Most expensive firearm you ever bought or almost bought?
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TheHobbyist
Member
I owned one of the first 12 Colt 1911's sold to the USMC. I sold the gun for at the time what I thought was crazy money...$ 3K. Saw the owner a couple years later and he wanted $ 12K for it. Oops... But I enjoyed owning a piece of history.
TheHobbyist
Member
Btw, I had $ 500.00 into the gun. 
Richard Simmons
Member
No "giggle switch" but it still wasn't cheap!
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
OP mentioned those firearms we might have bought. For that category I will report almost having to buy the M16A1 that managed to disappear when I was medi-vacced out of Vietnam with a moderately serious head wound, then returned for duty about a month later. For a while it looked like Uncle Sam actually planned on making me pay (I think) $266 for that rifle. Those were 1970 dollars, back when my base pay (as a sergeant) was $248.75, combat pay was $65 per month, jump pay was $55 per month, overseas pay was $17, and family separation allowance was $30 per month (and we paid no income taxes while in the combat zone). Serious money at the time!
Today I would gladly put up the $266 for that M16A1, and pay the $200 transfer tax, with originals bringing $20,000-plus on the collector market! The profit would probably keep me well supplied with beer for several weeks!
Today I would gladly put up the $266 for that M16A1, and pay the $200 transfer tax, with originals bringing $20,000-plus on the collector market! The profit would probably keep me well supplied with beer for several weeks!
Qc Pistolero
Member
I see it a little different than most other guys here.The most expensive is the one that,to me,was the costlier.
In '85,I bought a Ruger P85 in 9mm.Shot one round through it and I didn't like it(not to downgrade the gun;some prefer blondes,others brunettes as they say).
I brought it back the same day to my LGS who bought it back...minus $100 1985 dollars.
At the then going price for the 9mm rounds were going(aprox $.006)I think that owning a gun for ?100.06$ a day was quite expensive!
In '85,I bought a Ruger P85 in 9mm.Shot one round through it and I didn't like it(not to downgrade the gun;some prefer blondes,others brunettes as they say).
I brought it back the same day to my LGS who bought it back...minus $100 1985 dollars.
At the then going price for the 9mm rounds were going(aprox $.006)I think that owning a gun for ?100.06$ a day was quite expensive!
The Norseman
Member
Ruger Gold
My Circa 2004, very rare Ruger Gold Label
"Dickinson Style Action" Side by Side Lever Action
Shotgun with Right and Left Charge Holes for
12 gauge shotgun shells.
English style straight grip. Paper thin changeable
choke tubes (skeet, improved cylinder, modified,
full). Extremely light weight shotgun.
Only used during the South Dakota Pheasant Season.
My Circa 2004, very rare Ruger Gold Label
"Dickinson Style Action" Side by Side Lever Action
Shotgun with Right and Left Charge Holes for
12 gauge shotgun shells.
English style straight grip. Paper thin changeable
choke tubes (skeet, improved cylinder, modified,
full). Extremely light weight shotgun.
Only used during the South Dakota Pheasant Season.
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Frank46
US Veteran
My biggest purchase would have been a matched pair of two english Martini rifles in one fitted case along with a couple boxes of Kynock 303 British and 577/450. one rifle was in 303 the other was in 577/450 receivers were engraved. We worked out a deal at $50 a week to pay off the $1500 price tag. After a month of 4 regular $50 payments the dealer took me aside and said another customer would have liked to buy the cased set. But when he found out it was on lay away he backed out. He would refund all the money that I had paid him no harm no foul and sell the set to another buyer as he would have paid cash money. I realized I would be making monthly payments for 30 months tying up the sale to other propsective buyers. I said ok as I didn't want to incur any feelings against me as i did purchase firearms from him in the past. He handed me the $200 and we shook hands. Within a week the cases set was sold. Truth be told the manager was a nice guy and handled the situation well.
and I bought firearms from him for a bunch of years.Frank
and I bought firearms from him for a bunch of years.Frank
Patrick L
Member
In addition to Smith's, I'm into clay targets. Some of the guys there spend crazy money on shotguns. I've always been somewhat conservative in my spending (some say cheap, I prefer frugal). I have nice stuff mind you, two Browning OUs, two Browning A5s, Remington 870s, 1100s, etc but none of these are super expensive models. I have kids, so braces, college savings, etc. were always a bigger priority.
