Any sales you wish you could buy back?

fg42 · 12-12-2002, 07:22 PM

Ichobod asked if there were any Guns you wish you had Bought. I"ll ask what have you sold that you wish you could buy back? Mine was a 1941 Mauser Banner Police rig gun , tool, extra mag (with the dot) And holster. all mint all with matching numbers. I bought it from a vet for $200.00 kept it 2 years sold it for $300.00.A 50 % gain Great. The $100.00 profit was gone very Quickly.But the memory of the finest rig I ever saw sticks with me. Thanks Bob Benson

MauserLugers · 12-12-2002, 08:32 PM

Hi,
Without question, the Luger I would want back would be a 1914 DWM. It was a complete rig with two matching magazines, tool, and 1914 dated holster, all in about 98 plus condition. I traded it for a 41/42 Mauser complete rig, but I sure wish I had the 14 back.

Jimbo · 12-12-2002, 09:18 PM

fg42,

Your story about the 1941 Banner police brings a tear to my eye. <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

I've never sold a Luger and I hope I will never be forced to do so. Although my brother still regrets selling his Walther G43 rifle some years back. It was only a shooter but he still regrets it.

I can't even imagine what year a mint Banner police rig was worth a fair $300. When was this, the '50s?

John D. · 12-12-2002, 10:22 PM

Hi fg42,

Absolutely.... About 25 years ago, the year after I graduated college - I got a phone call from a local dealer, as he knew I was collecting Lugers. He just bought from the widow of one of his customers the Luger he brought back from WW2 - and in his words "never seen anything like it".. When I went in to look at it - it was mint, as if it had never been fired. It also had cosomoline in the barrel (or some stuff I never removed). In fact, it looked unfired and it was a 42 byf. After looking at it, Ned (the dealer) looked at me and said I might be interested in seeing the paperwork - which included the bring-back papers and a letter from the VET addressed to his son, as to how he came by that Luger. Apparently, his unit walked into a field armoury, or van/wagon (I don't recall) - and his unit found a case of Lugers packed up, and they all took one. Apparently, the VETs son had no interest in firearms - so the widow/mother sold this one as part of his small collection of about 5 firearms...

Anyway - I paid the princely sum of $600 for that piece - and sold it about 10 years later, along with all the paperwork, for the handsome price of $950. To this day - I don't know where this one has disappeared to, but I'd sure like to find it. I'm also convinced that this Luger was the real thing - and may have been unfired, but I'll never know....

Gee - thanks for the memories - I think..!!!! [img]confused.gif[/img]

hipwr223 · 12-12-2002, 11:40 PM

Mauser Banner 41 eagle/N proofed commerical. This pistol originally came out of Harold Bruffets collection. If memory serves me the serial number was somthing like 629y. This pistol was in 99%+++ condition with matching mag. A real cream puff. I sold that gun in 1998 for $2700.00, I wish I had it still.

I also wish I never sold my Walther HP lightweight frame. They made about 100 of those pistols, and mine was in about 98% condition. That one is VERY scarce.

I should never have sold my Inland M1A1 or my G43 BCD sniper either!

So many regrets!!!!!

john sylvester <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

drbuster · 12-13-2002, 12:02 AM

Dear hipwr223. I own 41 Mauser banner #695y in the same condition you mention. It has matching #1 and #2 clips, commercial holster and unmarked tool. Got it at a recent Reno show for $1900!!! Are you sure of the serial # of your "late" 41 banner? By the way, I sold a GNR Portugese Mauser for $200 in 1964!! UGH!!

Dwight Gruber · 12-13-2002, 02:37 AM

I regret selling my entire first gun collection. Live and learn.

