I can't afford this 'game' anymore.

[bdGreen]

Hello Bruce, you did not win this item.
Item 553776359

Smith Wesson K-22 Masterpiece 2nd Mod 1940

I guess I won't be getting a 2nd Model Masterpiece.
I had to bail. When I broke $6,000.00 and the other guy was still stepping on my head I figured it was time to let it go.

Don't know the winner, but, maybe it will show up here. Maybe not.

bdGreen

 

[1blindref]

I had that one, along with a few other of DC's auctions on my watch list.
Nothing surprises me anymore and the bargains and good buys on GunBroker are very hard to come by.

 

[merl67]

Guys like me that are shall we say late to the party it is rough especially on a average median income ...not complaining just the facts of life. Of course I could never get even close to something like that at my income level anyway such is life but I keep looking at pawn shops and gun sales you never know what will turn up at a price you can afford. For me the key is to be as educated as I can so I will be able to know what is a good deal and what isn't.

 

[goatsnguns]

Bruce,

You should have known better that to go up against "Wyatt Earp"
Kidding aside it is hard to believe what the K22's are bringing these days! I wish you a better outcome next time.

 

[410bore]

wyatt_earp bought a several k22s from woodlawn tonight, all for HIGH prices. at least 6, all 6 k22s I was watching of that seller.

 

[jsfricks]

wyatt_earp bought a several k22s from woodlawn tonight, all for HIGH prices. at least 6, all 6 k22s I was watching of that seller.

As I went through deleting them on my watch list his winnings totaled around $13000, but I might have missed one, so maybe alittle more. One that he lost was a Pre 17 that sold for over $2800.

 

[bdGreen]

wyatt_earp bought a several k22s from woodlawn tonight, all for HIGH prices.

Yes, I know.
During the '15 minute' lull after bidding I try and do research on who I am up against. If I am lucky I get to see what kind of money they have been coughing up lately.
Scares the bejesus out of me knowing that that 'guy' isn't going to let me take it home.
Try bidding on a Model 17-3, in nickel. Real scary.

I have a real high 'comfort zone', but, it's unbelievable how far I am from the comfort zone of others. I am so glad to have what I have today. I just can't seem to get comfortable anymore on the DC auctions.

bdGreen

 

[RKmesa]

I just can't seem to get comfortable anymore on the DC auctions.

Bruce:

I watched that one up until the end... I kept wondering when it would stop.

Seeing the prices he achieves makes me very very glad to have what I have. Six years ago, I paid a bunch for my 1st "almost perfect" 22/40, but it is now looking like a real bargain, especially since it came with the numbered box and some paperwork...

 

[bdGreen]

Bruce:

I watched that one up until the end... I kept wondering when it would stop.

Seeing the prices he achieves makes me very very glad to have what I have. Six years ago, I paid a bunch for my 1st "almost perfect" 22/40, but it is now looking like a real bargain, especially since it came with the numbered box and some paperwork...

Ha, ha. It only stopped when I did.
I fully understand the market today for what we collect. I am quite taken by the rapidity of increase from 'wow, that's kind of pricey' to 'OMG'.

Honestly I expect the market to plateau and go the other way...
When I am ready to sell.

bdGreen

 

[long colt frazier]

Well Bruce wasn't that long ago you were snagging ALL the 22 cal. rarities ;-)
Mark

 

[Grayfox]

I've been buying S&W revolvers for almost 40 years now. I never cared for perfect safe queens, but always look for very good guns with just enough wear that I don't feel bad about shooting them now and again.
At this point, my "want" list is pretty short. But in the last couple of years with rich speculators and crazy prices for just about any S&W, I've more or less resigned myself to the fact that I will never get those last few.

 

[Doc44]

I don't know if this was true in the past, but there are people buying guns as investments and don't particularly care what price they pay. I always bought S&Ws and Rugers because I wanted to shoot them, learn about them, or fill a hole in my collection. I never considered them investments.

Bill

 

[H Richard]

I looked over all of DC's list this morning to see just what they brought. I didn't follow last night because I know I couldn't compete. I just shake my head and feel lucky that the ones in my vault keep growing in value if these price levels continue up. I buy S&W's because I like them, and shoot most of them at least a little, some a whole lot. There are only a couple that remain unfired safe queens.

 

[DocB]

Yeah, late to the party. You've got be old like me. We partied hard up until about 4 years ago. Now we just sit back and watch the values grow. Back in the 1970's and 1980's I was buying old military rifles and their bayonets mainly because that's about all I could afford. . .the $35 rifles and sometimes a little more. Filled up a good part of a room with them. I just got through talking to a collector who just opened a gun store one town down the road. Wow, I'm rich again! The number of these guns that are bringing close to $1K now. I always figured that was the worthless part of my collection. . .I just liked them.

 

[Dan M]

I guess the days of buying a misidentified 22/40 for $289.00 are gone or a $400 fully engraved one that was King enhanced in every way possible.

oh well

Dan

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Maybe I should have bought that K22/40 at Cabelas for $895 a month ago...jes sayin'

 

[fat tom]

I figure those buyers are a LOT younger than me,because if they are lookin' at 'em as investments,they are gonna have to wait a LONG time to realize the same kind of profit that was made by the seller. Just sayin'.
f.t.

 

[lowriderfxr]

Bruce,

You should have known better that to go up against "Wyatt Earp"
Kidding aside it is hard to believe what the K22's are bringing these days! I wish you a better outcome next time.

If I were to go against Wyatt Earp on a regular basis, I'd just change my gunbroker handle to Billy Clanton.

