Stumbling Upon a Handgun Purchase

["DoubleAction"]

It is good fortune for one to be prepared when stumbling upon the sale of a special gun, especially if it is one at the top of a long wish list.
I think that is a part of the gun interest, which motivates some to acquire more.
There are those guns, which seems like the Holy Grail of all guns, that I might stumble upon in a back corner, on a bottom shelf, of a shop I seldom visit.

[BlackDog]

How about stumbling across something that not only wasn't on your short list, but wasn't even a consideration?

When I was in the right place at the right time to get a brand new Ruger New Model Single Six in .17HMR for $100, I wasn't even considering a single action revolver and that caliber had never even entered my mind. If you had asked me to rank that gun as far as where it would be on my wish list it probably would have ranked just slightly better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I just didn't have any interest in it. Looking back now, I'm so glad I acquired it and it would take a LOT more than what I paid for it to pry it away from me now. In fact, if someone offered me it's full retail price I probably wouldn't even take that. It's a great gun, it's fun to shoot, it's accurate as can be, and at only a $100 it didn't hardly make a dent on my "gun fund." Speaking of the gun fund.... what's next? Oh, decisions, decisions......

["DoubleAction"]

Blackdog; Come to think of it, I only have two lists; My Wish list and my Sh_t list, that means I am better off avoiding any gun shows or shops. ;D

[Oregunner]

Like you say DoubleAction, sometimes the deals pop up
when you're not expecting them.
A couple months back I was checking the pawn shops in
the city 30 miles from me for a leather cycle jacket, to
replace the one that seemed to shrink over the winter.
Of course when I'm in a pawn shop I have to take a look
at their guns. At this shop I spot a German Walther PP
.380. I'm a big Walther fan and check it out. The pistol is
kind of rough but the guy says he'll take $300 for it, I thank him and say I'll think about it.
At the next pawn shop I'll be damned, there's another
Walther, a German PPK/S .380. What blew me away is
I never see these pistols in pawn shops and here is 2
in one day. This pistol was much nicer than the first one
and didn't look like it had been shot much. When he met
the price of the first one I couldn't pass it up and took it
home. She ended up being a very accurate gun, so I sold my stainless American PPK to my neighbor and came out $150 ahead on the deal. And we're both happy.

["DoubleAction"]

Oregunner; A deal such as that on, with a pistol like that one, would not last long among well informed handgun buyers. That's what I'm talking about.

[WSB]

That is one big reason I am in the process of getting my CCW. Here in Michigan if you have a CCW you do not need a permit to purchase. I don't think my wife realizes this yet, but that's OK for now.

["DoubleAction"]

On several occassions I've had co-workers who stumbled upon some guns, which worked to my advantage. One particular purchase, which I was led to by a co-worker, was my blue S&W 27-2, 4 inch, never fired. If my brother had seen this gun, it would have surely been gone. The Gun shop which had it was only 5 minutes from my house.

[denfoote]

How right you are!!!
I was crusing through a gun show one weekend, not even looking for anything in particular, and found this!!!



Fortunately I had the cash in wallet to do the deal!!
S&W M28-2 circa 1976.
It shoots real nice and has a DA trigger as smooth as a baby's butt!!! ;D

["DoubleAction"]

Welcome to the forum Denfoote; It's a real pleasure to find another member who believes in the vintage Smith & Wessons. I've often said that these pre-owned masterpieces can be found for less than the new foreign manufactured revolvers. This is a large portion of what handgunning is all about.