New S&W Revolver Prices Going Way Up

[Nalapombu]

Already been said a few times, but as soon as word of this gets out it will immediately filter down to EVERY S&W being sold, used or new. The prices on USED S&W revolvers is already insane enough when a 65 with a 3 inch used is going for over $600 and banged up 4 inch M28's are over $500.
I was wanting a J Frame and had been looking at prices yesterday on the 640 and 649 just for kicks. They are already priced at almost $800 and for the PRO, almost $1,000. S&W has some revolvers I'd really like to have, but I ain't paying that kind of money for them, EVER! I'll buy a Ruger LCR and then enjoy the other RUGER and TAURUS revolvers. I guess a $650 M638 is right around the bend then. YEAH, FAT CHANCE TOO. Anyone willing to pay almost $1,300 for a 340PD? See how INSANE that gets?

They can say what they want to about the reasoning behind it, they ain't foolin' me one bit. The suits are sitting around a big conference table and getting reports about how every one of their dealers and distributors have been BEGGING for every S&W revolver they can get and then they see what dealers are selling them for and noticing that there isn't one bit of inventory sitting on dealers shelves because they are priced too high. They figure, we need to take advantage of this ignorance out there and they apparently are.

What a shame. All this does is pretty much insure that every S&W revolver from here on out will be priced way out of my comfort zone.

Good luck to you fellas though.

Nalajr

 

[wildenout]

Great, I hope the $595 price quoted to me on my model 60 (steal already) will stay that price...

 

[Hapworth]

Already been said a few times, but as soon as word of this gets out it will immediately filter down to EVERY S&W being sold, used or new. The prices on USED S&W revolvers is already insane enough when a 65 with a 3 inch used is going for over $600 and banged up 4 inch M28's are over $500.

It isn't insane if the market will bear it, and it wouldn't happen if the market won't.

They can say what they want to about the reasoning behind it, they ain't foolin' me one bit. The suits are sitting around a big conference table and getting reports about how every one of their dealers and distributors have been BEGGING for every S&W revolver they can get and then they see what dealers are selling them for and noticing that there isn't one bit of inventory sitting on dealers shelves because they are priced too high. They figure, we need to take advantage of this ignorance out there and they apparently are.

Whether intended to be or not, that's an excellent description of simple supply-and-demand economics -- no foolin'.

 

[williamlayton]

You guys panic before you think.
I understand what you want---but---that is a pipe dream.
It is what it is. I want a new Mustang at 1964 prices but I can't even get a 1964 Mustang for what it sold for then---and then there is serious $'s to restore it.
Its gonna be OK---and we will all adjust.
Blessings

 

[Nick B]

Considering what's available on the used market, lots of LNIB, I can't imagine buying anything new because I'm a sucker for wood grips.

^^This .Last month I bought a NIB 686-4 for $630.00 .

 

[Coaltminer]

Well, c'est la vive, along the same lines, they make so many models that you can't get, it's ridiculous. Far as I see, they make a lot of J frames and M&P's, darned little else. It's discouraging when you are willing to pay $1000 for a new 24, 3", and can't find one. There aren't many used ones around, either, at least I've never seen one in WV! Kinda like the Bigfoot of revolvers, same with new Colt SAA's or New Frontiers, none to be had.

 

[Rick_A]

Well, damn am I lucky. I've had four MIM guns, two newer and one with the lock. Two were purchased during the dark ages of the late 90's. According to the interwebs they should've all been junk and failed by now and/or been back to the factory multiple times.

On the prices, I imagine that'll happen industry wide as demand drops.

 

[18DAI]

Hmm..... The days of the $1000 model 19 may be closer than I thought.

At least in the case of the model 19 you are getting a revolver that may be worth the asking price. Regards 18DAI

 

[loeman]

I'm with the "not gonna buy a new gun" crowd. The last new gun I bought was in 1998 (Md. 649). Not because I can't afford the new ones or that I can't live with MIM or IL, it's because there are usually a few to several really nice used guns in my area that are available at fair prices. Just last week I found a like-new 681 at a really decent price. As long as guns like this are available on the used market, then that's where I'm going. I don't know how long they'll be there or if the price will spike, but as long as they are, then that's where my gun dollars are going.

With that being said, a significant price increase across the board from S&W will certainly put upward price pressures on the used/collectible ones.

I think I'm going to make the LGS Pawn shop rounds..........RIGHT NOW!

I actually did make a couple of stops this morning. One LGS has/had a bunch of Md 10-10s (maybe 10 or so) with a CDC mark (CA Dept. of Corrections). Several had already been sold and the ones that were left were really nice. They had excellent finish, light turn lines and very little muzzle/holster wear. All were 4 inch barrels with Uncle Mike's stocks. They looked like they had been in storage for years. $329.00.

 

[ladder13]

Budspolicesupply has no lock 442's for $340 shipped. Last week they had NL 642's for the same price.

 

[BJoe]

Could it be that they're finally adding a quality control department?

LOLOLOLOLOLO

 

[BJoe]

Good reason to buy used pre recession quality guns.

