What's happened to gun prices?

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jamesbeat

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As my first foray into black powder arms, I recently bought an 1858. This is the first one I've bought, but I have 'window shopped' for a long time, and it seems that prices have shot up recently.
The truly strange thing is that prices for used (and sometimes pretty poor shape) examples on the various auction sites seem to be higher than for brand new ones.
With a combination of help from forum members, and a sale at Cabela's (with free shipping too) I got my Remington for what I think was a fair price and I'm very pleased with it.

I've always had a bit of a thing for derringers. I've seen this one:

http://possibleshop.com/pistol-pocket-derringer.html

Seems like a nice little novelty for 50 bucks.
Unfortunately, it doesn't cost 50 bucks, it costs three times that :eek:

For $50 or so more, I could get myself a NAA Companion!
I can't justify paying $150 for a novelty item with a brass barrel that I will fire a few times for giggles, so I looked on the auction sites to see if I could get a bargain.
No luck, the only ones I could find were more expensive than the things cos brand new.

What gives? Am I missing something?
 
What's missing is your expectations are different than reality.

As I understand it, you believe the specified gun is a novelty, for fooling around, essentially a toy. It's not. It's a real gun. You need to realign your expectations with reality.
 
MyKeal

Well said :D

It's far from a toy James , many folks lost thier lives to that very gun . :mad:

Prices vary here in the USA , buyer beware , it's Capitalism at its finest James :D . The problem is , "YOU" don't like it . Nobody is forcing you to buy anything :) .................And the perception that that Derringer should be $50 is based on what ? Because its small , because its brass , because it's a TOY ?
I am glad I don't understand that , at all . :D

Jaeger
 
I certainly don't think it's a toy, what I meant was that it's not the kind of gun on would normally buy for a practical purpose such as target shooting, self defense or hunting.
It's only real use is for casual plinking and the pleasure of owning and shooting a cute and unusual gun.
I'm not even sure how a brass barrel would stand up to heavy use.

The thing that I probably should have mentioned is that while reading about the gun, I found several old forum posts where people mentioned picking them up for between $35- $85. These posts were only one or two years old.
One guy on a forum even offered to send another guy his derringer for free as long as the other guy covered shipping.

It's not just these derringers, when I was looking for a cap & ball revolver, prices on auction sites seemed to be the same or higher than retail websites, and the guns on the auction sites were used.
 
Hilarious !

Unusual is a funny term for the most used and sought after COLT derringer ever produced :what:

No pratical reason to own one , not even for self defence ? Ummm , what planet are you from James :D ? And its only real use is for casuel plinking ? What other Plinking is there James ?

colt_1.gif

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You'de choke to death if you knew how much they wanted for a real one James . I actualy think Traditions did a fine job at bringing back a real legacy to the gun world , but what do I know :D

Jaeger

PS..........The top two Derringers are the real deal Colts , not the new Tradtions gun by the way .
 
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My best guess is Euro vs USD$ exchange & how it has changed in recent years, value of gold in $$. Same holds for gasoline $$$$, usually.

I am aware that Our Supreme Leader has seriously affected price & availability of military type guns & ammunition, but I doubt that this had much effect on muzzle loaders. Those gun buyers emptying the shelves want a modern, effective defense weapon, e.g. AR-15, etc.

I, also, have looked over gunbroker.com & other such for replica revolvers -- yes, you might as well buy them new. And they are in fact available. At least Cimarron claims they in process of sending me an 1860 Army, civilian model, from stock.

I did see one replica .36 revolver go rather inexpensively on antiqueguns.com This is 99.9% an antique site, so on the rare occasion they have a replica, The Usuals are not interested, or so think I.

Perhaps once you become financially established over here your attitude may change, regarding actually needing a semi-logical reason to buy a new muzzle loader . . .
 
Mostly (at least in large part) due to current administration. BUT be consoled. As the prices have gone up a bit so has the quality of the firearms. (some of them anyway) GOTC....
 
