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I was putting up a post on the Handgun Picture thread and thought of the idea for this thread. I tend to take pride in wheeling and dealing to get the best price possible on my gear. I thought, I must not be alone at this. So, let's share some stories here about the best deals we've ever gotten for our guns and gear whether buying or selling.
Probably my best was when I got my Kimber TLE II from Cabelas. How, you ask, did I get a "good deal" from Cabelas? Well, I go in there pretty regularly. It's local, so I'll stop in about once a week whether I "need" to or not. I had been ogling my Lieutenant's 1911, which is a custom Wilson Combat, which I could NEVER afford. Still, I was in the market for a 1911. I wanted a Kimber, but they're still pricey. But one day, I noticed this TLE II in the case. It was used, but looked Mint. It was marked to $800. I still couldn't afford it, but I wandered into the Gun Library to ask if they could come down at all. They refused because of the great condition, but showed me a Kimber Tactical Compact 4" 1911. It was $799 marked down twice to $500 because it had a broken thumb safety (it was literally half missing). I bought it with the intention of just replacing the safety.
I took it to the range before paying for the repair for a function check. It turned out that it also had a sear that was nearly worn through. It was consistently doubling and causing jams. I called Cabelas, and we came to an agreement. I took it to my gunsmith, who made the repair and a "friend" price of $100. Cabelas, through some kind of miscommunication, would not pay for the repair. So, I proposed an even trade for the full sized TLE II that I was eyeing the previous week. It was still there at $800. They agreed.
So, I effectively got my $1,000 Kimber TLE II for $600 and a couple weeks of inconvenience. She runs like a top.
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Probably my best was when I got my Kimber TLE II from Cabelas. How, you ask, did I get a "good deal" from Cabelas? Well, I go in there pretty regularly. It's local, so I'll stop in about once a week whether I "need" to or not. I had been ogling my Lieutenant's 1911, which is a custom Wilson Combat, which I could NEVER afford. Still, I was in the market for a 1911. I wanted a Kimber, but they're still pricey. But one day, I noticed this TLE II in the case. It was used, but looked Mint. It was marked to $800. I still couldn't afford it, but I wandered into the Gun Library to ask if they could come down at all. They refused because of the great condition, but showed me a Kimber Tactical Compact 4" 1911. It was $799 marked down twice to $500 because it had a broken thumb safety (it was literally half missing). I bought it with the intention of just replacing the safety.
I took it to the range before paying for the repair for a function check. It turned out that it also had a sear that was nearly worn through. It was consistently doubling and causing jams. I called Cabelas, and we came to an agreement. I took it to my gunsmith, who made the repair and a "friend" price of $100. Cabelas, through some kind of miscommunication, would not pay for the repair. So, I proposed an even trade for the full sized TLE II that I was eyeing the previous week. It was still there at $800. They agreed.
So, I effectively got my $1,000 Kimber TLE II for $600 and a couple weeks of inconvenience. She runs like a top.
You've got some nice goodies there. That S&W is a hell of a going away present. That's really nice of the guys to get you that beast. How does the scandium handle the recoil? I've only handled the snubby scadiums and it was pretty unforgiving. I've never gotten a gun for a gift, but I'm always putting my hook in the water.
