What’s your most bizarre or unusual gun trade?

[Wyatt Burp]

Here's mine. In the late 80s I was driving through gold rush country and in an antique shop bought two NOS 60s kid's lunch boxes. So new there was tissue paper in the thermoses. They were "The Wild, Wild West, and "Land Of The Giants". $15 each. A few years later a guy at work, Jim, wanted them. Another guy, Howard, had a like new Browning B92 .357 he wanted $300 for. I told Jim, "You give Howard $300, he'll give me his rifle, and I!ll give you the lunchboxes". We did just that and everyone was happy.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

It was down at a Ruidosa, NM Gunshow.
I have a table but I'm cruising and looking.
OMG, is that what I think it is?
Pick it up, look it over.
Yeah! It's a Pre-29!
So trying not to look too eager, I ask, how much?
He answered it's not for sale!
Say what?
It's for trade. I want a Browning Citori!
I mumbled, I ain't got no Citori!
He pointed to a nearby table and said, he does.
So - am I getting this right.
You'll trade this Smith for that Citori?
You got it Cowboy!
So I asked him to accompany me over to the Browning.
Didn't want to buy the wrong Citori!
Did the deal.
Here it is.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I traded an Armalite AR-7 for a 1970 Epiphone Sheraton.

I traded a Peavey Stereo Chorus 212 for a CPD turn in 6906.

 

[SAFireman]

I traded a 4" model 657 for a 1984 Chevy Suburban Silverado 4x4 (this was 1995). That was probably the best trade ever, but I bemoaned the loss of the 4" 657 for years until my dad found one and got it to me.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Traded a custom knife that I paid a small fortune for to a guy that had a Beretta Model of 1934.

I felt really stupid that I paid so much for the knife and wanted it gone...(engraved, scrimshaw, Damascus, known/listed custom maker...I couldn't resist!) ...thought the .380 was cool.

I lost out monetarily probably at least $1K but still, traded a knife for a gun.

 

[s&wchad]

I traded an 8-3/8" 27-2 for a 1972 Oldsmobile Toronado in the late 70's.

I needed a car and my friend wanted a model 27. The gun cost me under $300 and the car had some rust, but it only had about 60K miles on it.

We were both happy!

 

[Wyatt Burp]

In 1984 I bought a 4" SfW Model 34 .22 in my favorite pawn shop for $169. I shot it, took it camping, then the shop called saying they needed it back as it was stolen. But they gave me $450 credit in the place. I instantly chose the 1966 Colt factory nickel 4 3/4" .357 they had at that exact price. I soon traded that for the 7 1/2" renickeled 1958 SAA .45 I still have and shoot.

 

[Ματθιας]

I used to work for an auto glass distributer and I've traded tough to get glass for several different things. I got a police trade Sig P6/P225 in trade for a Ford Mustang rear quarter glass.

 

[NYlakesider]

Back in the mid 60s I was selling a nice modal 94 in 32 Winchester special caliber.

Man at the gun club made a offer for the gun but it was not quite enough. He was driving a two 4 BBL early 2 seater Thunderbird. I told him I would sell him the gun but I also wanted 20 minutes seat time in the TBird. He agree and off we went.-

 

[Kinman]

