[Austin_TX]

I’ve sold a few dozen guns as my interests / obsessions have shifted over time, but I’m fortunate to be able to say that I’ve always kept everything that I had any desire for and have no regrets whatsoever about any of the ones I’ve sold so far. I’m never in a rush to sell, so that helps. By the time I send one down the road, that lovin’ feelin’ has been gone for a while.

My regrets come from a few instances where I didn’t want to significantly overpay for a particularly rare item I wanted, only to see the excessive asking price become a screaming bargain five years later.

 

[BLikeYork]

not a firearm but .... 1966 Chevelle Super Sport w 396/275hp, muncie m21, factory 4.11's .... black on black ...

 

[dsk]

My regrets come from a few instances where I didn’t want to significantly overpay for a particularly rare item I wanted, only to see the excessive asking price become a screaming bargain five years later.

You mean, like the near-mint blued 6" Colt Python I passed on because I felt $1600 was a bit too much? I saw it at a LGS right around the time that the first season of The Walking Dead aired. A year or two later and double that price was still considered a bargain.

 

[ether]

Let me take a moment to remember some of the guns I lost over the years, due to foolishly selling them during a moment of ill-timed weakness. It always seems a good idea at the time, but regrets always last longer than the momentary financial gain from letting good guns go...

1. 1941 Colt M1911A1
This was one of the last blued pre-war M1911A1 pistols, and it was in fantastic shape for its age. At the time I was getting married and needed money, and a fellow 1911 collector offered me $4000 for it which was a fair price at the time (early 2000s). Today that pistol would be worth at least $15,000.

2. 1913 Colt M1911
I sold this to the same collector above for $3000. Made in January 1913, probably 90% overall condition. Worth probably $12,000 today.

3. Beretta 92FS
This was one of the early ones made around 1991 in Italy. It was also my first Beretta. It was also a perfect example of Beretta quality during that time. I sold it soon after having just lost my job and I needed the money. I've bought a replacement 92FS since then, but it's newer and doesn't hold a candle to the old one finish-wise even though it's still a nice gun.

4. Polytech Legend AK-47S
This was one of my dumbest moves ever, selling a pre-ban milled-receiver Chinese AK-47 that still had the original box and accessories (3 magazines, bayonet, sling, etc.). Why did I sell it? Because I got bored with it. Sold it during the later AWB years when values had dropped, so I only got around $700 for it. Today it'd be worth at least $4000 on Gunbroker.

5. Bushmaster XM-15S 20" HBAR
Another pre-ban rifle, bought right before the 1994 Assault Weapons Bam became law. Paid $1600 for it, a crazy sum at the time. But I was one of those people frantically trying to get one before it was too late. It turned out to be a phenomenal shooter, easily shooting sub-MOA groups with a scope and the right ammo. When the M4geries became a thing I gravitated towards one of those, and sold the Bushmaster for around $1200. Did I mention sometimes I do really dumb things?

6. SIG-Sauer P226
This was a 1990s West-German made example, and the way it shot was best compared to riding in a Cadillac. Smooth and classy. This was yet another one that I sold off simply because the novelty wore off and I wanted money to finance the purchase of something else. Fortunately this story has a happy ending because last winter I managed to score an identical one off of Gunbroker, and if anything it shoots even better than the old one as the previous owner had a trigger job done on it. Hopefully I won't be stupid again and let this one go.

Those were some good ones.

My Grandpa softly said, "Never sell a gun".

I have sold a few, vs his wishes. A few I regret, and a few I don't. I never sold one that didn't work. I wouldn't do that.

And I have a couple don't work

 

[Slim Pigguns]

Ruger No 1 .375 H&H sold to pay registration & insurance on the family car.
Para Elite .45 traded for a Glock MOS in a moment of madness when I decided I needed a red dot . I subsequently traded the Glock for a Colt " 100 years of Service" 1911.
Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 traded for a S&W 629/1 8 3/8 ins. I should have found the funds to keep both.
93 Spanish Mauser Carbine.
There are a lot of guns I wish I had bought as well.
Pete

 

[Scott Wilson]

The one that still keeps me up at night was an Anshutz 1418D (Full Mannlicher stock, double set triggers, Bock mounts and a 7/8" Lyman Alaskan scope.) I had paid $500 for this rifle in 1990 and FOOLISHLY traded it for a new Kimber 82 Varmint that I never was happy with. I would pay a good bit to have that rifle back today.

