Bigest bone headed mistakes with sixguns.

[Art in Colorado]

Back in the early 2000's I walked into my favorite gun store and in the consignment case was a 4 inch S&W H.D. with a price of $600. I asked about it and was told it came in with original box, the one with the metal corner protectors. The store valued it in about 98% condition with the original coke bottle grips at $1,100 and priced it that way. One of the employes a few days latter was looking at the contents of the box and found a small piece of paper folded up and thought that maybe it was the original bill of sale. However, when unfolded it said C-R $1.75 and he thought UH-OH and took a 357 round and it droped right in the cylinder. The C-R stood for cylinder reamed. It droped the value down to $600. I looked at it and could see no holster ware or any other marks except the normal cylinder ring from some use. I had the money and thought hard about it but at the time I was all about 44 and 41 Mags and passed. A week later when I went to the store it was gone. Not sure if I would have bought it then but it was gone. About a month latter it was back in the case for $600 but this time with rubber grips. Not sure if I told this story before but reading in the current issue of American Handguns there is an article by Mike Venturino about 38 Specials and his two S&W H-D's and it brough back the memory of my dumb mistake. Imagine now having a vintage six gun in this condition. I would have just shot Specials or down loaded 357's. This is by far my worst six gun blunder among many.

[roysha]

Ok, I'll plead to being dumber than a river rock because I don't know what an S&W H D is. Please enlighten me.

[dverna]

Sold a really nice K-38 and Colt Target .38 when I got into semi-autos. A few years ago got back into revolvers....got tired of chasing brass. Really missed that gun. Started looking for replacements and got sticker shock. What a ******* I was.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Ahhh yes, the one that got away. I'll bet we've all had at least one, and maybe more. Mine would be the S&W Mod. 25 special run that had a non-fluted cylinder chambered in .45 Colt. I saw one in the showcase of a LGS in about '87 or '88, a 6 inch, brand new, and I think the price was about $600. I decided to think about it, went back the next day and it was gone. I had an FFL at the time and phoned my distributor. The saleslady said that there had been some in inventory, but all were gone. Never saw another until about 2008 when I was working security at a big gun show. I spied a used one, a 4 inch. It had been carried a lot as it showed holster wear, but was tight with a good bore. Action was as smooth as silk. I decided to think about it and go back and buy it just before the show closed. It was gone.....and I've never seen another. So, double dumb!

[Nueces]

Ok, I'll plead to being dumber than a river rock because I don't know what an S&W H D is. Please enlighten me.

HD means Heavy Duty, the early N frame in 38 special. The target sighted version was called the Outdoorsman.

[Art in Colorado]

Ok, I'll plead to being dumber than a river rock because I don't know what an S&W H D is. Please enlighten me.

It came out with special heat treating to handle hot loaded 38 Specials. Law enforcement wanted something more powerfull then standard 38 Special. They were being out guned by the gangsters of the day. Did not last long since the 357 Magnum came along.
Really neat sixguns made by S&W gunsmiths.

[Mk42gunner]

My biggest bonehead moves with revolvers was letting the good ones get away from me.

A few of my more memorable ones:
My first GP-100, blued with a six inch barrel. That is the gun I really learned how to shoot a double action with.
A Colt New Frontier Buntline Special .22.
My first Redhawk. 5½" stainless.
A S&W Model 28 that I traded for a Winchester Model 24 16 ga.

And not a revolver but this was one of stupider moves, I let a second model Colt Woodsman get away.

Now I'm depressed, I'll try to think of some of the smarter purchases I have made to cheer me up.

Robert

[CastingFool]

Not a revolver, but I let a Ruger Red Label slip away from me. Man at a garage sale was asking $600 for it. I kick myself every time I think about it.

[EMC45]

Years back my buddy with a pawnshop had 2 .357 revolvers in the case - A Model 28 S&W That had a silvery grey patina all over with oil soaked and battered wood grips. It locked up tighter than a bank vault and the chambers and barrel were shiny and crisp - $189.99. The other one was a Ruger Security 6 with the same patina and beat up grips, but locked up super tight as well - $179.99. Walked away from both of them and they were gone by the end of the day. This was around 2013-14 time frame. Both 4in.

