A gent walked into the Sheriffs office one night with a like new S&W 36. His wife wanted it out of the house because their kids were getting big enough to reach the top dresser drawer. $25.00 was the price he asked. I carried it in an ankle holster until I quit police work.
I bought a new Harris low bipod at an estate yard sale for .85 cents. It was the only gun item shown. I asked if there was more and got the old do you have leprosy look. Some years later a guy was trying to sell a Star 1911 semi-clone with a missing safety spring for enough to buy a Harris low bipod. I traded, bought a Colt 1911 spring with detent from Numrich plus postage, I had 2 dollars in the Star. It was LNIB, the guy said his Father in law never shot it, took it apart to clean it, lost the spring and it sat in the box for years because he could never find and source for Star parts. I had it for about 10 years, it was perfect for a luggage gun on trips. I sold it last year to a guy who has a bunch of Star pistols. I got about $325 for it, the money and profits off a couple of shotguns I had cleaned up paid for one of my S&W revolvers.
Sad story follows, if you cry easily please move on. In the mid 70's a Remington 03-A3 was making the rounds, It would be sold for about 20 bucks and then resold. A guy I worked with ended up with it. He told me the bore looked rusted shut. I traded him a gas powered used lawn mower for it. I took out my military surplus cleaning rod, bore cleaner and removed the cosmoline. The gun shot great. Again, if you are emotional move on, I then sporterized it. Oh how I cry when I think about it.......
I bought a very nice 27-2 in 3.5" a while back for about $500.
I bought a nice pre-27 in 6.5" for $950 last summer. Actually my wife bought it for me as a retirement gift.
I have about $4-500 in my Python I bought a few years ago.
I bought a pre 64 Model 70 Winchester in 270 WIN for $350.00 about 15 years ago. The stock had been slimmed down, nice checkering but needed refinished. The previous owner said it wouldn't hold zero. I glass bedded it, year after year it is now spot on. It also has the uncanny ability to lure deer. I have 4 pre 64's right now and had 12-15 until a few years ago, this one and the one I inherited from my late father go after I'm gone to grand kids.
I once bought a model 12 that would not work right for 50 or so dollars. My gut was right on, the action felt like one was moving in frozen sludge, yep WD 45 and dust bunnies, cleaned up really nice with solvent and a tooth brush. Oh, you really have to rinse a brush out good so your significant other doesn't taste Hopps residue in the AM.
My wife bought me a Weatherby MK V in 300 WBY for my birthday a few years ago. It is a low SN German one. She surprised me with it after I mentioned seeing it. It was marked at $1095 which is cheap. She asked me how I seem to be able to get reductions when gun buying. I tell her I look at the value, how long it's been for sale and go below what I think they'll take. I never gave it any thought. A week later she gives me the gun. She said I marched in, asked to look at it and said I'll give $850. She said they agreed so quickly she should have offered $750... But she was happy. I was real happy, a like new 50 year old WBY and a wife that can buy guns at a discount.