gun show artists too!!!

[1911crazy]

I was at a gun show lately and a guy was selling a 1909 Argentine mauser the crest was missing many years ago the crest was ground off but some did get thru with crests. But looking at the gun he said it was unfired and it looked well used but in great shape maybe unfired by him but for $350 I passed. If it had the crest $350 I would of paid it. I found the unfired story funny we just have to be on the watch and on our toes all the time. We just have to know what we are looking at or pass which I have done in the past. And i have seen guns in a gun shop and didn't have a clue and even ran (well rushed) home and posted here and S.Sumner spoke up and gave me the skibby and I rushed back and bought it. There are so many different guns too just when you think we have the hang of it something new comes along you just never know but at least we can ask here.  Don't get me wrong if the condition matches the price meaning fair market value its a deal to me.      BigBill

[S.S.]

Most folks are just trying to make a buck at those Gun Shows!
A "Gentleman" once tried to sell me several boxes of "Fresh"
12 Ga. Shotgun rounds. he had under his table.
He brought them out and they were SEARS brand!
We all know that Sears Became "POLITICALLY CORRECT"
and stopped selling firearms and ammo long ago.
I opened one of the boxes and they were #5 shot
paper hulls.  But They were "TED WILLIAMS" signature boxes
& Shells and Ted was close to the end at the time, so I bought
every box he had!  So, Who Screwed who on that deal?
Only time will tell!

[alpini]

I guess there's a "buyers beware" just about in everything today.
 I know it sure does make things hard when you're a beginning collector and pretty new at milsurps.
  I for one bought a few dogs from " friends".
 If it wasn't for boards like this or some of the others, I'd be taken a lot more often. It's totally turned me off in some of the other areas of collecting. I find a lot of old timers seem to prey on new people, I just give up trying to break into established areas of collecting.

[1911crazy]

Just remember to bring a borelite to a gun show with you!!!! I use a small penlite so check the bore first then look the gun over. Just make sure the condition of the gun matches the price don't pay too much. There are still good deals out there if we wait and look for them.  I've learned to trust no one look everything over good.  And if I'm buying something I never seen before locally or before going in search of I like to check on parts availability first by looking at numrich gun parts, JackFirst, northridge, tapco or sarco to make sure we can fix it if needed just incase.  It pays to have a plan or plan ahead.  I bought a sks once it needed a rear site spring I haggled the price $50 lower and knew the spring was at tapco when numrich had none so it pays to know.               BigBill

[1911crazy]

Most folks are just trying to make a buck at those Gun Shows!
A "Gentleman" once tried to sell me several boxes of "Fresh"
12 Ga. Shotgun rounds. he had under his table.
He brought them out and they were SEARS brand!
We all know that Sears Became "POLITICALLY CORRECT"
and stopped selling firearms and ammo long ago.
I opened one of the boxes and they were #5 shot
paper hulls.  But They were "TED WILLIAMS" signature boxes
& Shells and Ted was close to the end at the time, so I bought
every box he had!  So, Who Screwed who on that deal?
Only time will tell!

I think you did good for sure I have all older boxes of shells Remington, Peters and all full with paper shells I guess its life before plastics. I started hunting in early 70's so plastics was always it. I'm not sure how old my paper shells are but i know if its two piece boxes too its worth more. I was also told the older 410 shotgun shells are worth more I guess their rare. But your Ted Williams sounds like it may be worth something too already.                                                      BigBill

[S.S.]

Hey Alpini,

Don't let any body push you away from collecting something
you enjoy,  Just alter your collection a bit!
I for one do not collect American made military weapons!
REASON: they are way (WAAAAAAAAAAAY) overpriced!
It is nothing to see an M1 Garand  at gun shows selling for 7
or 8 hundred dollars! Not Me Man! Ain't gonna happen!
Don't get me wrong, they are great weapons. But they are
just not worth that to me!  Not when I can buy several other
weapons of equal quality for the same money (probably with
a decent quantity of ammo for each too!)
Something I would suggest is to read everything you can get
your hands on about surplus firearms!
The "Janes Infantry Weapons" series is great (Although Expensive).
Plus it helps to be a History fanatic like some of us here!
If you have any questions about specific firearms, Someone here should be able to get you an answer !

