38 replies to this topic

[LSU Tiger]

The thought crossed my mind in my own search for a Thompson, where did the members of this forum find their Thompsons? I'm coming to the conclusion that to get a realistic price, you have to know somebody. What are your thoughts?

[ODS9091]

TAHT IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO GET A "DEAL".
ANOTHER WAY IF TO GET IN GOOD WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND YOUR AREA. MY BUDDY GOT A GREAT DEAL ON A BERETTA M38A ALL MATCHING, AN EARLY MODEL WITH THE BAYONET LUG.
A LITTLE WIDOW ASKED THE SHERIFF IF HE KNEW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE HER DECEASED HUSBAND'S RIFLE, SO HE ASKED MY FRIEND. THE SHERIFF PUT THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER, MY BUDDY TOLD HER HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY HER WHAT IT WAS WORTH (WHICH WAS THE TRUTH), AND SHE SAID MAKE AN OFFER. HE TOLD HER WHAT HE COULD AFFORD, TOLD HER IT WAS ONLY 1/3 TO 1/2 OF WHAT SHE COULD GET FOR IT, BUT SHE ACCEPTED HIS OFFER ANYWAY. WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS RECOMMENDED TO HER BY THE SHERIFF, WHOM SHE TRUSTED.

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

What is the definition of realistic? The longer you put off your purchase the higher the prices get. What have you seen for sale that you rejected out of hand because the price was more than you were prepared to spend? What are you prepared to spend? If you have made offers and they are rejected, that may be a pretty good indicator that your sights are too low. Somebody posted an add recently on this board for a conversion WH for $8K. Would that work for you?

[John Jr]

I found mine from a member of the old board and paid WAY more than I thougt it was worth. Its now worth 50-60% more, and that was a couple of years ago.

Jr

[kyle]

QUOTE (ODS9091 @ Apr 16 2004, 10:42 AM)

... MY BUDDY TOLD HER HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY HER WHAT IT WAS WORTH (WHICH WAS THE TRUTH), AND SHE SAID MAKE AN OFFER. HE TOLD HER WHAT HE COULD AFFORD, TOLD HER IT WAS ONLY 1/3 TO 1/2 OF WHAT SHE COULD GET FOR IT, BUT SHE ACCEPTED HIS OFFER ANYWAY.

This is second time in the past few weeks that someone has boasted the "good deals" are still out there and then offerred as proof an incident which invariably involves an elderly person. The previous example was the the mint $12k Colt. I'm sorry, but I'm not wired that way. I'm not going to condone stealing from, in this lastest example, a widow.

People keep saying they want to pay a "fair" or "realistic" price. Hell, a cup of beer costs $6 at the ballpark. Is that "fair"? If you want a Thompson, you better be prepared to pay as much, if not more, than the hundreds (maybe thousands) of other motivated buyers across the country are willing to pay. And the competition is only going to increase as people are educated via the Interent to how the NFA process works.

Folks, we ain't in Kansas anymore.

[Hawkeye_Joe]

Mine was listed on Subguns...I was the 6th to call on it but the only one who didn't try to dicker him down.

[ODS9091]

KYLE
HOW CAN IT BE STEALING WHEN YOU TELL SOMEONE WHAT IT IS ACTUALLY WORTH AND THEN MAKE THEM AN OFFER OF LESS THAN WHAT YOU JUST TOLD THEM IT WAS WORTH?

[kyle]

QUOTE (ODS9091 @ Apr 16 2004, 10:42 AM)

... A LITTLE WIDOW ASKED THE SHERIFF... ...SHE ACCEPTED HIS [the friend's] OFFER ANYWAY. WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS RECOMMENDED TO HER BY THE SHERIFF, WHOM SHE TRUSTED.

Your words, not mine.

The widow didn't know what she was doing and acted solely on the belief that the Sheriff wouldn't send her a buyer that was going to give her 40 cents on the dollar. Sure sounds like stealing to me.

This story makes JC Devine look like a saint!

