What was your best deal .....

[dstegjas]

I am sure everyone out there has gotten a good deal on a gun at some time or other. Lets hear the stories and how you found the deal. It doesn't have to be a recent deal or even a Marlin for that matter. Here are a few of mine ............

Marlin 39A Pre-Safety
I picked this one up about 4 years ago at a yard sale for $150. I was heading up to a gun show and for some reason just stopped at the yard sale to see what they had. The gun was clean inside and out. The wood was nothing special but still a nice gun.  Unfortunately someone offered me to much money for it about a year ago and I sold it. Greed is a terrible thing. 

Marlin 30/30 Pre-Safety
I picked this one up at the Johnstown Swappers meet in Johnstown Ohio 2 years ago. It has a mark on the left side of the receiver that looks like something had been rubbing against it, it's about an inch long. It's not through the bluing, but enough to leave a mark. Other then that, no rust or pitts to be found. I still have this one in the safe.

Marlin 1894 CS .357 Mag.
This one actually cost me nothing believe it or not. So I consider it the best deal for now. Some one asked me what I would charge them to sell three guns for them. They weren't using them any more and wanted to sell them to fund another purchase. They were not interested in taking them the a gun show themselves and wanted me to do it for them. Long story short, we agreed on a percentage of the sale and I sold them all the next day. When I stopped by his house to split up the cash. I offered to take the 1894 he had in the safe instead of my cut of the sale. He agreed, and both of us were happy. This one is going to stay around a while.   

Jim

[wecole]

In 1991 I picked up a gently used single shot 20 GA in Lawton Oklahoma for $36.  It was a great squirrel gun.  Unfortunately, it didn't belong to be for very long.  I left it at my in-laws while I was stationed in Germany and my brother-in-law pawned it...

[davem270win]

Back in the late 70's, there was a little sports shop near me. I'm not sure what the deal was, but I think the shop was just a 'hobby' for the owner, and some of the employees did not come out of the 'sharp knife drawer'. Anyway, I expressed interest in an 1894 Marlin in 44 mag. The owner pulls it off the shelf and swears to himself. He had Marlin 22's on sale, and one of his genius's had priced the 44 the same. I believe I wound up paying something like 89.95 for it!

[Pumah25]

I picked up an 1894 Cowboy Limited in 44 Mag 24 in Oct barrel no checkering (just the way I like it) for $325 and the guy threw in @ 130 rounds. I saw it in the paper and was on the guy's door step in 10 minutes. Not quite as huge but last night I picked up an 1895 cowboy on Gunbroker for $525.

[navylawdog]

My number one would have to be my Winchester 94 in .45 colt. I bought it at a little gun shop in Freeport, ME. It was marked at $299, but I walked out the door with it and a box of bullets for $225. It shoots so well that it is priceless to me.

The other one would be an SKS that I bought from a buddy at work. I was at work one day and heard him talking about needing money. I knew he had some guns so I asked him if he had anything he wanted to sell and he said that there were a couple that he could part with. So I had him come over the house one day and show me what he had. I liked the SKS that he had because it looked brand new. So I asked him what he wanted for it and he said $100 so I immediately bought it from him. I could easily sell that same gun around here for three times that price. Its all about the game and how you play it.

Navylawdog

[efremtags]

Not a lever action, but I got  used Ruger 77 with a 1.5x6 Schmidt and bender scope for $250. It was confiscated and sold at a police auction, but no one showed interest.

I got a SS guid gun at dicks for $450 last year. They had a floor model and a sale just before Christmas. Gander was selling th same gun for $569.

[Carroll B]

About 5 years ago I was looking for a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag and mentioned it to a good friend I hunt with once a year.  He said he would bring down the one he had and let me look at it before we went to a local gun show.  On the way out the door to the show he said, "I want to give you my Marlin."  I said why?  He said, "I have a lot of guns and no children to pass them down to.  You're a good friend and I know you'll pass it down to your grandson."  I ask him how many times the gun had been shot and he said maybe 6-7.  He purchased it in the late 70's.  Not only was the price great, it was a gift from a good friend that will stay in my family for generations to come.

[dstegjas]

Carroll B,
I have to say, yours is the best deal we've seen so far. Great price (free) and a great story to hand down to your grand kids with the gun. Nothing like a good friend wanting to give a gift that can be handed down through the family and wanting nothing in return but friendship.

Great story.

Jim

[navylawdog]

Carroll B,
I have to say, yours is the best deal we've seen so far. Great price (free) and a great story to hand down to your grand kids with the gun. Nothing like a good friend wanting to give a gift that can be handed down through the family and wanting nothing in return but friendship.

Great story.

Jim

+1 on that!!!