--Dwight

Big Norm · 12-13-2002, 04:17 AM

Oh God! Where do I start? How about a 1906 navy that some guy walked into the Ohio Gun Collectors meeting with. I happened to be standing at the door when he came in. It had an excellent navy holster with a Nazi eagle sewed on it. The guy was selling it for a widow he knew and he wanted $1000 for the whole thing. I took a quick look at it and thought it was restored. It wasn't restored, it was mint. I took four steps and realized my serious mistake. Opps! Too late. Dave Molchen got it and I believe he is still drooling to this day.
Big Norm <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

Lugerdoc · 12-13-2002, 08:11 AM

Being in the business of selling collectable German pistols, I can't regret any that I've sold at or near the market price at the time. What does still bother me are ones that I wasn't too framiliar with an sold to cheaply the same day that I acquired them: eg a mint 380 Bottom Mag release PPK for $900 and an FN slide AC/44 Mauser P38 phoshate finished POLICE rig with proper holster for $1000. Admittedly, both these sales were over 20 years ago, but ever then at less than half the going rate. Within the last year I sold a Russian marked (begins with a 3) M1906 luger extractor to a forum member and yesterday I bought a nice Russian that needs it. I'll buy it back at a nice profit, if you still have it. Tom H.

G.T. · 12-13-2002, 08:41 AM

I think it is one of Orv's rules of collecting,"The only guns you ever regret are the ones you sold or didn't buy"? I have many, (maybe all!) of the guns I've sold, that I wish I had back! But, the one that I didn't get stands out as my biggest mistake! I was at a pretty good size show in S.E. South Dakota, about 600 tables, where I saw a single luger on a table off to one side.. I went over to look at it, and it was a 100% mint 1938 Mauser Banner, with two matching mags, and a matching numbered holster! I asked the fellow what he wanted for it and he said, "I know it's a good one, so I want $1600.00 firm". After a slow day of trading, and at a time when family came first, Lugers second... all I could muster was a paltry $1375.00... so I thought, what the hell, and offered it to him for the pistol... This really pissed him off!! As he had the identical offer from a dealer earlier... I got home and scraped up the extra cash the next day, but couldn't locate the fellow, and he was not at the show the following year... the year after, the 38 Banner was again on display, same table, same guy, but not for sale at any price! I learned my lesson and have since not gone to shows to buy, unless I'm packing some serious cash! Life's too short for all these lessons! till...later...G.T. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Jimbo · 12-13-2002, 08:07 PM

Man, after this thread is done we are going to need a group hug. Brutal! [img]eek.gif[/img]

Carl · 12-13-2002, 08:47 PM

This is a little like the fellow who always wants to know what the next card is after he drops out of the poker hand. I heard he went nuts. For me it was an AE, HK, Navy and about 30 other ones that I fritterd away for some foolish other toys! But I still keep doing it, now thinking about trading some for a 1860 Colt Army that was used by one of Mosbey's Rangers.

hipwr223 · 12-13-2002, 08:53 PM

Herbert,

I am not exactly sure of the serial number of my 41, but it was something very close to that. I do know of the whereabouts of my old pistol, and it is still here in PA.

BTW, you got a GREAT deal on that 41. mine had a Geco mkd commercial holster and un marked tool as well.

Curious what maker mark your holster has?

john

drbuster · 12-14-2002, 01:11 AM

Dear John, The holster is unmarked with a tab closure (commercial). This commercial 41 banner was said to have come from the Fred Fiet collection, but I have no confirmation. I know I got a good deal. The bore near the chanber is a little rough, probably never cleaned. That is the only scar on this otherwise pristine piece.

Russ · 12-14-2002, 11:54 AM

Herbert
I looked at that gun in Reno. What a nice luger!!!
The 2 lugers i have sold that i regret are an 02 carbine and a 06 com. navy w/matching stock. The navy i bought from a man in a one horse town here in Oregon. He called me and said that he had an 04 navy and that he had to have 4,000$ for it. needles to say it was an 06 com. I ended up geting the gun for 2,000$. I later sold it for a lot more than i paid. [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]confused.gif[/img]

fg42 · 09-05-2007, 02:17 AM

OK I know this is old but have any of you repeated the selling of something you regret sense you confessed here in 2002? Bob Benson

