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Old April 24, 2013, 04:09 PM   #1
draidt
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The least expensive Rifle you have bought

And is worth more today.

In a parallel thread to the most expensive hand gun you have ever bought I offer this venue.

For me it is a circa 1961 Remington bolt action 22 S/L/LR Remington Nylon 12 that I bought brand new in a now defunct chain store (think Walmart type) in New Jersey back in 1961-62 as a 16 year old, My Dad actually had to buy it for legal reasons. For the then astounding sum of 39.99. I still have it and out side of 2 or 3 summers on my Grandparents farm It languished in the holder that I had purchased for the last 50 years. It is in pristine condition and if it has pumped out more the 300 rounds would be a stretch. I have seen them going recently from 400 to up to 900 bucks. I guess as a nostalgic item they are worth something. I will never part with it and will hand it down to my Grandson when the time is right.

So let here some stories !
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Old April 24, 2013, 09:36 PM   #2
Cowboy_mo
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Received as a gift but cost < $100

Somewhere around 1969 or 1970 my parents gave me a Marlin 39A topped with a Marlin branded 4x scope (the old skinny tubes) same size as the one in your photo. According to the serial number search, it was manufactured in 1956 or 57.

It is stocked and foreended in heavy walnut. The rifle is a tack driver and will be staying in my collection until I'm gone. I've seen others of this vintage priced at $5-600 without the Marlin branded scope
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Old April 24, 2013, 09:53 PM   #3
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My Russian SKS..............89.00 bucks. I had three, should have kept them all.
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Old April 24, 2013, 09:59 PM   #4
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Well once upon a time i saw a guy with a Rem 597, my favorite 22, and that thing wouldnt cycle at all, i talked to him about it and he was livid, cursing off remington. I noticed he had a dip in and i said well hey, ive got a log of chew (5tins) unopened in the truck you wanna trade chew for .22. He did.

Besides that i got 3 different mosin nagants at different times for 40 dollars and an sks for 60 many years ago...

Those are the dirt cheapest but once a buddy anticipated being convicted of a felony in an upcoming court date, got a Colt Commander for 300, nickle and barely fired...
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Old April 24, 2013, 10:20 PM   #5
mxsailor803
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Gotta be a tie between my Mosin 91/30 and Hi-Point Carbine. I gave 250 for both. The 91/30 was still in the box and the guy that had the Carbine said he couldn't get it to cycle. I ended up tearing it down to find all kinds of trash/grim inside. Cleaned it up, lubed it, and shoot the daylights out of it now. Too bad my wife laid claim to it lol. Guess I need to find one in .45 lol
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Old April 24, 2013, 10:35 PM   #6
tahunua001
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would you believe a remington 1903A4 for $1000?
traded it for about the equivalent of $2000 worth of stuffs.
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Old April 24, 2013, 10:44 PM   #7
9mmfan
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Marlin 795
Oops, missed the worth more now part. I guess then it would have to be my my M1 Garand. Bought it from the CMP, so's I imagine if I ever decided to sell it, which I can't imagine that I would, I could get more than I paid.

Last edited by 9mmfan; April 28, 2013 at 12:21 AM. Reason: Missed the second part of the request.
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Old April 24, 2013, 10:52 PM   #8
BumbleBug
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I bought a Win 94 .30-30 with side mounted scope for $85. I took the scope & mount off & sold it to someone for $50. Then I turned around & sold the rifle for $125. I thought I was the smartest man on the face of the earth!

Damn, I wish I'd have kept that rifle!!! LOL

...bug
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Old April 25, 2013, 05:10 AM   #9
Geezerbiker
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I bought a Swiss K31 on sale for $89 at Big-5. The last I heard they were going for at least 3x that much. I wanted one for a long time so I'm not about to sell it.

Tony
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Old April 25, 2013, 06:20 AM   #10
Bart B.
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Bought an excellent condition pre-'64 classic Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 back in 1981 for $20. Sold it 10 years or so later for eight C notes.
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Old April 25, 2013, 08:52 AM   #11
globemaster3
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Remington 522 Viper...$99

The cheapest firearm in the safe is a Ted Williams model 300... Paid $85 in 90% condition (90% of the finish missing!). My best duck gun ever!
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Old April 25, 2013, 09:18 AM   #12
Tuzo
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Inflation

The $39.99 Remington in 1962 is equivalent to $308 in 2013 dollars. I still have my Marlin 81 .22 purchased for $36.95 in 1961.

My cheapest buy is a Remington 552 Speedmaster .22 for $40 last year. That calculates to $5.21 in 1962 dollars. Needed a little cleaning and the bore was clogged by a plastic bullet. Looks nearly new and shoots as new.
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Old April 25, 2013, 11:12 AM   #13
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I bought a single shot cva 45-70 for $269 brand new a couple weeks ago.
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Old April 25, 2013, 11:43 AM   #14
RedBowTies88
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Probably a tie between my 1923 mosin ex-dragoon and my marlin 795.

The 795 was on the rack for $139 but on sale for $129. It also came with a $25 mail in rebate that took a mere 7 months to get back

So, $129 x.07 sales tax + $16 NICS check = $154 approx. Now if you wanna factor in the rebate that's your call.

Mosin was $150 (remember, not your average wartime 91/30..so it's got a little more value) FTF transaction so no tax or background check fee. It also came with 200+ rounds of surpus x54r. (200 is a conservative number, it was enough to completely fill a .30 cal ammo can.)