That said, two years ago, as a 50thbirthday present to myself, I bought a sweet little Beretta 20 gauge OU which, with tax, came to a few pennies over 2K. That's the most expensive gun I've ever bought
That said, two years ago, as a 50thbirthday present to myself, I bought a sweet little Beretta 20 gauge OU which, with tax, came to a few pennies over 2K. That's the most expensive gun I've ever bought
CLASSIC12
Member
No "giggle switch" but it still wasn't cheap!
There's one full auto, working condition, for sale at my local gun range / shop. I need to ask them the price.
diggler1833
Member
Wife picked up a mismatched No. 4 Mk 1 (T) rifle for me. To date, this was the most expensive purchase made all at once ($2,800).
-Scope is a 1941 made No. 32 Mk 1 made by Kodak Ltd, and mount is an authentic Dalglish to a 1943 era rifle (by serial number). The mating of scope to mount was done at some point prior to post-war storage, suggesting cannibalization in order to keep a needy sniper rifle up and running. In my search on this scope, I found that they were basically unobtanium, and the few examples that I saw sold several years ago brought prices rivaling today's high-end optics. This one works flawlessly by the way.
-Rifle is a 1945 made BSA Shirley. The forestock and magazine are replacements, and the king screw sling swivel was replaced as well. Everything else (the most important being all metal parts) is original and appropriately marked. This was either a former sporterized gun that someone saved from bubba, or perhaps a rifle that was put together from cannibalization during the Korean War era. The rifle is worth less than the scope, but the history behind it is awesome.
Being into long-range shooting for a decade and a half has cost me quite a bit as far as equipment goes. However, I was always able to purchase/build parts separately. So while a gun may cost ~$4K or more, taking over a year to put it together makes it seem like it isn't so bad.
-Scope is a 1941 made No. 32 Mk 1 made by Kodak Ltd, and mount is an authentic Dalglish to a 1943 era rifle (by serial number). The mating of scope to mount was done at some point prior to post-war storage, suggesting cannibalization in order to keep a needy sniper rifle up and running. In my search on this scope, I found that they were basically unobtanium, and the few examples that I saw sold several years ago brought prices rivaling today's high-end optics. This one works flawlessly by the way.
-Rifle is a 1945 made BSA Shirley. The forestock and magazine are replacements, and the king screw sling swivel was replaced as well. Everything else (the most important being all metal parts) is original and appropriately marked. This was either a former sporterized gun that someone saved from bubba, or perhaps a rifle that was put together from cannibalization during the Korean War era. The rifle is worth less than the scope, but the history behind it is awesome.
Being into long-range shooting for a decade and a half has cost me quite a bit as far as equipment goes. However, I was always able to purchase/build parts separately. So while a gun may cost ~$4K or more, taking over a year to put it together makes it seem like it isn't so bad.
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Capt. F.
Member
Capt. F.
Member
Absolutely right. I don't shoot it alot but as you say the satisfaction is getting it out, admiring the workmanship, cleaning it and thinking "yep, I own it".
samnev
Member
All matching AR code MG42 with Lafette, Optics, extra barrels, barrel carriers and 2 50 round drums in carrier. Back in 1999 for 24K.
DocB
Member
I draw a line at $800, and, then, it's got to be a $2000 gun for me to even consider it. Paid that for a M52-2 (second one shipped) LNIB with all paperwork and accessories. Also paid that for a Smith Target Revolver with 6 and 1/2 barrel that letters to 1910 as a special order. . .one of a consecutive serial numbered pair. They are both pictured in my albums on this site. I have one of just about everything including Parkers, Drillings, Lugers, Colts, etc. There are just too many guns in the world and way too many around here in Georgia for me to fork out over $800 for anything.
I paid $450 for an new 8" nickle 29-2 in 1975. At the time I was an Airman 1st Class in the USAF. Had to get a loan from the base credit union to purchase it. Not sure but I think I was paid 300 a month. In 2018 dollars thats about $2100. By todays prices I still overpaid!
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Charlie Foxtrott
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NovaJoe
Member
I have bid in the neighborhood of 2k$ on a nice K-32.
most expensive gun
I spent $2500 for a springfield armory super match M1A, $1700 for a colt single action army Sam Colt commemorative, and a couple of Colt single action armies at $1600 each (both NIB). I recently bought a Smith and Wesson 25-3 commemorative NIB with original presentation box with book and original blue box with all paperwork for $1400. Heavenly Days! I have to get my spending under control!
I spent $2500 for a springfield armory super match M1A, $1700 for a colt single action army Sam Colt commemorative, and a couple of Colt single action armies at $1600 each (both NIB). I recently bought a Smith and Wesson 25-3 commemorative NIB with original presentation box with book and original blue box with all paperwork for $1400. Heavenly Days! I have to get my spending under control!
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