c3006 · 09-05-2007, 05:57 AM

I did let Hugh swap me out of a nice SAA I am sure I will regret not keeping someday but at least I know its back in Texas where it belongs. I will put a different twist on this thread as it reminds me of a Colt python I brought from a young man who came into our gunshop with a sad story about how he needed money to pay bills and had a new baby at home. The mint in the box 6" Python had belonged to his grandfather and he really didn't want to sell it but he assured me he had no choice so I reluctantly gave him $200 and he was on his way. At the time I didnt have a Python and this one was nice so I did the paperwork and took it home and stuck it in the safe. I dont really like to buy guns from customers who are seeing hard times as it may cause hard feeling over time but this young man showed no ill effects and kept coming in and was a good customer. I guess 15 years or so went by and he was in the shop one afternoon and brought up the Python which I had not thought of in a long while and had not had out of the safe for several years . He asked me if I could find out who brought it as he would like to buy it back if it were at all possible,I told him to come in the next day and I would try to have it looked up for him. The next afternoon he came in and I layed the box up on the counter and he could not belive it was his pistol and I still had it. He asked me what I needed for it and I told him $200 would do if he would not make the same mistake again and he assured me time had learned him better. He continues to be a good customer today and the profit I could have made was no comparison to the good feeling I got from the look on his face. Sometimes thing do work out for the best. clint

Pete Ebbink · 09-05-2007, 11:36 AM

Clint,

I still have nightmares about letting this one go and not buying it...Owner and I were only $ 150 apart in our expectations...

tenbears · 09-05-2007, 10:35 PM

Back in 1976 I sold a nice byf P38. But the one that still hurts was selling a early 6' Colt Python with belt and holster. I ran a add in the EdwardsAFB CA paper. Ended up having all kinds of calls at the shop. The guy who ended up with it was a Major waiting for me at my front door step with money in hand.

vtwoodchuck · 10-02-2007, 12:12 AM

In 1974 I purchased 15 Lugers in western NY state for $2600, (which I had to borrow). There was a 1902 Luger carbine complete with stock in the group. I sold it for $1100 to a dealer in Burlington, VT. Sure wish I had it back. Doug

12-13-2002, 08:11 AM	#9
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Being in the business of selling collectable German pistols, I can't regret any that I've sold at or near the market price at the time. What does still bother me are ones that I wasn't too framiliar with an sold to cheaply the same day that I acquired them: eg a mint 380 Bottom Mag release PPK for $900 and an FN slide AC/44 Mauser P38 phoshate finished POLICE rig with proper holster for $1000. Admittedly, both these sales were over 20 years ago, but ever then at less than half the going rate. Within the last year I sold a Russian marked (begins with a 3) M1906 luger extractor to a forum member and yesterday I bought a nice Russian that needs it. I'll buy it back at a nice profit, if you still have it. Tom H. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

12-14-2002, 11:54 AM	#15
Russ User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Reading, PA. Posts: 628 Thanks: 2 Thanked 38 Times in 10 Posts	Herbert I looked at that gun in Reno. What a nice luger!!! The 2 lugers i have sold that i regret are an 02 carbine and a 06 com. navy w/matching stock. The navy i bought from a man in a one horse town here in Oregon. He called me and said that he had an 04 navy and that he had to have 4,000$ for it. needles to say it was an 06 com. I ended up geting the gun for 2,000$. I later sold it for a lot more than i paid. [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]confused.gif[/img] __________________ Livin the dream!!!!!!!!!!!

09-05-2007, 05:57 AM	#17
c3006 User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: east tn Posts: 526 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	I did let Hugh swap me out of a nice SAA I am sure I will regret not keeping someday but at least I know its back in Texas where it belongs. I will put a different twist on this thread as it reminds me of a Colt python I brought from a young man who came into our gunshop with a sad story about how he needed money to pay bills and had a new baby at home. The mint in the box 6" Python had belonged to his grandfather and he really didn't want to sell it but he assured me he had no choice so I reluctantly gave him $200 and he was on his way. At the time I didnt have a Python and this one was nice so I did the paperwork and took it home and stuck it in the safe. I dont really like to buy guns from customers who are seeing hard times as it may cause hard feeling over time but this young man showed no ill effects and kept coming in and was a good customer. I guess 15 years or so went by and he was in the shop one afternoon and brought up the Python which I had not thought of in a long while and had not had out of the safe for several years . He asked me if I could find out who brought it as he would like to buy it back if it were at all possible,I told him to come in the next day and I would try to have it looked up for him. The next afternoon he came in and I layed the box up on the counter and he could not belive it was his pistol and I still had it. He asked me what I needed for it and I told him $200 would do if he would not make the same mistake again and he assured me time had learned him better. He continues to be a good customer today and the profit I could have made was no comparison to the good feeling I got from the look on his face. Sometimes thing do work out for the best. clint __________________ Men Accustomed unto thier arms and their liberties will never endure the yoke. James Harrington 1776

