FOR ME BUYING A GUN IS SO MUCH MORE THAN PRICE ALONE!

[Drm50]

I never did repros. When I started buying revolvers as young teenager I bought Ruger. The cost just about half of a Colt, 44magnum and adj sights.
Actually the SBH was $112, BH $84. Didn't look at Ruger as Colt repro.
I had every SA Ruger made before out of school. Didn't by a new Colt SAA for several years, also New Frontiers. For playing Cowboys you can't beat a real Colt SAA. For hunting you can't beat a Ruger, the old 3screws.
Today I can't get excited about any of the big 3s wares.
The Japanese Winchesters & Brownings are nice guns but they just don't have any class, maybe personality is more the word.

 

[pawncop]

The allure of a particular firearm, the "coolness", the history of model and the specific gun(if known) along with whether it meets a need or desire I perceive are the issues that drive my purchases.

I respect your perspective.

 

[Narragansett]

I tend to buy the brand name stuff. I have strict rules about shoes, USA made. Knives are USA made, and possibly a German made here and there.

Guns are vintage S&W's, and Colt handguns. Belgium Brownings too.. Rifles Vintage Remington, Winchester, Sako, Belgium Brownings and Ruger. Shotguns are Vintage Winchester, Perazzi, Krieghoff, and Ljutic. Beretta would be OK too. No Browning Citori's or the like. I do not like the triggers.

The point is, I am very specific about looks and condition, and function.

Guitars are Gibson, Guild, Fender. Amps are vintage Fender. USA made

I subscribe to pride of ownership, and having confidence in my equipment.

It is a curse.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I subscribe to pride of ownership.

That's the marketing strategy these days. Companies by the trade name and people follow the brand. The same people aren't building the product, the same QC isn't applied, nor does the management of the company have the same profit margin goal. Colt used to be a great company until it was highjacked by a hedge fund. They filed for bankruptcy in 2015.

I have a Colt 1911 GC that I purchased about 20 years ago and it works just fine. I'll be keeping that one. Not sure what they offer today and I wouldn't want to find out.

 

[Golddollar]

The allure of a particular firearm, the "coolness", the history of model and the specific gun(if known) along with whether it meets a need or desire I perceive are the issues that drive my purchases.

Well said. That's why I have my British Mark VI .455 Webley, chromed Luger, Finnish Lahti, Russian Nagant revolver with Finnish capture marks and a Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman, among others. It would seem like the most dissimilar group of handguns around, but they all fit somehow into the parameters set out above.

 

[BKLooney]

Buy yourself what you can afford and enjoy what you've bought!

 

[pharmer]

For me the first question is "for what purpose?" do I need the gun.... or is it just "want"? Second Quality.....

I have 2 purposes for guns: 1) Carry/ SD. These need to work 1st time every time. Example: I carried a 6906 1994-2021, worked 1st time every time. Still have it loaded in the safe. I know I could pull it out now and it will fire a dozen rds without fail even after sitting a year and a half. The CZ P07 has done the same for almost 2 years. A few long guns are in the same category. 2) "Enjoyment guns" that all work, 100% function and look good during "recreational activities."
Any junk/unreliable/difficult operation guns go down the road ASAP. I don't own any "top shelf" guns for th same reason I don't own a Ferrari; wonderful things I am not willing to chase. Joe

 

[jeffrefrig]

I think one the CSN & Y dudes made a song. The chorus part said "If you can't shoot the gun you love, love the gun you're with."
Whatever my join date is, that's about when I started getting into hand guns. I only own one handgun, actually it's the only gun, that I will never sell. And the ones in my meager collection are only shooters and self defense guns, or cool guns I liked when I bought them, or maybe guns I'll leave some family dudes, or guns that talked to me when I bought them, or.....darn it.

 

[bananaman]

I always want a CADILLAC at a KIA price! Do like quality firearms! Bob

 

[BAM-BAM]

I have 2 purposes for guns: 1) Carry/ SD. These need to work 1st time every time. Example: I carried a 6906 1994-2021, worked 1st time every time. Still have it loaded in the safe. I know I could pull it out now and it will fire a dozen rds without fail even after sitting a year and a half. The CZ P07 has done the same for almost 2 years. A few long guns are in the same category. 2) "Enjoyment guns" that all work, 100% function and look good during "recreational activities."
Any junk/unreliable/difficult operation guns go down the road ASAP. I don't own any "top shelf" guns for th same reason I don't own a Ferrari; wonderful things I am not willing to chase. Joe

#2 has a lot of sub-categories.
Range/target shooting ,
Hunting/ different guns for different game,
Game guns/ USPSA/PPC/ IDPA,
Collectables/ my Reg Magnum & others as new in box finds,
General "Utility" guns/Ruger Americans Rifles in .357 and .223, 4" S&W 686 or 63.

By the way the 6906 family of guns are still great and going strong around my place after 32 years.... a PC Shorty-9 or 3913/NL are my most used Every day carry guns.

 

[Farmer17]

I recently bought a very nice 4 inch Smith model 19 for 700 bucks and I think that's the most I've ever paid for a gun. I've got a Browning Hi power, Springfield 1911, Smith M28, Ruger security six, M&P 10 mm, Beretta 20 gauge auto, couple AR15's, a couple Sig 365s, and many more equivalent guns. If I don't spend much money on a gun I can buy a lot more, is the way I look at it. I'm happy with the appearance, quality, accuracy and reliability of all my guns or I wouldn't own them. The manufacturer might matter a little bit, but not much to me.

