What gun were you sure you'd never find -- Until you found it

[deadin]

A number of years ago I started a small "side" collection of pre-war .22 Semi Auto pistols. There are several that I knew were available but would just take $$ to acquire. (Think Colt Ace, etc.) One I figured I would never see was a Walther Olympia.
Lo and behold.... Not only did I fall into an Olympia. but a Olympia Snellfuerer (Rapid fire in 22 Short with a duralumin slide). It's not the prettiest thing, but is one I never expected to see. (Now if I can just fall into an Ace....)

 

[Abflyboy]

For me, it wasn't anything fancy ... just a rimfire pistol that RUNS.

Found a Ruger MkIV 22/45 Lite, set it up for Steel Challenge and went shooting with the caveat that the LGS would buy it all back at full retail if it didn't work.

Thirteen cases of CCI Mini Mags, ZERO malfunctions and 2 more Mk IV 22/45's later, I'm finally a happy rimfire shooter.

 

[tops]

Winchester M21, 12 ga., double triggers, ejectors and splinter forend. I now have a composed pair. Larry

 

[PALADIN85020]

One of my passions for many years has been putting together a complete collection of the Nylon series of Remington firearms.

One of the most rare is the Apache Black (chromed with black stock) version of the Nylon 76 lever action rifles. With only 1,615 ever produced, it's almost impossible to find - Remington Nylon collectors have scooped almost all of them up, and when they are found, the prices demanded (and paid) are astronomical.

So about 12 years ago, I was attending a gun show in Phoenix, and I noticed a guy standing at an empty table, holding what at first glance looked to be an Apache Black Nylon 66 - the most often seen semiautomatic Nylon, but while harder to get, it's encountered somewhat less than the brown-stocked version.

As I get closer, I see that it's not a 66 but a 76 - and in Apache Black - it is THE most rare of the standard Nylon rifles. I also saw that it was in perfect condition. I tried hard to conceal my enthusiasm, and asked the guy what he wanted for it. The reply was $450. Now right then, that was about 30% of what the market was demanding for this gun in even ordinary shape.

Ever the negotiator, I asked if he would take $400 for it, sensing that he really didn't know what he had. At any rate, he accepted that offer, and I had perhaps the holy grail of Remington Nylon collectors!

Here's a photo - as you can see, it's in flawless condition - and I haven't seen another one since!

John

 

[Smoke]

S&W 4006



It's a common gun but I didn't start looking for one until after they stopped production. I found a bunch of the TSW models but I HATE that rail (Although it doesn't bother me on an M&P or a Glock).

In 2013 I was taking a class with some people from my church and the guy next to me was shooting one. I told him that I had always wanted one but I never seemed to find one for sale when I had money to buy it.

The next day in church he offered it to me for $200. He said he wanted to be certain he gave me a fair deal.

Of course, I bought the gun.

 

[BlackAgnes]

 

[OLDSTER]

I searched several years for a nice factory nickel, 4", M&P, manufactured in my birth year. Finally found this one 6 years ago manufactured late March to early April, 1947. My birth date is June, 1947. I'm lucky to have found it. The other one I've seen exactly like it, give or take a couple months is owned by a fellow forum member ( also.his birth year gun).

 

[Farmer17]

Smith M58 San Fransico PD .41 Magnum.

 

[Buford57]

Back in the mid-70s I worked in a LGS that had for sale a High Standard Sentinel .22 Mag 3" in brushed nickel. I spent my free time in the basement shooting that little 9-shot wonder with .22LR ammo. I have to assume it was used, since the boss didn't mind me shooting it. My only handgun at that time was a Colt Frontier Scout in .22 mag, and I occasionally brought in some of my own .22 Mag or .22 Special ammo for it. I was saving for a .38, since I was moving toward LE at the time and couldn't afford both. The boss eventually sold it.

Since then I've kept my eyes open for one but while I have found plenty of blued Sentinels in .22 LR in various barrel lengths, that particular configuration has eluded me. Not a quest, but something I'd be amazed to see at a decent price.

 

[LVSteve]

I have three that came my way.

