Snooze I loose on Russian SKS...AAAAAAAHHHH!

So I go to the gun show in Hastings NE this morning with low expectations and a shopping list of stuff to look for. Gun socks, Magazines, Suppressor adaptors etc. I walked in as doors opened and immediatly startied skimming the isles for items of interest and crazy prices. CAI Yugo M76 for $1900, Polytech Underfolder AK in the Styrofoam for $2400 (HA!). Then my second isle I hit a Russian Tula Manufacture SKS says unfired (yeah right) it still had cosmo on it no chips or flakes, looked really good and was the typical refurb brought in the 80's. Price $375! Cra p! I told the fiance I would be nice today so I set it down and kept walking but for about 4 Isles it was hard to concentrate on what I was scanning the tables for. Finally I decided I'll come back after I walk the tables and if it is still there when I come back I'll buy it. Half hour 45min later I come back and there is a guy with his kid checking it out. I set back and listen while the guy is going over it with his kid pointing out the markings. Crud! He's probably going to buy it, so I hang back watching to see by chance if he is going to set it down. I know at this point I want it, I could just grab the dealer and stuff my cash in his fist and have him tell the guy it's sold. Nah, normally I would do it in all is fair but with his kid with him not only would I look like a Richard but the guy is sharing an experience with his kid. The guy offers him $350 and I almost laugh outloud as I see the dealer refuse and price was firm as the guy set it down (I'm on the opposite side of the table trying not to be noticed.) If I would have been next to him I would have picked it up at that point. But he said ok about 30 seconds later, (29 more than I needed to take it from him.) I knew it was a steal seeing how Cabela's just sold their similar SKS with worse condition for $600 two weeks ago. The dealer then noticed me and came over to see if he can help. I just simply told him I was going to buy it if the other guy was not. Told him it was the only thing I saw in the entire show with a good price on it out of the last two. Dealer told me he had checked prices on it GB before he left and didn't think the prices for SKS's were fair on GB and that he originally sold that particular SKS to the guy he picked it up again from. Said sold it in the 80's for $70 and thinks the value of them is inflated. Definitely going to keep an eye on this guys booth in the future.

So, That's my story this morning How I saw a deal and I hesitated, stupidly. (What, is there going to be another one in similar shape for less). If the guy who bought it is reading this congratulations and thank your kid. If it wasn't for him that SKS would be in my hands now.