I won an 1873 Trapdoor in auction. It had extensive Indian carvings up and down the stock. When it arrived, it didn't function mechanically. It was missing a part or two, and the lock would completely bind up it you tightened the bolts. None of that was disclosed. I was angry at the time, argued with the seller, and he took it back. I probably should have kept it, even as an non-functioning trapdoor, because those carvings were amazing, and I'll never see anything like that again.
Guns You Should Have Bought When You Had The Chance, And Now Regret Not Buying
- Thread starter Speedo66
- Start date
WisBorn
Contributing Member
The one that haunts me! In the early 90s I passed on (didn't have the $) a lefthanded custom Model 700 in 8mm Remington Mag.
A Saiga AK-style in .308 when they were $250. I bought a 7.62x39 and a 12-gauge but the .308 seemed "pricey" at the time.
(The ad is from CDNN in 2004.)
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Too many to count. 2 stand out though. A brand new Sako 375 H&H, $82.00, and a new CZ magnum 416 Rigby, something just short of $500.00. Oh well, didn’t really NEED either one of them anyway.
I have kept up with CZ handgun prices for several years, checking every month if not every week to see what kind of deals I could find. I got busy with work efforts and didn't check for a couple of months, only to later find that during that period sellers were blowing out the last of the 97Bs before CZ discontinued them. When I did finally check again, I saw where they'd been available in the low $600 range only a month or so earlier, but by that time they were already almost $800. IMO, they are worth the prices they are bringing now, but I already have one so I can't bring myself to pay that for another one that I really don't need other than to possibly give one to each of my sons someday. They are outstanding guns, IMO. Mine eventually drove me to sell my 1911 because I just never shot it anymore.
And beyond the handguns, pretty much anytime CZ discontinues a rifle or handgun, it's a good time to buy, resale value wise. I have a bunch of them, bought most while they were in production (although some were used but in outstanding condition), and essentially all of them (everything except the SP-01, P-01, and PCR) have been discontinued and are now bringing about 2x what I paid for them.
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About 7 years ago I was at an estate auction. There were about 100 guns and they were going cheap.
I regret not buying the Win 94 in 7-30 Waters (just for the rareness and novelty of it) but I had already bought 2 Win 94s, a Marlin 39A and a Colt 1911 and decided I had spent enough.
I think it went for around $350.
I regret not buying the Win 94 in 7-30 Waters (just for the rareness and novelty of it) but I had already bought 2 Win 94s, a Marlin 39A and a Colt 1911 and decided I had spent enough.
I think it went for around $350.
Dain Bramage
Member
I bought a Coonan Classic for $1250 new, about 11 years ago. On Gun Broker there are still some going for around that. The crazy prices tend to be for rarer ones, like the Model B's and Compacts. But the occasional Classic goes crazy too.
Will Munny
Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2021
- Messages
- 336
Serbu BFG-50A. No longer accepting new orders due to a backlog, and I have a feeling they will be banned before I ever get to order one.
.45Coltguy
Member
That is one fine looking pistol! Very nice.
Armored farmer
Member
Double post
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Freudianfloyd
Member
Several, but a couple that stand out fairly recently. I was at a gun show and somebody was selling a Savage model 99 that needed put back together for $100. I went back a few times to look it over and finally passed. At the time I didn't realize how desirable they were.
At a different gun show there was a guy walking around with a Ruger 10/44 for $400. I had never seen one before and had no idea what it was worth. My dad was with me, and he had never seen one either. So we both passed, and by the time I decided to buy it, it was sold.
At a different gun show there was a guy walking around with a Ruger 10/44 for $400. I had never seen one before and had no idea what it was worth. My dad was with me, and he had never seen one either. So we both passed, and by the time I decided to buy it, it was sold.
Armored farmer
Member
I had the Gunbroker bid on a Ruger. 45colt from Hank Jr's personal collection.
I gave up just short of the winning bid.
I wish I had hung in there and bought it.*
I gave up just short of the winning bid.
I wish I had hung in there and bought it.*
huntsman
Member
1982 4” nickel Diamondback .22lr
tactikel
Member
M1 carbine @ $69, M1 Garand @ $79 (1965). 1911 .45 $10, ‘03-A3 Springfield $15 (1950’s). My Dad bought the carbine and .45 (he spent 11 months in the pacific in WW II). SKSs for $79, M48 Yugo for $99.
