My morning at the local gunshow

[Stu1205]

I agree with many of you. The prices on used guns are skyrocketing.
It is true that most licensed dealers work on a small mark up.
I am a gun show every weekend selling holsters, so I see what is out there and what they are selling for.
There are deals out there though.
In the past two months I have picked up the following:

13-1 4" barrel with diamond magna stocks from a guy who came to my table to see my holsters. $300.00 cash. 95%.

27-3 nickel 6" barrel with S&W target stocks. $350.00 cash from a private dealer. It had a few cloudy spots in the nickel, but locked up tightly and the timing was great.

15-4 4" barrel with checkered magna stocks. $260.00 plus tax and call in. 90 - 95%.

617-1 6 shot 6" barrel in original box with all papers. $525.00 cash from a private dealer. 98% 0r better condition.

The dealer who had the 617-1 also had a pristine 28-2 which he sold to an ffl dealer for $600.00. The ffl dealer took it to his table and put it out for $850.00.

The sad part is that someone will pay that much for the 28-2, and that is what is driving prices up.

I don't know of any ffl dealer that makes $250.00 on a brand new gun.

Out of the four guns above, the only one I was actually looking for was the 617-1, but when great deals just fall into your lap, you have to take them.

Be patient and vigilent. There are still many reasonable dealers and deals out there.

Stu

 

[beemerrider]

I went to the "every other month" gun show in Portland, OR yesterday and I'll bet I saw less than 75 "non-current" models of S&W revolvers. One I looked at pretty hard was a 90% model 37 no dash, flat latch that the dealer wanted $400 or $425 for. I passed because the Oregon State Police, who handle all the background checks, had their system shut down for most of the show, so dealers couldn't process transactions. Just what you need in the middle of a gun show. I looked at an about 95-98% 6" Mod. 57 no dash, with no box, tools or any extras; dealer wanted $795 for it, which might be ok, given you hardly see any model 57's at dealers shops in the area. A lot of the other pre-80's S&W revolvers I saw, were less than 75-80% and they still wanted pretty high prices, by my standards.
I would always look to our S&W Forum first, because there is a large part of the membership who really know what they are talking about, and are up on what prices should be. when a revolver blows out in the first 15 minutes, I figure either that was a "great deal" or the buyer was in too much of a hurry. when I see guns that linger on the Forum, I conclude they are either are "low demand" models or are over priced. If I can't find what I'm looking for on the Forum, in what I consider a reasonable amount of time, then I check Gun Broker to get baseline pricing, before going to a show to look, or driving all over town in the hopes of finding something I really wanted. I also look to the Forum and Gun Broker prior to going to a show, to get an idea of what the model I want is going for in other areas. Used guns I've bought from dealers have been mostly "targets of opportunity" meaning, I really bought it on impulse. A lot of factors go into the seller's pricing; what they are selling for in their market, if there is an active market, and with less older revolvers in the pool, this could drive prices higher. How their sales are in general, How rare the piece is, how strong their market for the particular gun is, their competition, are all factors that go into a dealer's pricing. Caveat emptor, would suggest we do our own research in order to buy at a "fair" price, and that fair price is quite likely different for each of us. I hope this helps.

 

[Timber Wolf]

The OPs prices are about what I am seeing in North Florida. I bought a honest shooter grade (80-85%ish) 19-3 last month for $450 OTD w/holster off a dealer with an asking price of $475 (plus tax and call). There was another one with incorrect (square butt) grips on another table with $450 asked and I could not get him below $425. Last week at another smaller show I snuck up on a 90% 14-3 with aftermarket Sile stocks (actually feel really nice) for $325 OTD off the asking private sale price of $335. He through in a box of ammo and a holster. I think several people were overlooking the 14 as it was amonst a bunch of bayonets and stuff on a cluttered table. Two times ago at this same show I passed on a snub 10 for $350 but saw one this month for $450. Deals are out there but you have to look.

 

[bullmack]

Typical over-pricing I see here in Western Washington. Also ditto on the same guns sitting on tables for months/years. I guess it's a social event more than a sales opportunity for some of the table holders. There are always a few guns worth discussing and the occasional score.

 

[model70hunter]

I went to a 500 table show over the weekend. I know most of the dealers, most of their good stuff like Colt SAA, snubbies, pythons, S&W K-22, any -2, any Winchester rifle (is a rough post 64 worth $800 !!!?) were all priced high. Not many were being sold.

What I did see was CCW type plastic guns in 380, 9mm selling quickly, most of these were in the $3-400 dollar range. I bought a 24-3, a 629 4" and a 1911. I don't recall seeing other folks buying revolvers. Dealers that did not have the plastic guns were not showing many guns.

This is the 1st gun show I've been to in a year but was not suprised at the prices because I've seen the same price hikes at gun shops. It's sort of like $4 gasoline, not much we can do and the dealers sit on the good stuff until they get what they are asking.

 

[crsides]

Should bought that 17-1


Charlie

 

[Homechicken]

I can find better prices on used and sometimes even new guns at my local pawn shop than I've seen at gunshows recently. I honestly haven't found a deal on anything other than mil-surp commie rifles in years. And who knows how much of a deal those are. Just because they're selling for $99 it may sound good, but the dealer probably only paid $50 or $60 for them.