What is the best deal you ever made on a lever or sixgun?

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:54 am

After looking at sixgun jr's post, I was wondering, what was the best deal I have ever made on a lever or sixgun. Mine was paying $1100.00 for a deluxe Winchester Model 71 in excellent condition with the original sling and peep sight. The D.W. King custom conversion Colt New Service 44-40 pictured in the photo would be my best deal on a sixgun ($275.00). What is yours?

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:36 am

I've gotten a couple of guns for free. One guy gave me a Taurus 65 for changing the brake pads on a Toyota. He had the pads.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:57 am

I'd have to say it was my wife's 2nd Gen Colt SAA in .357, 7-½" presentation model. It weren't perfect, but @ $385 I wasn't looking for NIB!

Jay Bird · Post by **Jay Bird** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:04 am

My best deals are when I go home to PA. Theft by off-springs.

I even left with a 68 firebird once. Thanks PAPA!!!!
If things work out this will be my best. I keep thinking i missed something because of the price.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:08 am

Griff, I like that engraving and what a deal!

TooTech · Post by **TooTech** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:39 am

A NIB Browning 92 in .44 magnum for $349. Bought it about two years ago.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:45 am

An old buddy gave me a 336 35 Rem and a 99 300.

Another friend gave me a model 19 in Nickel. Come to think of it those three would serve for almost everything.

Throw in my wife's first birthday gift to me of an Ithaca Model 37 12 ga. and it is a pretty wide range.

I did pay $87.15 for my K22 and another friend just gave me a replica Remington 1858 .36 by FIE of Italy.

Oh and another buddy gave me a 700 Mountain rifle in .270 that is a tack driver.

And one other gave me in a three way trade a .243 mountain rifle (another tack driver) with a Leupold 2.5X8 for and old mauser I bought for $100. Of course in the mean time it had become a custom FN Mauser 35 Whelen in a trade to a Mauser collector.

So I guess all this for $187.15

Then there is the Kimber .308 that I got for a $20 raffle ticket at an NRA banquet and traded for a primo 1954 99EG in .250 - now we are up to $207.15.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:50 am

A 336 in 35 Rem for $200, or a Marlin 30TK for $200.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:53 am

Rangerider,
Thats what keeps us all lurking at gunshops and shows. (My son bypasses these things and just stops in once every two years or so and waits until I go to work)

Deals?? I have been in this game for close to 40 years and have made many. Bought nice 1886 Winchesters for $400, SA Colts and FT Rugers for 2-5, Very nice '92's, '94's, and '95's for 3-7, Triplelock target for 5, engraved double barrel Ithaca's for 3-5, even an 1866 yellowboy Winchester for $100 one time. (it was beat though), Civil War percussion Colts for a song, nazi G-41 for 5. The most I ever paid for a gun was 5K and that was for a 99% SA Colt made in 1917 The 99.5% pre-war Model 71 Serial number 8XX pictured in my avatar was bought last year for 13 and that was at a gunshow at lunchtime! (Nobody picked up on it)---------------------Sixgun

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:56 am

Went to a garage sale about 25 years ago and picked up a Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine (still in its original grease) and a Marlin 1889 ( not in wonderful condition) in 44-40 for $50 each.
Later traded the Lee Enfield for a Ruger Bisley in .357 (still got it)
The Marlin shoots like a dream with light loads and is deadly accurate.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:06 am

I guess it was the Mossberg 472 straight lever, crecent buttstock,.30-30 I found at the bottom of a pallet of longguns at a shooter's world auction.
$5.00

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:08 am

If any of you want to join the club and give me any guns just let me know.

A Freedom Arms would put you high on my list.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:17 am

I'll post a picture later, but $3 USD for a .30-30 Winchester '94 XTR at a rummage sale last summer.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:52 am

My best deal has to be my 1950 Win 94 that I got a couple years ago for $250.00. It was on consignment at a local dealer.

Joe

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:06 pm

Guy owed me $20.00 and when the day came to pay it, he didn't have cash. He paid me with an early model Ruger, Flat Top, .44 Magnum, revolver and a box of .44 Magnum ammo.

I turned around a short time later and traded that gun straight across for a NIB Savage Model 99C in .308 at Clark Brothers Gun Shop just south of Warrenton, VA. Here's a link to them:

http://www.clarkbrosguns.com/home.html

For you guys that live within driving distance of Warrenton, Va, it would be worth your while to vist them.

Hobie: I think they're only about 70-miles or so from you.

bogus bill · Post by **bogus bill** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:19 pm

This is a 1952 production model 64 30-30 that I gave $200 for in 1975. It looked unfired and I have put less than 2 boxs through it.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:21 pm

Thank you Rangerider, we had all our Colts done in the same style @ a match... somewhere... by someone...

I guess one should keep track of things like that.

