doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Your gun that got away

I was pulling about $1200 a month after taxes, not including per diem while at OBC, I had a paid off car and no debts. Some months my phone bill hit $500 plus.

I haunted on the Fort Sill Skeet range shooting four times a week, and skipped the bars and other stuff my fellow Lieutenants focused on. I drank enough in High School and VMI and was beyond that by that point.

The maids in the BOQ must of hated me as I spilled lead shot from my reloader all over the carpet all the time.

Life was simple, focused, and good. All I needed was a wife in order to have excellent care for my future hunting dogs. Things have worked out.

I was at the Ohio gun collectors show 15-18 yrs ago when my nightmare began. I knew who AO Niedner was and I knew who Tom Shelhamer was, but I had no comprehension of the value of the rifles. I would have been late 20's / early 30's and just hadn't seen anything like that for sale. Anyway, there was a like-new 1922 Springfield with a Niedner barrel and stocked by Shelhamer priced at $1400. I showed it to a friend who was looking at a Mauser 410b pretty hard (for the same money) and he didn't show much interest. Neither of us got it and I think about it regularly

I declined the first graded Remington 1100 F grade as a gift. Did not know the person that well and figured it should stay in her family. The early F grade did not have any gold inlays. It was of course 100% engraved and had a stock with exceptional beauty. I think it was more of a prototype or after that one they decided to add gold inlays. I did buy three Colt Pythons, one 3 digit and two 4 digit serial number, 1K range, NIB from her for a good price. Still have them, NIB. Waiting for my old age. Never would have thought they would go up more than ten times what I paid for them. Insane.

I have missed dozens of bargains over the years and more than that because of lack of knowledge. A few due to lack of funds and more than that because I just wont pay but so much for any gun. Same way about land and trucks.

Well since we're talking about 2nd Lt. days, that's what I was at Ft. Benning in 1972. I already had a law degree, a wife and house payments. No recollection of what my pay was, but I was glad when that phase of my life was over...Geo

A pair of American Eagle Lugers from the estate of a good friend. I did end up with a 1944 1911A1 from that collection that apparently I've done well on.

Ljutic serial number 1111 with four aces artwork, a spare trigger, and a case. I could have had that in about 1985 for $1,300 but I just didn't have it. I last saw that gun in the rack at Jaqua's for a 'just slightly' higher price.

An as new Greener FH35. Again, lack of funds.

A Kimber Super America. I regularly kick myself over that.

How about an early GSI import Merkel 147E when they first arrived for about 2500? They have doubled.

I could go on...

�...I was glad when that phase of my life was over...Geo�

Been saying that for over 20 years. Just when you think you�re out, they pull you back in. Judge gave me a choice between the Marines or jail. I�ve been second guessing my decision ever since.

Guns, nah. People, a few.


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It�s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. (first snow)

Mine was a German drilling in an odd gauge/ CF caliber mix. It was a work of art. I could have afforded it if I had stretched the budget but in the long run it would have wound up a wall hanger even though the owner said that the odd Euro caliber could be re-chambered for a more common CF caliber, but I let it go.

Back then IIRC states I hunted in did not allow for a center fire rifle and shotgun to be carried simultaneously during small game season. Yet another reason to relegate it to being a wall hanger.

Blind Eddy the Barber?

The one I miss, is my first gun that I got for Christmas, it was a Nobel 16ga SxS made in Spain. I had a hard time hitting with it so my Dad let me use a Model 37 20 ga and the Nobel sat in the gun cabinet. In High School I sold to a friend of my Mom's for $100. Twenty five years later I run into the guy I sold it to and he had given it to his uncle in FL and he was sure he would sell it back to me. Well Rob the guy I sold it to passed away before he could get me intouch with his uncle. So somewhere in S. FL is my first gun a Nobel 16 ga, like Stan said, nothing special except..................

My problem is not the ones I didn't buy but the ones I bought and then let them get away. I will be 84 next month and have been addicted to double guns since the 1960s, during that time I have been the caretaker of many but not being rich meant some had to go to make room for the next one.