Heading out to pick up this mysterious bike. The owner says there is no decals, but his local LBS identified it as titanium. The welds seem like they are smaller than what aluminum has but what the heck do I know. I figured I'd take a chance on it due to the crankset.
I'll get more pictures when I return.

False alarm. Owner messaged me and said he promised someone else he could look at it first ----- errrrr ---- someone offered more money

The crankset look like a Syncros clone. The best feature to identify most Ti bicycles are the rear dropouts, as they are typically custom cut from Ti plate and therefore often different from one brand to another. Unfortunately, in this case the rear dropouts aren't really visible. Regardless, it's a moot point as the bicycle was sold out from under the OP.

Thanks for the info. I messaged back the seller and said "In other words you got an offer over your asking price" and he actually admitted it and said "good guess."
Not much one can do in that situation. No gain in throwing a fit. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often

What was the asking price?

I've had that happen. I was on the road when I got a text message saying that the frame had been sold out from under me.

I don't bargain very frequently by e-mail, but in that case, I likely would have given the seller an extra $20 when picking up the frame anyway.

It does look like an older Titanium frame. Litespeed and Lynskey both would have been building in Titanium during that era. Plus a few other brands.

$100 - We texted back and forth talking about the frame and components etc. I said I'd take it and scheduled to drive up to get it. He messaged me saying "sorry I promised someone else they could see it first." I pretty much knew right away and that's when I flat out asked him. Granted he should have given me the chance to match, but he didn't know I'd call him out on it

Depending on how far away it was... $100, and you should have dropped everything and gotten on the road.

You should have offered more and dicked over the other guy.

That rear brake screams McMahon....

Yep. Seems like the OP "Looked a gift horse in the mouth".

The moment has passed, but I suspect that might be a Ti bike from a Russian manufacturer. I worked at a place who was importing those for a while and got one custom made for myself ~20 years ago. I noticed earlier in the summer that a deep gouge in the chainstay has fully converted into a crack, so am debating what to do with it now.

The company I worked for is no longer in business so no advice from them.

Seems like the cranks are McMahon Steely Danz and are worth some coin in their own right

That's a bummer. The guy that beat you out got a sweet old machine. The cranks and the XTR front der are strong signs that this was a high-0end machine in its prime, and is still probably a very good ride.

Scheduled the meet up time as soon as he was available. Not much I could do. I can't stop the guy from receiving messages in the interim