Not long ago, I posted such a gun for sale. I didn't think the price was unreasonable for a pre-lock gun. I didn't get a single inquiry. Is this not a desireable gun or is it not the right time of year for a 44 to sell. I know the gun was a re-issue, sorta. The first CH, I believe had an adjustable front sight. Mine has a ramp front. I wanted to ask before I re-posted it at a lowered price. I will also have to add a few items to the sale list.
My 7 year old spent a week in the hospital with salmonella and we just got the bill. $13,800 so far.

Slim,

I have one of those and it is quite desireable. It may have not sold because you may have placed too much stock in a "Non-Mim", "No lock" gun. I paid $450 for mine about a year and half ago. Great shooter!

It might be a bit of an awkward niche. Many handgun hunters seem (by and large) less concerned about the lock/MIM issues than those using revolvers for personal defense. This results in a lower premium being paid by some users.. Collectors meanwhile are usually more interested in the earlier P&R guns. Then there's simple economic issues that are causing some people to hang on to their money right now. (I'd love a 29-5 myself, but haven't got the money right now as I'll owe the taxman.)

Thanks guys. I hate the thoughts of getting rid of some of my P&R guns, but the bills have to be paid. I'll stick the 29 back in the safe and maybe I can hold out and not have to sell it at less than market price.

quote:

Originally posted by the45automan:
Slim,

I have one of those and it is quite desireable. It may have not sold because you may have placed too much stock in a "Non-Mim", "No lock" gun. I paid $450 for mine about a year and half ago. Great shooter!

I'd pay 450 for one. You did good I think.

I paid that for a 98% 29-6 shipped from the classifieds here a while back. It stayed up at that price for a week.

If you guys see a nice 98% 29-5 or -6 for that amount, let me know. I'll buy.

Slim,

I'll offer a few thoughts since you asked. Firstly, the gun is desireable and I would be proud to own it. IMHO, your price might be a little high. By the time the buyer has paid his FFL to receive it its a $725+ price tag; I'd want to pay no more than about $625 for it, but thats just me.

By including shipping in your asking price I think you might be putting off local buyers and even some out of state guys. If you were to price it at $600 or $625 for face to face and buyer pays actual out of state shipping you might generate more interest. Right or wrong, in his mind the buyer is now "paying" the $600 or $625 for the gun and it seems like a better deal, even though he will still have to add the shipping & FFL costs.

Finally, add pictures to your ad. There is great write up HERE on how to do so using a free photo hosting site. People like to see pictures! A number of times I've bought guns that I probably would not have otherwise because it just looked great in the posted pictures.

Good luck if you have to sell any of your collection, best wishes for your child's speedy recovery.

Bill

quote:

Originally posted by sabre:
Slim,

I'll offer a few thoughts since you asked. Firstly, the gun is desireable and I would be proud to own it. IMHO, your price might be a little high. By the time the buyer has paid his FFL to receive it its a $725+ price tag; I'd want to pay no more than about $625 for it, but thats just me.

By including shipping in your asking price I think you might be putting off local buyers and even some out of state guys. If you were to price it at $600 or $625 for face to face and buyer pays actual out of state shipping you might generate more interest. Right or wrong, in his mind the buyer is now "paying" the $600 or $625 for the gun and it seems like a better deal, even though he will still have to add the shipping & FFL costs.

Finally, add pictures to your ad. There is great write up HERE on how to do so using a free photo hosting site. People like to see pictures! A number of times I've bought guns that I probably would not have otherwise because it just looked great in the posted pictures.

Good luck if you have to sell any of your collection, best wishes for your child's speedy recovery.

Bill

I just found the original ad. Since an opinion was asked for, it is my opinion that the seller was asking way over market value for that gun. A minimum of $150 too high and $200 too high more likely.

I also agree that pics would help...but not at that overly-high asking price.

So...true value is more along the lines of $500 shipped? I assumed it was more limited in production and worth more. Oh well.
The little guy is fine, the first bill was 13K and I'm sure more will follow. Being a county employee, I have lousy insurance. Probably tell me I needed two weeks notice for emergency hospitalization.

There is also a problem unique to the .44 mag and in particular most recent production.

Everybody new to guns wants a "Dirty Harry" gun. So a lot of .44 Mags get sold and immediately retired after the first outing to the range. People discover they can't handle them but are reluctant to admit it. They sit in a closet for a few months or years and then get offered for sale.

So at any given time there are more people wanting to sell them than wanting to buy. List it again at a lower price and be patient.

As an aside, it is my personal and completely unfounded opinion that the current spate of .500s and other larger than .44 Mag calibers is just an attempt (successful) on the part of S&W and other manufacturers to take advantage of the "most powerful" silliness that infects new gun buyers.

I can't imagine how anyone could possibly need more handgun that a .44 Magnum. If you do, what you really need is a rifle.

David,
Your response makes sense, but I have not seen this trend in 44 magnum guns lately. On review, I have seen several 500s for sale fired a few times. I can shoot full house loads, but not as much as when I was younger. They wear on my hands. I also know that a hard cast swc bullet will shoot completely through any whitetail around here at 1000fps.
When the weather is slightly rainy, I have a 629 that I hunt the brush and thick stuff with.

Slim Chance;
I hope your "little feller" makes a quick and complete recovery.

Dale53

Hey, Slim, sorry to hear about your boy. I know it's darned scary to have them get that sick. Godspeed his recovery.

I remember your ad. The price was a little steep, but time of year has a lot to do with it. Had you run this ad in the months before hunting season it would probably be sold already, but this is the worst time of year to sell guns. Many guys who got new guns for Christmas are selling their old ones. Those who overspent for the holidays are just getting out from under the bills, and the pawnshops are choked with stuff that got pawned so people could get through the holidays. Also, the tax man cometh in about three weeks, and lots of sole proprietors are hunkered down over that.

In the Classifieds, there are several desirable 29/629 revolvers and even a couple of 625's from UNDER $500 to about $650. I'm waiting on some cash from a major corporate client. I just hope it gets here before all of those deals get snapped up.


Okie John

Hi Slim,

Gosh, I hope you can hang onto it . . . and I surely hope your son will be ok too.

I scour the "Classifieds" several times a day, looking for good deals. They DO come along . . . but they only last about 4-10 minutes.

There are a lot of decently-priced guns too . . . decent IF they were in a local store or you were buying from a local dealer. However, after you add the FFL receiver's fee and play the shipping these guns have no interest to me, for they are now overpriced.

Thus, I look at the NET cost of getting a gun via the classifieds (counting the shipping and FFL fee) and if the price isn't a fair one, based on my current area's going rates, I ain't gonna touch it.

Money is tight right now and the economy is scary as heck. My only retirement will come from a 401K that has lost 2 1/2% of its value in the past two days alone and has been going backwards for about a year. I'd like to retire in eight years but right now it looks like I'll be working about a year longer.

No way can I spend money on fun things right now unless it is a screamin' deal. And . . . as I mentioned before . . . the screamers last less than ten minutes every time!!!

T.

wait a month or so when every one get their tax refunds and stimulus money and run the ad again