Find of a lifetime!

[cordwood]

 If you guys are like me, the finding of that exceptional firearm is half the fun of ownership. I have searched high and low for some of my acquisitions; others came to me! I worked at a gunshop some years ago and, as you can imagine, every now and then a Treasure would waltz through the door! (my boss, the owner, was the beneficiary of these lucky encounters.) I learned a lot about myself at these times-no poker face and way too honest much to my boss' chagrin! The one that really sticks in my mind is the kid that brought in a cased, full-coverage factory engraved Colt government model .45 WITH an ace conversion kit (also fully engraved.)  "How much can I get fer it?" he asked. I tried to control my shaking, sweaty hands. "Not much here." Then I told him the truth. And down the road he went! WHAT ARE YOUR FINDS OF A LIFETIME?

[freeman1685]

Umm...  What do you mean "Told him the truth?"

Did you acquire the Colt?  Usually, that's what "Find of a lifetime" means.  It means that you've ended up in possession of the item.  Or at least that's what it means to me, and I'm certain others would agree.

I would have told the boss "I'm going on a break, be back in five," and walked the guy around the corner and bought the thing myself, stuck it in the trunk of my car, and gone back to work with a clear conscience.  Secure in the knowledge that I was now the proud owner of a Museum Quality Colt .45 to add to my collection.

[cordwood]

well, Freeman, you're right. It was a find, but one I could'nt afford to keep. I told the kid the truth- I estimated the Colts' value @ $4-6k. The owner wasn't in that day and I didn't have the wherewithall to make a reasonable offer.

[freeman1685]

Ahh...  That puts a different spin on it.  Not having the juice, is a good reason.

But still, that's an "I ran across this great piece, but didn't have the scratch."

"Find of a life time" is, "This guy had a great piece, that I never thought I'd see in a million years, I had the cash, and I bought it."

[brandyspaw]

Ahh...  That puts a different spin on it.  Not having the juice, is a good reason.

But still, that's an "I ran across this great piece, but didn't have the scratch."

"Find of a life time" is, "This guy had a great piece, that I never thought I'd see in a million years, I had the cash, and I bought it."

Those super deals never happen to me.  I can only find the buy of a lifetime when I have no money or I'm faced with a bunch of unexpected expenses.  Timing is everything.

On the other hand, I can cruise a gun show, vist several gun shops or surf all the gunboards when I'm flush with cash and NEVER find anything I'm looking for.  Thats just my luck

[Paul]

I can cruise a gun show, vist several gun shops or surf all the gunboards when I'm flush with cash and NEVER find anything I'm looking for.  Thats just my luck

That's my brand of luck as well 

[freeman1685]

I think it's the same with a lot of people.  No money, can't spit without hitting something. Pocket full of cash, nothing to be found.

My find of a lifetime would be a Coonan Arms .357 Magnum Auto, now that they can be found just about anywhere, I'm strapped.

When I had the money, they weren't even making them any more. 

[Thernlund]

My problem is that I often DO have the money, but it's earmarked for some other venture or "find".

I can't really say I've ever found "the find of a lifetime".  I have found some nice pieces though that I jumped on at the first chance.  One was a WWII Colt 1911, which are pretty easy to find.  But this one was at a great price (because of a mismatched slide). 

The other was a S&W Model 49 made in the early '80s (read: pinned barrel) that I'd been on the hunt for.  Some woman in the building where my buddy worked was selling her (passed away) husband's old collection.  She just wanted them gone and didn't care how.  So my buddy, wanting to be at least fair, called me and asked what was a fair price, given the parameters.  When he mentioned the Smith, I told him I had $225 in my pocket right now and I'd be over immediately if she would sell at that price.  She said yes, I said sweet, the snubbie is now mine. 


-T.

[coelacanth]

I have no luck along the lines of the OP regarding guns.  Other stuff?  No problem.  Knives, watches, fountain pens, pipes, old tools, old books, oddball collectibles - I end up almost tripping over this kind of stuff all the time.  Guns?  Forget it.   

[samnev]

A few years ago I pick up an absolutely mint unmolested all matching G41M for 4k.

[tknoll]

I think it's the same with a lot of people.  No money, can't spit without hitting something. Pocket full of cash, nothing to be found.

My find of a lifetime would be a Coonan Arms .357 Magnum Auto, now that they can be found just about anywhere, I'm strapped.

When I had the money, they weren't even making them any more. 

There is one on Backpage today for $874.00
http://phoenix.backpage.com/SportsEquipForSale/87440-ffl-coonan-arms-357-mag-stainless-full-size-1911/18111914

[freeman1685]

I think it's the same with a lot of people.  No money, can't spit without hitting something. Pocket full of cash, nothing to be found.

My find of a lifetime would be a Coonan Arms .357 Magnum Auto, now that they can be found just about anywhere, I'm strapped.

When I had the money, they weren't even making them any more. 

There is one on Backpage today for $874.00
http://phoenix.backpage.com/SportsEquipForSale/87440-ffl-coonan-arms-357-mag-stainless-full-size-1911/18111914

Thanks for the info, it is appreciated.  But the point is, I don't have the scratch at the moment.  When I do though, I'll go straight to Coonan and buy a brand new one, and have one of our friendly neighborhood AZGO FFLs do the transfer.

http://www.coonaninc.com/index.php/cPath,5 

[samnev]

I had 2 although expensive finds of very rare rifles that were in mint condition in the last few years.
A G41M all matching ($4.5K) and a Mint condition 276 Vickers Pedersen with clip serial # 1X (4K).