Vintage Guns Drying Up??

wbraswell · #51 04-06-2021, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdlii

Even the firearms listed for sell on this forum have diminished this past year as have the higher grade S&W accessories. You can still some nice deals but, they don't last more than 48 hours from what I have seen recently.

Of course they don't. If I'm looking through the ads at 4 AM, and I see a sweet deal on a pre-war Terrier, I'm nabbing it. I'm not waiting for the sleep-ins to get a shot at it. That's just the way shopping is. We just have to adjust to current situations, and accept the fact that time rolls on. Those of us who love the Triple locks, know they aren't made now, and they're 100 years old. They aren't going to be common, or cheap. The best will be in collections or even museums. Same way with P&R guns. That's 40 years ago. Nostalgia and romantic notions have a price. Just be glad that you can buy a gun that is completely reliable and powerful for less than $300.

double-dipper · #52 04-06-2021, 10:56 AM

Back to the OP "Vintage Guns Drying Up??"

I think the "collector" grade LNIB are getting harder to find and when you do you better have a fat wallet or very deep pockets. I've seen no dash P&R 629's going for close to 2k crazy! 4-5 years ago you could still get them for under 1K

There are plenty of "shooter" grade ones on the market. That's what I've been picking up lately. I wont pay the crazy high prices.

firefighterjohn · #53 04-06-2021, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBill

Remember I said I never seen used s&w revolvers decades ago. It then changed when the hoarders passed them on. It’s like musical chairs with guns. Once they all were exchanged from the older owners to the new owners things have calmed down. I think seeing them for sale will be scarce again. I thought any s&w n frame revolver for a $1,000 and under was a good price. Today the average online guns are from $800 to $2,000. “If” you can find what your looking for. I’ve seen lesser conditions for the higher price. Beaware of what your buying. Inperson you need that poker face to haggle. Having $50 & $100 bills talks.

My local pawn shop owner thought I was a friend. He opened up and said he loves when the husband dies and the family brings in his guns to sell. He loves ripping them off. Don’t let this guy rip you off. Make a will ahead of time who gets what. Make down each value if they must be sold.
I’ve seen family’s become greedy when a family member passes on. I’ve seen it in every family, they want stuff only to sell it.
Do not let this happen.

I've talked with some older sellers at local gun shows and many of them say they have NO ONE to pass them on too and are scared that their wife will have someone swoop in and offer pennies on the dollar for a valuable collection they worked for years to build. It really is kinda sad to hear these guys fears. At shows a few years ago, prices were a lot lower and I could tell these guys were worried about them not getting a good return on their collection, but this past year'e events have sure changed that!

I hear the stories at my LGS too about family members bringing in their late family member's guns to sell. It really makes you stop and think sometime and it's sad. But even if you list your last wishes in a Will, you can never really know people's future intentions or needs. I guess I'd rather have my family members make their own decisions if they want to keep, want to sell or would NEED to sell for something more important. At least we can leave it up to our dependents to decide.

Gotta work on my list soon. And no, I'm not adopting any of you S&W forum members now either!

pa5906tsw · #54 04-06-2021, 12:40 PM

Just type in "tsw" on GunBroker and you will see how few of these Smith's are up for auction/sale. If you do, the prices they are going for are insane. A 3913tsw with a box will sell for $1,100 or more! Agree, vintage stuff, in good shape, is becoming scarce.

SFIDEC · #55 04-06-2021, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefighterjohn

I've talked with some older sellers at local gun shows and many of them say they have NO ONE to pass them on too and are scared that their wife will have someone swoop in and offer pennies on the dollar for a valuable collection they worked for years to build. It really is kinda sad to hear these guys fears. At shows a few years ago, prices were a lot lower and I could tell these guys were worried about them not getting a good return on their collection, but this past year'e events have sure changed that!

I hear the stories at my LGS too about family members bringing in their late family member's guns to sell. It really makes you stop and think sometime and it's sad. But even if you list your last wishes in a Will, you can never really know people's future intentions or needs. I guess I'd rather have my family members make their own decisions if they want to keep, want to sell or would NEED to sell for something more important. At least we can leave it up to our dependents to decide.

Gotta work on my list soon. And no, I'm not adopting any of you S&W forum members now either!

Guess I'm not worried too much about what my family will do with my guns since I won't be around to help them decide.
I've always heard "You can't take it with you".
Surely that doesn't apply to a 4" M586 Nickel. They are just too darn nice IMO.
In the mean time I'm very slowly gonna shoot my $.60/round .357 ammo in my $700 S&W 586 I purchased approximately a year ago.
Times...they are a changin.
Ray

MG-70 · #56 04-06-2021, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefighterjohn

I've talked with some older sellers at local gun shows and many of them say they have NO ONE to pass them on too and are scared that their wife will have someone swoop in and offer pennies on the dollar for a valuable collection they worked for years to build. It really is kinda sad to hear these guys fears. At shows a few years ago, prices were a lot lower and I could tell these guys were worried about them not getting a good return on their collection, but this past year'e events have sure changed that!

I hear the stories at my LGS too about family members bringing in their late family member's guns to sell. It really makes you stop and think sometime and it's sad. But even if you list your last wishes in a Will, you can never really know people's future intentions or needs. I guess I'd rather have my family members make their own decisions if they want to keep, want to sell or would NEED to sell for something more important. At least we can leave it up to our dependents to decide.

Gotta work on my list soon. And no, I'm not adopting any of you S&W forum members now either!

Interesting, and sad to hear that current owners are worried about how little an uneducated survivor is likely to get for the pieces. A couple of ways to at least try to avoid that happening is to 1) have a printed inventory with descriptions, serial numbers, conditions, and a value at a specified date, and 2) will your guns to a family member or friend who knows how to get the most for them, and instruct the person to "keep two or three you like and give the proceeds of the rest to my wife, lover, ******* child, etc."

Neversink n Klapperthal · #57 04-12-2021, 12:42 PM

having been in guns for almost 50 years,i can tell you that gun owners go through phases.At one time,in the 1960s,you were looked on as a criminal if you had a handgun. In the 1970s Smith revolvers were king,and Colt single actions sat on dealer shelves forever.Then in the early 80s auto pistols caught on,and later on no one wanted revolvers anymore.Now it seems revolvers are once again hot.My guess is pretty soon all the tactical weaponry will fall out of favor.The gun scene always changes

hkcavalier · #58 04-12-2021, 01:24 PM

Savvy sellers are less inclined to sell in a rising market. Why sell today when you can sell for (Price + X) tomorrow? This is where runs and spikes originate.

When things level off, that's when you'll see a lot of guns for sale, and then prices will stabilize if not go down slightly. Market forces at work.