I got the wrong gun.... (pics)

reuben_j_cogburn · 2026-07-17T14:36:24-0400

a number of years ago, I helped a guy I used to work for, estimate the values of a bunch of firearms he acquired over the years, (mostly buying from the widows of friends who had passed). There wasn't much that really stood out.. the usual well worn 870 shotguns bunch of beat 94's (no pre-64's, along with a lot of other very generic stuff...) There were some handguns and I saw a cased Springfield XDM in 9mm.. nice hard case, extra mags and kydex holster and mag pouch (eww).... I asked him if he'd take $300, and he said "sure". I didn't have the cash but I told him I'd transfer it into his account next paycheck...
He marked the case with a tag "springfield 9mm", and put it back in a vault..
Well.... it was about the time he and his wife flew south for the winter. I couldn't get the gun picked up before they headed out.. By that time I was at the homestead for the winter. I was going to have a friend get it and I'd go in and pick it up once the freeze up came..
Well.. that didn't happen... the next summer was my first full summer at the cabin, instead of going to town. I couldn't convince anyone to go pick it up... by the time I did a year and a half had flown by.. I finally got into town that january and picked up the gun, along with, all the other supplies I haul up... I was so looking forward to opening that case, but I held off until I had everything I brought up to the cabin stashed away..
I popped my self a beer.. (please withhold comments on this.. I'm a grown boy and I can handle beer while examining my firearm). sat down in my chair..... opened the case.... to find this!!! It was a Springfield 9mm alright! But it was the wrong one... this was the 1911 "range officer".. I looked up the price and it was worth a fair bit more than the XDM...
I called the guy I bought it from, but in that year and a half, he had sold the gun I bought.. plus.. he was in the lower 48 until summer. He told me I could just keep it.. (I really didn't want it....) but watcha gonna do..
I told him what it was (probably) worth... and said it was okay... I had earned it.. I didn't charge him for helping him with the sale guns...
So now it looks like I have to cut a bit of the leg off my kitchen table....
Eventually, I did pick up an XDM and an XD-s, in 45acp.... $500 for the both.. so I didn't come out to bad.... and the 1911... even tho I really don't have a use for it... it's dern pretty...
wanna hear some other Alaska gun tales?.... it's not the only one....

RoninPA · 2026-07-17T14:45:04-0400

Hey I'll take it off your hands for $300. What the heck I'll take it for $325, that way you make a little profit.

s4s4u · 2026-07-17T14:53:00-0400

When we go to the range (40 acres of hay pasture with a cranberry swamp in the middle) with all the extended family, most folks are drawn to my 1911 rather than the fantastic plastics that share the table. There is just something about the 1911 that captures imaginations. Everybody should have at least one.

reuben_j_cogburn · 2026-07-17T15:09:28-0400

I like 1911's!!... I own.. umm... 4?..... I'm gonna have to go look...

I do really like the striker fired guns for carry tho... barring that I'll carry one of my DA Smiths or my Witness 45.....(it's kinda big tho)
The XD's really fit my hand nice (with the flat backstrap), and are the most naturally pointing handguns I own.... I don't even have to try and get the sights in alignment. The XD-s is a single stacker and is really skinny. 7+1, but has a flush mag that is 6+1, in case I need to be really sneaky....

XUSNORDIE · 2026-07-17T16:16:38-0400

reuben_j_cogburn said:
I popped my self a beer.. (please withhold comments on this.. I'm a grown boy and I can handle beer while examining my firearm)

Well I'll comment anyway......as long as it wasn't a light beer you are OK....a pour of bourbon would have been better. I thought it was normal to enjoy a drink and admire newly acquired firearms.

reuben_j_cogburn said:
and the 1911... even tho I really don't have a use for it.

.......who doesn't have a use for a 1911? Everyone should have at least one....or five.....or.....

Dan in MI · 2026-07-17T16:28:53-0400

I bought the wrong gun once. A neighbor told me a guy at work was selling a Colt 45. He only wanted $50. I couldn’t open my wallet fast enough. It took a couple weeks to complete the transaction. When he finally brought it too me I opened the box expecting a beat up 1911. To my surprise there sat a 1900 vintage Colt 45... SAA.

RC44Mag · 2026-07-17T16:57:05-0400

Wow what a surprise. Still have it?

blume357 · 2026-07-17T17:04:10-0400

Same sort of thing happened to me here... member here was trying to clear out some of their recently deceased partners guns and I said I would buy one... when it came to my FFL it was not the gun I bought... FFL said don't do the paper work call them and see what gives... seems there was a mix up and the one I wanted had gone to someone else. We decided to do the same thing... me keep this one which was worth more than the one I was going to buy. The cool thing is I then realized this handgun was actually made here in S.C. The other interesting thing is it is the most accurate semi-auto pistol I have excluding the Sig P320 compact with the Romeo red dot sites...