I don't think I have ever spent more than $700 for any gun, and I don't think I ever will. I have a couple that were worth more than that when I acquired them, but they were the results of two-for-one or three-for-two type trades.
How many folks actually.........?
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In 1956, after reviewing the new Python, Elmer Keith said he didn't think anyone would ever spend a weeks wages on a pistol.
I have never spent a week's wages on a pistol. I think the most I every spent was on the new Ruger 1911. I have a Series 70 Gold Cup, but I bought it used for $325.
I have never spent a week's wages on a pistol. I think the most I every spent was on the new Ruger 1911. I have a Series 70 Gold Cup, but I bought it used for $325.
People like different things, and people spend their money on different things.
Some guys like high end watches while others are fine with basic models. Some guys buy high end cars while others are fine with economy models. Some folks buy expensive cigars, whiskys/ies or wine, at prices others think are crazy.
Some folks are into to high end, rare, or exotic guns...
One of our members, years ago, bought over a dozen or so Registered Magnums and joked about how he was surviving on instant ramen in consequence.
Whatever floats your boat. Your bucks to spend as you please.
I had over $5000 in this gun, years ago:
A guy kept buggin' me to sell it to him, so finally I said I would for what I had in it, figuring I'd run him off. Much to my chagrin, he bought it.
Been kickin' myself ever since..
Some guys like high end watches while others are fine with basic models. Some guys buy high end cars while others are fine with economy models. Some folks buy expensive cigars, whiskys/ies or wine, at prices others think are crazy.
Some folks are into to high end, rare, or exotic guns...
One of our members, years ago, bought over a dozen or so Registered Magnums and joked about how he was surviving on instant ramen in consequence.
Whatever floats your boat. Your bucks to spend as you please.
I had over $5000 in this gun, years ago:
A guy kept buggin' me to sell it to him, so finally I said I would for what I had in it, figuring I'd run him off. Much to my chagrin, he bought it.
Been kickin' myself ever since..
THE PILGRIM
Member
If folks don’t buy them, they won’t stay in business.
The roster of failed Gun Makers is a story unto itself.
Such as - in my much younger days I see the Whitney Wolverine in a Magazine.
What a gun! I wanted one.
Later when I actually saw one, I realized the mag stories were more than a little overstated.
The roster of failed Gun Makers is a story unto itself.
Such as - in my much younger days I see the Whitney Wolverine in a Magazine.
What a gun! I wanted one.
Later when I actually saw one, I realized the mag stories were more than a little overstated.
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Yes.
A company would not make high end firearms if people didn’t buy them. Looking at a big Les Baer distributor’s inventory, the least expensive 1911 they have is $2,500. Wilson Combat’s base model is $3,300. Both companies are very successful.
A quick look turned up exactly one (1) Daniels Defense AR-15 for less than $2,000. I could assemble a very good rifle for myself for that much, but many (most?) people cannot. High quality receivers for custom bolt action rifles start at $900 (ARC Coup de Grace) and go on up from there. A Kreiger barrel costs $400 and up - and that’s not even chambered - just the rifled barrel. Do the arithmetic on a custom bolt action rifle.
I understand the approach of “a gun is a tool.” Will a Marlin 336 Classic kill a deer any deader than a Rossi R-95? No. The Marlin can sell for $100s more because it has better fit & finish, more attractive wood, and a name with nearly 150 years of history. Some people spend money on women or cars or motorcycles or guitars or boats or travel or booze. I can’t imagine spending $500 on a bottle of wine but there are people who do and they enjoy it.
We quit flying coach on airlines some 10 years ago, opting for more leg room. Last year or two we have opted to fly business class on long flights, and first class on short ones.
Do we get there the same time as the cheap seats? Yes, but being much more comfortable and having all the perks of upgrades make airline travel a bit more enjoyable, to us.
I don’t look down upon those less fortunate, nor am I envious of those more fortunate.
Whatever blows your hair back as my FIL used to say.
Do we get there the same time as the cheap seats? Yes, but being much more comfortable and having all the perks of upgrades make airline travel a bit more enjoyable, to us.