I traded a Model A Uzi which included full auto bolt and 8" (2" showing) barrel , straight across for a very nice 1955 Chevy 2 door post which I later (within a year) sold for three times what I was into the Uzi. I did the deal with an airman from Fairchild, AFB and often wondered how he dealt with that kind of firearm on base. The car was also one of the wierdest car deals I ever did. When I saw it I assumed it had been stripped/dechromed by a previous owner then nicely painted a metallic green, it had the 235 six and three speed on the tree. When I put it up for sale in a local rag sheet a guy called from a neighboring state and asked if I would hold onto it until he got a chance to see it. He said he would be there the next day. I agreed, the next day a beautiful torquise over white '57 Chevy pulled up in the drive. The guy gets out, introduces himself, asks if he can examine my '55. He smokes it over, crawls underneath it, spends fifteen minutes and asks about my price. I told him I had no reason to reduced it from $1,800.00 because he was the first guy to look at it. He said "Take a check?" I told him "No." He pulled out his business card which stated that who he was and that he was in a restoration business, and a three ring binder check-book with equally imposing proof. I called a friend who knew of him and that he was straight arrow. Did the deal, afterwards the guys said "You probably don't know about what you had." I told him I thought I had a stripped down 2 door post. He said "You had a 150 series Chevy, basically what used to be called a "Business Coupe" except it had a back seat. It was the cheapest car Chevrolet ever built, even a heater was an option, he had checked and there weren't grease fittings on the universals. According to him there isn't supposed to be any chrome except the bumpers, none around the windows, none down the side, just lettering. He said "They are rare in this condition because they weren't produced in large numbers and most got used up in jalopy races, or bought by hot rodders because they are already stripped. It did have a chrome grill, when he saw the picture of no chrome around the windows and sides he got a hunch and it paid off. I didn't care, I had $1,800.00 when those things went for under a grand. It was a nice straight, rust free example.

 

[pharmer]

My 1 st of many: Around 1965, my next door neighbor kid had a rusted shut Marlin 7 shot b/a rifle that he wanted to trade for the Daisy Red Ryder that I got, beat bup from my cousin. Took me a week to get that rifle in tip-top shape. Put thousands of rounds through it until I moved to Florida. My brother in law gave it to my nephew; I believe he turned it into a "buyback as it had no serial number which only started on long guns in 1968. I still have a NIB magazine for it. Joe

 

[Narragansett]

It was down at a Ruidosa, NM Gunshow.
I have a table but I'm cruising and looking.
OMG, is that what I think it is?
Pick it up, look it over.
Yeah! It's a Pre-29!
So trying not to look too eager, I ask, how much?
He answered it's not for sale!
Say what?
It's for trade. I want a Browning Citori!
I mumbled, I ain't got no Citori!
He pointed to a nearby table and said, he does.
So - am I getting this right.
You'll trade this Smith for that Citori?
You got it Cowboy!
So I asked him to accompany me over to the Browning.
Didn't want to buy the wrong Citori!
Did the deal.
Here it is.

You got the better end of that deal. IMHO, Citoris leave a lot to be desired. Don't like Japanese shooters

 

[30-30remchester]

My wife is a country woman so say the least. When asked what she wanted for her anniversary (20th) her reply was a cement mixer. Bought one at a yard sale for $25 and she was happy. I loaned it out several times over the years. One man was building a block wall shop and had it for several months. Feeling bad he offered to trade the mixer for a pistol he had. I had $25 invested so I went to look at his trading stock. Straight across trade for a Thompson Center Contender with a custom Sisk barrel in 375 JDJ with a 2 power Leupold scope and holster. Told the Mrs. I traded off her anniversary present. She hounded me till I found her another one at a yard sale for $50.

 

[Kinman]

My wife is a country woman so say the least. When asked what she wanted for her anniversary (20th) her reply was a cement mixer. Bought one at a yard sale for $25 and she was happy. I loaned it out several times over the years. One man was building a block wall shop and had it for several months. Feeling bad he offered to trade the mixer for a pistol he had. I had $25 invested so I went to look at his trading stock. Straight across trade for a Thompson Center Contender with a custom Sisk barrel in 375 JDJ with a 2 power Leupold scope and holster. Told the Mrs. I traded off her anniversary present. She hounded me till I found her another one at a yard sale for $50.

I have a buddy that is a Contender nut, funny thing is that his wife is actually the one that got into collecting Contenders. They have a number of complete collections including all of the off shoots like those made by JD Jones. He actually gave me all the information I needed when I made my first Contender purchase which was a wierd deal all its own. The barrel was made by Bullberry barrels in .321 Bullberry. Bullberry was approached by the Coors Bottling Co. and asked if he could make them a dozen pistols for a Schuetzen match. .321 Bullberry uses a 32-40 case with a quarter of an inch cut off, the bullet is cast and sized to a true .321 and is breech seated with a special tool. The thing is amazing to shoot and easily holds an inch at 100 yards, with a Burris 10X scope.

