Are revolver prices leveling off?

[MrTrolleyguy]

It may be my imagination. I will grant you that possibility. Or it could be wishful thinking.

I seem to notice it with the model 686s for sale.

And it is not just here on the Forum either. It seems to hold true for Gone Broker and the other sites.

I have even found it a little easier to negotiate at the lgs. Maybe that is b/c the town is half empty with so many people away on vacation or running down to Atlantic City and the South Jersey beach towns.

What are you seeing where you live? Are used (revolver) gun prices pausing, leveling off or is it just some gun models in some areas?

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

They seem to be staying about the same, but there are only a handful in the cases because no one (except me.) really seem to buy them, not even the J-frames anymore.

 

[ralph7]

Might be that we are getting used to paying too much for these things, and know since they aren't coming down, we better buy before they go up more.

 

[TheHobbyist]

I believe it would be doubtful. The price of goods will continue to increase, as a result of inflation. The value of a dollar today versus a dollar 20 years from now will have different purchasing parity. The speed at which they increase will vary over time based on demand, scarcity, etc. If an item is overpriced, it will be corrected over time, but the 'dollar value' will continue to increase. At different times in the year, people may be more apt to sell. January is usually a time in which most people are not spending a lot, for instance; but this may change in the following quarter.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Maybe the only people who want them are us, and tired out outbidding each other we are slowing down our acquisitions. The younger crowd look at them like we look at blunderbusses. Perhaps revolvers are passing from firearms to "collectibles".I was told S&W has almost stopped making revolvers in order to supply the market with M&Ps which S&W cannot make fast enough. I did make a convert of a younger collector of modern handguns who sometimes works with me and would have never purchased a revolver until I let him shoot my Model 28. It was love at first round.

 

[mojave30cal]

I've become more discriminating in what I look for. Earlier this
year I bought two pre-27's, and had to return both for undis-
closed problems. And the prices I paid were high. So, I stopped
doing that. What I do now is bid a certain amount on a gun
based on what I think a fair price is, and stop. If the gun goes
past my top price, so be it. If I win the auction at my price,
then super.

 

[pownal55]

Like 22 ammunition there is a limit to what people will pay. A buyer that pays 1800.00 or more for a 27-2 with a 3.5" barrel may never see that gun turn a profit for a very long time.

 

[Voyager28]

Actually, I've noticed the same thing and, yes, prices do seem to be leveling and even coming down a bit. The number of completed, zero bid, auctions on Goon Broker is way up and "Price Reduced" is showing up a lot more.

IMHO, this won't last long though.

Bob

 

[NYlakesider]

Many of the LGS I go into do not have much of a selection of revolvers. The one store I frequent does have a decent selection of used and only a few new ones. I would say both the new and the used are only about a ¼ of the section he has in bottom feeders.

In most of the other stores they seem to have a bunch of new Rugers a few of the newer locker Smiths, a couple Taurus. In the used end of the cases many older ones mostly S&W none lockers. The prices seen to be holding steady in the older none lock Smiths. It's mostly more experienced shooters like me that are looking into the circle gun cases.

Negations for the Semi Autos and new lock type revolvers shows that the dealers are discounting and will give a decent price off. The good older Revs they are holding close to what is on the tag. Of course they also know well enough to cooperate with the better customers in arranging a deal.

 

[BigBill]

I've paid the top going price on some military guns and figured I would never see my cost double in quite a few years but in one and one half year my cost doubled. I was never thinking about selling them but just knowing I could get my money back made me feel good.

I think the surge in buying has leveled off for now due to the taxes and insurance bills being due last month.

Now by the end of August we should see the buying begin till again spring.
It will be interesting where the prices will go on the N frames. As just a few now are still being offered in brand new the prices may still soar on the older ones. Better keep an eye on the pre-war and post war stuff price wise too.

It's not over it just took a time out to regroup.

 

[Triathloncoach]

I believe the whole industry is hitting a recession. All the panic buying and hoarding has bumped down demand, while supply has certainly increased.

 

[BigBill]

I believe the whole industry is hitting a recession. All the panic buying and hoarding has bumped down demand, while supply has certainly increased.

I called it, it's like musical chairs and one game ends while another one begins. Let the vacationers settle down again too.
By the end of the month the'll be back in the swing of things.
Use this slow time to haggle for the best buys. This panic buying and hoarding isn't over yet.

 

[BigBill]

I never seen gun prices go down. There still a solid investment for the future.

 

[Buttercup]

This happens every July and August. Summer is a bad time to sell a gun but a great time to buy. Families go on vacation and the extra household money gets routed into that. By the end of September buying will start up again. The LGS's around here are dying and willing to make great deals. My favorite one just gave me a glock 26 Gen 4 box and papers used but almost unfired out the door for 425.00. That would not have happened a couple of months ago and won't happen 2 months from now.

 

[rwsmith]

Inflation did it's job....

I believe it would be doubtful. The price of goods will continue to increase, as a result of inflation. The value of a dollar today versus a dollar 20 years from now will have different purchasing parity. The speed at which they increase will vary over time based on demand, scarcity, etc. If an item is overpriced, it will be corrected over time, but the 'dollar value' will continue to increase. At different times in the year, people may be more apt to sell. January is usually a time in which most people are not spending a lot, for instance; but this may change in the following quarter.

Inflation increased the price of guns all along. A gun I bought in 1980 for $180 would have been $300 before the Sandy Hook mess. Other crises have served to raise the price above and beyond inflation. If the craze dies down I can see prices going down some, especially used guns, but never near pre-Sandy Hook prices.

 

[Donn]

They seem to be staying about the same, but there are only a handful in the cases because no one (except me.) really seem to buy them, not even the J-frames anymore.

Same here, although J frames and Ruger SP101's still go out the door pretty fast. The majority of customers want the hi-cap auto-pistols or the pocket 380's. That's OK. Gives me first shot, (no pun intended), at any new or used, (especially used), wheelguns that come thru the door.

 

[finesse_r]

Same here, although J frames and Ruger SP101's still go out the door pretty fast. The majority of customers want the hi-cap auto-pistols or the pocket 380's. That's OK. Gives me first shot, (no pun intended), at any new or used, (especially used), wheelguns that come thru the door.

It is amazing how popular the mouse guns or semi-auto's in .32 and 380 have gotten in the last couple of years. I have been tempted myself, but so far I am sticking with my 649 in .38 special. It may be a tad wider and a tad heavier, but to me it is a lot more reliable. I find reliability to be paramount in a self-defense weapon.

 

[fat tom]

Are used (revolver) gun prices leveling off?

Only when I tilt my head sharply to the left.
f.t.

 

[Brian41]

It's hard to tell here as I see few revolvers for sale except for a few new ones. The last S&W older revolvers I did see had fair prices on them but not something I wanted. They didn't last long either.
My last two gun purchases have been 1911s as that's my other love. Part of the reason I bought them though was a lack of S&W revolvers for sale.
I do know the nice Model 57 I saw in a shop known for high prices a couple years ago would be a bargain today. I thought then at over a thousand dollars it was priced too high even if like new but it'd go easy here for that price today.

 

[coltle6920]

Comparing prices at the local LGS to what I see in the S&W catalog I would say that prices around here are inflated.Is the S&W catalog already outdated as far as evaluation goes?

It seems that in areas where firearms are more a way of life the prices appear to be in line.