[Drm50]

When you are talking years back and prices you got to allow for the value of the dollar. The S&W HDs were 38/44s which were N frame 38specials built for hot loadings with heat treated cylinders.
Many were reamed to 357. The adjustable sight model was the Outdoorsman 38/44. The m27 and 357 pretty well run 38/44s out of business. Cops were toting m19s on K frames, not to much interest in N frame 38sp.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

I think I may be dumber. Years ago my wife caught me looking at this centerfold, she said; what, do you love that gun? I told her that gun meant nothing to me. A few days later she came home early and caught me on the couch caressing one. $850.00 USFA .45 blue/case hardened 4 3/4” bbl.

Back then an FFL could could just hand you gun and say, come back when you decide if you want to buy it or not.

I decided it didn’t feel right, the hard rubber grips were too thin, the hammer didn’t have any over throw. I didn’t want any other grip material. It felt too tight and it wasn’t a Colt’s so I turned it down.

That gun now lists on Gunbroker for $2500.00.

[rintinglen]

I had a 3 1/2 inch 27-2 in the case and traded it for a 45 colt new service. Doh!

[charlie b]

Ruger .357 3 screw. At a garage sale for $200 in early 90's. Sure wish I had bought it.

[Art in Colorado]

Here is another one of mine. Back in the 90's I had a S&W 44 mag Mountain Gun with a Bear engraved on the side plate. I bought it new so it must have been some kind of exclusive. Along came a used Freedom Arms in 41 Mag and I just had to have it so I used the Mountain gun for part of the trade. Big mistake. Hardly used the Freedom Arms. Way to heavy and had a four pound trigger. Had Freedom Arms lighten trigger for $100 and they would not go below three pounds. Then had fireing pin break off. Never dry fired it without snap caps. Back to them for repair. So I sent it down the road. The Mountain Gun had the forged internal parts and not the new MIN ones. No lock and fireing pin mounted on hammer. Kick my self again.

[skrapyard628]

The only one I can remember was around 2007. And of all places it was at Cabelas. Normally you figure they are just selling things at MSRP. But there were two FAL rifles with well worn finishes on the rack in their used gun dept, and they were marked $499. Im not sure about what mfg they were or inch/metric, but you just dont see too may FAL pattern rifles for that price.

At that time I was pretty poor in the cash situation and had to pass on them. I still kick myself for it. Should have just broke down and put them on the credit card. Heck, I could have bought both and probably sold one of them for nearly the cost it would have been to buy both of them.

[Thumbcocker]

Louisville gun show some years back. Uncut Webly mark VI with canvass holster and belt. $400 and Mrs. Thumbcocker asking me "Why don't you buy that; you have wanted one forever?" I passed.

[Norske]

My first centerfire gun was a Colt National Match (before Gold Cups) 45ACP pistol. I think it was made in 1961, and I was the 3rd owner, and got the pistol, a loading bench, and all the Lyman items I needed for casting and reloading for $75. A couple years after college graduation, I wasn't shooting it any more, but was offered full retail book value ($125) against a rifle I liked. I traded. A few years later, the world noticed that model was only made in limited numbers, so the book value increased by roughly ten fold.
The only other firearm-related thing I bought that increased in value is my copy of "Cooper on Handguns" which cost $5 off the magazine rack when published, but is now selling on E-bay for as much as $125.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Brother called, said a friend of his had a gun for sale. Wanted $200 for it. Did not have that on me so I passed. Found out later it was a Colt Anaconda, with scope. About 25 years ago.
CF

[tominboise]

Ok, I'll plead to being dumber than a river rock because I don't know what an S&W H D is. Please enlighten me.

Here is a picture of my 38/44 HD....

262401

[downzero]

My biggest mistake was selling my 586 about 12 years ago. I had to replace it with a 28 and 66.

[Loudenboomer]

The biggest bone headed 6 gun mistake? That's easy. Nearly Fifty years ago the Neighbor kid had been watching a little to many TV westerns and decided he was going to fast draw his new Single Six. The Revolver discharged before clearing the holster and sent a .22 LR slug the long way threw his calf muscle. Miraculously
it hit no leg bone before exiting. It then traveled down went threw his shoe and stuck in his big toe. One can only imagine how bad that toe hurt!

[Baltimoreed]

Had the opportunity to pick up a 2 inch Diamondback with a po’s name cut on the backstrap. My buddy would have held it for me but I didn’t jump. He didn’t keep it long. I did get a great deal from him though. He had a 6 in New Service in .38 spcl on his table for several shows and I picked it up numerous times until he talked me into it for the expensive price of $340.00.

