Patrick L
Member
This is abit long, but a good story. As a prequel, you just need to know that I have been searching for an older Model 29 for about 3 years now. Had to be pre lock and frame mounted firing pin. 4 and 5 screw guns are extra nice, and of course I like pinned and recessed guns. Now onto the story:
One of my wife's coworkers is a widow. She casually mentions that she is going to call the police to turn in her late husband's "military rifles" since she wants them out of the house. My wife says don't do that, let Patrick take them, he'll either sell them for you or maybe even buy some himself. Widow says to me, "OK and since I appreciate you doing me this favor, if there's a gun you like you can just have it." Fine.
Well, it turns out she doesn't have military rifles (too bad since that's what I'm into; I was hoping to find a SMLE, 03A3, or maybe even a carbine) but rather hunting guns. That's cool. There were 5 guns, 4 pieces of junk and a Winchester Model 71. Now this is not my area of expertise, but I do know the Winchester is a nice old gun and that the Model 71 is somewhat desireable. I say Gee that's a nice levergun and she says well then you just take that for yourself. I'm thinking it will be fun to cast bullets for this. I said thank you, I'll try to get what I can for the other 4, probably $100 or so total, and get the $$ to her. She's happy since she was originally just going to surrender them for nothing.
Well, you know the rest. It turns out the Model 71 is worth a few bucks. How much is debateable, the internet folks are generally nuts as they can always document every gun the sell as having belonged to General Custer or Abe Lincoln himself, and therefore worth the prices they are asking. A dealer I trust, and who prices things realistically so that they move quick, said he would sell it easily for $1500, and offered me $1300. Another guy, a former dealer, concurred that that was reasonable.
So now I have a moral dilemma. I didn't know these things were worth this much. I simply cannot just take this gun. I know some of you will say I'm nuts, but that's just me.
I call my wife's friend, thank her and tell her I just can't accept the gun, so would you like me to sell it? She says sell it and we'll split the money. I still am not comfortable, I say no I'll just sell it. I do say that sometimes you can get a higher offer in trade, how about if I find a gun I like somewhere. She says by all means, she wasn't expecting anything so if I can work a deal that gets her some money and me something I like that would be fine.
So now I call another place I frequent, who often deals in older stuff like my gun and often has interesting things. I ask if he's interested in the 71, and does he happen to have much in the way of used Smith N frames? He says yes and yes, he believes he has a few Highway Patrolman models and a Model 29. I go there and he spends over an hour with me going over the 71. He concurs with what everyone else says, and offers me $1250. I ask to see the Smiths.
He says he was mistaken about the Highway Patrolmen, they were already sold, but he gets out the 29. Its a 4 screw gun, I believe a pre 29, but I'll need to research that more. The gun is fairly tight, it shows signs of use but not abuse. There is some blue wear on the end of the barrel and bottom of the trigger guard consistent with holster wear, a little blue wear on the backstrap from shooting, and there is a drag line on the cylinder. Like I said, use but not abuse. Bore looks new. Gun has diamond Cokes. DIAMOND COKES!!! It has the original presentation box, the old black vinyl covered type. Box interior is rough but salvageable. Price is $700. I ask if he will go 500, as to the condition. He says no, he thinks that due to the vintage of the gun, and the presence of the box, he could get 700. I say what would he allow on trade for the 71? He said 1500. I said if he will allow 1500, but give me the $800 back as change, we've got a deal. He initially said no, but then said OK since it was for the widow.
Some of you more expert in gun values may say I got hosed. I don't think so. I'm going to put $500 of my own gun fund in with the $800 and give it to my wife's friend. The way I see it
1. The nice lady who was expecting nothing gets $1300 (actually more once you add the other 4 guns)
2. For a net outllay of $500 I get a gun I really like, and have been looking for for awhile now.
3. The dealer will make money on the 71.
4. I slept like a baby last night.
I think everyone wins.
Waiting for my ammendment, when I get the gun pics will follow.
One of my wife's coworkers is a widow. She casually mentions that she is going to call the police to turn in her late husband's "military rifles" since she wants them out of the house. My wife says don't do that, let Patrick take them, he'll either sell them for you or maybe even buy some himself. Widow says to me, "OK and since I appreciate you doing me this favor, if there's a gun you like you can just have it." Fine.
Well, it turns out she doesn't have military rifles (too bad since that's what I'm into; I was hoping to find a SMLE, 03A3, or maybe even a carbine) but rather hunting guns. That's cool. There were 5 guns, 4 pieces of junk and a Winchester Model 71. Now this is not my area of expertise, but I do know the Winchester is a nice old gun and that the Model 71 is somewhat desireable. I say Gee that's a nice levergun and she says well then you just take that for yourself. I'm thinking it will be fun to cast bullets for this. I said thank you, I'll try to get what I can for the other 4, probably $100 or so total, and get the $$ to her. She's happy since she was originally just going to surrender them for nothing.
Well, you know the rest. It turns out the Model 71 is worth a few bucks. How much is debateable, the internet folks are generally nuts as they can always document every gun the sell as having belonged to General Custer or Abe Lincoln himself, and therefore worth the prices they are asking. A dealer I trust, and who prices things realistically so that they move quick, said he would sell it easily for $1500, and offered me $1300. Another guy, a former dealer, concurred that that was reasonable.
So now I have a moral dilemma. I didn't know these things were worth this much. I simply cannot just take this gun. I know some of you will say I'm nuts, but that's just me.
I call my wife's friend, thank her and tell her I just can't accept the gun, so would you like me to sell it? She says sell it and we'll split the money. I still am not comfortable, I say no I'll just sell it. I do say that sometimes you can get a higher offer in trade, how about if I find a gun I like somewhere. She says by all means, she wasn't expecting anything so if I can work a deal that gets her some money and me something I like that would be fine.
So now I call another place I frequent, who often deals in older stuff like my gun and often has interesting things. I ask if he's interested in the 71, and does he happen to have much in the way of used Smith N frames? He says yes and yes, he believes he has a few Highway Patrolman models and a Model 29. I go there and he spends over an hour with me going over the 71. He concurs with what everyone else says, and offers me $1250. I ask to see the Smiths.
He says he was mistaken about the Highway Patrolmen, they were already sold, but he gets out the 29. Its a 4 screw gun, I believe a pre 29, but I'll need to research that more. The gun is fairly tight, it shows signs of use but not abuse. There is some blue wear on the end of the barrel and bottom of the trigger guard consistent with holster wear, a little blue wear on the backstrap from shooting, and there is a drag line on the cylinder. Like I said, use but not abuse. Bore looks new. Gun has diamond Cokes. DIAMOND COKES!!! It has the original presentation box, the old black vinyl covered type. Box interior is rough but salvageable. Price is $700. I ask if he will go 500, as to the condition. He says no, he thinks that due to the vintage of the gun, and the presence of the box, he could get 700. I say what would he allow on trade for the 71? He said 1500. I said if he will allow 1500, but give me the $800 back as change, we've got a deal. He initially said no, but then said OK since it was for the widow.
Some of you more expert in gun values may say I got hosed. I don't think so. I'm going to put $500 of my own gun fund in with the $800 and give it to my wife's friend. The way I see it
1. The nice lady who was expecting nothing gets $1300 (actually more once you add the other 4 guns)
2. For a net outllay of $500 I get a gun I really like, and have been looking for for awhile now.
3. The dealer will make money on the 71.
4. I slept like a baby last night.
I think everyone wins.
Waiting for my ammendment, when I get the gun pics will follow.
Last edited:
