Gunbroker underhammer auction - what am i missing here?

[desidog]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=548739201

Currently bid up to $476 - WHY?

I have one of these with an octagonal barrel in .45 that i use from deer. I think i paid $75 for it. What makes more than one bidder think this one is worth ~400 bucks more?

I like mine, and don't want to part with it; BUT I have a Deer Creek underhammer action in the white..... and for $475, I'd sell my run of the mill H+A .45, and buy a Colerain barrel and properly finish the Deer Creek action.

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

Photos show the rifle in decent condition. Barrel probably is in same condition. Buttplate shows some "ground" standing stains.

Discontinued T/C Hawken rifles are priced now for $400 -$500, up from their previous $150 - $200 used values five years ago.

I don't see many real nice underhammer rifles for sale, especially in this condition. 'Course seeing it in person beats seeing pictures.

Auctions tend to bid the price up because folks aren't stuck with a set price, good or bad, on a classified ad. Condition always increases the value.

Plus, not everyone out there is "educated" to recognize a Colerain barrel for what it is, and why it works better. For some, a great-looking rifle is good enough as it is, and fits their level of experience.

 

[Gordon]

That one has a bull barrel and was the target version, I have the same one in .45 with a sophisticated tang sight in just as good condition you can have for $400 + shipping. It won a couple accuracy "turkey" shoots 20+ years ago, I cleaned and greased it up and it sits in the back of my closet. Think I will put it on gunbroker if you don't want it. You get all my .436" ball stash too .

 

[PapaG]

Looks like the target model. No ramrod, probably 1 1/8" barrel. Had one. Too heavy. Good shooters. Price not bad adjusted for inflation from the early 70s when they were made.

 

[desidog]

Hu. well i guess the market has perked up for these old guns.

I'll be selling mine if i can get $400 for it too...

 

[Patocazador]

I see T/C Hawkens frequently for $275-350. I don't remember seeing one that was priced over $400.

Auctions can get ridiculous sometimes when 2-3 people all want the item. That's why I don't frequent auctions, online or in person.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

that is not the target model with the long Octagon barrel. I had one. Shot great groups at 100 yds off a bench. far too heavy to hold offhand. The target model also had a longer barrel. The target model had a 45 cal 1.125 inch barrel that was 42 inches long. Factory finished it listed for $245.00 in the early 1980's. I might pay that amount for the target model in excellent shape. Not for that gun. The heritage models had 32 inch barrels.

 

[frontiergander]

A '57 chevy once cost $2,500. Does that mean to you, that's all its worth because its what they sold for new?

That price is about right now an underhammer.

 

[desidog]

A '57 chevy once cost $2,500. Does that mean to you, that's all its worth because its what they sold for new?

No. But that's not really the point, since i paid $75 for my H+A underhammer within the last three years. I thought it was worth maybe up to $150, and $476 was an anomaly between two uninformed bidders, but if that's the market, so be it.

Who would have thought these rifles would appreciate 6x over three years? That's better returns than the best investment firms on Wall St.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

In 1939, a GE 7 cubic ft refrigerator was $20 dollars MORE than a brand new Pontiac. So what?

Btw, I meant I might pay that auction price for the target model. Certainly not that particular gun.

I am currently looking for a scroll saw
Why are they 50 dollars more on ebay than new in a brick and mortar store. Makes no sense. Some muzzle loaders are worth far more now than the old list prices. Some are virtually worthless not just worth less than old list prices. Why are so many cap and ball guns priced higher on gunbroker than the new cost at Cabelas for the same exact model.

 

[frontiergander]

deercreek has underhammer actions for $150. That's just the action however.