[1911crazy]

Hey Alpini,

Don't let any body push you away from collecting something
you enjoy,  Just alter your collection a bit!
I for one do not collect American made military weapons!
REASON: they are way (WAAAAAAAAAAAY) overpriced!
It is nothing to see an M1 Garand  at gun shows selling for 7
or 8 hundred dollars! Not Me Man! Ain't gonna happen!
Don't get me wrong, they are great weapons. But they are
just not worth that to me!  Not when I can buy several other
weapons of equal quality for the same money (probably with
a decent quantity of ammo for each too!)
Something I would suggest is to read everything you can get
your hands on about surplus firearms!
The "Janes Infantry Weapons" series is great (Although Expensive).
Plus it helps to be a History fanatic like some of us here!
If you have any questions about specific firearms, Someone here should be able to get you an answer !

I feel the same way the american made stuff is too over priced. At the last gun show in Mass. I bought my last Hakim for $295 it was at the last three gun shows there and nobody wanted it?? And most were drooling over the $750/$1200 Garands and I most likely bought a better gun "cheaper" too and no funky clip to chase after at the range.  Its a great war weapon but not a shooter for me I can't get around too well. I like guns with magazines better. The biggest plus is it uses cheaper 8MM ammo which is a big plus if you shoot more often. Thats my biggest gripe too why is 30-06 surplus so expensive too?? Its like $99 for 384rds we just get hammered again because its for the garand too.  I just bought 750rds of Greek 8MM for $37.50 it just makes me feel better in my wallet cheap gun and even cheaper ammo and i can afford lunch while at the range too.  Can life be any better??  A day at the range with lunch?? Gosh I just love a great deal.                                      BigBill

[alpini]

B.Bill- amen to the borelight, I used to quickly look at the crown as an indication of bore condition but I found out that don't hold true many times. I'm becoming a better judge of 100 year old rifles than I was, it seems to take an experienced eye looking at some of these old guns. For me, the more I looked at, the better I knew the general condition of a particular model out there. Still tricky sometimes, like you say- gotta know condition/price. If I ever pay too much for something, I like to think that at least I got one.
   
   S.Sumner- You're right about altering my collecting areas. I don't have a lot of money for the high dollar stuff, but I can afford the second string pieces that many high brow collectors wouldn't consider. The day I think screw pitch is a variation is the day I gone too far. I am a lot happier just collecting shooters than museum pieces to set in the closet.
   I also hope to pick up Ball's Mauser Military Rifles of the World, it's the book I've been wanting for some time now. If for anything, I hear it's a good read.
   Clayton

[S.S.]

Hey Bill,

Where did you get the Greek 8mm?
Is it corrosive or non?

[S.S.]

Hey Clayton,
Heres a little story about some of those "High Brow" type:

I was at a range a few months ago shooting some of my handguns.
A few of the afore mentioned types came with their fancy "Sporting"
rifles and fired a few volleys down range.
They began to brag about their "Brand Name Rifles"
in front of a fella' that was shooting his old "Truck Gun".  The old guy
took it rather well and then proceeded to Print one of the neatest
cloverleafs I have ever seen shot. His parting words to the
young fellas he had just Humiliated: "It ain't tha gun, It's the man behind it".  Well I just could not stand it, I went and got my Rifle out of its' case.
A Swedish model 96. I had only one round left for it with me.
I fired that one round and you would have had to used calipers
to measure which side of the black it was closest to. It was dead Center!
I simply smiled at them, put the rifle back in its case and went home!
A lucky shot on my part, but a well timed lucky shot!
Folks can be high brow if they want, But I  would put the quality and
craftsmanship of that Carl Gustaf made rifle up against anything
made today!  It probably would surpass most of them!

[1911crazy]

Hey Bill,

Where did you get the Greek 8mm?
Is it corrosive or non?

I got it from Century Arms on sale this month and its most likely corrosive too since its military surplus I go thru a good cleaning anyway I don't trust it when they say non corrosive just to be safe.      BigBill