Overpaying for what you want

[scotchblade]

Being in California, these revolvers can't be had at all unless it's a face to face deal. I have no problem overpaying within reason, because what other option do I have? I paid $900 for a like new 29-2 last year. I may have overpaid to those living in other states, but I'm just happy to own this beautiful piece of American craftsmanship. Regrets? Heck no!

 

[dewey]

Just think, the market will surpass what you pay today-heck with the books. Buy it,sir.

You will save a ton on gas money and less stress. Besides, you can save the gas money and use it all to buy something else.

 

[TDC]

I agree with much of what has been written on this thread. There are two issues I haven't seen addressed that need to be taken into consideration from both a collector and a collector/investor standpoint...

1. We are about to see a future inflationary spiral unprecedented in our countries history. Items, like firearms, which are labor intensive, require specialized materials and specific engineering techniques are bound to go "through the roof" in price. Quality older guns are sure to reflect those increases and drive the price of used S&W's upward substantially. Buy those particular models you want now or you may soon be joining the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" crowd we see so often on this site.

2. Sad to say the political issues are 2nd. Little needs to be said here except we all have experienced the three major threats to our gun ownership and ammo supplies occurring during the last 4 years. The shortages are bound to continue caused by both panic buying and government initiated shortages. Simply consider the number of times you've heard the word "confiscation" by some politicians in recent statements. If we don't learn from these 2nd Amendment threats the price of new and used handguns won't matter much.... there won't be any, uh, permitted.

Just sayin'

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I wouldn't quibble over a few hundred bucks, if this is important to you. If you've found exactly what you wanted, in pristine condition, you've done extremely well. Trying to find it cheaper...someday....just doesn't make sense in the big picture.

 

[Jim R]

I have never seen a headstone in a cemetery that said "man I wish I could have saved 50 bucks on that revolver I bought”. If you see something you want and you can afford it, buy it. Life is short, enjoy it while you can.

When you are on your death bed you will regret most the things you did not do; not the mistakes you made. Retire as early as you can and play hard until you die.

Jim

 

[alwslate]

When I was much younger I, like many others, simply could not afford
to buy many things I wanted and so I did without. Now that I am older
and retired I am fortunately able to buy the toys that I could only wish
for when young. Guns are expensive but still cheap compared to things
like cars and boats and hold their value much better. I can easily afford
to buy any gun I want but even so I still cannot bring myself to buy a
gun or any thing else that I think is grossly overpriced. For something
nice I will maybe pay a little bit more that I think it's worth but when
I think a seller is smugly setting on a gun that he knows is way
overpriced, thinking some fool will come along sooner or later it
becomes a personal thing to me and I vow not to be the jerk's fool.
Maybe I look at things the wrong way some times but when it comes
to money I feel that I have a reasonable amount to spend but very
little to waste. I still remember the days when I had none period.

 

[highpower3006]

Next year I retire. At that time my income will be cut in half and there will be very little extra money available for gun purchases. Right now I am trying to buy the guns that I have wanted, but for one reason or another never acquired. While cost is an issue, I have decided not to let a few dollars get in between me and what I would like to have.

Personal experience has shown me that life is short, and while bills have to be paid, the long term enjoyment you get out of your hobbies are worth more than a few bucks + or -.

 

[jj2am44]

Write the check. In a year or two, you wont miss the money and you'll have what you wanted. I recently bought an AR 15 and overpaid a lot. I figured it's better to complain about the price, than not being able to have what you want. Actually, you not overpaying, you simply are buying too soon.

 

[Wee Hooker]

In my other recent thread, I noted that I've been unable to find the late 70s era revolvers I'm looking for. Several of you provided some helpful links. It appears that at least some of the models are, in fact, available. The question I am now faced with is how much to overpay. There are some NIB examples with factory sealed tools and papers that are "overpriced" according to book and comments on this website by several hundred dollars. I could end my quest right now and avoid haggling over condition by writing a check, with the full knowledge that I overpaid.

To put it in perspective, I bought my 29-2 in the height of the Dirty Harry craze and paid $500 for it. In inflation adjusted dollars, that would now equate to about $1500.


So, keep looking, or write the check?

