Chiappa Rhino Prices

[Pelo801]

When, if ever will the prices on these come down?

Looking over the price list on Buds, the run about $750 for the 2" version and just go up from there. The stainless version is about $50 more than its blued counterpart. I'm looking at gunbroker and there is two pages of listings. Of those two pages there is only 4 with bids on them. A bid for $625 and another for $650, both on the blued 2" model but both with the reserve not met. A bid on the 'white" rhino 2" version of $750, also with the reserve not met. And a bid of $850 on a 4" stainless model but chambered in .40 S&W. This also with the reserve not met.

Is this how it just is with this gun? I'll admit I paid around $800 for mine, 2" blued version, but this was several years ago too. I'd expected the prices to come down a little by now. I expected the 2" version to be $575-600 by now. Was my thinking wrong?

Any thoughts or theories?

 

[hAkron]

I think these guns would sell like hot cakes at the $500 price point. They are very cool, but I don't think they are finished like a $900 revolver, and I don't think Chiappa, as the importer of ho-hum cowboy era gun replicas and .22 caliber 1911s has the name recognition to justify these prices.

 

[skoro]

Chiappa Rhino Prices...

...ensure that those ugly things will always be scarce.

 

[C0untZer0]

The prices on the Rhinos are not coming down.

When Ruger introduced the LCR in 9mm they were initially going for $500 and higher. I've seen the prices drop steadily on them, dropping 5 dollars every couple of days, sometimes dropping by 10 dollars in one week. They can now be had for $450

I don't know what it costs Ruger to make them, but I'm guessing it isn't much more than the 357 models. The 357 magnum models go for around $440 to $445 so I don't expect the 9mm model to come down in price much more than it has.

I don't think the Rhino's prices can come down, it is a complicated revolver to make, with high production costs and it has a limited market.

I'm guessing Chiappa doesn't break even at $500 per unit.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

Rhinos are fugly in my opinion but they are made well and that kind of production will only go up in price with the availability of skilled labor drying up along with demand. Thus Chiappi doesn't have to make too many of them to make a profit because the demand is there, along with the fact it sells a whole host of other products that sell quite well.

As more of the consuming public joins gun ownership, we can continue to expect to see a trend towards poly semis becoming popular and steel revolvers going out the door for the most part. S&W who is still a venerable revolver manufacturer is putting more stock into making M&P pistols now. Ruger will eventually move to more semis as well.

It's a lot easier to make a Colt 1903 repro or 1911 on my minimill than it is a revolver.

 

[19-3Ben]

I'll admit I paid around $800 for mine, 2" blued version, but this was several years ago too. I'd expected the prices to come down a little by now. I expected the 2" version to be $575-600 by now.

You should be thrilled. Those high prices mean that your gun stays more valuable.

 

[krupparms]

The price on this gun is a deal breaker for me! I could get 2 S&W's for that price they might be used, but I also know what I was getting! Parts would be easy to get, more people have heard of it & even the Ruger LCR is better looking!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I've never seen the price come down. I wouldn't mind owning one but I wouldn't pay their prices.

To be honest, given the price and the underwhelming reception of the gun, I doubt production will continue for more than a few years.

 

[C0untZer0]

You're paying a premium to have a lower bore axis.

 

[Pelo801]

You should be thrilled. Those high prices mean that your gun stays more valuable.

I don't really care about this too much, as this is a gun I will probably never sell. I was hoping the prices would come down so I could more easily acquire one of the other models.

To be honest, given the price and the underwhelming reception of the gun, I doubt production will continue for more than a few years.

That's kind of what I was thinking and the point I was making with my OP. It just doesn't seem people are buying these things. I think that's because it's a gun people aren't familiar with, it's a strange design, looks ugly, and then there's this price point thing. I think if the prices came down closer to the $600 mark they might sell a little easier.

You're paying a premium to have a lower bore axis.

Yes, yes I did. And I paid a premium for the novelty also, the novelty of owning something unusual. Some think it's ugly, but I actually think the unique look makes it aesthetically cool. And I paid a premium for a different design that took the conventional and turned it upside down.

But i will say that lower bore axis works. For me, this gun fits naturally in my hand and shoots well. Even with heavy loads it can be shot quickly and accurately. I enjoy shootingt his gun and it's been worth the premium.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I shot one at the local range and utterly hated it, could have been because it was worn from range rental use idk... as far as cost goes it's a most complicated mechanism that Rhino... and I believe made of a special alloy? One thing I remember about it is it was lightweight.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I'm guessing that it's too labor intensive a design to sell at a lower price point.
I'd probably have one if it was $500-$600.