10-02-2007, 12:12 AM	#20
vtwoodchuck User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Morrisville, Vermont Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	In 1974 I purchased 15 Lugers in western NY state for $2600, (which I had to borrow). There was a 1902 Luger carbine complete with stock in the group. I sold it for $1100 to a dealer in Burlington, VT. Sure wish I had it back. Doug __________________ Doug

12-12-2002, 07:22 PM	#1
fg42 User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Any sales you wish you could buy back? Ichobod asked if there were any Guns you wish you had Bought. I"ll ask what have you sold that you wish you could buy back? Mine was a 1941 Mauser Banner Police rig gun , tool, extra mag (with the dot) And holster. all mint all with matching numbers. I bought it from a vet for $200.00 kept it 2 years sold it for $300.00.A 50 % gain Great. The $100.00 profit was gone very Quickly.But the memory of the finest rig I ever saw sticks with me. Thanks Bob Benson

12-12-2002, 08:32 PM	#2
MauserLugers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Philipsburg, Montana 59858 Posts: 250 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 1 Post	Hi, Without question, the Luger I would want back would be a 1914 DWM. It was a complete rig with two matching magazines, tool, and 1914 dated holster, all in about 98 plus condition. I traded it for a 41/42 Mauser complete rig, but I sure wish I had the 14 back.

12-12-2002, 09:18 PM	#3
Jimbo User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF CA Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	fg42, Your story about the 1941 Banner police brings a tear to my eye. <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> I've never sold a Luger and I hope I will never be forced to do so. Although my brother still regrets selling his Walther G43 rifle some years back. It was only a shooter but he still regrets it. I can't even imagine what year a mint Banner police rig was worth a fair $300. When was this, the '50s?

12-12-2002, 10:22 PM	#4
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 477 Thanked 515 Times in 128 Posts	Hi fg42, Absolutely.... About 25 years ago, the year after I graduated college - I got a phone call from a local dealer, as he knew I was collecting Lugers. He just bought from the widow of one of his customers the Luger he brought back from WW2 - and in his words "never seen anything like it".. When I went in to look at it - it was mint, as if it had never been fired. It also had cosomoline in the barrel (or some stuff I never removed). In fact, it looked unfired and it was a 42 byf. After looking at it, Ned (the dealer) looked at me and said I might be interested in seeing the paperwork - which included the bring-back papers and a letter from the VET addressed to his son, as to how he came by that Luger. Apparently, his unit walked into a field armoury, or van/wagon (I don't recall) - and his unit found a case of Lugers packed up, and they all took one. Apparently, the VETs son had no interest in firearms - so the widow/mother sold this one as part of his small collection of about 5 firearms... Anyway - I paid the princely sum of $600 for that piece - and sold it about 10 years later, along with all the paperwork, for the handsome price of $950. To this day - I don't know where this one has disappeared to, but I'd sure like to find it. I'm also convinced that this Luger was the real thing - and may have been unfired, but I'll never know.... Gee - thanks for the memories - I think..!!!! [img]confused.gif[/img]

12-12-2002, 11:40 PM	#5
hipwr223 User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mauser Banner 41 eagle/N proofed commerical. This pistol originally came out of Harold Bruffets collection. If memory serves me the serial number was somthing like 629y. This pistol was in 99%+++ condition with matching mag. A real cream puff. I sold that gun in 1998 for $2700.00, I wish I had it still. I also wish I never sold my Walther HP lightweight frame. They made about 100 of those pistols, and mine was in about 98% condition. That one is VERY scarce. I should never have sold my Inland M1A1 or my G43 BCD sniper either! So many regrets!!!!! john sylvester <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

12-13-2002, 12:02 AM	#6
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Dear hipwr223. I own 41 Mauser banner #695y in the same condition you mention. It has matching #1 and #2 clips, commercial holster and unmarked tool. Got it at a recent Reno show for $1900!!! Are you sure of the serial # of your "late" 41 banner? By the way, I sold a GNR Portugese Mauser for $200 in 1964!! UGH!!

