TTSH What 3rd gen did you see at the show?

[TTSH]

So if it is a C&R revolver.. does that make it easier to import? Most of my revolvers started life in the 1960s or earlier. I find then very nicely broken in by then. Actually many of them are unfired. Just curious is C&R but not antique helps with the searching.

Like everything else, the C&R thing is a bit complicated in MA... and I always get slammed by some longtime MA resident C&R license holder for "getting it wrong."

MA law re: C&R license holders was changed back in 2014... although the change itself is not effective until January 1, 2021. No, that is not a joke.

The new law reads as follows:

A firearms collector, licensed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 923(b), may purchase a rifle, shotgun or firearm that was not previously owned or registered in the commonwealth from a dealer licensed under section 122 if that rifle, shotgun or firearm is a curio or relic as defined in 27 CFR 478.11.

That's great! So you then might ask: "Well, what is the law in MA re: C&R license holders up until then"? Crickets...

That's where I better not get into it any further. I am not a C&R license holder and won't be one until after we move to our retirement property, hopefully sometime late next year. Best to ask a current MA resident C&R license holder rather than yours truly!

 

[mbliss57]

Like everything else, the C&R thing is a bit complicated in MA... and I always get slammed by some longtime MA resident C&R license holder for "getting it wrong."

MA law re: C&R license holders was changed back in 2014... although the change itself is not effective until January 1, 2021. No, that is not a joke.

The new law reads as follows:



That's great! So you then might ask: "Well, what is the law in MA re: C&R license holders up until then"? Crickets...

That's where I better not get into it any further. I am not a C&R license holder and won't be one until after we move to our retirement property, hopefully sometime late next year. Best to ask a current MA resident C&R license holder rather than yours truly!

Thanks for the clarification
I didn't want to try to sell you anything I was just curious.

 

[TTSH]

Thanks for the clarification
I didn't want to try to sell you anything I was just curious.

Oh, no worries at all... ... and I'd love you to sell me something from your collection! Just move to MA and the rest is easy!

 

[cougar015]

Just left the show and after looking for 3 days there are not a lot of S&W semi auto's of any generation and the few that were there were not in the best condition. Revolvers on the other hand were just about everywhere and in great conditions with the box if you were willing to pay the price. My honest opinion, many of the guns were overpriced but sellers would negotiate.

 

[TTSH]

Just left the show and after looking for 3 days there are not a lot of S&W semi auto's of any generation and the few that were there were not in the best condition. Revolvers on the other hand were just about everywhere and in great conditions with the box if you were willing to pay the price. My honest opinion, many of the guns were overpriced but sellers would negotiate.

I guess I was at the wrong show. I really do need to move.

Not to get too complicated, but if you count the super-high-priced guy's display in the mix (usually I don't), there were fewer and less interesting premium 3rd Gens at this past weekend's show than most that I can remember. It is not a good sign. But it was even worse for pre-IL revolvers.

I forgot to mention that there was one Registered Magnum at the show and so I finally got to see and hold one... first time ever in my long, sorry life. Interesting for sure and didn't look too bad for a gun that old, but it certainly wasn't a safe queen either. The price? $4,399+Tax. Not crazy overpriced, but not exactly affordable (for me) either. I held it with reverence... but ultimately I had to hand it back. But if I ever win the lottery...

 

[BLUEDOT37]

...but if you count the super-high-priced guy's display in the mix (usually I don't)...

There's always a large number of dealers with illuminated display cases with nice looking guns, but no price on them, at the big show. I usually just keep walking unless it something I strongly want.

.

 

[Racer X]

what the heck does TTSH mean?

 

[TTSH]

There's always a large number of dealers with illuminated display cases with nice looking guns, but no price on them, at the big show. I usually just keep walking unless it something I strongly want.

Well, this particular show and Internet only Massachusetts dealer is known for both his super nice condition handguns at super insane non-negotiable prices.

I guess there are wealthy people out there willing and able to pay his sky high prices for the very best condition guns, but I am certainly not in that class... not even close.

