About three years ago a shop here in the Philadelphia, PA area got a hold of about 300 Colt 1911 Goverment Models, manufactured in 1951 and still unfired in the box. I paid $1200, and although that was the most money I ever paid for a gun, I thought it ws money well spent. And yes, I shoot it all the time.
Most expensive firearm you ever bought or almost bought?
- Thread starter Joewisc
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rburg
Member
Not a gun I bought, but about 10 years ago an Atlanta dealer (I think his name was George, last name) had Winchester M70, serial #2. He'd been setting up next to us for a number of shows so we kind of got to know him. He was a nice guy. So he was selling a package at the time. It was the gun and its case, along with a whole sheath of documentation on the gun. And of course the book written about it with dozens of photos of the gun you got. At the time he was asking $33,000 for it, but showed some willingness to compromise. Looking back, I might have been able to afford the gun, but I'd have to sell off a bunch of other really nice guns to swing it. I just couldn't bring myself to do that.
So over time the gun was sold. And I was kind of rude and later on asked him how much, generally, it sold for. He said just under $20,000. Had I known that at the time I would have moved mountains to own it. But things don't always go my way. So a while later I settled for M70 #202. And it was relatively cheap. And there's still hope I can find one with even a lower number than the one I have. I continue to look.
One thing I realized about 15 years ago (as I was approaching my 50th Bday) was that no one was ever going to buy me a "rightous" gun. It just wasn't going to happen. My son's both plead poverty. My wife gasps when I buy or sell a gun for a grand. There's probably no real reason for that because by now she should know I usually do pretty well. But there is just no way she's going to spring the cash for a nice gun. So that was back in 1998, early. On my Bday, I told the old man who owned the place I'd be gone a little long and that it was my birthday. He asked where I was going, so I told him a gun shop. That made him smile and tell me to take as long as I wanted. He wouldn't have done that had I been going to a clothing store, but he liked guns. So I walked into the gun shop and bought the Weatherby. It was kind of extravagant. But then the scope, the Leupold LPS, cost as much as the gun.
And since that time I continue to realize that if I want nice guns, I'm just going to have to buy them for myself. And its a realization everyone here needs to come to. If you want an RM, you just need to buy it. Find a way. Guilt only lasts a short while. Or not. It doesn't matter because you've got the gun.
So over time the gun was sold. And I was kind of rude and later on asked him how much, generally, it sold for. He said just under $20,000. Had I known that at the time I would have moved mountains to own it. But things don't always go my way. So a while later I settled for M70 #202. And it was relatively cheap. And there's still hope I can find one with even a lower number than the one I have. I continue to look.
One thing I realized about 15 years ago (as I was approaching my 50th Bday) was that no one was ever going to buy me a "rightous" gun. It just wasn't going to happen. My son's both plead poverty. My wife gasps when I buy or sell a gun for a grand. There's probably no real reason for that because by now she should know I usually do pretty well. But there is just no way she's going to spring the cash for a nice gun. So that was back in 1998, early. On my Bday, I told the old man who owned the place I'd be gone a little long and that it was my birthday. He asked where I was going, so I told him a gun shop. That made him smile and tell me to take as long as I wanted. He wouldn't have done that had I been going to a clothing store, but he liked guns. So I walked into the gun shop and bought the Weatherby. It was kind of extravagant. But then the scope, the Leupold LPS, cost as much as the gun.
And since that time I continue to realize that if I want nice guns, I'm just going to have to buy them for myself. And its a realization everyone here needs to come to. If you want an RM, you just need to buy it. Find a way. Guilt only lasts a short while. Or not. It doesn't matter because you've got the gun.
A Springfield Armory M1A national match built by the late Glenn Nelson, brand new in 1987 from Springfield at Camp Perry, a new one today would cost two and a half times what I paid then, but it was ALOT of money even back then, or a brand new Les Baer Premier II Tactical 45 with the accuracy package a few years ago, never regretted either purchase, still have them both.....
