what's the gun you most regret NOT buying?

[colrhino]

Time for my public confession... this will sting a bit...here's the readers digest condensed version of the story- went to my local gun show this weekend, saw an unfired 6" 14-4 w/TH, TT, (no TS tho?), in a well worn box, w/wax paper, manual, warranty card AND unopened package of cleaning gear.. for $499 + tax. No drag line visible, blueing was perfect... and I walked away. I already have 4 other S&W .38's, I said to myself as I continued browsing the rest of the show. about an hour later, I came to my senses, went back to the vendor, and to my horror another customer was holding MY gun and mumbling something incoherent. PUT THAT DOWN I screamed in my head as I warily approached from his blind side. As I got closer, I heard those dreaded words...well, you know the rest of the story... "I'll take it"...

 

[jughed440]

recently passed up a $600 3" 624 (LH??) because i wanted a 625 instead. regretting it now.

 

[Shooting Padre]

Every gun I have left in gun shop, saw in a catalog or walked away from at a gun show.

 

[Tom K]

Maybe 10-12 years ago I passed on a beautiful Model 25 in .45ACP - with a 4" barrel. Because it was outrageously priced at $400. I didn't know enough about Smiths at the time to determine of it was a -2 that had been cut or what, but I sure wish I'd gotten it.

 

[dentkimterry]

I recently passed by a nice 625 with 3" barrel because of no money. I should have borrowed the money..........................

 

[JCS&W]

18 to 20 months ago, I passed on a really nice M58, box, tools, nickel, everything I wanted. The price was higher than I wanted to pay. I walked, saying I will find another for a little less. Fast forward 18 to 20 months, finally found another one. Paid more, but learned a valuable lesson. If you find what you want, can afford, buy it.

 

[squidsix]

I passed on a Jovino "Effector" 29-2 a couple of weeks ago for $700, because I was shopping for a 3.5" model 27.

 

[welldoya]

We've all done it. My biggest problem is that I overthink things.
If I see a gun that is way underpriced, I wonder what the deal is. I always study it too hard and by the time I realize there is no "catch", it's gone.
Last year there was a mint model 27 with the 8 3/8" barrel in a wooden display box for $450 on a local forum. I e-mailed back and forth a few times with the seller trying to figure out what the catch was. It sold while I was over-studying it.
There was a 1943 Remington Rand 1911 on the same forum about two weeks ago for $400. Same story.

 

[JJEH]

I will pass on the Model 76, currently listed on GB.

 

[1sailor]

I'm going to have my M&P40 paid off real soon and then I want to buy either a 6" model 66 or a 19. Been pricing guns for about 3 weeks now at all the sites and the classified. Since I don't want to be paying for two guns at the same time on my card I recently passed up a beautiful 6" model 19-4. The gun sold for just over $400 which was not too bad but the gun itself was almost perfect. It was being sold by the original owner and had less than 4 boxes of shells through it. Spent most of it's life in a sock drawer and the only marking to the finish was a faintly visible drag line. Target grips were perfect. Beautiful gun.

 

[gruntdeputy]

My department issued 4" Model 66. They went up for sale when we transitioned to Glock 22s, but the price to buy them was outrageous. I could have gone into any LGS and bought a trade-in S&W K-frame cheaper.

But that Model 66 was special. Our department armourer (my partner) had given it a duty-tune and I don't think that there was another 66 in the office with as nice of an action. My wife and I both carried it while the other carried my Model 19. I hated letting that 66 go and I lose sleep over it now.

Frank

 

[elm_creek_smith]

There was a .375 H&H Magnum Whitworth Express Rifle in the Rod & Gun Club at the Mainz-Kastel Storage Station years ago (shortly before Jimmy Carter made it impossible for U.S. service members to travel to South Africa on a DA 31) for the princely sum of $379.00. A South African Army lieutenant colonel seconded to the Royal Army had invited me to go hunting on his ranch if I could get down there. I had the money saved up until I went home to my government quarters in Wiesbaden and my wife told me she'd made a down payment on a full set of Rosenthal china! When Carter put the leave travel ban in force, it became a moot point anyway, but I sure would have liked to have that rifle.

It was pretty much like this.