 

[Retired W4]

i good friend bought a Superposed Lightning decades ago when he was stationed in Germany. It turned out to be a "salt wood" gun. So much for brand name quality. i know that was a kind of one off example from Browning. Luckily he had original receipt and Browning refinished the whole gun and replaced the wood. Looks great now.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

During recent years my acquisitions have been based largely on two factors:

1. I finally found the one I've wanted forever!
2. I never should have sold the one I used to own, so now I will replace it.

Fortunately, we are finally at a point in life where we can do pretty much whatever we want, no huge financial concerns, no more guilty feelings about tromping all over the family budget for another discretionary purchase. At the same time, we are retired and I know that whatever I spend from savings will reduce the balances permanently.

My needs and desires are much reduced. We have everything we truly need and just about anything we really want.

 

[Camster]

The discussion here of Colt SAAs, name versus perceived value, could drift into a comparison between them, and the Standard Manufacturing item.
I've been tempted to buy the latter, lately.
Recently however, when wanting a .22 automatic, I decided in favor of a new Model 41, versus the Standard Mfg Colt Woodsman clone. While the Smith appeared to be a bigger gamble for a quality build, I went with it, as I have past experience with them. Few gun guys seem willing to embrace the Woodsman clone.
One tipping point for me, was the current unavailability of extra magazines from Standard. My email inquiry also went unanswered.
At least with Smith, they respond to emails, I can get 41 magazines, and they seem to be willing to address problems that the gun should have never left the factory with.
btw, I lost that gamble on getting a flawless 41. It's back there in Springlfield now, being addressed...I hope.

 

[Bald1]

I agree with YODA. Quality is where you find it. I have a garage full of Snap On, SK, MAC and Craftsman tools. But I buy things at Harbor Freight on a regular basis. As to Miroku Brownings, my three favorite rifles are Browning A Bolt II. 7mm Mag, 270,& 308. If I'm being honest I don't like looking down at "made in Japan" while sitting in a treestand. But knowing I can shoot a deers eye out at 200yds makes it a little easier. The quality is fantastic. I've never seen an A Bolt II that wasn't a great shooter. That's good enough for me.

 

[rct269]

There are two, and only two philosophies extant among the worlds manufacturers.

1. We will be successful if we build the best possible product for the price.

2. We will be successful if we build the product at the lowest possible cost.

If/when you buy a product from those embracing Philosophy #2, you get exactly what you deserve---in my opinion.

I don't know beans from apple butter about any manufacturer besides S&W. I am comfortable in the knowledge they embraced Philosophy #1 from the beginning----right up until they didn't. That point in time will vary in the eyes of the beholder. For me, that point in time began shortly after the midpoint of the 20th century, and the transformation now appears to be complete. I say "appears to be" simply because I don't know the first thing about their current products---only what current beholders have to say about them---which ain't all that flattering!

"You pays your money, and you takes your pick!"

Ralph Tremaine

 

[chief38]

Didn't Colt produce the first double action revolvers?

You dont own any of those "Knock off' Smith and Wessons, do you?

Now that's unfair - but FUNNY!

 

[chief38]

I disagree. 2 weeks after I found my second Citori 410, I came across a suitable Superpose 28" 410. The claim was it was just rebuilt and in 100% condition and over $8K. I already own two nice Superpose, one 30" 12 and one 28" 20. The 410 28" didn't have the balance or graceful action of my Superpose' and at 4 times the price of my newest 725 410 was found very lacking!

The Superpose design was a typical J M Browning break through design during the depression. However, Val Browning and the Moriko engineers further advanced the grace and handling of O/U shotguns From 1973 to this day, and is shows!

Chief 38 must have been very mild on his SAA, to have competed for 20 years and not had a breakdown. I knew two national SASS competitors That had typical problems at 40 to 60 Thousand rounds, then did complete rebuilds at that 60k point. This isn't about A gun, it is typical of the design!

On a different hand, I had Vaqueros, My first pair were 5.5" blue Beisleys, my second are 4" Stainless standard and all old models. NO they won't do tricks like a Colt, but that will get you Safety Violations or expelled during a match! My first pair is at 55,000 rounds each and no (ZERO) breakdowns and the second is at 20K each and would be unheard of to be worn out at all. (There could of course be manf. defects, but they show up quicker than 20K rounds!)

But I do agree that when I buy, I look at much more than just "Apples to Apples" price. One of the things I look at is, the LGS's history with me and others. How bad and how quickly did they start gouging, in the shortages?
Did they "Start a trend to Normal" of did they stay as high priced as they could for as long as they could?

AS we reach a new normal, guns and ammo will cost whatever they cost, but I won't buy anything I don't have to from the thieves, and I'll give as much business I can to those that tried to be fair.

Ivan

I certainly did not go out of my way to beat them up, but I wasn't overly cautious either. I did my own action jobs and always shot mild reloaded rounds. I couldn't go too light because I needed to reliably knock down heavy Pepper Poppers. I loaded my Cowboy loads to about 750 fps using a 250 or 255 grain RNFP lead bullet and the matched set of Colt's still work flawlessly. I honestly have never replaced any parts although I do have a few extra's just incase. I did replace the trigger springs but that was for a better action and more durability - not because the originals broke.

 

[chief38]

Hey...... like I said before, "it ain't easy being me"!

 

[CH4]

I put very little thought into buying guns. I am very capricious. If I see it and like it, I buy it.