As far as bang for the buck I did well with both in my opinion. They have both been EXCELLENT firearms and have seen much use since.
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Old April 25, 2013, 11:47 AM   #15
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Ruger 10/22 $197 Still have it.
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Old April 25, 2013, 01:03 PM   #16
Old Grump
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1964, .303 British Jungle Carbine sporterized by Bubba for $18, I paid to much.

Sold it to one of my Polish cousins for $50, he thought it was a good deal.
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Old April 25, 2013, 04:00 PM   #17
e-bear
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Best buy I ever made.

Back in the day I purchased several M44 carbines from a local 5 & dime for $39.00 each and a couple of British 303's for $40.00 each. I thought that was the best it could be.

A few years later I had a neighbor woman ask me if I wanted to buy an M1 from her. So I agreed to look at it. She came out with a short little rifle case and I thought she had to be mistaken because a Garrand is much bigger than that. I opened the case and pulled out a Rock-o-la. Not knowing much about the M1 Carbine I tried to get the bolt to stay back with no catridge in the magazine. Of course it would not because I didnt know to press the detent button. I said it needed some work and offered her $50.00. She was glad to get that much for it. Then she came out with an 870 shotgun barrel and a couple of long bows with arrows and said "take these too." I thought that was a good deal.
Months later I took the M1 to a gun show and had a Garrand expert check it out. He said all numbers match and dont take less than $1000 for it. I was floored. I sold the shotgun barrel at a table at the show for $35.00. So I ended up investing only $15.00 in a mint Rock-o-la.
I have since sold the M1 when I needed some money and I got $1000.00 for it with a promise that I could buy it back when ever it is no longer needed. I aint holding my breath on that one.
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Old April 25, 2013, 04:22 PM   #18
PetahW
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I've had two really good ones, actually..............

An original (ca 1937) Winchester Model 52 Sporter w/Lyman peep sight in 98% condition for $300, which I used for 10 years & few years ago sold for $3500;
and
a 1937 (co-incidentally) 16ga Parker VHE Skeet Gun with all the factory options (checkered butt, Miller ST, straight English Grip) etc, except a VR - which I traded a (then) NIB Browning Model 42 even for (the parker had a $850 proce tag), the wholesaled it to a Parker dealer for $4K.

Those two, plus some more, allowed me to pay off all my oustanding debt & retire @ age 62.


.
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Old April 25, 2013, 04:31 PM   #19
stumper1300
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10/22 heavy barrel /synthetic stock for 50 bucks
...sold it for 400

Remington 760 in. 257 Roberts for 175.00 see them sell for 800-1000 on gunbroker

Winchester mod 61 .22 magnum for 335.00 worth at least 1000

Ruger 96/17 nib for 336.00. They bring around 750 now.

Keltec pmr30 for 275.00
grendel p30 for 175.00

I'm sure there are a few other deals hiding in my safe if I look.
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Old April 25, 2013, 05:16 PM   #20
603Country
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I bought my Winchester 9422 about 5 years ago for $80. I'm guessing that's my least expensive buy that is worth the most compared to what I paid. That said, I have no idea what it's really worth today.
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Old April 25, 2013, 05:58 PM   #21
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If we're talking ancient history, probably a nearly mint 1903A3 Springfield I picked up on the side of Highway 7 in Red River Parish, LA. A guy came by and parked, some of the fellows I was hunting with knew him. He told us that he was laid off, needed cash, and pulled out a nearly pristine 1903A3 Springfield. He was asking $75.00 and I had four $20s on me. I snapped it up.

More recently, in 2009, I had a nephew that wanted to start deer hunting, but he was broke, newly married with a kid on the way, and simply didn't have any money. I stumbled across a Howa 1500 in .270 Winchester at the pawn shop and got it for $125.00, out the door.



I gave it to him at Easter when he came to visit, and he's taken a couple of deer with it. He's a good kid, and I was happy to give him a leg-up on the deer rifle game.

What happened to that Springfield? Honestly, not a clue. I wish I still had it.
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Old April 25, 2013, 06:18 PM   #22
g.willikers
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My guns have appreciated about like my cars - not.
But there was one, had I the good sense to keep it.
A Browning .22 lever action with an octagonal barrel, that I had decades ago.
Yeah, I know.
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Old April 25, 2013, 07:16 PM   #23
Old Sourdough 54
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Bought it myself

I'd just turned 18 (1972) and bought a Marlin/Glenfield mod 60, if I remember it was $39.99 and came with one of those cheap scopes. Idiot that I was at the time I sold it two years later, I bought a used one about 6 years ago to replace it for $100 plus tax and registration. About two weeks after I bought the first mod. 60, I bought a Armalite AR-7 with the psycho colored stock, for $40. I still have the AR-7. In the early 80's I bought a Marlin mod 39 in very good condition for $50 from a PI that I knew at the timeand a local gun dealer did the paperwork. Still have the 39.
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Old April 25, 2013, 08:06 PM   #24
Salmoneye
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Around 2001...

Winchester 1906 S/L/LR in about 70% at the local flea market for $30
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Old April 25, 2013, 08:17 PM   #25
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I traded an old walker coonhound that couldnt smell a coon if it was on his back for a like new Glenfield/Marlin model 60. So you could say it was pretty much free

And by the way the guy I traded with knew the dog couldn't hunt before we made the deal, so it was honest
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