New purchase

[Bill Hollinger]

I bought this beautiful SA 6.09 mil.

[browningautorifle]

Isn't that nice...just about the end of the line and looks perfect.

[RCS]

Almost bought this rifle years ago for $2300.00 note the serial number is 6100256. not the highest number but figure that any that starts with 6.1 is not common!

No camera at the time so i made a rubbing with tape to show the number.

No - I did not buy this rifle.

[Bob Seijas]

We have all passed on guns that were a couple hundred more than we wanted to pay... and we never forget them. I don't regret buying ANY gun in my collection but I remember every one I wish I had bought The moral is "Go for the good ones," you don't pay too much, you just buy too soon.

[Ms15710]

Don't want to steer this forum off track, but there was one M1 last year that will forever haunt me as "the one that got away".

Serial 220463 with almost all correct parts, except for a replacement stock and Type III lockbars. Finish on the major parts was incredibly worn. Supposedly the rifle was brought back by a gentleman in the merchant marines following the invasion of Iwo Jima. The only documentation was his discharge papers and a letter from the family that he had traded navy binoculars for it. Of course, buy the rifle, not the story, but the rifle itself was compelling enough. I had just made another purchase and was saving funds for a major auction, so I reluctantly had to pass.

A few days later, I read in Scott Duff's read book about a Winchester in the 136xxx range with a near identical story. Apparently this was a common phenomenon.

Whether the story was fabricated or not, I have not forgiven myself for letting go of that rifle. It was hard lesson to "deal with what you have". I have a few dozen photos of it saved on my computer. I can only hope I'm reacquainted with it one day.

[SRiverrat11]

you don't pay too much, you just buy too soon.

Thank you Bob, that is the quote I need to remember. I did this with a 6-53 SA/JLG I bought( paid a couple hundred more than I knew it was worth, but it has caught up).

[CINDERS]

you don't pay too much, you just buy too soon

I had waited a long time to get enough together for a T when I contacted a friend over his T he had and did he want to part with it, well probably paid $500 to much for it.
Thing is they seldom come up in a range one can afford this one looked in good condition although he did not tell me the draws were mushed and wrecked, I discovered that at 100yds with a 15" group for 10 shots off a rest!
So that ended that friendship, got the draws permanently fixed by a master stock maker Ken Davis in Perth but there is always a silver lining somewhere!!!
I was reading Perter L's & Ian S's book An Amourers Perspective and in the pad section I saw a rifle/scope serial No.'s that looked familiar.
Dug the rifle out and well there they were the rifle & scope was used in front pad trials they conducted to combat the problem of them working loose.
So what are the chances a rifle from England gone to the Eastern States comes West and is in that book still together !

[usabaker]

Ack! nice... making me itch for another M1

[Bob Seijas]

I turned down those Brit T snipers when they were new in the wood box for $300 because they weren't Garands. Years later, however, I was wiser and for $350 bought a NIB MAS 49-56 when the French sold them