12-13-2002, 02:37 AM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	I regret selling my entire first gun collection. Live and learn. --Dwight

12-13-2002, 04:17 AM	#8
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Oh God! Where do I start? How about a 1906 navy that some guy walked into the Ohio Gun Collectors meeting with. I happened to be standing at the door when he came in. It had an excellent navy holster with a Nazi eagle sewed on it. The guy was selling it for a widow he knew and he wanted $1000 for the whole thing. I took a quick look at it and thought it was restored. It wasn't restored, it was mint. I took four steps and realized my serious mistake. Opps! Too late. Dave Molchen got it and I believe he is still drooling to this day. Big Norm <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

12-13-2002, 08:41 AM	#10
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,528 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 3,711 Times in 1,014 Posts	I think it is one of Orv's rules of collecting,"The only guns you ever regret are the ones you sold or didn't buy"? I have many, (maybe all!) of the guns I've sold, that I wish I had back! But, the one that I didn't get stands out as my biggest mistake! I was at a pretty good size show in S.E. South Dakota, about 600 tables, where I saw a single luger on a table off to one side.. I went over to look at it, and it was a 100% mint 1938 Mauser Banner, with two matching mags, and a matching numbered holster! I asked the fellow what he wanted for it and he said, "I know it's a good one, so I want $1600.00 firm". After a slow day of trading, and at a time when family came first, Lugers second... all I could muster was a paltry $1375.00... so I thought, what the hell, and offered it to him for the pistol... This really pissed him off!! As he had the identical offer from a dealer earlier... I got home and scraped up the extra cash the next day, but couldn't locate the fellow, and he was not at the show the following year... the year after, the 38 Banner was again on display, same table, same guy, but not for sale at any price! I learned my lesson and have since not gone to shows to buy, unless I'm packing some serious cash! Life's too short for all these lessons! till...later...G.T. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

12-13-2002, 08:07 PM	#11
Jimbo User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF CA Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Man, after this thread is done we are going to need a group hug. Brutal! [img]eek.gif[/img]

12-13-2002, 08:47 PM	#12
Carl User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central PA Posts: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	This is a little like the fellow who always wants to know what the next card is after he drops out of the poker hand. I heard he went nuts. For me it was an AE, HK, Navy and about 30 other ones that I fritterd away for some foolish other toys! But I still keep doing it, now thinking about trading some for a 1860 Colt Army that was used by one of Mosbey's Rangers.

12-13-2002, 08:53 PM	#13
hipwr223 User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Herbert, I am not exactly sure of the serial number of my 41, but it was something very close to that. I do know of the whereabouts of my old pistol, and it is still here in PA. BTW, you got a GREAT deal on that 41. mine had a Geco mkd commercial holster and un marked tool as well. Curious what maker mark your holster has? john

12-14-2002, 01:11 AM	#14
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Dear John, The holster is unmarked with a tab closure (commercial). This commercial 41 banner was said to have come from the Fred Fiet collection, but I have no confirmation. I know I got a good deal. The bore near the chanber is a little rough, probably never cleaned. That is the only scar on this otherwise pristine piece.

09-05-2007, 02:17 AM	#16
fg42 User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	OK I know this is old but have any of you repeated the selling of something you regret sense you confessed here in 2002? Bob Benson

09-05-2007, 11:36 AM	#18
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Clint, I still have nightmares about letting this one go and not buying it...Owner and I were only $ 150 apart in our expectations...

09-05-2007, 10:35 PM	#19
tenbears User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 370 Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts	Back in 1976 I sold a nice byf P38. But the one that still hurts was selling a early 6' Colt Python with belt and holster. I ran a add in the EdwardsAFB CA paper. Ended up having all kinds of calls at the shop. The guy who ended up with it was a Major waiting for me at my front door step with money in hand.