BTW, what is a "W.D. King's custom conversion"?

bogus bill · Post by **bogus bill** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:30 pm

Think I gave probley about $150 for this 95 carbine in 30-40 in the 70s. It was made in 1931 near end of production. The original rear sight was gone. I found a sight, forget what kind, didnt have to drill barrel, put it on, but the handguard wont fit over it.

bogus bill · Post by **bogus bill** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:36 pm

I see I paid $276.90 for this browning 92 in .44 mag in jan 1987. I remember the gunshop had a identical one in .357 that I really, really now wish I would have bought too. I doubt now that it would have changed my life had I!!

bogus bill · Post by **bogus bill** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:43 pm

I own many fine revolvers I bought relatively cheap many years ago, but how about this worked over 1906 colt sent to the copper queen mine in Bisbee ariz?
$250 from a friend in about 1974.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:09 pm

My best lever action deal has to be the pair of Winchester 1892's I "had" that cost a combined total of $225 ! The 32-20 was $100 and the 25-20 was $125 ! However that was 35 years ago !

Of late my best lever deal has to be my circa 1952 Marlin 336SC in 35 REM that is an honest 95% . Paid $250 for this one about 5 years ago ! But maybe my second Marlin 375 that I bought about 2 years ago for $350 (90%) was a pretty good deal as well !

Best revolver has to be my circa 1957 Ruger Blackhawk Flattop 44 MAG . Bought that one at an auction two years ago for $325 . This gun is about 97% , but has a set of Pachmyer grips . The auction stated it was a used "Super Blackhawk" and I saw no reason to tell them any different

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:17 pm

$400 on a near mint Jap 1895 30-40.
$160 on a FR-8.
$230 on a Near mint W94 BB 444 Marlin black shadow.
$300 on a near mint Win BB 375 with a 4 digit SN.

All but the 1895 from the same pawn shop.

brucew44guns · Post by **brucew44guns** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:35 pm

You can never beat a deal that is "free". My dads model 71, low 4000 serial range was his pride and joy when I was a kid growing up. He never hunted much, but appreciated the rifle. He gave it to me in 1962 when I was 18, just because I had borrowed it and returned it in nice shape. Then in 1986, I paid $479 for a Browning Standard grade 1886, and just after that $675 for the SRC 1886 Browning. Can't touch those guns now anywhere close, so with age and inflation we can recall a few good deals way back in history.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:55 pm

Colt SAA .45 7 1/2 ", Colt Python .357 , Husqvarna 7mm Mag.,ALL NEW , at the rod and gun club Kitzengen Germany 1968. They were exactly $115 each. THEM WAS THE DAYZ !!!

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:12 pm

Griff, I really didn't start collecting guns until I retired. But I have had a few since I started collecting "Old West" items in the 60s, so my good deals are more recent on guns. I have a ton of great deals on spurs, badges, etc from the old days. Griff, I made a mistake, it's a D.W. King Conversion not W.D. They were a Gun sight co. from San Francisco that was popular in the 20s and 30s for custom work. King would take Colts and completely redo the sights, trigger action, Hammers, etc. to make them "top of the line" target and law enforcement guns. Col. Charles Askins used one of his conversions. They are recognized easily by the cockeyed hammers he built on his revolvers. The hammer would stick out on one side, right or left, so it could be cocked faster. He did this all by hand, long before the arms companies started putting these custom ideas on their revolvers. The Colt Python incorporated many of his ideas when it was brought out. Heres a photo of the revolver. Look him up on the internet, it's very interesting.

RKrodle · Post by **RKrodle** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:37 pm

I picked up a Freedom Arms 83 Premier in 475 for $700.00. It had six rounds fired in it and two of those was by me.

TCB in TN · Post by **TCB in TN** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:49 pm

BLR in .308 very good condition $425, NIB Marlin 336 30-30 $225, Ruger Vaquero 45LC given to me as a gift for breaking my cousin's horse.

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:02 pm

Hard to say... I traded a crummy sofa for a flat-band Winchester 94. Of course it had a 2x4 butt stock. I paid $60 for a Winchester 1200.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:38 pm

I like my ROA I got in about, oh, 90% for $300.

I don't have any levers, but I won one of my Higgins(20ga) for $42; rough but fully funtional. The other two(12ga) in real good condition for $56 and $60.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:04 pm

Thanks Rangerider... I'd heard of them before, but wasn't sure just what specifically they'd done to your revolver.

And I didn't include "deals" from "way back when", but should really include a NIB, 1969 produced Winchester 94, .44Mag I paid $30 for... some other sailor had ordered and declined to pay his balance on thru our Ship's Store.