I don't usually report on his inventory or prices because it is pointless. His prices do not represent the market in our area or anywhere else unless you are talking guns for people who simply don't care about price... kinda like we see on GB sometimes.

 

[TTSH]

what the heck does TTSH mean?

Ha!!! Wouldn't you like to know!

It's an abbreviation (or acronym) for an old inside-the-family joke. Nothing offensive, I can assure you.

 

[18DAI]

The asking prices at the local shows can actually make me appreciate the opening bids on Gunbroker.

Back when I was buying a lot of guns every year, I had a lot of luck with the local brick and mortar stores. And when you purchased a half dozen or so, they would start calling you when something they thought you would buy walked in the door.

I found the most guns I wanted at the local police supply. It closed several years back. They had the cleanest used guns for the best prices. One time they had like new Sig 220s with box and 3 mags for $300. A bunch of us bought them and shot the snot out of them. Then we cleaned them and took them over to the then new Gander Mountain store. Who paid us $400 a piece for them. Once they had over 30 of them they caught on and stopped doing that. Regards 18DAI

 

[Jeppo]

Hey, that's a neat and scarce one!

I’m happy with the way it cleaned up.

 

[Sevens]

super nice condition handguns at super insane non-negotiable prices.

HINT: law of diminishing returns

Collectibles and guns, especially, are this way. (coins, sports cards, original cars also) I have no experience with the dealer you are describing but if you are talking about time capsule guns, there's a good chance that what you are labeling "insane" may be an off base description in the real world and real market.

As condition goes up from 95% to a true 100%, and includes every original "as shipped" bit, including box, end label, etc, the price climbs drastically because these are irrationally difficult to find in comparison with all the guns that we casually label "great condition!"

His prices may not be insane. Finding original guns in a true condition as high as it could have been when first shipped is extremely difficult. And special side bonus-- Smith & Wesson is just one company that was (still is) often guilty of shipping -NEW- guns that weren't always in top condition in the first place.

Again, I'm just throwing this out there. I have no idea who this particular dealer is and if he's in Massachusetts, he's already dealing in a market that isn't the general USA already, which immediately goofs with the values, market and prices.

 

[Jeppo]

Back when I was buying a lot of guns every year, I had a lot of luck with the local brick and mortar stores. And when you purchased a half dozen or so, they would start calling you when something they thought you would buy walked in the door.

Regards 18DAI

To get that level of service, did you have to buy them all at once?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

To get that level of service, did you have to buy them all at once?

Isn't that the truth. Several times I went to the LGS's, that I'd already bought from, & asked them to find/order a specific new revolver. No one every called me back after months so I bought them online, at good prices, though I'd rather have not had to.

.

 

[Jeppo]

Isn't that the truth. Several times I went to the LGS's, that I'd already bought from, & asked them to find/order a specific new revolver. No one every called me back after months so I bought them online, at good prices, though I'd rather have not had to.

I've come to the conclusion that gun stores are owned by gun people who mostly don't understand anything about customer service or marketing. All they can understand is that Glocks and Taurus's are popular and it's hard to stay in business when there's "the internet".

I was early for a meeting to buy a private party gun in the parking lot of one of my state's best known local stores. I wandered in and very quickly bought two guns, then made the deal out in the parking lot. The next time I went in, the guy I'd bought from couldn't remember me (I'm sure there are plenty of old guys like me who drive 4 hours to his store and buy two guns the first time). I tried to remind him what I'd bought, looked at his current stock (not finding anything interesting this time) and asked whether they could somehow keep track of what I'm searching for. Of course, the answer was, "We don't do that". BYE!

On the way back from that second visit, I stopped at a very small store I'd heard good things about. I bought two guns that day. The guy did take note of my interests and I've bought 2 or 3 more from him since (as he does email me when he gets something interesting).

