The Gun I Wish I Had Bought, Way Back When

[03hemi]

For me it's also a full-auto Thompson. I had the opportunity to buy one about 20 years ago for $3k. At the time it was a lot of money for us and I passed on it. Still kicking myself.

Most of the others are the ones "I wish I hadn't sold"...

Absolutely, had I'd known then what I know now, I'd been buying up every Thompson SMG I could find.

 

[The Norseman]

Sleek & Classy H&K

The circa late 1990s Heckler & Koch (H&K) P7 9x19mm.
The sleek, low profile, all steel semi-automatic pistol
with the cocking lever in front of the grip.

It's accuracy, reliability, ease of use, and ease of
concealment was unheard of back in the day.

 

[Narragansett]

In 1971, I bought the attached Browning HP for 94.00 brand new. The fully hand engraved renaissance model was 295 list. I toyed with the idea of buying 4 of them, but $1K dollars was a lot of money

 

[jmace57]

I have pretty much rectified my mistakes by now gun wise, but it is still US 20$ gold pieces I want for 20$.

I remember as a young teenager in 1970 (with $120) saved, I thought about buying $20 gold pieces for I think was $34 or $35 each. So, I did the smart thing and bought a Yamaha Enduro.

 

[RobertJ.]

I can think of a pretty long list. However, when I was younger, I made more stupid, impulsive trades than I can recall. If I had bought such and such way back when, it seems unlikely that I'd still have it. It's only been in the last twenty-five years or so I've started replacing all my favorite firearms that are long gone with something as nice or better.

But I can remember seeing a Colt Gold Cup for $350 when I was 19!

 

[desi2358]

Too many to count............. Besides the times when I just didn't have the money available there have too many when I did and still passed. The 2 transferable Thompsons in the early 80's probably bugs me the most. Had the money but was also newly married and worried about spending so much. Still married to the same Lady but really would have loved those Tommy Guns (and looking at current values makes me tear up).

Other than that there have been various Luger's, Colts, S&W's and others that I foolishly passed on for one reason or another........... And lets not get started on all the ones I did get then foolishly let slip away. Would take a long time to go over that list.....

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

I wish I had bought that mismatched Artillery Luger that I looked at. I did get my Fosbery.

 

[sw44spl]

I wish I would have got lugers back then. I let folks telling me they jam all the time keep me from getting them. Many years later I have a all matching 1918 now that is spot on. But I could have had several.

 

[NFrameFred]

An original Jurras 357 AutoMag I ran across in a little back-off-the-road middle-of-nowhere gun shop that, if memory serves, they were asking the princely sum of $750 for, which at that time for me (mid 1970's) may had well have been $75,000 . . .

 

[koz5614]

Back in 2000,I had a chance to buy a Colt Commander DEVEL conversion in .38 Super from a seller in the old GUNLIST magazine. I called him & he advised the original seller ground the hook off the trigger guard because he couldn't find a holster. I passed on it. I had no idea it would be the only one I would ever run into.

 

[Rudi]

Short of funds back then, and not enough space to list them all here now.

 

[pantannojack]

I have pretty much rectified my mistakes by now gun wise, but it is still US 20$ gold pieces I want for 20$.

Well, in a moment of temporary sanity, I elected to replace a long lost 586 no dash, just have not held it yet. I check the USPS Tracking sight every hour on the hour. I hope credit card interest does not go too high before I pay it off.

 

[Donn]

Back in the early 70's, Dad, (RIP), was trying to decide between a Colt Series 70 in 38 Super and a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. Both were $125. Dad chose the Colt. I know, we should've bought both. Heavy sigh.

 

[max503]

A 45 caliber Mac 10 semi-auto that fired from an open bolt. My friend was selling it about 40 years ago. It would just have been a cool gun to have.

 

[tomw1964]

You can never have too many .30 carbines !!

 

[ken158]

In the early 80's had a buddy that was a factory rep for HK who had taken in about a dozen Colt M16's on trade that had only been rack guns and never in the field… He needed help financing the deal and I made him a short term loan of 3K and two months later I got my 3K back and a free M16 as interest… Form 4's were approved in about 2 months then. I could have had as many M16's as I wanted for $300 each. Prior to the 86 MG ban, I sold mine for 2K.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

A few good ones slipped through my fingers over the years, but you can't have everything and I did well enough. I suppose, I would have liked a 9mm Luger and M1 carbine to look at, but no matter.

 

[SLT223]

M2HB transferable…$15k new in the crate. Easily 5x that now.

 

[Retired W4]

M2HB transferable…$15k new in the crate. Easily 5x that now.

I think a Ma Deuce HB would be a prize even at today's prices.

 

[clang444]

About every 3rd gen S&W Performance Center gun I ran into while the real PC shop was still making them. Especially a full size 945.