 

[lightstar_actual]

The two I've sold that I think about the most were a 1966 Smith & Wesson Model 57 4" and a NIB 1981 Colt Python Hunter, scoped, with the Halliburton case bought for $600 (a ton of money back then) from an ex-agency spook who lived in Santa Barbara. I almost get catatonic when I think about the Colt and what it's worth now.

 

[lightstar_actual]

not a firearm but .... 1966 Chevelle Super Sport w 396/275hp, muncie m21, factory 4.11's .... black on black ...

Lord, DON'T get me started on cars............... Amen.

 

[Sure1]

back in 09 I could have picked up a full auto Colt M16 at the Tampa gunshow for $25g. The price has doubled since then.

 

[GP_Pirate]

Too many to count, but some of the most painful ones...

4 Colt Pythons: 2x6", 4" & 2 1/2".
HK P7 M8
3 BHPs, including the satin nickel one with Pacmayer grips and gold trigger
S&W M66, pinned and recessed
Colt Diamondback .38 2 1/2"
Browning Citori 12 ga
Browning BLR in .358 Winchester
Colt Detective Special with satin hard chrome finish

 

[7in1911]

I haven't sold off any of my purchases, so no regrets there. However, I do have regrets over some I've seen at gun shows I probably should have jumped on.

Many years ago, I was at a gun show with my Father and found a Colt Delta Elite 10MM 1911. I had read a lot about 10MM in 1990 and liked the 1911 platform, but passed because I wasn't 21, although my Father was willing get it in his name and later transfer it to me...forking out a good sum of money was kind of a lot for a youngster at the time.

Then about 10 - 12 years ago, I had an interest in M1 Garand rifles. Again, I was at a gun show with my Father and found one in really nice shape, the throat erosion was very low if any. I came close to buying it but didn't because I was trying to decide between an M1 or AR-10.

 

[James]

I don't recall ever having that problem. I did sell a nice MKIII Hi-Power once, replaced it years later, sold the second one, and finally bought a third a few years ago. Hopefully I'm done doing that...

I am glad this illness doesn't afflict you. Unfortunately it carries over to cars and other things for me.

 

[GP_Pirate]

As far as not buying one I should have, many members will remember the ASP. It was a highly customized S&W M39. Devel had a similar model. Found one at a gun show many years so and passed it up. Almost impossible to find now.

 

[dsk]

Lord, DON'T get me started on cars............... Amen.

I really miss my old '67 Mustang, but unfortunately in that case I had no choice but to sell it. I lived out in the deep woods where it rained 367 days a year and moss would grow on my legs if I stood still too long, and I didn't have a garage or shed to keep it in. As a result the poor thing rusted out faster than I could fix it. The floorpans were Swiss cheese by the time I sold it. Here we are decades later and I finally have a nice garage to keep it in, but no Mustang. Unfortunately prices on them have since soared to where I couldn't afford another one.

 

[ether]

As far as not buying one I should have, many members will remember the ASP. It was a highly customized S&W M39. Devel had a similar model. Found one at a gun show many years so and passed it up. Almost impossible to find now.

View attachment 651072

Those are so cool. Pretty much unobtainium, like you say.

But they can be had if you look long and hard enough and pony up:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/940418948

 

[Islander505]

My biggest regret was a near-mint, 95% original finish, all-matching serial numbers Argentine 1927 Sistema Colt that I originally purchased for $250 in 1993. I sold it three years later for the same price but have regretted it ever since.

 

[Austin_TX]

As far as not buying one I should have, many members will remember the ASP. It was a highly customized S&W M39. Devel had a similar model. Found one at a gun show many years so and passed it up. Almost impossible to find now.

View attachment 651072

They turn up fairly often on GB — but certainly not for the price you could have paid back then.

 

[JMAKSIGKIM]

1993 Colt Special Combat Government in hard chrome. The most beautiful 1911 in My eyes. 100% reliable. The trigger was so-so. I bought a Baer Monolith Heavyweight which I thought I would love as much or more than the Colt. Wrong. I sold The SCG for $1000 to Plexi(not sure if He's still here) to offset the cost of The Baer($1,850)

One day I will get another.

 

[BillW]

I really miss my old '67 Mustang, but unfortunately in that case I had no choice but to sell it. I lived out in the deep woods where it rained 367 days a year and moss would grow on my legs if I stood still too long, and I didn't have a garage or shed to keep it in. As a result the poor thing rusted out faster than I could fix it. The floorpans were Swiss cheese by the time I sold it. Here we are decades later and I finally have a nice garage to keep it in, but no Mustang. Unfortunately prices on them have since soared to where I couldn't afford another one.

I can 't remember if I replied to this thread, but enjoy!

 

[BillW]

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