Guns you wish you still had

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Back when I was a really young man I bought a Winchester 1897 12 gauge pump from a friend. I think I paid like twenty dollars or so. This pump had a hammer and looked like a gun that might of won the west. But I used it for a few years. Then being a big dummy I wanted to upgrade. So I sold it about forty five years ago. But the guy I sold it to paid me almost five hundred dollars back then. He was a gun collector, but I didn't know that at the time. My dad thought I was lying to him about the money. But its the truth. I don't know what that gun was! I really think I don't want to know. But it had to be something really worth this guys money. It look like the shot guns you saw in those early gangster movies. I wish I still had. But at the time I thought it was a piece of junk . I'm sure you all have stories like this. I would love to hear them.
 
The first year Beretta Brought out the 303 gas auto with 3" chambers , shimable buttstock and mobil chokes. Did a lot of quail hunting back then as well as waterfowl hunting. With 26" barrel that light for the time auto was a pleasure to carry 12 gauge . First gun I discovered the advantages of shooting a skt. 1 choke on Quail. That was about the time frame that steel had became mandatory and shifted to a BPS 10 for most of my waterfowl , especially geese shooting. Sadly needed some trade material latter for a Grade 2 Weatherby o/u 12 and the 303 went towards it. A few others got traded or sold away over the years but fortunately the ones I really liked and still could find a use for I,ve rebought all except another 303
 
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I have all but two guns I've ever owned. I sold off two over the years, BUT, never regretted selling either. Both were .223 caliber. One was a bolt action, I bought on a whim. I sold it when I picked up an awesome, Remington 700 BDL with a bull barrel and beautiful wood. The second was a single shot, break open that I picked up specifically for my son when we took a trip out West to hunt Prairie Dogs in Sout Dakota.

However, a gun I wish I had... my father was a big gun nut, and he especially liked Marlin Firearms. He bought new, back maybe in the early 70's, a model 1894 in.44 caliber. He loved that gun, and I liked it too. Maybe 10 years ago, he offered to sell it to me at a lovely price. While I thought about it, I really had no reasonable use for it. (All of my kinds are "tools"). So I told him no thanks, and he sold it immediately. Now a few years later, the State of Ohio legalized, straight wall center fire calibers for deer. Where and how I hunt, that would've been the most ideal rifle. I sorely miss passing that one up. Unfortunately, that make, model and year of gun is virtually impossible to find.

Jon
 
Anthony,

The old corn husker. My granddad had one that our family inherited when he passed away in 1965. While in high school in the early 70's, my dad and I rediscovered it in the attic. We took it apart, cleaned it up, did an unprofessional re-blue, and put it back in service. We found a Michigan license rolled up in the stock from 1923. The gun is still in the family. I quickly learned to keep the stock hand low when you eject a shell.

RVZ
 
A Grade III, fighting cocks, Browning Superposed with 28' barrels in Full and Modified. Why? Belgian FN produced Brownings were choked quite tight and this one was no different. I promised myself that I would buy a Mod/Ic version. Have yet to come across one with a intact stock.
 
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I wish I had my Benelli M1 that some lowlife stole. Not a classic firearm in any sense but it was a great waterfowling piece.

Jeff's Super Fox was given to me about a year ago and I was thrilled to get it. It will be going to a qualified gunsmith for complete restoration. Jeff had planned to do that but never got to it. I will for him.

Eric
 

My old Remington 1100 3 inch Magnum, with additional skeet barrel, rechambered for 3 inch steel shot. I stupidly traded for a piece of JUNK Remington 1187. That 1100 Mag & skeet barrel, spray painted with many coats of Rust-Oleum, was pure death for ducks over my decoys while I laid in my marshboat.

Man do miss that old "Shootgun".
 
20 ga Remington Model 31 pump. Wish I still had it. Traded it for a brand new 16 ga 1100. Don't have that anymore either.

Speaking of model 31s; I inherited an old friend's guns. One of them a 12 ga model 31 with a solid rib. When I threw the gun up, I could feel the stock rattle. Thinking it was loose, I removed the butt plate to tighten the lug. Much to my surprise, I discovered that my friend had hollowed out the butt. Inside were two high brass, lead # 5s and a book of matches wrapped in plastic!

Matt
 
The simple answer is every gun I ever sold..... But for I have only sold two.. A Benelli Nova and my Beretta A390. I sold them to help defray the cost of my SBE.... 17 years ago. Not classics. but.. I don't believe is ever selling a gun.... but had to then to be able to afford my new goal.... funny how perspectives change when you have deeper pockets.
 
Roy

Well my friend thought I was the only person that would buy back a gun I sold. But like you I have done it many times. I just couldn't let go after I sold it. I too used a bps 10 for geese for many years. Its seems that the old guns met more to use. But we still had to go get new ones. Nature of the beast I guess. Glad you got most of your guns back. Thanks for sharing.
 
Jon

Sounds like your dads gun was a great gun. Your lucky that guns you sold you don't miss. People sell things for all different reasons. I had know choice when I sold some of the guns I sold. But got most of them back. So I am very happy for that. Sorry you pasted up on your dads gun. It would of been great if you could of shot a nice buck with it. Would of made it that much more special. Thanks for sharing your story.
 
Rod

That is so cool you found a old license in the stock. And there is nothing wrong with trying to refinish your own gun. I had more then one refinished by pro's and they messed it up. So don't feel bad ever about doing your own. I'm glad you still have the gun.
 
RL

That browning sounds great. My dad had a bunch of browning shotguns. Never knew what happen to them all. Hope you find what your looking for. Thanks
 
Eric

Sorry some jack wagon stole your gun. It met something to you and that all that counts. Its great your going to get that other gun restored. That would be a great thing to do. Thanks for sharing
 
Vince

Your so right they where a great gun. So many people hated the 1187 and got rid of their 1100 to get it. Its funny that newer should be better and the older. But in a lot of cases its sure not true. Thanks as always for sharing.
 
Matt

That Remington was a great gun. Sorry you got rid of it. But the gun you got left to you sounds like a great story. He carried some good ammo in his stock. Matches most likely were to keep him safe and warm if he got wet. Thanks for the story.
 
Phil

Your right every gun I ever sold hurt me. And sometimes you have to do what you have to do. But it all works out for the most part. Your happy why you did it. But it still hurts that you had to do it. Thanks
 
Browning 525 field in 12ga. I traded it to get my Benelli for waterfowling. Having small kids and a limited budget, choices had to be made. I miss that gun, it was fun to shoot.
 
My grandfather went to college and medical School on ROTC scholarships, and then spent the first 10 or so years of his medical career in the Navy, running hospitals on ships in in Taiwan during the Korean War. He stayed in the Navy reserve until he was in his late 40's. He was a serious packrat and the house was never really cleaned out after he died. When my grandmother died 10 years later, we found a semi-automatic pistol that I assume was his service .45. None of his sons wanted it, and my mother did not want a handgun in the house. So the gun went into the estate sale.

I doubt it was worth much--it had been sitting uncased in the middle of a pile of 1960's vintage newspapers in a closet for 25 years or more. I am not a handgun guy, but would like to have the connection to my grandfather.
 
When I was about 17 my dad sold the 20 gauge me and both my brothers learned to hunt with. It was just a pump winchester youth model. 12 years after dad sold it I ran into the guy and told him if possible I would love to have it back. I got it back for exactly what dad sold it for $100 dollars. It has a fixed modified choke and I bought a butt stock extension to still hunt with it but it's mostly a safe queen. Well Sunday is my nieces hunting test so looks like it will be put back to good use.
 
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