What was your best gun buy?

[TTSH]

What was your best gun buy?

I've made a lot of good buys and even some very good buys. I've got a few regrets too but overall, I'm satisfied that my collection/accumulation represents good value for what I paid and for how it has appreciated.

But nothing stands out as a truly outstanding or exceptional best buy. There are no guns that I managed to "steal" simply because my luck just ain't that good.

A big part of the problem is that by law we have no pawn shops in MA which are allowed to sell guns. From what I'm read on the forum over the years, that is still the number one source for non-private sale bargains.

 

[F75gunslinger]

A couple months back, a guy on the local Facebook buy/sell/trade page had a 460XVR for $800 with 100 rounds of Hornady ammo and a shoulder holster..I had to scoop it.

 

[toomany]

Went into a northern mi gunshop looking for a truck gun (2005),walked out with a Colt Combat Cobra Serial #7 for $250
This last Sun at the funshow in FL S&W 5906 LNIB $265 otd.

 

[OLDSTER]

Best buy

Bought this 1955 Korean War era Tokarev Model 54 several years back for $165. It's my most fun "range" gun; interesting history, very well made, accurate, dependable, and that 7.62X25 round is LOUD !!

 

[waffenmac]

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.

My Dad got this one in 61 or 62 the same way and he carried it or kept it in the car for 30 years and then I carried it in the Army with the 101st 2/327 as a 60 gunner with the brown 1918 marked holster and my CO wanted that holster so bad. But to put things in perspective it was 17.00 but at the time my Dad was making 40 dollars a week.

 

[Stephanie B]

Probably this:

A ex- LE 6946, hardly any wear on the finish, with two magazines, OTD just a skosh under $300. Only ding on it is that the night sights were dead (slide's off at Trijicon for relamping).

 

[petemacmahon]

Let's see:

1) a 627 "Model of 1989" that I picked up from a widow back in 2008 for $350, including the original box.

2) a brace of Model 15 police trade ins from J&G sales about 5 years back for $259 a piece. Both are fantastic shooters.

3) A Remington 7600 in 35 Whelen from a co-worker who won it in a raffle for $200 back in about 1996

 

[OldeTSgt]

JP Gunstocks JJ Henry English Pattern trade rifle replica - I paid $648 total for it a couple weeks back and I haven't seen another for less than $2500 - it needed some TLC - work on the lock and barrel because they were rusty - but it cleaned up pretty nice.

 

[wbraswell]

I swapped a Rossi Overland 12 ga. Coach Gun, to a friend who needed one for CAS, for his .30-06 BAR. Both guns were almost new condition. I had $175 in the Rossi.

 

[RaylanGivens]

I bought a 1975'ish Honda project bike for 200.00. I posted it on Craigslist for 400.00. A guy called me and said, "I only have 200.00, but I have a bunch of guns. I told him to come over with 200.00 and a bunch of guns. He brought the 200.00 cash, a Remington Model 11 shotgun with two barrels, a Baby Desert Eagle .40 caliber, and his grandmothers' Iver Johnson .38. I took the cash and the guns and he took the bike. Sweet.

 

[Old cop]

In 1968 I purchased a Colt Cobra as my first off-duty gun for $85. The dealer threw in a box of 158 grain round nose ammo and a holster. Today it sits in a drawer and goes to the range a few times a year & shoots great. The ammo went down range quickly and the holster was lost long ago.

 

[samnev]

S&W 29-2 Nickel 4"+ 6" In Prestation Case

A couple of years ago I ran across a S&W 29-2 Nickel with 4"+ 61/2" barrels In Prestation Case with tools and paperwork, a Safari-land Tan Holster. Plus 200 rounds of Remington Factory 240 grain ammo. Price on the 4 boxes was $5.20. The 29-2 was 99.9%. The 4" barrel was installed. I've never installed the 61/2" Barrel. All for the princely sum of $450.

2nd best buy was a trade for a 100% Model 19-2 with 2 speed loaders that looked like it had not been fired buy the guy I got it from for a SA 45 XD.

 

[Triggerman66]

In the mid 1980's I bought a S&W 520 as new for $185 with matching box at a local gun show. In 2005 I bought a S&W 1950 Target which was part of a very large private collection for a low $300, it had aftermarket grips and no box. I'll keep looking.

 

[TercGen]

Over the last few years, I've snagged three great S&W 3rd Gens right at the $500 mark, all said and done:

- NOS 457
- NOS 4040PD
- used 3913TSW pre-rail

 

[troda]

1918 model 1911. $400

 

[EX11B]

A couple of the better deals I have picked was a Springfield M1A super match with 100 rounds M118 ammo for 500.00. It shoots .75 MOA. The seller said he was going to drop the money in the offering plate at church. I also got a Colt Cobra in excellent condition for 200.00 at a pawn shop. I have 3 Pythons that I have picked up that I have a total of 2150.00 for all 3.

 

[Noah Zark]

My best gun buy was a Webley "WG Army Model," similar to this one:

. . . but with wood grips.

The cylinder didn't index every time, and the hammer would "freeze" if the trigger was pulled. The seller, an antique dealer, was asking $75, and I paid that amount because the revolver was tight and the chambers and barrel bore were mint -- not a speck of rust or a trace of pitting.

Upon disassembly it was evident that the sticking hammer / trigger problem was lack of lubrication and residue of former oil or grease that had solidified or "varnished." The cylinder indexing problem was a function of a "V" spring that had somehow got displaced from its seat, and wasn't keeping the cylinder stop / bolt lifted into its window in the cylinder opening. I reseated the spring, using a tiny dab of threadlocker to help keep it in place. The rest of it got a good cleaning, but no refinishing or anything else.

Having some Fiocchi 455 ammo, I fired 10 rds into a target at 15 yds, and it grouped about 1.4". The Webley has a remarkably smooth trigger in DA, and a crisp letoff in SA.

I've turned down $1500 for it, more than once.

Noah

 

[spad124]

In the fall of 2013 I saw a 20ga Browning Cynergy in the LGS for $1800. I liked the gun, but too expensive for me. In January 2014 with the run up in AR prices I decided to see if I could work a trade with the Century Arms assembled AR15 made up of old M16A1 parts that I had and an extra AR lower. I added $200 to the parts and left with the Cynergy.

 

[Protected One]

A couple of years ago a friend sold me a Browning Hi Power (1994) for $250, including a DeSantis paddle holster, case and 50 rounds of ball ammo.

 

[ameridaddy]

A Browning Medalist .22, NIB, with bullet block, screwdriver, booklet, bbl weights in display case ~1973 for $185. Beautiful figured grip and forearm, a bull barrel, barrel weights, adjustable trigger and a push-the-safety dry fire cocking setting that allows dry fire without hurting the firing pin or breech face. Last made in 1974.
Still love it after all these years.