[Walter63a]

"Let the buyer beware, and the seller educated!"-Walter I truly feel for people who have been fleeced, though. Regards, Walter

[ODS9091]

KYLE
IF SOMEONE YOU KNEW SENT ME TO BECAUSE YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SALE, AND IT WAS VALUED (UNKNOWN TO YOU) AT $100. I MEET YOU, LOOK AT SAID PROPERTY, TELL YOU IT IS WORTH, FAIR MARKET VALUE, $100 AND YOU COULD SELL IT FOR $100. HOWEVER AT THE MOMENT ALL I CAN HONESTLY AFFORD TO OFFER YOU IS $50. WOULD YOU SELL IT TO ME?
HAVE I MISREPRESENTED THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY? YOU KNOW THE VALUE, BECAUSE I GAVE YOU AN HONEST VALUE AND TOLD YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT...YOU CALL ME BACK A WEEK LATER AND ACCEPT MY OFFER, IS THERE ANY KIND OF FRAUD HERE.

[Walter63a]

ODS9091, I did not mean to imply that you were dishonest, in this instance. Did you have a birthday recently? I thought I saw an announcement, posted on the board recently, but didn't have time to respond. If it was your day, I hope it was a great one! Regards, Walter

[SecondAmend]

The elderly may sometimes act with diminished capacity. Those who take advantage of the diminished capacity may be accused of practicing undue influence or over reaching.

May not be unlawful in any criminal way or reach to level of making the sale void or voidable in a civil case.

The buyer may also have to be ready to defend their actions in a civil suit brought by irate relatives or others. The buyer may well win, but at a personal cost in excess of the initial savings. We had a local judge who lost re-election when a "good" deal he had made 15 years earlier (long before he was a judge) was exposed by supporters of his opponent. The judge was cleared of all charges but his reputation was shot.

This is not to imply any of the transactions discussed herein actually involve cases of diminished capacity or undue influence.

[v188]

Bought mine on Buddy's board recently. Form 3 approved, but still not at my local dealer. I wasn't the first to call, but I didn't dicker. Did I get the absolute best deal? Obviously those guns that sold at the auction appeared somewhat cheaper, but I wanted it, and I just bought it a little early.

[HK33K]

1st Thompson belonged to a friend of a friend's dad. My friend's dad called me and said his buddy wanted to sell a Thompson and would give me a great price (3K) in 2001.
2nd Thompson belonged to an old friend. He called me up and said he wanted to get an AK, did I want his Thompson and all the accesories(milk crate of mags, 95% original drum, couple ammo cans of ammo, misc. small parts) for 6K in 2002.
I just let people know that I am interested in looking at almost any gun they have for sale and sometimes I come up with jems.
Pat
0-1-25

[21 smoker]

Well,... my first was a WH28 bought from a widow and she named the price based on her surfing the net and talking to dealers...$3500 in 12/02,with hard case,50rder,mags,extra horiz grip...almost unfired cause it didn`t run...my second was a Colt 21AC bought from a local museum for $11,995,hard case and nice Colt 50rd in 03...very generous dealer...and the third was a Savage 28,1st production run,dewat soon to be rewat from same dealer...and the hits just keep comin`.

[Sgt]

Got my 28a1 Savage on the Subguns. It was listed with a collection. I paid 13k about a year ago. Maybe a little high at the time. Hey, I've been seeing WHs listed for around 10k+ now.

[JimFromFL]

Found mine on Subguns.

[full auto 45]

Found my first WH at a gun show in 2000. Got it NIB with a NIB "C" drum and a NIB "L" drum. All West Hurley's. Thompson and the "L" run perfect, the "C" need spring work as they all do. In '03 my second M1 was from a Police department that saw my web site and emailed me and wanted to know if I was interested. It has history in WWII, the B&O railroad police and then this Police department I bought it from. My 3 & 4 will be from another PD, that is still in the works. As is #5 from a PD that a buddy works for out west. #6 & 7 will be from a PD here in state as soon as the new chief decides to cut loose with them, old chief I was dealing with lost his office, should of had him sign the papers before he left. Now it's just waiting them out. I know they need the money real bad.

[Tex]

A gentleman knew I was looking for one and gave me a call.
Ain't got it yet but at least it is in Texas. Hopefully it won't be long in transfer.

Now to find a '28A1 to go with it.

[GonePostal]

I found mine right friggin here on Machinegunbooks.com

Another member was asking a fair price on a package that included a very customized WH M1 Thompson along with many accessories and the price was right. We did the deal and we are both quite happy.

Thank you Lord!

GP