Henry Rifle Forums

I have been collecting guns since the mid '70s and have had some gems that I either had to sell for money or to buy other guns. What about you guys? Have any gun regrets? Here are mine:

1. 3rd gen Colt SAA in .357 mag - needed the money. I still get sad when I think about it
2. 1964 Colt Detective Special 2" barre '38 Spec - See above
3. Colt Service Model Ace .22 LR - Sold it to buy a Golt Govt. Model MK IV
4. Colt Govt. Model MK IV .45 ACP - Needed the money
5. Belgian Browning Hi-Power 9 mm - Needed the money
6. Browning BLR .308 Win - Sold to buy Ruger mini 14

Out of all the guns I've had, these were guns I regretted selling the most.

When I was a stupid teenager, I sold a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem for a measly $200. It was a beautiful pre-safety model (mid 70's) that I had taken several deer with. My father had given it to me and he was so mad that I sold it...if I knew then what I know now I would have kicked my own a** !

I've not sold but two rifles. One was was to help out a friend who needed a deer rifle for an upcoming hunt, a Ruger M77 with Leupold 3X9 scope. I don't really miss it but it was one fine rifle. The other was a Winchester 100 in .308 with Redfield 3X9. It went under the firing pin recall service but was never a quality rifle even before that.

Here are mine:
A 1978 Colt AR-15 Sporter
A Gen 1 SS IMI Desert Eagle .357
A Series 70 Colt Gold Cup National Match
A early 60's Colt Combat Commander
A Colt New Frontier .22 convertable
A Ruger Mark II lightweight in .223
A Browning BL-22
A Dan Wesson 4" .357. (gun and the 4" barrel only)

Mostly all sold or traded for other guns.

S&W Mod 27-2 357 Mag, 8 3/8" barrel
S&W MOD 25-2 45 Colt, 6" barrel
SIG Mod 226 9mm

All sold to buy varmint rifles & scopes.

1. Ruger 44 Mag semi auto
2. Ithaca Model 37 Deer Slayer

Model 27
Springfield 30-06
Colt Commander 9mm
Single Six Ruger 200th Year limited run
Pair of sequentially serial numbered Colt Pythons

Most were sold from the collection due to four kids and government salary, or offers too good to turn down. Several of these guns had sentimental value I was too young or too poor to recognize. Those I would really love to have back. I can't replace them. Duh.

A Malin 57, LeverMatic and a Glenfield 36A, sold it so I could get a scanner for copying.

Model 57 Smith in a presentation box
Marlin 1895 444 Marlin

Im sure there are others but these 2 come to mind first

I guess the only regret was a Colt New Frontier .22.
There's a couple I miss maybe a little ever once in a while.
Most of the ones sold were to purchase other toys.
I've had two stolen that I sure wish I had back

RP

Marlin 336 in 35 caliber...presafety gun..

Still have every gun I've purchased. The only one I miss, was stolen. Early 80's when living on the east coast (NJ) law would only allow deer hunting with a shotgun. Lost my Winchester 1300 pump slug hunter. Matte finish, rifled 22" barrel and a Redfield scope. Not a real expensive setup, but I really liked it. My place was broken in to while I was away on business.

Just one. A Sig Sauer non-traditional 1911 .45. Many regrets.
Dumb eye-candy very expensive purchase. I soon regretted it. I had really wanted a traditional 1911.
After a while it went to my youngest who wanted it. And then I regretted parting with it.
Recently replaced it with the Rock Island GI Standard Full Size 1911.

I traded a No 5 Enfield in 2001 for a brand new H001 and regretted it because I had owned the Enfield since 1966. The friend I traded with sold the rifle back to me about a month later.

I still have both.

I bought a Steyr Mannlicher from a fellow Marine leaving Oahu while I was station with SAR there. It was a beautiful thing. Full stock to the muzzle, highly figured. Butter knife bolt handle. Double set triggers. 22-250 caliber if I remember correctly. Hooded front sight, peep rear. A tack driver. He gave me a real deal on the gun, he was heading to a duty station where he had no need for it. I didn't NEED a 22-250, but she was a beaut. Couldn't pass it up, and it shot like a dream.

One of the pilots was from Texas, and going home. He had a job flying for the oil companies. He wanted the rifle bad... For coyote and hogs or something. He thought he was the "Godfather," I guess. He made me one of those offers I couldn't refuse.

Marlin 1894 PG Pistol gripped 44 mag only made for two years.

Marlin 1894 FG Pistol gripped 41 mag.

Marlin 1894. 357. Sold it because I didn’t like straight gripped levers.

Dumb dumb dumb

I had a Walther P99, 9mm, really good shooting gun, felt great, but, I got a wild hair in my butt, and decided I wanted a laser that replaced the guide rod. Wasn't available for the Walther, so traded for a Glock 22. Same gun we carried in our Sheriff's Dept. Never could shoot the thing very well, like gripping a brick. Regretted that move ever since. Stuff happens.

Savage model 24 .22lr/.410bore.
I replaced it years later, but I wish I still had the original.

The new(er) model 42's just don't have the same appeal.

Have an old Stevens 410/22lr in excellent condition. Synthetic stock. Easy break down. I think it was an airmans' survival rifle.

Ruger Mini 30... I just love the action of that rifle.