I don’t look down upon those less fortunate, nor am I envious of those more fortunate.
Whatever blows your hair back as my FIL used to say.
SnidelyWhiplash
Member
I just did that today…upgraded seats for more legroom on a flight in a few weeks. I’m 6’03” and cannot stand my legs being scrunched up into the seat ahead of me for hours…and it gets worse if the person ahead of me decides to recline their seat back. At my age comfort is more important than saving a few dollars.
Maddog 521
Member
I remember buying S&W revolvers years ago and thinking/knowing I was getting the high end of the market. To me that was the Holy Grail.
SnidelyWhiplash
Member
People like different things, and people spend their money on different things.
Some guys like high end watches while others are fine with basic models. Some guys buy high end cars while others are fine with economy models. Some folks buy expensive cigars, whiskys/ies or wine, at prices others think are crazy.
Some folks are into to high end, rare, or exotic guns...
One of our members, years ago, bought over a dozen or so Registered Magnums and joked about how he was surviving on instant ramen in consequence.
Whatever floats your boat. Your bucks to spend as you please.
I had over $5000 in this gun, years ago:
A guy kept buggin' me to sell it to him, so finally I said I would for what I had in it, figuring I'd run him off. Much to my chagrin, he bought it.
Been kickin' myself ever since..
I spent my money on guns, cars and women…the rest I just wasted.
I have a NIB Govt series 70 from the mid 70's that I paid 1500 for but that is about it. My other stuff is way less. I do not need .5" groups. 1" is just fine. I am not a bullseye shooter. So I see no Wilson combat in my future.
Now on the other hand you should have seen my hand shake when I wrote the check for 2 matched K-80's consecutive serial numbered.
Now on the other hand you should have seen my hand shake when I wrote the check for 2 matched K-80's consecutive serial numbered.
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Guess it all depends what one thinks __________( fill in the blank) is worth to them. Personally I Never spend $$$ on high end anything. For shooting Iv’e seen WAY More people with expensive guns that can not shoot them any better than ones half their price. Many think a high priced gun makes them a better shot.
SnidelyWhiplash
Member
You cannot buy skill. Skill has to be developed regardless of how much innate aptitude you’re born with.
Doug M.
Member
It would vary depending on what I was trying to do. I spent a pretty penny on a Hilton Yam 10-8 that I carried as a duty weapon. It worked well every time, and was a better platform than my skill level. I switched to the issue G21 because of the holster, not the pistol.
I bought top quality ARs (Bravo Company) as a long term investment in my well being, partly based on seeing what did and did not work in serious carbine classes with Pat Rogers and a Dean Caputo basic maintenance class. The number of lesser quality platforms that malfunctioned regularly was frightening, and interfered with that shooters learning and ours.
I am left handed, and long-term reliable ambi safeties on 1911s can be a problem. I have a custom 1911 that is mostly in the nature of a barbecue gun (the serial # is my bar #), and a 945-1 compact. If I were to buy another 1911, it would likely be in Super 38, and with features that work for me. Cost is not the same as value. A right hander can do well with a stock 1911 with decent sights most of the time. Back in the day, as others have noted, it took a lot of handwork to make a 1911 right for serious use; that is not so true now and for example the Tisa products seems to have a consistently good reputation.
Take this out of guns. I had a Subaru Legacy for several years and when it got to the point of a lot of wear (187K), I would have bought another but for two factors. One is that they no longer made one with a manual transmission, which was very disappointing. The other is that I wanted a vehicle that would take two good sized (Rott) dog crates. That meant an Ascent, for substantially more.
We are working on getting a Super C motor home built. The build quality of most RVs is abysmal, and I would never have a Class A for that and other reasons (acceptable quality starts at well over $1 million) and the power trains, brakes, suspension, handling, etc. generally are not near as good as a Super C built on a Class 8 truck. I can actually kept the cost within what I consider reasonable, because we will not have slides and other crud, but it has been a chore to find what I want and it looks like I will have to change platforms from a KW 880 to some Western Star model. I can make it work. It also avoids the crud that goes with flying.
