What was your best gun buy?

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gunnerbern

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Not a Smith, but a Colt 1911A1. I purchased this through the NRA in 1960. It was sold as "unserviceable" Government surplus from Aniston Army Depot, Alabama. In fact, it was complete and in perfect condition, manufactured in 1942. The price was $17 plus $2 shipping. By comparison, a commercial .45 went for $65. at the time. An M1 carbine was also available for $19. We won't see those days again. Of course, I put a lot more $$$ into accurizing the pistol, but it has served me well over the years.
 

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Model 18-3 4in. Fellow Says "she won't index proper, she drags on the double action but I'm through fiddlin' with her". I say's "How much to take her off your hands"? "Oh, I'll take $185 and throw in these funny grips from some place named Herrett". Today, she's just another slick nail drivin' machine. Oh,--- that was back in 2010.
 
Smith M&P from 1929 from one of the big boys you see along the interstate. Prior owner had electropencilled "Gino" on one side and "Willie Romandino on the other and fitted it with real stag grips. $75. Best shooter in the stable.
 
5 screw pre-29, 6.5" blue, used but not abused, $700 about 5 years ago.
1913 manufacture Colt 1911, with a loose box of 1918 ammo for $125, about 80%.
1914/1815 double date P08, about 70%, $100.
 
4 screw non model marked 44 magnum in 95% cond. for 750 back in july.Had 70 s era targets on it.Seller insisted it was a 3 screw.
 
In the last year a 3" 66-2 95% $550, 3" CS-1 may be unfired $625...............VERY good year.
 
About 2 yrs. ago I bought a very nice Model 60-7 for $250.00 (+ tax) from the local Cabelas. When the salesman told me the price, I had to work hard to keep my poker face going. I was almost too good an actor as he asked if I wanted to go see the buyer in the Gun Library to see if they would give me a better price. Me: "Noooo, I guess it'll be okay" as I forced myself to slowly draw my wallet.

Best of luck,

Dave
 
Not a Smith, but a friend had a 9mm he wanted to sell because his dept. switched to 40 S&W. It turned out to be a Sig 228 - W. German, triple serial number (a cult gun if you're into Sigs).

It had less than 200 rounds through it and no wear inside or out. He wanted what he'd paid for it - $250. In 1998 it sold new for $720 plus tax.

Second place: a CS9, brand new but mis-marked for $499. Gun shop honored the price even though they had a used one for $599.
 
$25.00 for a Colt Trooper in .38 special about 20 years ago. It had been dropped leaving the rear sight bent and the hammer spur broken off. Little finish was on the gun. It was and is ugly. A little carefull peening put the rear sight back in action. Some fine gunsmith had brazed the hammer spur back on. The good news is that the bore and internals are mint. Hundreds of rounds have gone down that beautiful barrel in those years. It resides in a place of honor under the seat of my pickup truck. No need to worry about a little more finish wear.
 
Best buy had to be a 1937 Luger that turned out to be 100% matching including the numbered magazine with a mint bore. The icing on the cake was having the selling broker put me in touch with the seller. Turns out his father passed away several years ago, he still had a box of papers including the original customs paperwork on the gun when his father brought it home. He also had a book called the morning report about his fathers unit, Rufus Arnold the vet that brought the gun home was mentioned twice in the book. At any rate this was my best buy picking this up for $875. It's also listed in one of Ed Tinkers bring back books now.

Full story with photos of the Morning Report

1937-1.jpg


1937-3.jpg
 
I've had two great buys...and amazing enough both came with lots of bad press and negative comments from others but I bit the bullet ( ha-ha) and bought them and boy oh boy am I glad I did because they are both awesome.... for me anyway.:D
1. Kahr PM9
2. S&W 1911 DK model 45 acp
 
My best buy so far is my M46 which I picked up last year for $400.00. This has been a excellent shooter so far with me having put near 3000 rounds thru it in the last 6 months. The only money I have spent on it was for a new set of grips from a fellow forum member. My "Chinese Kimber"-- Norinco 45TT was a good purchase as well for only $349.95 new. Two mags, cleaning kit and case delivered to my door. It also shoots extremely well with never any problems as well.:)
 
Probably not the best deal, but this being a S&W forum I'd say the 915 I recently got for only $265 was a good one. :)
 
Like new Dan Wesson 22 revolver with a 6" barrel for $100.00 at a yard sale, no less. I no longer have it, but the deal is a good memory. wyatte
 
Colt woodsman sport model,1937 production, in 99% for $125, beautiful gun in every respect. 2nd place is a Colt police Positive with some 10% orig blue, cracked grips and painfully $50! In the S&W house, I scored a 98% 1964 production .41 mag in Nickel, cased, with amazing Cokes for $475 ! Kyle
 
2 yeara ago i got a remington 11-87 in 98% cond for 325. shot duck hunting once, and then put away for 10 yrs. also my model 12-3 snub for 275. love that airweight... original grips and box. no papes but for 275 had to have it.
 
Spotted a Model 41 A-series buried in a sporting goods shop's gun case a few years back. Had "$449 as is" on the tag. One mag, no box, is what the "as is" meant, I guess, that and a small chip off of the butt of one grip panel. The pistol was 98%. Real pleased with THAT deal.

IM000570.jpg
 
A model 10 , probably a dash 5 or there abouts, in 1969 in RVN from a civilian for 60 bucks, and included a holster and some belch fire soft lead ammo-it was as new-shoulda brought it home maybe, but if I had, it coulda gotten ugly. Second was a Taurus 441 4 inch 44 SPL that the guy sold me because he was a S&W revolver guy, (as I am) and didn't like Taurus'. I'm almost positive he never shot it, because when he asked me how it was, and I told him it was great, and had one of the best double actions I had ever experienced, he looked startled-he was a dealer. Flapjack.
 
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