Used Revolver shortage?

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

DonP

Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2002
Messages
1,294
Location
Chicago area
To make a long story short, at my last range session around Thanksgiving my daughter (35yo teacher) fell in love with a little .38 snubbie (1st Generation Charter Arms Undercover) I fixed up. As usual, she took it home (I seem to "lose" a lot of guns when I take my kids shooting?).

I thought I'd just shop around for a replacement, thinking I'd have no trouble finding another Charter, Taurus or S&W snubbie, maybe even step up to a .357.

After two months of looking at the local stores and a few gun shows I've seen plenty of new ones but almost no used snubbies! In fact almost no used revolvers period.

One local store told me that when they get a used revolver in as a trade or for consignment, they seldom have it on sale for more than 24 hours before someone takes it. Another store said they just aren't getting many revolvers in for the last 6 months or so.

They both said that a lot of first time buyers cleaned them out of all their used and many of their new snubbies and other revolvers at Christmas.

Anybody else run into or notice this? Or is it just a weird local issue here in Illinois?
 
Used guns in general are flying off the shelves... heck, so are the new ones!
 
Any firearm that can be even remotely considered "concealable" is more popular right now than ice cream in July. Demand is effecting supply. It is, certainly, a seller's market.
 
Might be regional. There seems to be no shortage of revolvers on the shelves around here - though admittedly snubbies aren't as common as the longer barreled versions (which is fine by me - I personally just don't like snubbies that much - even on a J-frame I like at least a 3" barrel).
 
Hey, DonP: kudos to your daughter. It's nice to know that there's at least one teacher in the Chicago area that's not an NEA programmed anti-gunbot.

As for used revolvers, the supply has been low for a long time. Police consignments wound down a long time ago. I've had better luck haunting local pawn shops. It usually requires covering a lot of ground to find anything decent, but you do come across a gem every once in a while. Looked all last year for a used S&W Model 649, and never found one. Did make up for it by finding a great Model 631.
 
I just viisted a pawn job recently and they had two Colt Detective Specials for sale along with a number of other center fire revolvers in good shape. There seems to be more now at shops than in the last couple of years.

Prices were a little high in my opinion including a $400 H&R M999. That was crazy priced.
 
I think it is just part of the trend as there is no longer much of trend of trickle down law enforcement revolvers, plus more and more states are making CCW eaier and easier to get.
 
Colt stopped making D/A revolvers sometime ago, S&W has limited the assorted styles of revolvers it produces and many of these are very expensive. Ruger's, are no longer the low cost quality, option they once were. So Taurus and Charter Arms are the two main makers of affordable handguns.As many of us prefer the older style revolvers, it's supply and demand at its best. I also believe that the economy has forced many to turn to used products Vs. new so this may help explain the shortage of quality revolvers.

The scarcity of used revolvers never really occurred to me -- maybe it was just being at the right place at the right time...?
Click to expand...

Yes sir, there are more than a few classic revolvers for sale, it does help to be willing to spend lots of time to find them, and often when one is located the prices are past SKY HIGH. I recently paid $650.00 for a 5" M-27 and that was really overpaying but I happy to do so as they are not getting any less expensive. Two years ago I like a fool turned down a well preserved 3 1/2" M-27 at $600.00. IN two years the price of the 3 1/2" M-27 has risen 25% if not more.

I'm very happy that you have had good luck in finding what you want at a price you believe is fair.
 
Last edited:
Interesting thread and perspectives...

In the past 1 1/2 years, I've picked up three used revolvers -- a S&W M65 3", a S&W M10 4", and a S&W 360PD snub. One was found at a gun show, and the other two at LGS's (a police trade-in and a private seller).

The scarcity of used revolvers never really occurred to me -- maybe it was just being at the right place at the right time...? :confused:


.
 
They are rare as chicken's teeth from what i can tell. I have been looking for a used Colt or Smith .357 in a 4" barrel for months, no good. Found a 6" recently, and there are a handful of snubby model 10's but that's about it.
 
not so here in my area. I've had only one nibble at the 642 centennial I have for sale...I know, shameless plug! But then I wanted FTF only.

Even so, most shops around here have plenty.
 
That's the one thing I noticed at Louisville and Lexington gun shows, lots and lots of S&W used revolvers (overpriced though).
 
DonP, West Central Illinois is seeing the same trend.
With major brand semi auto pistols topping $600+ revolvers suddenly became very attractive apparently, especially .38 and .357 caliber guns as ammunition can still be purchased cheaper than any of the semi auto offerings.

With no CCW here, no deer hunting with semi auto handguns, and most folks buying handguns for pleasure shooting and home defense, the less expensive used revolvers make very attractive choices.
 
New and used J-frames are pretty common in NE Florida. I've seen some nice used Models 36 & 37 selling for under $300. You just need to keep your eyes peeled.

I suppose they are more common down here than up north as we tend to dress a little lighter year round.

Finding used N-frames, however, that is another story.
 
Any potential buyer can shop the entire United States with nothing more than a computer. The auction sites have shrunk the country for anyone looking to buy/sell/trade new or used handguns.

Many auction sellers offer a 3 day no fire return policy with the buyer paying return shipping. Most gun shops won't allow you to take a handgun home for 3 days period. These policies keep the tire kickers to a minimum.

I buy many used firearms off the Internet that I would never have found prowling the LGS in my area. Any problems were promptly taken care of by the seller.
As a bonus most purchaces even factoring in shipping/transfers were the same or within a few bucks of what I would have paid locally.
 
I have found used S&W DA revolvers in 2-4" barrel lengths to have been hard to find for many yrs, of course they can be found on line for a higher price but I like to keep purchases in the $250-$400 with $450 being tops for a good L frame.
I just found a nice nickle 36 for $329 but $275-$300 would have suited me better so I passed.
I think people still like a sturdy accurate durable gun that can be carried on a belt in the woods or stuck in a drawer or glove box and is very simple to operate, that market will never disappear, the deals are just few and far between.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
There's hope yet
Replies
18
Views
2K
ApacheCoTodd
ApacheCoTodd
L
  • Locked
Charter arms revolvers
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
Panzerschwein
Panzerschwein
O
  • Locked
Dillon's Blue Press really pushing revolvers.
Replies
3
Views
753
hso
hso
B
  • Locked
I stopped at my local gunshop today...
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
MagnumDweeb
M
D
  • Locked
Taurus TALO .44 2.5" ???
Replies
16
Views
3K
ironhead7544
I
Back
Top