Then there was the Mdl 64A Winchester I won from a $5 raffle ticket. It and the .44Mag 94 were stolen a couple of years later, and recently replaced @ a slightly higher expense from a fellow forum member, for which I'm grateful. Then the 16ga Remington 870 Wingmaster won with another $5 raffle ticket; another $6 at the Navy Exchange in Long Beach, CA changed it into a 12 ga! Still have that one.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:15 am

Griff wrote: Then there was the Mdl 64A Winchester I won from a $5 raffle ticket. Then the 16ga Remington 870 Wingmaster won with another $5 raffle ticket;

Come on Griff, Tell us how many of those $5 raffle tickets you had to buy. Did it add up to $4-500?

----------------

Sixgun

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:47 am

Best deal I ever made on a gun was giving (yep, for free!)an earlier, pre-safety Marlin 1895 to a guy. I'd had it modified to full mag from half, and had a receiver sight. He had tears in his eyes.

This was just after another friend had handed me a browning 86 carbine as a gift.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:06 am

Although not really a purchase, I was very fortunate to be given a .45-70 Winchester Model 1886 SRC, serial number 113XXX, by a long time friend. At the time, he was in his mid 80s and had purchased the gun from an Indian at Carbondale, CA, sometime during the early 1930s. He paid the man 50 cents for the gun at that time.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:20 pm

Sixgun wrote:
Griff wrote: Then there was the Mdl 64A Winchester I won from a $5 raffle ticket. Then the 16ga Remington 870 Wingmaster won with another $5 raffle ticket;
Come on Griff, Tell us how many of those $5 raffle tickets you had to buy. Did it add up to $4-500? ---------------- Sixgun

I did.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:06 pm

The best so far was a couple of years ago.

Picked up a 1960s factory nickeled Colt Frontier Scout for $150 and a 1973 Win9422 for $200. Both were in excellent to like new condition.

Probably the best $350 I've ever spent.

Ppsh41 · Post by **Ppsh41** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:11 pm

Strickly sixguns and lever are: last year I purchased a gently used 16" Uberti Buntline with the detachable stock in .44 magnum for $250.00 and the year before a LNIB Winchester M94AE Trapper in .357 Magnum for $225.00 both from Tanner's in Jamison PA.

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:17 pm

I made 400.00 on a minty 1899 "94" long oct. 38-55 in one hour! ...... and I still have sellers remorse 6 years later??

rafter-7

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:31 pm

Probably my best lever deal was a trade.

This Busse Badger Attack

For a like new 1953 Winchester 64

I also traded an 2nd Gen Glock 23 for this 4 5/8" Ruger Bisley Vaquero 44Mag.

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:12 pm

A few years ago I saw a Uberti mfg'd 1873 Sporting rifle in a shop. 24" Octagon barrel; checkered pistol-grip buttstock & forearm; .45 Colt caliber. The pricetag on it was...........are you ready?.........$629.95. I was on it like ugly on an ape, I tell you!!! They marked it wrong...........it shoulda been $849.95. This thing, besides being a work of art, is also a tack-driver & what I'll use this deer season in Michigan. jd45

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:37 pm

jd45 wrote:A few years ago I saw a Uberti mfg'd 1873 Sporting rifle in a shop. 24" Octagon barrel; checkered pistol-grip buttstock & forearm; .45 Colt caliber. The pricetag on it was...........are you ready?.........$629.95. I was on it like ugly on an ape, I tell you!!! They marked it wrong...........it shoulda been $849.95. This thing, besides being a work of art, is also a tack-driver & what I'll use this deer season in Michigan. jd45

That's LESS than I paid for mine in 1987, used!!!! I got took!!!!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:08 am

I swapped even-steven, Trapper for Trapper - last Summer.

I swapped a Randall Model 25 Trapper, a dupe of the middle knife in this pic:

For a .30-30 Winchester 94 Trapper, the lower gun in this pic:

.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:31 am

Mine was on a Winchester 9422 about a month after they said they were shutting down the plant. I actually walked into the gunshop to get a copy of his FFL to send out for one for $350 - I asked "how much" and he said $200 - I bought it on the spot - near mint late 70's version - no checkering on the wood, blueing at 99+% beautiful rifle.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:43 am

$600 for a Winchester Russian musket and bayonet w/ Spanish Loyaist cartuche on the stock from the Spanish Civil War. A 90% Winchester 92/32-20 rifle for $375 and a 32-20 92 SRC for $300 about a month later.

Had a few good ones but those are the best.

Almost forgot; Marlin 94P .44 mag for $250. I was set up at an Ohio Gun Collector's show and I'd been watching it all weekend. I'd noticed the guy hadn't sold much if anything all weeked and while he was packing it in I offered $200 for it. He said $250 and it's yours.
DEAL!

jb

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:50 pm

Well it was neither a levergun or a sixgun, it was a shotgun. A British Woodward over and under, cased with a spare set of barrels. I paid $300.00 for it in 1967. I sold it a year or two later for $3,000.00. Today it would be worth something close of a hundred grand.