My Investment!
An Uncle passed away and left me some money which I decided to invest. Here is my investment, on which I spent $15,200. It is an MG08/15, the light machine gun used by the Germans in WWI. The tripod was added feature and is not original but sure makes the gun a lot easier to shoot.
The gun came with many all original accessories such as drum magazine, bi-pod, belt loader, cloth belts, spare barrels, sling, steam tube and container, etc. It is a real blast to shoot and is a very reliable MG. I get plenty of notice when I take it to the range.
An Uncle passed away and left me some money which I decided to invest. Here is my investment, on which I spent $15,200. It is an MG08/15, the light machine gun used by the Germans in WWI. The tripod was added feature and is not original but sure makes the gun a lot easier to shoot.
The gun came with many all original accessories such as drum magazine, bi-pod, belt loader, cloth belts, spare barrels, sling, steam tube and container, etc. It is a real blast to shoot and is a very reliable MG. I get plenty of notice when I take it to the range.
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I have a Winchester Model 12 "Super Pigeon" 20 ga with B-carved wood and #5 engraving that wifey got me for x-mas one year...it was $7500.00. I have a 12ga and 20 ga set of Ansley Fox X grade doubles made in 1916 that were $20,000.00. I have a Lefever Arms EE grade double that was $4350.00 and a D.M. Lefever and Sons 7D grade that was $5400.00. I once owned a Luger that belonged to a U-Boat commander. I also had his Knights Cross medal and a post card from Hitler. I sold it and wish I hadn't. I better not say what that stuff cost...my luck is bad and the wife might read this.
sqhead
US Veteran
most I paid for a gun is 1500 for a unfired smith 651 22 magnum,2 in. barrel,box etc AND a factory fitted 22 lr cylinder w/ a couple extras.........it's just cool to own one.
While shooting ATA registered trap in 2006 I bought a Krieghoff Trap Special. It was my retirerment gift to myself, 11,000 dollars. It was a beauty.
Jboutfishn
Member
Kreighoff Classic 470 NE
Nice guns
Back in 2000 I purchased a double rifle for $1500 cash far exceeding my ability to pay, but I wanted it very much. It belonged to my recently deceased friend. Lately, two new wife-approved Browning T-Bolts with scopes cost near two grand. Good guns cost money.
-sevensix
Back in 2000 I purchased a double rifle for $1500 cash far exceeding my ability to pay, but I wanted it very much. It belonged to my recently deceased friend. Lately, two new wife-approved Browning T-Bolts with scopes cost near two grand. Good guns cost money.
-sevensix
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I paid $1,000 for a brand new remington 700 in 338wm with sling and mounts with scope and the aluminum suit case for it. It's the most expensive gun I ever purchased.
I haven't broken the $900 mark for a S&W revolver. Went over $700 for quite a few. I think a few of them would fetch more than $1,000 today, though.
I paid $1600 for a NIB SKB 885 o/u shotgun and about the same for a Browning Citori o/u shotgun. Third place goes to a Colt Competition AR15 rifle.
I paid $1600 for a NIB SKB 885 o/u shotgun and about the same for a Browning Citori o/u shotgun. Third place goes to a Colt Competition AR15 rifle.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
How can I accurately answer that? I remember at 11 years old in 1952 buying at a local auction a nice modern steel Parker (Not Damascus) 12 gauge double barrel hammerless shotgun for $21.00s! However I saved it up working for 35 cents a hour working for truck farmers on my knees weeding or whatever. I just looked that up on my inflation calculater and that $21 in 1952 was like $84.68 now--- but not to a fat kid working on a muggy hot field for .35 cents. And I even got stiffed out of $12s I figured he owed me when I went to collect. His wife told me he had run off with another woman to california and I was out of luck! I do have a long memory.
Number wise the most I have spent was about $600s for a nice colt single action back around 1988. Other guns were far harder to buy for a lot less money long before that.
The wet blanket.