I've bought a lot of new guns from a very high volume dealer who sold only in local shows, until he fell ill. He would take note and was always ready to special order anything he could access. He did that even though he only made $10 to $20 on each gun (considering he had no overhead other than renting tables at shows). He even emailed me when he stumbled onto something that was in high demand and very difficult to secure. It was something I hadn't requested but he knew my taste. He told me he'd gone ahead and bought the only example available to him. I could have it if I wanted (I did) or he'd add it to his personal collection. That boy got it and all of us in the area who traded with him are lost without him.

This isn't rocket science. It's simply doing a little extra to earn customer loyalty. If they'd do that, they just might stay in business.

 

[TTSH]

HINT: law of diminishing returns

Collectibles and guns, especially, are this way. (coins, sports cards, original cars also) I have no experience with the dealer you are describing but if you are talking about time capsule guns, there's a good chance that what you are labeling "insane" may be an off base description in the real world and real market.

As condition goes up from 95% to a true 100%, and includes every original "as shipped" bit, including box, end label, etc, the price climbs drastically because these are irrationally difficult to find in comparison with all the guns that we casually label "great condition!"

His prices may not be insane. Finding original guns in a true condition as high as it could have been when first shipped is extremely difficult. And special side bonus-- Smith & Wesson is just one company that was (still is) often guilty of shipping -NEW- guns that weren't always in top condition in the first place.

Again, I'm just throwing this out there. I have no idea who this particular dealer is and if he's in Massachusetts, he's already dealing in a market that isn't the general USA already, which immediately goofs with the values, market and prices.

The dealer in question does have his bargain guns... which are somewhat less desirable guns in two small display cases and they are only marked up about 20% to 25% above what most of us would consider current market value. He probably sells more of those bargain guns locally than he does his super-premium guns. I'm sure that the majority of his super-premium gun sales are made via the Internet.

But to be completely honest here, he did have a certain "100% as-new" (most likely unfired) blued pre-IL revolver that would have fit very nicely into my collection... but at a price exactly 50% above what I consider the market for the same gun in very nice used condition . Here we get into that 95+% vs. 100% thing you are talking about. Put another way, I am generally pretty satisfied with "almost as-new" so that I don't have to pay the steep premium to go up to "100% as-new"!

And yet, I've got to admit that I went back and seriously considered that damn gun. No, I didn't buy it... but it became a little easier for me to understand how someone with the desire for it and no great limitations on budget could whip out his or her wallet and pay that price.

 

[mauser9]

Got me interested in trying another Gun Show TTSH. Yeah some of the prices seemed pretty ridiculous but often the only way to find a discontinued model. Springfield a bit far for me. Maybe Plymouth or Foxboro next time. Can't hurt to look.

 

[TTSH]

Got me interested in trying another Gun Show TTSH. Yeah some of the prices seemed pretty ridiculous but often the only way to find a discontinued model. Springfield a bit far for me. Maybe Plymouth or Foxboro next time. Can't hurt to look.

Just keep in mind that Marlboro and Wilmington are still the best of the MA shows. The smaller shows aren't recommended unless you live close by or just need an excuse to get out of the house.

But for any MA show, you've got to go in with the right attitude... meaning expect to find nothing and rejoice if, in fact, you do find something you want at a fair price.

Also keep in mind that all the MA shows are smaller in size lately due to the fact that many dealers have left the business (or been forced out of business) and some of the best dealers left have decided that the shows aren't worth it to them anymore. It's not a real healthy situation here in MA, but I guess you probably know it and know why.

Speaking of which, I just found out on Tuesday that another MA dealer I frequented has gone out of business. They are dropping like flies.

 

[mauser9]

Thanks TTSH. Not the best news to hear but I like to keep up on going prices. Dealers by me have Sigs, Glocks, and Rugers but Third Gen. S&W are not to be seen.

 

[TTSH]

Thanks TTSH. Not the best news to hear but I like to keep up on going prices. Dealers by me have Sigs, Glocks, and Rugers but Third Gen. S&W are not to be seen.

They are drying up around here for sure, especially ones in really nice condition. One must turn to the Interwebs these days... unless one is really, really patient.