Arsenal Strike One in its original format. Some came up NOS (possibly trapped in a bonded warehouse/import debacle) and the rest of the BrokeGunner community were asleep when I put in my bid.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firear...arsenal-strike-one.html?623583=#post140832483

Enfield No1 MkVI, rebuilt as a No.4 Mk1 early in WWII. Rumor control says fewer than 1100 No.1 MkVI receivers were ever made, and you can be sure all did not survive military service. It was in an online estate auction listed as a No.4 and it appears the other milsurp hounds were asleep that day. Scored it for about 30% of what it's worth.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firear...wwii-unicorn-rifle.html?523519=#post139617692

Steyr GB in the military finish, 1 of 937 imported. The BrokeGunner crew were asleep again, possibly put off by the pictures. I snagged a commercial last year just before Christmas under similar circumstances. Auctions, sometimes you hate 'em, and sometimes you love 'em.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/137857700-post6.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/137857707-post7.html

 

[Hair Trigger]

I didn't figure I'd ever run across a M57 no dash, in any kind of shape; the 6" barrel one I found 3 months ago was a pretty nice one. No extras and no OE stocks, but the gun itself was like new. Price was about what I expected; I actually paid more for it than the M29-2 I have.

 

[RWPBR]

I wanted a H&R 532 since 1984 but by the time I turned 21 (late 1985) H&R was on life support and went out of business 3 months later. I checked gun shows, pawn shops and every dealer I passed for 35 years and then one day I saw one of Broke Gunner for $300 buy it now.
Now if I can just find a NEF Sportsman 999 in stainless...

 

[ditrina]

First year Registered Magnum, popped up at my LGS

K-22 Birth year, birth, month October 1947. Foundright here on the Forum.

 

[Pondoro]

My grail gun was an affordable Winchester model 94 in 30-30. "Affordable" was very strictly defined because I did not need one. I had better guns for any conceivable use (better cartridges). So I wasn't going to spend a lot. But I really wanted one. Finally found one with perfect metal and no stock damage - except it had nearly 1/8" of poly over the wood! And the poly looked like an untrained 8th grader had applied it with a cheap brush. There was even a bristle in the poly! I can only think of one theory, based on the gun predating synthetic stocks: Someone bought it planning to hunt in the rain and snow. They carefully removed the wood and slopped on the newest wood preservative - "Polyurethane!" Then they died or lost interest, because the gun literally had no wear. K-Mart used to sell these things for $94 in the 1970's. I got it for a bit more than twice that in 2001 or so! I carefully removed the wood and then carefully removed the poly. No sandpaper was used, just tons of paint remover, soft plastic scrapers and very fine steel wool. Paint remover and steel wool probably added $50 to the price. I then oiled the dent free and scratch free wood with Tru-oil. I know that the wood was removed for the original crazy poly treatment because there was no poly on the metal. The gun looks brand new (of course it is not.)

 

[Dieseltech56]

My 696 no dash was a gun that I wasn't expecting to find for a price 3-400 cheaper than what it would sell for on GB. It was once a grail gun until I felt the price exceeded what I was willing to pay. A few years go by and one falls into my lap.

 

[31FordA]

I had wanted to add a 25-7 to the menagerie for a long time, but haven't seen one in person for 20 years. One came up at a local auction a few weeks ago, but I figured it would bring more than I could afford. To my surprise I was the winning bid at $775. Getting that revolver has been one of the few highlights of 2020.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I had wanted to add a 25-7 to the menagerie for a long time, but haven't seen one in person for 20 years. One came up at a local auction a few weeks ago, but I figured it would bring more than I could afford. To my surprise I was the winning bid at $775. Getting that revolver has been one of the few highlights of 2020.

Being able to sometimes find a gun that you really like in your comfort zone is one of the nicest things about this hobby. Being able to share good fortune and good cheer among the ladies and gentlemen on this Forum is another.

 

[pangris]

29-2 4" Nickel sold on my date of birth with original bill of sale with the date, presentation box, et al.

Twin Model 460 **J frames** for my twin boys, which were by my estimation - at the time the only Performance Center Lightweight J Frames. Never thought I'd find them due to the Model number having been commandeered by they 460 caliber, but found 2 here on the forum LNIB, 4 serial numbers apart.

 

[Delta Rose]

Two come to mind- my S&W 631 4", and my Walther .22 PPK-L. I feel fortunate to have found these when I still lived in Kalifornia, as they had to be procured through face-to-face transactions.

Now that I live in a free state, my first purchase was a Dan Wesson PM-45- quite the unicorn in Kalifornia.

 

[turp_dog]

Mine was a model 64-1 factory chambered in 357 for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Searched for over a year for it, WTB ads everywhere, before finding the Oklahoma gun traders forum. Within a few weeks a gentleman who had worked for the OHP contacted me with an offer to sell a 64-1 that had been gifted to his father, a chief of the OHP back in the 80s. The price was right, and it prevented me from having to buy the one that had just appeared on GB for almost double what I paid for one with provenance.