I once wanted a wife. Turned out way overpaying for that. Difference here is that your not married to it. Write the check and resell it if/when your no longer smitten. ;-)

 

[LimaCharlie]

Very interesting thread. I've been watching a Colt Border Patrol for several weeks now. Owner wants $700. Probably too much, but I'm 73 and surely not getting younger. My 66, 67, and 686 are wonderful, but it might also be wonderful to own an old Colt. What think you all?

Buy it! A family friend taught me to shoot when I was seven in 1953 with his Colt single-action .22. I grew up watching the westerns on television in the 50s and 60s. I have wanted a Colt single-action my entire life, but have never bought one.

This month, I found a blued case hardened 95% 2nd generation Colt SAA in .45 Colt with the 5.5” barrel on consignment at a LGS. It was made in 1959. It is now in my safe. When I hold it or shoot it, I feel like a seven year old kid playing cowboy again!

 

[Doug M.]

Very interesting thread. I've been watching a Colt Border Patrol for several weeks now. Owner wants $700. Probably too much, but I'm 73 and surely not getting younger. My 66, 67, and 686 are wonderful, but it might also be wonderful to own an old Colt. What think you all?

*
Do it. I made up my mind about some of the things I want to do before I die, 'cause I probably won't get to enjoy them afterward. If I die in debt they can harvest my parts and sell 'em.

 

[wyatte]

I'll bet most of us at one time or another have overpaid for a gun that we really wanted. In today's environment, with the information highway being utilized the way it is, sometimes this is the only way to get what you want. If you don't, the low and fair priced ones are sometimes gone before we can enter a "buy it" response. I'm not saying to go broke and pay double what something is worth, but in a few years will you remember 100-200 dollars that went toward a personal "grail" gun? If you have the means, and really want it, do it. wyatte

 

[williamlayton]

The thing that is confusing the thought here is we are talking about things. A thing cannot make you happy for very long. I am happy with what I have but I still want more---Woe is me.
Actually, it is the doing that makes us happy---much like sex. When we are done doing we start looking for the next doing---thinking that will make us happy.
Folks---we are screwed up!
Blessings

 

[had3nuf]

I have to agree with the majority of answers on this thread, 40 years ago there were far fewer gun enthusiasts as there are today, so deals were to be had, now you have everboy wanting to be urban cowboys I'm just happy that most of the young ones today are the Tupperware gun lovers, or you would see the prices of old Smiths go really crazy. This was my first purchase in the gun world in 1966, paid $35 for it.

[/IMG]
and this was the most recent purchase last Friday for $500, and there have been many in between, and hopefully many to follow.

[/IMG]

 

[JNewell]

The thing that is confusing the thought here is we are talking about things. A thing cannot make you happy for very long. I am happy with what I have but I still want more---Woe is me.
Actually, it is the doing that makes us happy---much like sex. When we are done doing we start looking for the next doing---thinking that will make us happy.
Folks---we are screwed up!
Blessings

Lots of truth there!

 

[MikeChandler]

this was the most recent purchase last Friday for $500, and there have been many in between, and hopefully many to follow.

That was some of the hardest working $500 I have ever seen. Congratulations and now I must wipe the drool from my screen.

 

[NEURON]

If you have money to burn and can't wait, then get it now.

Or, if you're like me without money to just "blow", then enjoy the hunt, it may take months. You get to haunt pawn shops, gun shops where ever you go and keep a diligent eye on GB - I've snagged plenty there that flew under the radar. You could spend 100 hours on this though, but to me the hunt is almost as rewarding as the victory.[/QUOTE

+1

 

[Jimstr]

forget the book value...just paid 500.00 for a Winchester model 94...made in '72 ...the guy threw in the original 3 boxes of ammo with it...missing 7 rds he shot through it once...he cleaned it and never left the gun case for 40 yrs...some would say I paid over book...I dont care...she's a beauty

 

[Tom K]

It's easy to tell someone else, "Go ahead, spend the extra money, you won't miss it in a few months." But how many times can you do that? There will always (for most of us) be more guns than money. I'd love to have a NIB Registered Magnum but I don't really want to spend the $15000+ that one would cost....

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

Folks sure aren't following the blue book values these days!

I guess if you really want it, you'll pay.

For example, I really want a P7M13. but, I don't want to pay $2500 for one.

Especially never let $50 or $100 stand in your way. I learned the hard way.