 

[merl67]

Dr.B You have probably got a few miles on me as I am almost 50. I waited until our house was paid for about 1994 before I started collecting firearms and then it was mainly Mausers from 1871 on up. I don't have many just have one from each change. I have a few U.S rifles A few Enfields and a few Arisakas.I have only been collecting Smiths for about 6 years all of my guns are shooters. I would hate to be starting now at the prices I see Mausers going for let alone Smiths and the only Colt I have is a rough Colt 1900 38 Rimless that I got for $290 because no one at the auction realized what it was (I didn't either just thought it was interesting). Just glad to have what I do.

 

[BigBill]

Refresh,,,,

1. Don't get caught up in a bidding war.
2. Set your high limit before you bid.
3. Sometimes the first opening bid is $100 away from the buy it now?
4. Be aware of what your bidding on read the description carefully?
5. Look at the pictures closely?
6. Don't pump the price up wait till the last second to bid.

Be smart. Bill

Most guys here threw daggers at a buyer paying $600 for a k22? Now $6,000? Ever see price is right game "that's too much"?

 

[RKmesa]

...I never considered them investments.

Bill

... so when you are ready to release some of those beautiful engraved S&W's, I would love to "learn about them, [and] fill a hole [or two] in my collection." I also would not complain much if you were to release them to me for a "shooting, learning and growing" price, rather than an "investment" price...

On a serious note, I too have always viewed my collection as a hobby that I get a ton of current enjoyment from. Now, I do use the "investment" card when sharing my hobby purchases with my wife - It helps her feel more comfortable AND I am all about her comfort.

 

[GF]

Bruce I'm with you on the, " ... makes me very very glad to have what I have." comment.

Cash used to be king, now it's "tangible assets" - like fine revolvers.

I can't afford those high priced S&W's, the last three handguns I've bought were Colt's 'cause they're cheaper.

GF

 

[bdGreen]

Bruce I'm with you on the, " ... makes me very very glad to have what I have." comment.

Cash used to be king, now it's "tangible assets" - like fine revolvers.

I can't afford those high priced S&W's, the last three handguns I've bought were Colt's 'cause they're cheaper.

GF

Man, the mods are going to ding you for using that four letter word here...

I have wants and needs, just like the rest here. When I start working an item for auction I use 'bdGreen' logic. If it feels good, do it. Just don't do it 'til it hurts. I also have many, many that can be sold off to counter the pain from an expensive purchase. So far I have had to sell.... well, I haven't sold anything yet. But I will. Really, I will.

bdGreen

 

[bvoges]

I am mid twenties and I have a passion for revolvers (S&W ones at least), but how do young collectors get started these days? My generation is the future of firearms collecting but modern day prices are limiting and maybe we will see interest in revolvers, and collecting in general, decrease. Just something I've been thinking about lately...

 

[hkcavalier]

Man...I just inherited a nice five figure sum and still would not pay that much for a 1940 K-22.

Some people are just impatient. I'd much rather scour pawn shops and hole in the wall gun stores for that "gem" than pop on GB for collector's pieces. I have bought guns there, but only new production that I just couldn't find in my LGS and they couldn't get for months (I guess I'm impatient too...but I pay around MSRP, never more).

Now, if I got a SEVEN figure inheritance...maybe. But I don't have family like that, so...

 

[hkcavalier]

I am mid twenties and I have a passion for revolvers (S&W ones at least), but how do young collectors get started these days? My generation is the future of firearms collecting but modern day prices are limiting and maybe we will see interest in revolvers, and collecting in general, decrease. Just something I've been thinking about lately...

As I said above, look for deals in person.

This may rub some people the wrong way, but honestly making close friends with the "older generations" will open up far more opportunities to build your collection than anything else. Obviously this must be in a spirit of friendship and honesty, NOT hand-rubbing greed. People would much rather sell their guns to younger people who will use them than will them to people would don't care for guns and will just take them to the pawn shop.

As I stated in my other post, I really like small ma and pa shops that don't know the value of what they have. With S&Ws, start with some older .38s. Don't tell any sales people you're a collector. Play dumb. "Why would I buy this old .38 when I could get a Glock for the same money, and it's brand new?" Especially pawn shops, get them to mark the price down. Flash some cash (especially when you're young, they will take you more seriously). "I have $300 for that old .38. I don't know why, but I like it. Will you accept that?" You get the idea. You're going to have a tough time diving into the magnums right off the bat if you're looking to do it cheap. Heck, even 58s and 28s that were $500 or less a few years ago are selling for $900 or more.

 

[DocB]

Yup, run with the old guys. I'm taking one round of 41 Swiss rim fire to the younger guy who just opened a gun store near here tomorrow. I discovered I had 3 rounds and could spare 1. He has the gun but has never seen ammo for it. We old guys have everything. . .if we can find it.

 

[JeepRacer]

I was a active bidder last night on a couple of those K22's. I knew when I started what my limit was and I lost my two because I reached my limit. Wyatt Earp won both of mine. So what I am saying is, know what the revolver is worth before you bid, do not bid with your emotion, because if you do, you will end up with a ton of money in something that is only worth half of what you paid for it. To those of you that won, congratulations. I live to bid another day.

 

[bvoges]

This may rub some people the wrong way, but honestly making close friends with the "older generations" will open up far more opportunities to build your collection than anything else. Obviously this must be in a spirit of friendship and honesty, NOT hand-rubbing greed.

Understood. I'm always happy to learn from people older than myself. In fact, many of my closest shooting and collecting friends are much older...Thank you for the advice.

 

[jrandyh]

I can't afford a chevelle ss396 anymore either. Is what it is. Be thankful for what you have. The more desirable things become the more the prices go up and leave the little guy by the side of the road.
That's life,
JR