Gun Show sticker shock...

[cgpd2515]

Well...today I ventured out to a gun show. I was hoping to find a nice 3" M65. I did manage to find one ( a nice NC-DOC trade in ). However...the dealer apparently was color blind and thought that this particular 65 was gold plated. His sticker price was $550 with no haggle what so ever.

I really really want a 65, but not enough to pay that. I'm willing to pay a premium for a weapon that i really want. But I'm not willing to bend over and take one for the team.

Two tables down was a really nice 4" M28 for the same price that would have been a much better investment.

Anyway...just venting. Next time the cardiologists wants a stress test, I'll skip the tread-mill and go to a gun show.


Edited to add that the 65 was in original box with papers.

 

[Gunhacker]

There are 2 time honored traditions that have been ever present at all guns shows, sellers asking laughable prices for stuff on their tables... and beef jerky I haven't attended a gun show for at least 15 years... one can only eat so much jerky.

 

[mtgianni]

3" K frames are at a premium nowadays. He will probably get it.

 

[cgpd2515]

Show's still on tomorrow...you guys think it's worth $550??? What about the 28 for the same price ???

 

[mlevans66]

Well the price of everything is going up these days. I saw a box of ammo I know cost 5.00 now cost 7.00! I almost passed out!

 

[Sebago Son]

Well.... you can wait to see if you can find one $100 cheaper, but the wait may be long... If you enjoy the hunt then by all means keep searching. But if you want to start enjoying the revolver right now then go plunk down the cash. Just be sure wait until after the trade before you call him a scalper...

Drew

 

[OldBlood]

Anybody old enough to remember the inflation,70s80s. Sold everyone of my used guns for more than I paid new. Prices went up way fast. Wife might laugh, but guns really are an investment. Don't know about the price on a 65. Bought a 14, 8 3/8 likenew in box with everything, $450, thought it high, sold it not long ago for $600! Ks are going up.

 

[Iggy]

I saw a nickel Model 58 that increased $100 in price in the 50 mile trip over the hill from LGS in Cheyenne to the gun show in Laramie.

 

[jimmyjoe]

I think $550 for a model 65 3" or a 28 4" isn't way out of line. If you can get one for that price out the door.

 

[settersonly]

here in Indiana most gunshow dealers are just horse traders, not many are actual FFL holders, so they make a buck buying from Joe Q. Public and marking it up, they find em where the rest of us do and add for a profit!

 

[andyo5]

There are 2 time honored traditions that have been ever present at all guns shows, sellers asking laughable prices for stuff on their tables... and beef jerky I haven't attended a gun show for at least 15 years... one can only eat so much jerky.

And don't forget the opportunity to buy reloads without knowing who loaded them or what is in them.

 

[CWH44300]

Go for the 28 - but skip the reloads....

 

[Ashlander]

I bought a 3" 65-3 last Summer for $385 plus tax, but the seller was selling 4" models for the same price, so he apparently was not aware of what he had. So I was lucky. If the 65 is in good shape -- $550 is not all that bad -- they're not making any news ones and a new 3" GP100 is about $539, so....

My pet peeve on gun shows are the sellers who buy new or used guns at retail and mark them up $50 at gunshows and telling newbies that their prices are a great deal. One guy was selling an old used blued Ruger P95 (9MM) for $400 -- a new one costs around $310 - $319 just about anywhere!

 

[Smee78]

I also havent been to a gun show in a few years, got tired of paying $7 to get in only to see alot of over priced guns or tac-a-cool items.

 

[jframe]

I must like gun shows; I keep going, all the while bitching about prices and jerky and cowheads and such. I found out that it's best to just ignore the really stupid prices, and just try to enjoy the show for what they really have become: an EXHIBIT. No sense in p. o.'ing the so-called "dealers" over what they ask. With that being said, $550.00 probably isn't out of line for a nice three inch 65. I bought a three inch nickel 13-3 last week; $375.00 plus tax, no box or papers, but a pretty nice set of factory combat stocks. Thought I got a great deal, but this is definitely the exception rather than the rule. Those k frames ARE going up, just like other quality revolvers, as more and more people realize they aren't just for old timers. If all the old timers have guns as nice as these S&W revolvers, all us whippersnappers are in for it, because they look and shoot great to me. Go back and get that 65 or the 28, for that matter; they ain't makin' any more of them.

 

[Sgt Neutron]

A gunshow can vary from month to month, state to state. What would be a good deal on a Model 10-10, early 90's production, no box, no holster wear, very faint turn line, b/c gap less than .006", little evidence of firing. Original grips. Basically in as new, but without box condition. Opinions on value?

How about a M-19-3 at about 95%+, blue, P&R, Round butt, no box, 2½" barrel?

Would the 10-10 be good at $375-400?
Would the 19-3 be good at $550?

 

[jframe]

A gunshow can vary from month to month, state to state. What would be a good deal on a Model 10-10, early 90's production, no box, no holster wear, very faint turn line, b/c gap less than .006", little evidence of firing. Original grips. Basically in as new, but without box condition. Opinions on value?

How about a M-19-3 at about 95%+, blue, P&R, Round butt, no box, 2½" barrel?

Would the 10-10 be good at $375-400?
Would the 19-3 be good at $550?

Don't know about Kansas, but those prices are about right for North Alabama. If I had the coins, I'd be all about a 2 1/2" Model 19 or 66.

 

[Sgt Neutron]

Don't know about Kansas, but those prices are about right for North Alabama. If I had the coins, I'd be all about a 2 1/2" Model 19 or 66.

At the show here (Kansas) today my friend had about 8-10 of the Model 10's in all the same condition (from a DOC trade in. They were apparently delivered but just placed in storage). He had them priced at $300 each. He sold two of them (to me).

I had the Model 19 priced to move at $525. Best offer I had was $500 (I sold it at that. Still came out a little ahead on it).

Gunshows are really a crapshoot. You can go to 20 bad ones, then hit 1 good one.

 

[AveragEd]

I used to go to every gun show in the area but lately so many of the larger ones only are large because of all the wanna-be military stuff and "black guns" for sale there. But there is a local gun club and a local fire company that host two shows each per year that consist of mostly guys like you and me selling the duplicates in their collections. I've made some very good buys on very nice Remingtons and S&Ws at those two places.

There is a show right here in Carlisle, PA this weekend. I didn't go today and likely won't go tomorrow because the last two times I've gone there, if it wasn't black and didn't hold a zillion rounds, it wasn't there. The shows at this same location used to have quite a few good gun dealers selling their inventories at fair market prices but most of them aren't there any longer.

Ed

 

[chud333]

Well.... you can wait to see if you can find one $100 cheaper, but the wait may be long... If you enjoy the hunt then by all means keep searching. But if you want to start enjoying the revolver right now then go plunk down the cash. Just be sure wait until after the trade before you call him a scalper...

Drew

+1 on Drews comment. I'll get them when i see them if it's what i want. Can't shoot your dream guns if you don't got em'.
If the chase is what it's about and getting a screaming deal then good for ya'. I probably overpaid for the ones i got but
i got them and they ain't making no more like the ones i collect. And none we're from gunshows i might add. Just as with everything the prices continue to rise.
No point in frettin' over it. Just walk on by the tables that are too high in your opinion. Gunshows are good excersize and occasionally a good place to find a gem in waiting.


chuck