Amen to that. QUALITY pre lock guns have always gone up but the 95+% guns seem to really be climbing. Look at G-brok prices. They are no longer priced as 'shooter' or 'collector.' the quality guns are now investments.

It's easy to remember the snubby stainless $800 Pythons. Last month one sold on G-broker for TWENTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

The guys that dreamed of these guns in the 1960's and 1970's but had family obligations first are now starting to retire and they can afford what they couldn't then.

Look at the 1960's -1970's Camaro's, Shelby's, and Hemi Cudas. We look at the prices of our 'youthful wants' now and kick ourselves for not finding a way to make it happen.

When I see a clean S&W 29, 19, 25, or CS-1 with matching box I KNOW it will never get cheaper. Shooters haven't gone up that much but the good stuff sure has.

 

[jfremder]

I was talking to my friend and stocking S&W dealer yesterday as he was working on firearms orders for 2014. S&W is raising the price on J frames $80 to $100 each. The Governor is going up nearly 25% as are most of the large revolvers. Availability of many revolvers is to be limited also due to S&W 'Changing production priorities'. Seems to fit in with the news we heard about the layoffs at the Houlton plant.

I would be very surprised if any real factual information comes our before the shot show regarding 2014 Revolver Pricing...Notwithstanding the fact that there is logic in your friends comments.

 

[stantheman86]

I have enough revolvers to play with that I can afford to sit back for a while and not buy anything new.....
I just got done today putting Miculek springs in a used 10-14 I bought 3 years ago.....have hardly even fired that one.
I have been feverishly acquiring S&W and Ruger wheelguns for years as part of my compulsive OCD collecting shooting habits
Here's a thought , lets actually take time to shoot some of the guns we own

It would probably take more disposable income than I'll make in 5 years to buy enough .38 to really spend enough time shooting my favorite revolvers to get familiar with them...a lot of us spend so much time and money on the "next thing on our want list" that we don't enjoy the guns we already have.

 

[Guitarmageddon]

I have enough revolvers to play with that I can afford to sit back for a while and not buy anything new.....
I just got done today putting Miculek springs in a used 10-14 I bought 3 years ago.....have hardly even fired that one.
I have been feverishly acquiring S&W and Ruger wheelguns for years as part of my compulsive OCD collecting shooting habits
Here's a thought , lets actually take time to shoot some of the guns we own

It would probably take more disposable income than I'll make in 5 years to buy enough .38 to really spend enough time shooting my favorite revolvers to get familiar with them...a lot of us spend so much time and money on the "next thing on our want list" that we don't enjoy the guns we already have.

Absolutely true. I bet 75% plus, of the people in this forum have at least 2 or 3 guns in a safe that they take out to look at every now and then, and thats it. I just dont get that. A family heirloom, sure.... but safe queens? Why? Not trying to put anyone down, but I know SO many people in the gun world that just buy guns to shoot once. But hey, I cant complain. When they end up spending too much of their money on guns and need to part ways with some, I get barely to never fired guns at a great price....

 

[M3Stuart]

I'm working very hard at shooting the guns I own now. Why would I want a new revolver with a canted barrel and a safety lock? MIM parts are not a problem, but I can't get past the port hole...

"Port hole"!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAH

AND it's on the LEFT side...Oh the irony...

+1 on the rest; I'm just looking for those certain special, elusive 'antiques' I need to fill out the collection.

"port hole"...PRICELESS!

 

[Jhamblen86]

I say let the free market run it's course. If they over price their products, then sales will go down. Hopefully that means 2015 might be better on prices.

I'm guessing though, they'll be ramping up on the M&P lines, pistol and rifle due to it being a mid-term election year.

 

[stantheman86]

If S&W raises new revolver prices,then demand will drop due to the smaller segment of new gun buyers who actually buy revolvers turning to Ruger and Taurus.
Revolver nuts like most of us who aren't rich just won't buy any brand new ones and most of us have the brains not to spend $600 on a used "new gen" MIM S&W.
Unfortunately prices for used Smiths of the Pre-lock variety will climb, because that's how it always happens. The used market will get hit when buyers who would have bought new start scouring GunBroker for used stuff.
Most gun buyers are looking for plastic poly poppers and AR's anyway, not wheelguns so S&W will just alienate a small segment of their market.

Ruger will be glad to cater to this market as sales of LCR's, SP101's, GP100's and Super Redhawks will jump when people who want a new wheelgun will shy away from an $850 686+.

I'm not even all that old and just got involved in my mania for wheelguns in 2007 or so, and I'm glad now that I have a wierd compulsion to suck up the previously unwanted beat up trade in 10's, 64's, 581's etc.

IMO prices for used high condition older Smiths and desirable stuff like 19's etc will climb but common stuff that "collectors" don't want like holster rashed 10's and 64's will stay more or less stable.

 

[MOONDAWG]

A big price jump could bite em in the butt like it did Colt when they were having labor cost issues...

 

[CoronaGold111]

...Retirement takes a lot of preparation to be able to play with all the toys in the correct rotation.

Sounds like a real chore! Enjoy.