ECS

 

[Stu1205]

About six months ago, while working the gun show in Jacksonville, Florida, I was walking around before the show opened.
I saw a 629 no dash, 6" pinned and recessed in a wood presentation box, in like new condition.
The seller was selling his collection. He wanted $700.00.
The gun looked like it had never been fired.
Unfortunately, I didn't have that much cash on me yet.
When I finally had enough cash, I went back, but the gun was sold.
I should have asked him to hold if for me until I had the cash later in the day.
I'll know better next time, if there is a next time for a gun like that.

Stu

 

[bigmoose]

Fox AE grade 20 ga. excellent condition $450.... I was in college at the time. Got a flat tire on the way to the guys house. Never made it there and gun sold soon after.

 

[xray97]

My department issued 4" Model 66. They went up for sale when we transitioned to Glock 22s, but the price to buy them was outrageous. I could have gone into any LGS and bought a trade-in S&W K-frame cheaper.

But that Model 66 was special. Our department armourer (my partner) had given it a duty-tune and I don't think that there was another 66 in the office with as nice of an action. My wife and I both carried it while the other carried my Model 19. I hated letting that 66 go and I lose sleep over it .
Frank

I did basically the same thing and have regretted it ever since. My first duty weapon was a 4" model 66. It was issued to me brand new and had been "worked over" by he dept. armorer. Best action I've experienced in a revolver. When the dept. transitioned to Ruger semi-autos we were given the opportunity to purchase our issued m66's for $189. Kids were young, money was tight, so I passed. Wish I'd had the foresight to not have let that chance pass by. I would love to have that gun back.

 

[Joe in SC]

I'm almost embarressed to tell about the great deals I've passed up over the years. There has been some tough times when I was cash strapped and it always seemed like that was the times I had some really good stuff come my way.

One that really stands out was a 98% Winchester model 70 made back before the great mistake (1964). I was offered the gun for 1100 bucks and should have begged, borrowed or stole to get it but at the time I was wondering where the next house payment was coming from. Another time I passed a brand spanking new Sako in thurty ought six in the box with a figured walnut stock for 499 bucks.

I should have bought the 16 gauge AH Fox. It was a CE letter gun in 97/98% for 800 bucks.

Oh yeah, the model 70 was a 250-3000/250 Savage. Go look that one up in your book of current Winchester values. I've been walking on one leg ever since I realized what I had passed on. The other leg has been too busy kicking my on arse ever since.

 

[fyimo]

It almost happen to me at a gunshow last year in the spring. I went directly to a dealers table that I do regular business with and I was looking for a particular revolver that he didn't have. While I was standing there I spotted a P&R 17-4 that was in excellent condition and when I asked him what he wanted he said $550. I should have told him to put it out of sight for an hour while I thought about and he would have.

So I started going to nearby tables looking for the revolver that I really wanted. About 10 miutes later I decided to buy the 17-4 and walked back over to the table only to see someone else holding it. I stood there for what seemed like a half hour (probably 10 minutes) and the guy finally put it back down on the table and walked away. I immediately stepped up to the table and bought it.

The story goes on as the other buyer came back and found out that it was sold and he tracked me down at the show and begged me to sell it to him even offering me $100 more then I paid for. I said no and brought it home only to sell it two weeks later for the original purchase price to my friend that had been at the gun show with me. I guess I was lucky getting it and rather silly for selling it to my friend but hey that's life and what you have friends for.

 

[Have gun-will travel]

Just missed a deal on a S&W mod296 .went out of town one night ,Got home the next morning and checked email.I was told I could have it if I made immediate reply.Guess what,I was to late .Also many years ago I was obsessed in buying S&W n frames.I passed on buying Colt Python's because at the time the cost around $100 more than the S&W's .What an idiot I was .I had the opportunity to buy dozens of the Colts ,some are now selling for $4000 and higher.And the S&W's are only worth about a third of that .What is it they say about hindsight.Wonder what I should be buying now for the future?

 

[mg357]

I saw a very nice s&w model 10 at my favorite gun shop late last year for sale it was my favorite style of model 10 4 inch heavy barrel nice wood grips oh how i wanted it. But unfortunately my gun fund was real low at the time so some else bought.

 

[Iggy]

Back in 1962, during summer vacation from college, I worked on dude ranch in upstate NY.

The day I left to return home, I had a paycheck in my pocket. I stopped at a small gun shop in Tannersville. They had a very very nice Sharp's carbine and a Spencer carbine and an original box of shells for each.

They were each priced at $300.00. Boy was I tempted, but I needed the money for tuition for college, so I passed.

Those two guns have haunted me ever since.