Guns that you shouldn't have let go

[sigp220.45]

At last count I had about a gross of guns in the house. I’ve probably owned three times as many. Buy, shoot, sell, trade, or keep. I look at guns as enjoyable certificates of deposit, to be cashed in as necessary. I don’t regret selling or trading a single one. Somebody else will own all of them someday, anyway.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I've sold several guns I've regretted letting go of in the years since, but only one that I have little to no hope of ever replacing. Back in about 1984, I bought a Daewoo K1A1 rifle; I sold it in 1998 to a friend that still has it. The picture isn't of the one I had, but mine was identical.

 

[ladder13]

Once they’re gone I hardly think of them. I sometimes think about what they’re worth today, but guns don’t/won’t fund my retirement, that’s already set.

 

[gasaman]

I had a NIB Colt (Custom Shop) Stainless 1911 70 series w/ high polish finish that I traded off for a Desert Eagle 44 mag.
That's my biggest regret in buying/selling firearms forays....

 

[The_Truth]

Once they’re gone I hardly think of them. I sometimes think about what they’re worth today, but guns don’t/won’t fund my retirement, that’s already set.

For some of us we accumulate when business is good just in case business is bad one day. I've got more money in my collection than I have money in the stock market.

 

[Andyd]

If I would have never sold or given away any gun, I would have far over 300 guns now. I still have way too many guns to shoot them regularly as it is.

I have not owned a gun that isn't replaceable but then, I am seeing firearms as firearms: made to be shot.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

That would be my Blue 19 that I bought in Guam and carried in SEA.
Nickel Gun never been West of Gallup.

 

[John Fugate]

I regret selling a new in the box Blue 1930’s 38/44 Smith Heavy Duty, it shipped with magnas. Absolute perfect gun 100%, no turnline or box rubs. Perfect box,, no upgrade possible in any possible direction. I just never sells guns like that once I put them in my collection. I owned the gun for roughly 20 years. The buyer which I had shown the gun to at a NRA event years ago nagged me to price it year after year. I finally opened my mouth and he bought it without flinching. Who pays 6500.00 for that gun, well he did. I am still sick about it. This is when it really hit me, it’s not about the money it’s about not having that gun I loved. It was a good lesson for me, never to price something unless you truly want to sell it. But I’ve been on the other side many times, I have way overpaid for stuff just because I wanted it. Buying with heart may not seem to be the wisest thing to do but what’s it worth to have what you really want. Gun collectors, real dyed in wool gun collectors know this feeling. Have you ever saw something and said ,, I’m going to own that, I don’t know what he wants for it, but I’m going to own it.

 

[stu1ritter]

In 1972 I was working at the Mercedes dealership in San Francisco and had F. Bob Chow build a fully accurized 1911 Colt Commander for me. I opened my own repair shop in Denver in 1975 and of course, money was very tight in the beginning and I had to sell it to keep the business going. Have always regretted letting it go.

Stu

 

[jamestx]

My 4” Nickel Python and my Colt LW Combat Commander my first carry gun.

 

[max503]

A 20 gauge Stevens SXS about 5 years ago.

 

[xfarfuldog]

Unfortunately several I miss over the years. This is just the top ones.

Springfield Armory Professional (FBI HRT gun)
Python 4" stainless
HK P7 M13
3 consecutive serial number P7 M8's
Magnum Carry
Winchester 94 1951 (birth year)

 

[robvious]

I am in the "don't sell' group... mostly... but I have traded and given away some as I have gotten older... my very first trade is the only one I kinda regret... I traded of a US&S 98% 1911A1 (still had most of the black coating on the barrel) for a brand new Kimber Stainless Target (very early gen 1 model - still have it - base for my Marvel 22)... my late friend was an early Kimber dealer and really wanted the 1911 to display with his late fathers Japanese marked Luger P-08 WWII bringback... his son now has the set, so I do not regret it too much... I would never have shot the old 1911 so it was destine to gather dust, which does not pay tribute to a piece of history... mostly look at the value of the high grade US&S 1911's and think I should have haggled better... lol.. sometimes the cost of education is high...

 

[desi2358]

Too many to count.............. I've been collecting, buying, selling and trading guns for most of my life (including a long stint full time in the gun business). So many I wish I would have kept but there were bills to pay, things I wanted more and some times I just got a wild hair and let something go.

There are a few that I really miss, some for good reason, some just because they were different or unusual.
1. My first 22 rifle (that was actually mine, not a family gun) a Remington Nylon 66 I bought at a neighbors farm auction for $25. I think the older guys stopped bidding and let me get it. Foolishly sold it when wife and I were moving for a new job. And since then I've been through @ a dozen more of them and still have one in the safe......... just like that one but it's not THE gun.

2. Would be a Ruger Standard model that was a great little handgun and far more accurate than any 22 handgun I had owned before it. Traded off in a moment of foolishness.

3. Would be an oddball............ A French 1935A auto pistol that I picked up along with some custom loaded ammo. It shot really well, was a neat design and the cases were easily reloaded (if I didn't lose them!) with a 32 ACP die set. And it had an unusual serial number; 1935a stamped right underneath the model number of 1935A......... easy to remember.

4. A Colt Official Police that had an unusual serial number of 641146 that was in like new condition when I bought it at a little hardware store in Memphis............ had it for years, babied it because of the extra nice condition. Added it to my gunshow stock at the last minute when heading to an OGCA show and the first guy who saw it bought it (must have priced it too cheap).

That's without going into all the guns that went through my hands as a dealer, so many of which I would have loved to have today... Many S&W revolvers, military guns of all types, antiques............. Oh well can't keep 'em all but wish I could have kept more of them.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

None........I kept "em" all.

 

[biku324]

Ruger M77 in 270. Bought it new at Gibson's in Gallup, NM as they went out of business in 1981. Sold it in 1992 when I bought a Remington 700 in 280 - the Ruger was FAR more accurate. Sigh.

 

[Deutsche_Dog]

It was nice to come back to the forum after a while away and find this post. Makes me feel a little better about the 629 Mountain gun I traded away a couple years ago. It was a hand bruiser, but I should have kept it and bought better grips for it. Someday I'll find another...

 

[Borderboss]

I have regrets occasionally about only one. It was a Colt '70 Series Combat Commander (steel frame) with the electroless nickle finish. I bought it when I was a pup and couldn't hit a thing with it, so I sold it. Looking back, I'm sure it was a combination of lousy white-on-white sights and a loosy goose factory setup. Knowing what I know now about 1911s, I wish I had it back.

 

[bigchuck83]

There are several i wish i had never let go. Some were sold in a time of needing money, others traded off for something else. Should have kept the S&W 1076, and well worn pre model 27 i had. Someday they might be replaced. Shouldn't have passed up the $800 like new Desert Eagle in 44 magnum at a gun show either.

 

[peterGun]

I had a p232 I kinda regret trading, all I had at the time were .380acp guns so I traded for a 4566.

In hindsight I should have bought the .45 but money was tight and I never did warm up to the Sig double action trigger pull.


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