[murf205]

The one that haunts me till this day was a 1917 S&W at the Huntsville Cabelas store opening weekend. It was in excellent condition and was $600 out the door. I've been back there a few times since and the bargains are few and far between.

[MT Gianni]

I pulled in to a mom and pop place to buy a pop one day while working. They had a 44 special 4" target 1954 with a good price and leather. I had just had a warning about guns in the work truck and didn't want to chance another. They would not hold it and when I called back at 5:15 it was gone. i should have bought it and picked it up later, but was in a hurry.

[hpdrifter]

I've made so many mistakes with guns, it'd start me drinking if I revisited them.

The worst was a Springfield 03A3, Remington in real good shape I let go for roughly $120 worth of crap merchandise I wanted at the time.

Sorry, my mind started tumbling and forgot the sixgun part.

[Drm50]

Never look back, that’s not the way to go. My Bro is always hacking on me for guns I had years ago. Too facts the military guns from WW2 were a dime a dozen and were sold in barrels like baseball bats. Many of the guns like Colts, S&W revolvers were no big deal when you could buy as many new ones as you wanted. My foul ups were from selling stuff I didn’t have to because I had no interest in them. Colt and S&W service type revolvers, Webleys and all cap & ball revolvers I got my hands on. ( not talking repro either ).

[Walks]

I let go of a M19 4" P&R with minimal holster wear that had never fired a .357Mag Cartridge.
And a M25-5 8 3/8" in wooden box.
Sold both to finance My Kids getting into Cowboy Shooting. Made money on both, but regretted it ever since, 25yrs now.

[megasupermagnum]

I wish I could see the future. If you could go back to 2013 you could Dump $10,000 on H&R and NEF handi rifles, and in 2016 sell them for $40,000 or more. A $125 single shot was suddenly a $500 gun. I'm still bummed about all the missed opportunities with their barrel program. I swear you could send a frame in around 2012-2013 and a barrel was $79 or $100 for two. Now guys want $400 just for the barrels, and chances are they wont even fit the frame!

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Letting good shooting six guns go is a long lasting regret. Mine include a 3" 65, 3" SP101, 2 GP100 and a couple SBH. Also a 625. Just what was I thinking? Now the ones I buy have issues......

[Drm50]

Probably the number one money maker for 20/20 hind sight would be GI issue 1911a1s. Just taking 1970 as example. A new series 70 was $100 in LGS. That would put top condition used one at $75.
Now a GI issue would be lucky to get you $40 cash. Now look at them parts guns by CMP at $1000
and really good 1911a1s can bring $2500 easy. When I was a kid a guy had a unfired 1911 from supply depot stateside in WW2. He wanted a Savage 340 22Hornet. He had my dad go with him to do the trading/ dealing. This would have been 58-59. Anyway the Savage was probably $50, the gun shop wouldn’t give him $25 for the 1911 against it. A lot of the WW2 stuff that was worthless is now collectors items.

[Shawlerbrook]

Selling a nib S&W 66.

[rockrat]

Had a table at a gun show and was looking around before things opened. Fellow had 3 Colt Pythons and he wanted $600 each. Didn't have the money, even though I knew that was a good buy. They were gone within a half hour of the shows opening.
Did I tell you about the Colt Ace that a guy had for $400 or the Ruger Stainless semi pistol w/10" bbl for $400!!

[Dorf]

My biggest sixgun mistake was not buying a couple of more Ruger Blackhawks 1n 1955 when I got one with a serial # below 5000 for $87.50. Still have that one though (with the original box) :-)

[osteodoc08]

My biggest mistake was selling my 8-3/8” 686 no dash and a M25 Mountain Gun in 45 Colt

[EMC45]

Another one for me was the S&W Model 296. Cook's gunshop had them back in 99-2000 time frame and they were not moving at all and they were fairly cheap. If I knew then what I know now about .44 Special I woulda bought at least one. Now they are kind of collectible.

[468]

About 45 yeas ago, I traded a Colt Diamondback for a 1911. How’s that for stupid?

[cp1969]

A nickel plated Python for $600.

[EMC45]

Another one from MS (not a Wheelgun) was a shop in Orange Grove that had a few M1935 French .32 Longue (Sig P210 lineage) pistols for sale. The guy told me ammo was non existent and it was long before I started handloading. I think he wanted 75-80 bucks each for them?... Now Starline brass sells that case and I am quite a fan of the .32s. I think the ballistics are on par with low end .32 Mag loads.