[IrishCop]

I am trying to be a little more selective about my future gun purchases. I figure I had best decide exactly what I want, and then set out to try and find that (or those) specific items. Up to now, my strategy hasn't been so...well, strategic.

I decided I would like to get me a 6" blued Python and an Ed Brown Kobra Carry .45 ACP. Since those things aren't exactly falling off the shelves in North Alabama, I have been perusing a couple of the auction sites.

It seems that you can find just about whatever you're looking for there (at horrendously expensive prices sometimes), but they do have a selection.

I know that these sites have been around for a while, question is, has anybody ever used one of these to purchase a firearm? I bought my USFA from the factory by ordering on-line, but that's different. Any comments, good or bad would be appreciated.

 

[Charlie Petty]

I have bought guns on both Auction Arms and Gun Broker but the problem is that the seller is an unknown quantity.

Some sites do rate sellers and that is helpful but it seems as if they all think we're stupid and start with unrealistic prices. It really hacks me when one says "no reserve" but the minimum bid is sky high.

My practice is to enter the maximum I am willing to spend and let the site do the work. If you sit and watch down to the last second you'll go nuts.

I would avoid anything that does not have good sharp pictures and read the description VERY carefully.

If I can I would much prefer to deal with someone who has a store and an FFL rather than one who says "my dealer to yours".

I have had very good luck with Gun Runner Web Page because he takes consignments and writes his own descriptions. You may not find bargains, but at least you'll have a shot at getting what you expect.

I've also found that Google will sometimes find stuff at store web sites as well as auctions.

 

[stand watie]

Charlie Petty,

THANKS for the info.

I'm looking for another Model 1910 Winchester, .401WSL, carbine & will go look there.

yours, sw

 

[Charlie Petty]

Good luck... I see 351s often but the 401 must be really rare.

Terry I have one of the Ed Brown guns and love it but you might want to look at the S&W 1911SC-E. I was favorably impressed although I understand they are hard to get too.

 

[SpecialEd]

Dan Wesson --both prior to the purchase by CZ and now under CZ-- offer some very nice Bob tailed Commanders.

 

[bearcat6]

I've had good luck both buying and selling on Auction Arms and Gunbroker. You need to check the feedback of the seller and as Charlie says read the descriptions carefully. Some times you can tell a lot by the pictures. I have never been burnt on one of the auction sites.

 

[stand watie]

Charlie Petty,

I don't know that the .401WSL is RARE but they are really hard to get an owner to sell, if/when you find one.
(the .401 has no more "kick" than a .410 shotgun, the 260grain SP at 2000FPS hits HARD out to 150M, is accurate, is easy to reload & makes LITTLE noise in the woods. = the .401 goes BLAMM & that's it.)

I gave my late uncle's treasured .401 (with about 500 rounds of ammo) to my nephew & it's just plain "not for sale". - Kyle got his first WT with it & always gets his deer with it each fall in the northeast TX swamp country.

So i'm looking for another 1910 to "customize" to suit me. - i will have it scoped, re-blued & restocked, as i have a beautiful piece of tiger-striped walnut "squirreled away", that would work well.

i would buy a .351, if i "happened on one at a cheap price" but the .351 is only "adequate" for deer in the brush. - it's about the same as a .357mag out of a carbine.
There are still LOTS of those around as many police/corrections departments bought them.
(my home county's SO still has about a dozen .351WSL carbines in the arms room, that were once "tower rifles".)

yours, sw

 

[IrishCop]

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the feedback. It looks like I'll be in a position scratch a couple of long lived itches pretty soon. I just want to check out all of my options.

I've checked with both Les Baer and Ed Brown, and their wait times (7 to 18 months), although I am sure worth it, are disheartening. I've found examples of both of their work for sale, listed as NIB, and at prices close to what their websites list.

The Python? Great Googley Moogley!! I've seen prices from $1,200 to over $3,000 for a standard 6 inch blue model. God help you if you want the 2 1/2" barrel. They musta made them outta platinum!

Charlie, I'll check out that Smith. I'm not familiar with that model.

 

[Charlie Petty]

Look in the October issue of Handloader it's on the cover.

I agree that the Dan Wesson is a good alternative.

The S&W really is a good value. It has almost everything you'd find on a custom gun for about half the price.

 

[WaltGraham]

In addition to the sites mentioned, there are local options that might give you the opportunity to do a FTF transaction.

I just took delivery of the tactical Judge I won in a raffle week before last.

I feel more dangerous already...

 

[William R. Moore]

I tried numerous times to buy optics at decent prices on GB and a couple of other sites. People are obviously willing to pay retail or they have shills to run prices up if they're not getting what they want out of the item. As noted above, decide what you're willing to pay and you can enter an initial bid and a top price and then sit back and wait. Either you gets it or you don't.

Pay very close attention to descriptions, any inspection period and ratings of the seller. Established businesses are better bets than private parties and paying by credit card can provide you with additional protection and leverage.

I was shocked to manage to buy the 10-22T at the price I got it on GB. Every once in awhile you run into someone who orders something for a customer and then gets stuck.

 

[ExSarge]

I have a Flintlock I got through an estate sale. Will post it and the results of my experience. I'm not into muzzle loaders but this one really looks nice. If I remember right it's a Savage .454 or something like that.

 

[Charlie Petty]

SW: there is a 351 at Gunrunner Online Auctions

 

[stand watie]

CharliePetty,

THANKS! ====>wishing that it was a .401wsl BUT i may bid on it anyway, as i don't have one any more.
(when i was with the NOLA CSO in the mid-70s, i bought one "surplus" from the department for 40.oo & killed several WTs with it in the LA swamp country.)

bid is 110.oo right now.

the .351wsl is "just OK" out to about 100M & you cannot SEE that far in our NE TX swamp country. = 1800FPS with a 180grain SP versus the .401 at 2100FPS with a 250grain SP ======> BIG DIFFERENCE, as the .401 hits like a 30-40Krag at 150M - "It ain't no slouch", doesn't make much noise & CHEAP to shoot, too.

yours, sw

 

[stand watie]

Charlie Petty,

the .351wsl is UP to 270.oo and that's WAY too much, imVho, as it's FAR from "factory original" & both the fore-end & stock are cracked in the usual places, where it's DIFFICULT to repair them, permanently.

THANKS AGAIN, sw