Number wise the most I have spent was about $600s for a nice colt single action back around 1988. Other guns were far harder to buy for a lot less money long before that.
The wet blanket.
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kamloops67
Member
My ruger new vaqueros were my most expensive, still paying. They were about a grand for the pair but then I needed holsters and matching calibre rifles and companion shotguns and then,i needed new holsters again and a different rifle and another shotgun...It ain't done neither.
man they eat a lot too.
man they eat a lot too.
A new Ljutic single barrel Trap gun I ordered after owning a couple of
used ones. $7150. When I first started shooting trap I used a plain
field grade 870 Remington and if someone had told me I would end
up spending seven grand for a shotgun to break clay pigeons I would
have laughed at them. The prices of shotguns used for Trap and Skeet
make handguns seem cheap by comparison.
used ones. $7150. When I first started shooting trap I used a plain
field grade 870 Remington and if someone had told me I would end
up spending seven grand for a shotgun to break clay pigeons I would
have laughed at them. The prices of shotguns used for Trap and Skeet
make handguns seem cheap by comparison.
YogiBear
Absent Comrade
Aloha,
Ohio Ordnance BAR, one of the first production. $2,500
Bought 2. One for me and one for good friend.
Not to mention 40 magazines($8 ea) and 2,400 rounds of CMP
Real American GI ball ammo.
My BAR is unfired.
Also bought NRA Special Matching Beretta 3901 20 ga shotguns with our
Wedding date as Serial numbers, Over 1K each. I think.
Worst mistake I made was Not buying a Winchester M-70 375 H & H Take
Down made by Winchester Custom Shop, complete with Letter for $2,500.
Now the owner will Not part with it.
Wife has several Limited Edition Beretta 92s.
Ohio Ordnance BAR, one of the first production. $2,500
Bought 2. One for me and one for good friend.
Not to mention 40 magazines($8 ea) and 2,400 rounds of CMP
Real American GI ball ammo.
My BAR is unfired.
Also bought NRA Special Matching Beretta 3901 20 ga shotguns with our
Wedding date as Serial numbers, Over 1K each. I think.
Worst mistake I made was Not buying a Winchester M-70 375 H & H Take
Down made by Winchester Custom Shop, complete with Letter for $2,500.
Now the owner will Not part with it.
Wife has several Limited Edition Beretta 92s.
Westley Richards 577 double post war with providence tying it to a Rhodesian hunter who was known as an elephant poacher in Mozambique
The most expensive gun i never bought, was a Valmet m76
Chromeplated with Downy Birch stock and bayonet.
Even the box it came in was made of Downy Birch
one of 100
unfortunatly it was a full auto, and as Swede i'm not allowed to own a full auto.
The dealer was going to lie and give me a certificat that it was semi auto
But i chickend out. I don't want to go to jail
Chromeplated with Downy Birch stock and bayonet.
Even the box it came in was made of Downy Birch
one of 100
unfortunatly it was a full auto, and as Swede i'm not allowed to own a full auto.
The dealer was going to lie and give me a certificat that it was semi auto
But i chickend out. I don't want to go to jail
Arik
Member
$2500. Arsenal 107UR SBR with a aimpoint and mount.
For those that don't Google this is a short barrel, 8in, AK 47 with a side folding stock.
Pictures are not my but it's the same thing
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
For those that don't Google this is a short barrel, 8in, AK 47 with a side folding stock.
Pictures are not my but it's the same thing
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
BearBio
Member
The most I have bid was $7025.00 for a Colt SAA issued to the 7th Cavalry at the time of Custer. Went for $7026.00 at the last minute (literally). Most I've spent is $3500 for a 41 lc Bisley, shipped to Mexico City, locally engraved, ivory grips with ruby eyes.
CW Spook
US Veteran
I don't have much in the line of expensive guns. A couple of of my AK's went over $1k by the time I added optics and this one was about $1200, but I traded 3 or 4 cheaper guns for it.
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