I missed out on all of them
.
I missed out on all of them
.
Testing a Colt Python for a friend of mine.
Can't remember the barrel length but it was very long, and it had an original scope on it.
The owner said I could have it for $800 but that was back about 1999 or something, and I passed on it.
Had the money but didn't have any idea what a python was going to be worth, I was into S&W 29 & 25 back then.
By the way, at 30 yards the bullets touched, all 6 of them. STUPID, STUPID STUPID.
Can't remember the barrel length but it was very long, and it had an original scope on it.
The owner said I could have it for $800 but that was back about 1999 or something, and I passed on it.
Had the money but didn't have any idea what a python was going to be worth, I was into S&W 29 & 25 back then.
By the way, at 30 yards the bullets touched, all 6 of them. STUPID, STUPID STUPID.
Alte Schule
Member
During my long life I've passed on a few firearms that I somewhat regretted but the one that bothers me to this day was a pristine S&W Model 19 that was a fresh trade-in at my LGS. I had then, and still have, several S&W revolvers but not a Model 19,
I had gone in to pay off a lay away and noticed the Smith under the glass. The price was $450 which was not unreasonable 10 years ago. I completed my lay away transaction and left. When I got home, as I was pulling into the garage, it dawned on me that I just walked away from one of my grail guns.
I drove back to the LGS. I was gone for maybe twenty minutes. I went in and went straight to the counter. There was an empty spot where the Smith had been. The manager saw the look on my face and said "when you walked out awhile ago someone came in about a minute later and bought it. You probably passed him in the parking lot. I was kind of surprised when you left w/o at least putting some money down."
I almost cried.
I had gone in to pay off a lay away and noticed the Smith under the glass. The price was $450 which was not unreasonable 10 years ago. I completed my lay away transaction and left. When I got home, as I was pulling into the garage, it dawned on me that I just walked away from one of my grail guns.
I drove back to the LGS. I was gone for maybe twenty minutes. I went in and went straight to the counter. There was an empty spot where the Smith had been. The manager saw the look on my face and said "when you walked out awhile ago someone came in about a minute later and bought it. You probably passed him in the parking lot. I was kind of surprised when you left w/o at least putting some money down."
I almost cried.
Old Sandman 71
Member
At a local gun show about 3 years ago, I passed a gentleman walking around with cardboard sign around his neck with “1911 for sale”. I assumed it was some Springfield, or Ruger, and never stopped to ask. On the way out of the show I passed the same gentleman at the big Colt dealers’ tables pulling out a pristine 1911 Black Army, and listened to the gentleman tell the Colt guy that he wanted $1000 for it. I just about gagged.
Armored farmer
Member
Years ago at a trapshoot...I was offered a 94 Winchester with nearly all the blueing worn off, scratches in the wood, Cigarette burns in the wood, buckhorn sights, saddle ring, the side of the reciever on the old girl was clearly stamped NEW MEXICO STATE PENETENTIARY.
He wanted too much money for it at the time.....probably 10yrs ago now....$900
But......it was one of a kind ....character..
I had the money then.....still have it now....what good is money? You can't shoot money!
He wanted too much money for it at the time.....probably 10yrs ago now....$900
But......it was one of a kind ....character..
I had the money then.....still have it now....what good is money? You can't shoot money!
rayatphonix
Member
CZ 550 Ebony Edition in 30-06. I think about it all the time and can’t believe I passed on it.
I was at a gun show back when the Swedish Mauser were coming into the C&R market, a guy had a table of them in really nice condition for $80 each. I thought about it, then walked away. Dumb, I could have bought them as gifts and one for myself.
whisler
Member
My son bought three of the Swedish Mausers back then. He sold one to me for my wife and he eventually sold the 2 that he had. (not a smart move) My wife will not make the same mistake; hers is all numbers matching, including the barrel bands, I recently saw its twin in a LGS priced at $1K.
Bruce D Pease
Member
Too many to count….,59 through 63 in college … paid my own way.. not much left over for Ye Olde Hunter out of Alexandria Va. so many good ones so cheap..
