Gun trading stories

[hammer]

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Heard a few gun trading stories this week.



A young fellow comes into a gun store with a gun he wants to trade. And he wants to trade it right now.

The young gun trader is in his early twenties. His trading material is a NIB first year Colt Woodsman. He wants a Glock. Not particular about whether the Glock is new or used. Doesn't know much about caliber selection. But he wants to get rid of this Colt Woodsman, which his grandfather left him in his will, and get a plastic pistol like his friends shoot. The gun dealer is a good soul and tries to talk him out of it. Offers to sell him a Glock on credit or lay-away and for the youngster to keep his grandfather's pistol. But the young man will hear nothing of it. Since he is going to trade his Colt Woodsman to this dealer or his competitor down the street, the dealer does the trade with a slightly used Glock 9mm.


Similar to the above story, at a gun show the customer had a first generation Colt SAA 45 in excellent condition, He wants to trade even to anyone who has a rifle with a synthetic stock and a scope with a big objective bell and tall turrets. Again, doesn't care too much about the caliber but wants to kill stuff a mile away. The gun dealer does not have such a rifle, but he assures the Colt owner that he can get him one, which he does from a nearby table within a few minutes. The new rifle owner is happy because he got rid of his deceased father's cowboy gun and now he can be real sniper.


In both cases, a little search shows that neither gun was stolen or otherwise hot.




How often does this story repeat itself ?


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[Boge Quinn]

As often as idiots show up.

[jhrosier]

I have pretty much given up trying to guide folks down the path to true enlightenment.
This applies to guns & shooting, handloading, bullet casting, politics, religion, and much more.
If a word to the wise doesn't do the trick, they can find their own way.
Life is too short to waste time on fools.

Besides, how many of us made the same sort of mistakes when we were younger?

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you expected.

Jack

[hammer]

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Regardless of whether an item owned by my Father, Grandfather, or other ancestor had any real market value, it would have been a serious issue almost beyond imagination to sell it unless I was holding off the wolves from a starving family with no other options. And those things do happen to the best of families.

But family heirlooms are serious stuff in our traditions.

We still have all of my Father's old worn-out Stetsons hanging on the hall tree.



Realize that others don't feel the same way and that is fine.



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[aciera]

Traditions. Family.

In one night ALL the weapons were gone. Those used in Civil War thru WWII by family members. We had moved from a little town in NY where the guns were behind the door to a suburb of a larger city.

[sugarriver]

As they say, "A fool and his money (or guns) are soon parted."

Pete

[Hobie]

It is so sad and happens so often. No appreciation for the gun or the person from whom it came.

[rigby]

I'm sure we have heard the gun shop stories where a widow or family member come in without a clue of what they have and get ripped by the shop owner. The most extreme case that I know of is a widow who brought in a very rare Remington shotgun and was paid a few hundred for it. I wont say which gun because its been published but the gun was valued 10 years ago @ $100,000. Its much easier now with the Internet for people to check out what they have.

[Boge Quinn]

Jun 12, 2010 6:17:52 GMT -5 jhrosier said:

Besides, how many of us made the same sort of mistakes when we were younger?

Here's how stoopid I was:

Back when I was about 20, a gunsmith friend of mine (fine old gentleman) had some unclaimed guns that had been in his shop for years, so he was getting rid of them. He offered me my choice - there was this nice, shiny 357 New Model Blackhawk, or this beat-up looking old Colt Bisley 45 (you know, the one with the "funny" grip).

I still have that Blackhawk.

SIGH

So when I talk about IDIOTS, I been there and done that.



But I would NEVER part with an heirloom, and I can't imagine that a feller who would could have many redeeming qualities. I once bought a beautiful old 17-jewel Elgin pocket watch off guy for $40 - it was his great-grandfather's, his grandfather's, and his father's. There was a note from his grandmother inside the box telling how important it had been to three generations before, and giving the history of the piece (where it was bought, how her husband had proudly worn it on his wedding day, etc).

[rigby]

But I would NEVER part with an heirloom, and I can't imagine that a feller who would could have many redeeming qualities. I once bought a beautiful old 17-jewel Elgin pocket watch off guy for $40 - it was his great-grandfather's, his grandfather's, and his father's. There was a note from his grandmother inside the box telling how important it had been to three generations before, and giving the history of the piece (where it was bought, how her husband had proudly worn it on his wedding day, etc).

Wow that is sad.

[Boge Quinn]

Yep. I left the guy my card and told him if he ever changed his mind he could give me my money back. I'm sure the card was gone before I read the note from his grandmother.

[Hobie]

At least you tried.

[Frank V]

I have traded one gun my Father gave me, I've been sorry every since. I won't make that mistake twice!
Frank

[hoss]

I am reminded of a favorite Kipling quote from "Certain Maxims of Hafiz":

If he play, being young and unskillful
for shekels of silver or gold
Take his money, my son, praising Allah!
The kid was ordained to be sold...

That being said, there is a definite difference betwixt trying to school a knothead and stealing from a widow. There is a gunstore in Houston that did a transfer for me once, and while I was there I saw them steal a japanese sword and an Astra with Nazi proofs from a widow on oxygen and her nephew. I hope the deal he got was so good he never needs any more of my business. I made a point of mentioning, loudly, that the $120 he was offering for the pistol was less than one third of his asking price for the same gun (in worse condition) in his case, and did my best to get her attention, but no dice. A friend had suggested she take it in to the store... As I left he was telling her the sword "looked like one he had bought for $15". It was a japanese officers sword, and not the stamped handle late war variety. I love a good deal, but I would not want to be called to answer for one like that.

[johnm]

A West Toledo gunsmith was notorious for such shenanigans. I knew him since my teen years, and knew folks who worked for him [mostly they stayed only briefly].

I once brought him a full-military Mauser 98 8.15x46 NCO's target rifle, with knock-out wood and a commercial-grade metal finish. Told him I was interested in a sporting caliber custom Mauser. He returned from the back room with a rusty, cut-down barreled, Mauser action and offered an even trade. After that, I kept a much closer eye on any future deals with him: which were few, indeed.

The classic that best illustrated his rapacious approach, was a full-length Colt revolving percussion rifle-- wrapped in old feed sacking. It came in door being carried by a stooped, near-toothless, poorly dressed fellow. He rather shakily unwrapped it and handed it over, asking "How much will you give me for it?"

My friend, the witness, recounted that Our Hero looked at it for a moment, and then indifferently said "I'll give you $85.00."

The old fellow stood there for instant, then started shaking even more, while he tried to say something. My buddy figured he better get ready to duck, because he thought for sure some unpleasantness was about to ensue.

The quoth the old boy, in an incredulous, quavering voice:

"THAT MUCH?!!!"

I might mention, that after that event, I would always pass the 'smith's glassed-in 'brag rack' of such delicacies as .22 Hornet pre-war Model 70's, 16 1/2 inch 6.5 Mannlicher carbines, assorted high-condition Winchesters, SAA's, minty1911's, rare Smith's and the like -- and reflect for a moment about the possible circumstances under which they were obtained.

Eventually I realized, that being a bargain hunter myself, and not likely to find any quarry there, I pretty much quit going to his place.