When I was still active in the gun biz, first with my home-based FFL, and later with my store/indoor range, I found occasions when I could buy out the inventory of struggling dealers who wanted to go back to their former careers...I usually wound up with the dregs, just what they couldn't get rid of at gun shows with fire sale prices...Once in a while I bought old inventory of guns or ammo that had been gathering dust for years...It was lucrative as I eventually sold everything when the right client walked in...
But since I left the business and retired, I've always daydreamed about walking into a gun store, looking over their used inventory and just saying, "I'll take 'em all"...I never really expected to be able to do it, but in my daily perusal of the internet inventory at Cabela's, I noticed their store in Buda had some newly acquired items, including two I have been wanting, but never had...
They were all obviously just bought from a collection, and all super clean and original...Their entire S&W inventory consisted of these five guns, and although the prices were toward the higher end of acceptable, all were doable...In fact, one of them, a Lew Horton 3" 24-3, was priced $800 less than the same gun at one of their other stores complete with box and papers...So I made the call, knowing they were not known to negotiate, but in saying, "I'll take 'em all" I was able to get the price reduced $50 per gun...Hey, 250 bucks is 250 bucks back in my pocket...
It made the day for one salesman, and now I can say I've cleaned out the S&W inventory at one store...FedEx delivered today, and a few minutes with a 4473 and showing my CHL, they were mine...I know everyone likes pictures, but please bear in mind I have not even started my usual clean-up on these, so I'll only post one pic for now...My cleaning procedure takes 2 - 3 hours per gun, so don't expect more pics anytime soon...
From top to bottom, Model 53 in .22 Jet from 1961 with inserts, box and extra .22 LR cylinder numbered to the frame...Model 48-4, .22 Magnum P&R from 1977...Model 27-2 1974-77 with box and papers and original Magnas...Model 25-5 .45 LC 1979-80 with pinned barrel and wide hammer and trigger...Model 24-3 3" P/C 100787 with box and papers...
So Merry Christmas to me, and the best to all of you...
...Ben
But since I left the business and retired, I've always daydreamed about walking into a gun store, looking over their used inventory and just saying, "I'll take 'em all"...I never really expected to be able to do it, but in my daily perusal of the internet inventory at Cabela's, I noticed their store in Buda had some newly acquired items, including two I have been wanting, but never had...
They were all obviously just bought from a collection, and all super clean and original...Their entire S&W inventory consisted of these five guns, and although the prices were toward the higher end of acceptable, all were doable...In fact, one of them, a Lew Horton 3" 24-3, was priced $800 less than the same gun at one of their other stores complete with box and papers...So I made the call, knowing they were not known to negotiate, but in saying, "I'll take 'em all" I was able to get the price reduced $50 per gun...Hey, 250 bucks is 250 bucks back in my pocket...
It made the day for one salesman, and now I can say I've cleaned out the S&W inventory at one store...FedEx delivered today, and a few minutes with a 4473 and showing my CHL, they were mine...I know everyone likes pictures, but please bear in mind I have not even started my usual clean-up on these, so I'll only post one pic for now...My cleaning procedure takes 2 - 3 hours per gun, so don't expect more pics anytime soon...
From top to bottom, Model 53 in .22 Jet from 1961 with inserts, box and extra .22 LR cylinder numbered to the frame...Model 48-4, .22 Magnum P&R from 1977...Model 27-2 1974-77 with box and papers and original Magnas...Model 25-5 .45 LC 1979-80 with pinned barrel and wide hammer and trigger...Model 24-3 3" P/C 100787 with box and papers...
So Merry Christmas to me, and the best to all of you...
...Ben
...Ben
...
...Ben
...Ben
...Ben