 

[shovelhead]

My 1 st of many: Around 1965, my next door neighbor kid had a rusted shut Marlin 7 shot b/a rifle that he wanted to trade for the Daisy Red Ryder that I got, beat bup from my cousin. Took me a week to get that rifle in tip-top shape. Put thousands of rounds through it until I moved to Florida. My brother in law gave it to my nephew; I believe he turned it into a "buyback as it had no serial number which only started on long guns in 1968. I still have a NIB magazine for it. Joe

Metal follower? I'll bet it is for a Marlin 80. Hard to find. Ask me how I know! I have the Sears Ranger 36, same gun made for Sears by Marlin from 1934-39. I've got one extra magazine with a bent follower for mine.

Marlin did make some for the later model guns that use a plastic follower but they don't always function in the older versions. Supposed to be able to modify them but those dried up during the last bankruptcy. I knew how to modify it but sold it one day when a customer came in separately searching for that magazine for his kids rifle. I sold it to him and erroneously figured I could get another one easily.

The shop I worked at previously dealt with a lot of antique and military firearms. Being in a rural farming area we got a lot of barn finds in there, that's how mine came in the doors.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

A long, long time back I once bought a Model 94 Win. rifle. A takedown rifle in 38-55 in average condition, maybe good. Serial #312.It was 15 bucks. Wish I still had it. If I remember right I made 5 bucks on the deal.

 

[Muley Gil]

I traded a .455 S&W that had been rechambered to .45 Colt and a 1897 Winchester shotgun for a '53 F100. Wound up trading the truck for a Falcon and later sold the Falcon at a loss. I should kept either the guns or the truck.

My best trade was a used bullet proof vest that had been given to me by the FOP for a Ruger Service Six .357. I had another vest that fit me better and was much more comfortable that I wore daily.

 

[RobertJ.]

I've made a couple...

I traded a Fisher turntable for a Montgomery Wards turntable and a Walther PPK/S in .22 LR. It was 1978, I was 18, and it was my first pistol.

At a flea market about 25 years ago I bought a Marlin Model 60 that was extremely dirty for 30 bucks. I cleaned it up, took it to the next gun show, and traded it straight across for a NIB Sheridan .20 cal. pellet rifle.

About 20 years ago I traded a Taurus .357 for an Epiphone Les Paul. The guy I traded it to was in trouble with his GF for bringing home a gun, and I was in trouble with the wife for bringing home yet another noisy musical instrument!

Oh yeah! In the early 90's at a pawnshop in Blackfoot, Idaho, I traded a stack of leather postcards all postmarked 1906 and 1907 for a Springfield Armory 1911A1. The owner thought she had a hit the jackpot and traded easily. I found out a few years later they weren't worth nearly what either one of us thought they were.

 

[pbslinger]

Can't think of any unusual gun trades, but an interesting bicycle purchase. I wanted a bicycle made by an Italian racer who settled in Canada. He set the one hour record on the track for 70 year old and attempted but missed for 80 year olds. Giuseppe Marinoni.

I find one for sale in Florida Gulf Coast for a fair price and make a deal without knowing if I'll pay $100 to ship or pick it up next time I'm down there. I realize my brother is cruising near on his 43' trawler and ask him if he's going near. He's going past a marina a mile from the sellers house in 3 days. They meet and stow the bike with the wheels off in the forward V berth, and I picked it up from my brothers car the next time I went to Florida. Pretty white bike with red fading at head, bottom bracket, and seat post.

 

[Countrycuz]

Years ago, a guy wanted to buy a cow from me. He was a little light on cash, and asked to throw a couple guns in on the deal. A Remington rifle and Mossberg shotgun came out. He went home with a cow and I later sold the guns as they weren't anything I needed.