I bought top quality ARs (Bravo Company) as a long term investment in my well being, partly based on seeing what did and did not work in serious carbine classes with Pat Rogers and a Dean Caputo basic maintenance class. The number of lesser quality platforms that malfunctioned regularly was frightening, and interfered with that shooters learning and ours.
I am left handed, and long-term reliable ambi safeties on 1911s can be a problem. I have a custom 1911 that is mostly in the nature of a barbecue gun (the serial # is my bar #), and a 945-1 compact. If I were to buy another 1911, it would likely be in Super 38, and with features that work for me. Cost is not the same as value. A right hander can do well with a stock 1911 with decent sights most of the time. Back in the day, as others have noted, it took a lot of handwork to make a 1911 right for serious use; that is not so true now and for example the Tisa products seems to have a consistently good reputation.
Take this out of guns. I had a Subaru Legacy for several years and when it got to the point of a lot of wear (187K), I would have bought another but for two factors. One is that they no longer made one with a manual transmission, which was very disappointing. The other is that I wanted a vehicle that would take two good sized (Rott) dog crates. That meant an Ascent, for substantially more.
We are working on getting a Super C motor home built. The build quality of most RVs is abysmal, and I would never have a Class A for that and other reasons (acceptable quality starts at well over $1 million) and the power trains, brakes, suspension, handling, etc. generally are not near as good as a Super C built on a Class 8 truck. I can actually kept the cost within what I consider reasonable, because we will not have slides and other crud, but it has been a chore to find what I want and it looks like I will have to change platforms from a KW 880 to some Western Star model. I can make it work. It also avoids the crud that goes with flying.
Correct, but to be honest though, a lot of that is just range day bragging rights with branding.
After state retirement, I worked county with a female deputy that had to qualify with her off duty gun right next to me. Her husband, ( a Lieutenant), had bought her a beautiful FN Browning High Power....It was exquisite to look at. But either her or it couldn't qualify. It jammed, was wildly inconsistent, etc? Maybe it was her or maybe the gun, but the main qualifying department gun was a .45 Glock 21 and she did fine with that? Anecdotal I know.
For off duty, I carried and still have a S&W SD9VE and it shot flawlessly and I did fine with it even with a heavy trigger, but I was used to it? I dunno?
Again, I think a decent quality firearm and consistent shooting skills eliminates many of the problems that a $2000 custom gun "fixes".
I am 6' 3" and I still fly coach, but I always choose the emergency exit for $30 more for the redneck first class legroom.
I am 6' 3" and I still fly coach, but I always choose the emergency exit for $30 more for the redneck first class legroom.
We used to do that but there’s more rednecks than I imagined flying.
I’m 6’4” and overweight according to the the govt (fat shamers they) @220
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cherrypointmarine
Member
I know a few people here , one posted , that have amassed quite a few of these type guns . I started with 945's , then heard about 845's , and ended up with one of each model of 845 . I've shot other high end 45's , but the 845's take the cake . Now my range , and forum , buddy has some Sig's from the old German pro shop . I'm partial to S&W's , but those Sig's of his are enough to make a gun guy start slobbering .
AJ , one of these days either I'll visit you or you can come over here and I'll bring some of my PC guns and we'll make a day of it .
AJ , one of these days either I'll visit you or you can come over here and I'll bring some of my PC guns and we'll make a day of it .
Fishinfool
Member
I distinctly remember the first time I spent $500 for a firearm. It was for a used but unfired series 70 Colt Gold Cup NM, about 1978 or '79. I remember thinking this was a crazy amount of money to spend for a gun, and that it would probably be the most expensive gun I ever purchased in my lifetime.
AAAhhh, sweet ignorant bliss.....
Larry
AAAhhh, sweet ignorant bliss.....
Larry
lamarw
Member
It was interesting to watch the Rock Island Auction over the last three days. All kinds of firearms sold for tremendous sums of money. Go look at the results and prepare yourself for sticker shock. There were individual guns selling for the price of houses.
Life is too short to not have some of the things you lust after. Some i know that i will not afford BUT i do not begrudge others that can ,. It nice to see them on the forum and in person.
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