Depressing

[jtcarm]

I went into a nearby Gander Mtn yesterday.

Among the S&W revolvers in their huge case were three X-frames, four Governors, and probably 8 J-frames (all .38s &.357s)

Except for the Guvs, no K, L, or N-frames.

A far cry from 30 years ago, when you walked into an LGS and found 29s, 629, 25s, 19s, 66s, 586s, 686s, and the occasional 57, all dressed in wood and the non-stainless models wearing mirror blue or nickel.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

...no K, L, or N-frames.....

Strange, because S&W is still making all those, albeit mostly in stainless. They must be selling like hot cakes, or GM's purchasing department is negligent and not getting their orders in early enough. I have seen a good number of M586, M10, M17, and M48's, made in the last few weeks & months, for sale on GB. All with wood stocks.

 

[BigBill]

I don't think there is a market for the new ones. My dealer dumped what he had new. They were priced between $599/$699. But I just seen a 29-10 6 1/2" barrel in nickel and a m57-6 6" barrel in nickel both with blue case and presentation wooden box for $1,200 each. Used but 99% condition. I'm eyeing them thinking layaway.....no more nickel finish in the m57 & m29-10. 6 1/2" only the m29-10 4" is the last n frame in nickel offered. The m57-6 is double what my new one was but I don't have a crystal ball that gives me where the future prices are going. $1,200 for used nickel is the beginning. Wall street isn't in control of these prices.

No manufacturer is offering what I want. Is special order possible? Then it's used overpriced vs new if it's available.

 

[MarkAlt]

It's been a few months since visiting my (not so local) GM.

However, last time they did have a nice spread of J, K and N frames ...a few PC models in the lot. Not sure how their inventory works. Different stores with different models or maybe better selection in Fall?

With one exception, many of my LGS are black-polymer showrooms. I guess they have to stock what people want to buy?

 

[Bastogne71]

It's the same at our local Gander Mt. except not nearly as many pistols in the case. Nine or ten total well spaced out to make the case look full. Not surprising that there's not much turnover considering their prices. Fortunately, we also have a Sportsman's Warehouse here in town so I rarely go to GM.

 

[buck460XVR]

I don't think there is a market for the new ones. My dealer dumped what he had new.

Don't know what market you are in, but my favorite LGS cannot get them fast enough. According to the owner, they cannot get enough L and N frames in the popular configurations to satisfy the demand for them.

 

[H Richard]

I was just in my larger LGS yesterday, and they had every size revolver, J,K,L,N,X. Not too many of the larger sizes, and twice as many semi's as revolvers, but they were there.

 

[raylan007]

I went into a nearby Gander Mtn yesterday.

Among the S&W revolvers in their huge case were three X-frames, four Governors, and probably 8 J-frames (all .38s &.357s)

Except for the Guvs, no K, L, or N-frames.

A far cry from 30 years ago, when you walked into an LGS and found 29s, 629, 25s, 19s, 66s, 586s, 686s, and the occasional 57, all dressed in wood and the non-stainless models wearing mirror blue or nickel.

Yes indeed as Bob Dylan wrote back in the 60's "THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN"

 

[BigBill]

Don't know what market you are in, but my favorite LGS cannot get them fast enough. According to the owner, they cannot get enough L and N frames in the popular configurations to satisfy the demand for them.

There are plastic pistols in the used handgun case more than I have ever seen. This tells me the PO of plastic pistols want the next hot Tupperware thing. Since there so affordable why not. I'm willing to bet in my area the plastic sales are 75 % of the handgun sales maybe higher. The new plastic is out selling everything. Everytime I'm in my LGS I see old plastic sometimes one or two being traded in for a new one. Guys my age are going for the lighter plastic.

S&W is halting(temporary I hope) production of many different N Frames. The only nickel one left is the m29-10 / 4" 44 mag. There is many guns missing there in offerings now. I like both new and old.