been a 57 magnum. Those are rare. And that ammo is pretty much impossible to find.

 

[mtelkhntr]

I was at an auction one time and a guy was looking at a pistol and he showed it to me and asked if I knew what would crack a frame and could it be fixed. I explained it was the side plate. He mumbled something and walked off. Larry

I'd have told him that once they crack like that, they're pretty well worthless other than as a parts gun. Then I'd offer to give him $50 to take the junk off his hand.

 

[LVSteve]

If you want to hear serious amounts of unfacts being spouted, go to an auction with milsurp rifles. O.M.G.

 

[Fishslayer]

Unluckily for me it was the latter. A 27-2.

Ditrina missed one?

 

[Frank46]

Was at a local show. Overheard scummy dealer that the H&R model 12 he was selling cost him 600 bucks. Couldn't resist telling him drop the cost by 300 bucks as that what was the actual selling price from the CMP and with the sights. I knew cause I had just bought one. Dealer got really ticked off but I told him serves you right for lying. I absolutely just have the lowest regard for folks like that. The prospective buyer asked how he could get one for 300 bucks. Gave him the info. Bumped into him later on in the year and was thanked by him as he got one. Imagine getting a U.S. marked target rifle in 22rf with sights and a whole little envelope of sight inserts for 300 bucks. Still have it today. I've run into a few dealers who seem to think their stuff is gold and what you have came out the back end of a cow. Karma is a nice lady to be on her good side. Tick her off and stand by. Frank

 

[tops]

These are the same folks that walk in various GS's and mention that they are looking at 'Smith & Westerns'.

I see it about once every couple of weeks.

The same people are also buying "Ivory Johnson" shotguns. Larry