All a matter of perspective.

[Art Doc]

Standing in line to enter the show yesterday the man next to me carried an old S&W box. I asked and he had a 1951ish K22 in very nice condition. Said his dad bought it new. He wanted to sell it for $750.

I am not at all good with judging value or prices. They all seem so high to me. I thought the gun was very nice but $750 struck me as very high.

Then I got in the show and saw a similar gun sans box tagged at $950.

Just 2-3 years ago at a local show I bought a gun identical to the two I described for $325. Have they nearly tripled in value in 3 years? Is somebody crazy here? Is it me?

 

[ralph7]

I'm the same way.
Colt snake revolvers have gotten stupid in the last few years.
Think the sticker shock affects us older guys that remember cheap prices that stayed relatively stable for a longer period of time.

 

[arjay]

I'll bet he got his price.

 

[woodsltc]

SaxonPig.....my thoughts are you simply got a fantastic deal 3 years ago. The prices at that time for a good condition 5 screw K-22 were already well above what you found then IMO.

Don

 

[Göring's S&W]

$750 was very fair if the gun had everything and the original grips. The demand is very high for nice 5 screw K22s.

 

[bullmack]

SaxonPig.....my thoughts are you simply got a fantastic deal 3 years ago. The prices at that time for a good condition 5 screw K-22 were already well above what you found then IMO.

Don

I concur that the $325 was a fantastic deal. The gun referenced by SP is more like a $500-600 gun to me and I'd be leaning closer to the $500 price. Reasonable priced guns are out there but it's much more common to see asking prices that are $200-500 too high. As always JMO.

 

[jsfricks]

I sold a pre 17 from 1956 a few months back locally here in Georgia that was a 99% gun without box and tools for $815. It sat on a local forum for about 10 minutes before it was sold.

 

[bamabiker]

As far as today's prices go I'll just say I'm glad I got the one's I've got for what I gave for them. I don't see myself buying many more S&Ws now. The few models that I would really like to own are selling for more than my pay grade allows.
A local shop has a very nice M10 in the box but they want $700 for it. I just can't see paying that for a M10.
So where does that leave me? I'm looking to pretty up some of my guns with nice stocks and leather. Of course I will continue to look for those good deals because you just never know what you'll run into.

 

[Art Doc]

Saw a nickel 4" 10-7 tagged at $600. Of course he also had bricks of Remington 22 ammo at $80 so we know what he's thinking.

 

[tlay]

I think you just passed on the deal of the year! I feel the same way, I cannot believe what some guns are being priced at. But the problem is that there are people out there who are willing to pay the price! This brings up the price on all guns, regardless of shape. The internet has created this monster. It is great if you are selling but if you haven't bought in awhile, be prepared for sticker shock!!!

 

[TheHobbyist]

SP, In addition to the above posts, there are many new collectors and shooters in the sport.

I am looking for a particular S&W now, didn't buy it about 4-5 years ago, and now due to desirability and supply and demand...i'm likely to pay $ 1,000 -1,400...

I'm not thrilled at the new prices...but I can't find this particular one except on the internet...

 

[Art Doc]

Gun prices are crazy. Ammo and reloading components are worse. The 22 ammo is king of the MIA.

Many factors included tons of new shooters. Hordes of people becoming "preppers" and hoarding ammo to beat the band. Regular folks scared of new laws limiting ammo purchases and they are also stocking up big time.

My hope is that there will be some changes (cough...cough...not getting political) and folks will feel more confident that the government isn't coming for them and their guns. But looking at Colorado, Connecticut and New York we still have big problems even at the state level.

 

[azmick]

These things are worth only what some one is willing to pay for them. I have over paid and I have under paid but at the time, didn't care either way and would have paid even more for a couple. Foolish? Nope, I had my reasons and a desire to own them and in retrospect, glad I did buy.

 

[Art Doc]

A year ago I sold a pair of K22s on Gunbroker. A 4" M18-3 in perfect condition and a 6" M17-3 in the same shape. Got $550 and $525 respectively. Again, both were like 99.5% condition. Did I sell cheap or is a 95% K22 really worth $300 more than a 99% M17-3?

 

[bamabiker]

The older guns that are in high condition certainly bring more money and so I guess the answer to your question is yes, at least to some people. It's just like the 22 ammo, some are willing to pay the price. Me? I'll hang onto what I've got, use some sparingly and hope prices fall some day.
I wonder how much this forum has helped raise the prices to the level they are at with so many members and no telling how many people just reading it.
I'm not blaming the forum, just wondering.

 

[Old TexMex]

10 years ago I bought gold at $300....
Last month I sold some for $1300... What have I missed, other than the value of a dollar has dropped?
Why shouldn't a limited supply item increase in value in relation to a fiat currency which is being printed without backing.


.....something of value......

edit: it's false to compare an item like ammunition (which is still being manufactured) and a discontinued production item like a particular handgun.

 

[bullmack]

A year ago I sold a pair of K22s on Gunbroker. A 4" M18-3 in perfect condition and a 6" M17-3 in the same shape. Got $550 and $525 respectively. Again, both were like 99.5% condition. Did I sell cheap or is a 95% K22 really worth $300 more than a 99% M17-3?

To me the older models are worth a premium but that's just me.

 

[Grayfox]

Aside from their more practical uses, guns have long been considered a good investment. Its the times we live in. Especially with the changes of the last few years.
I look around in my safe and realize that about half of what's in there is now worth three times or more what I paid for them.
Right now its a seller's market. Demand is very high. Some of the prices I see absolutely amaze me. Yet people pay them all the time.

 

[FloridaFlier]

That's called capitalism. Things are worth what people will pay for them. Since 2008, guns and ammo are suddenly investments, like gold and silver. It will probably change again (hopefully in 2016). If it doesn't, by then I hope the gun manufacturers will have figured out that they can sell their products as fast as they can stock the shelves- that's called the business cycle. Maybe that will finally bring down prices.

In the meantime, it is tough on us shooters who find our sport invaded by preppers and folks looking for inflation-proof investments.

Just my opinion.

 

[kenjen]

2-3 years ago pricing was reasonable for good used guns, I think the big jump was in last year or so, prices started going up very quickly. guns I paid $250 for are now $450. I blame it all on politics and a growing fear of todays government. Obama is probably responsible for selling more firearms then anyone since Clinton. I'm just glad I was able to get the firearms i wanted before all of this started.