Well at least

your getting a really nice Colt to add to your Possey of Cap and Ball guns .
I think your going to be impressed with Uberti's quality over the Pietta 58 you just bought from Cabelas James . Wait till you feel the trigger pull on that Uberti , it's to die for :D
I picked up one of them Ubertis last year , the Military Model with full fluted cylinder and it is a fine weapon , especailly compairing it to the Cabeals standard 58 Remington in fit and finish . Truelly apples and oranges on this one . I just hope yours is as nice , and it probably will be .
Now you'll have two of the must have guns in your collection too .

Das Jaeger
 
Prices are the same just the money is worth less. I remember when cigarettes were 17 Cents a pack in Missouri in 1968...a 6 pack of beer in 1979 could be had for under $1.00....we could go on and on.
 
And then

there is the other aspect of the way it really is " PEOPLE ARE CHEAP AND WANT SOMETHING FOR NOTHING " . especially if they put little personal value on it , like it being a Novelty/Toy item . Even if it is a real killing gun in all actuality , and took hours to fabricate , ship and sell :D
I don't like that Gold is $1,000 and ounce , but it is and I will pay for it at that price if I want it , bad enough :D

Jaeger
 
I've also "had a bit of a thing for derringers" and have a NAA mini-revolver in .22
LR which I take to the range for when my C&B revolver seizes up and I or my shooting
buddy are not quite ready to leave yet. Quite a few people have stopped by to ask about
it. There seems to be a universal fascination for stealth-type weapons and their possibilities.
The mini-revolver is a great gun. Low maintenance stainless steel and very well made.
The only problem is that the grips are so small (two fingers at the most) you very soon
learn that even a .22 has quite a bit of recoil. NAA is now offering larger wooden grips
that I think will solve the problem. This pistol is also made in a C&B model.
The best option I have found for something that will go bang, make smoke and leave a hole is the Remington Rider derringer. It's like a muzzleloader/BB gun hybrid. They're on sale now at Cabelas and are made in the white, or color case hardening, or engraved. I don't think the engraved one is sold in the US. They're very well made.
Not sure how powerful they are but the 4.3 mm ball will penetrate 2/3 of the way
through the Dixie Gun Works catalog. Only a percussion cap is used. No powder although I've heard some have tried it. Not recommended. An air rifle pellet can also
be sized to work in it.
My favorite muzzleloading gun shop has a used one like the one you're looking at.
I think it's a Traditions and strangely enough, they want $150 for it. Could be pawn
shop pricing.
Most of the little guns don't have safeties so you wouldn't want to carry it say, in the woods, loaded.
How did they safely carry these things loaded in the 19th century???
 
I believe they have a half cock notch that keeps the hammer from resting on the primer.
Not quite as safe as more modern designs, but I'm sure it was adequate as long as it worked properly and the user was careful.
 
Alwasy inherent danger

in those little guns , especially the cap and ball guns ( novelties :neener: ) where if you want it cocked and locked , you can only have it cocked and mostly ready to rock and roll instead . Resting the hammer on a cap isn't going to make it go off anyway by the way . Although I never do that , I have seen it done by some people , even at the range , scares me too .
Actualy people scare me in general , so I guess I am not too surprised .
Just have to be carefull out packin them little guns , even out casuel plinking :neener: ............

Jaeger

PS....Allison , I wonder what those little Rider Remingtons would be like with a Magnum cap installed ? I picked one up
to hold at my Cabeals here and man they are TINY , in a very tiny way . But they are very very tiny cool . Not a novelty , they will kill ya too :D
 
Hey Jaeger..CCI magnum caps will definitely kick that little ball a lot harder. In fact
I'd say they were necessary since when I bought it I actually got a ball stuck in the
barrel using Remingtons. I swore off of Remingtons after that. I hear they've improved
them but, until I find out differently, I'll stick with CCI. Actually a good reason to own
one of these is to test caps which is one thing I use it for. Fire it at your DGW catalog
at a set distance, then check the page number. Sounds silly but it really works.
It does what it's supposed to do. Indoor parlor pistol for winter practice and
tormenting cans outside. It's probably in the well made pellet gun category of
lethality. Go to the Pedersoli website and check out the engraved (mine's CCH)
version. I've heard stories that some folks have attached a ring to the butt and used
it as a keychain fob. I'm planning on making a case for my '51 Navy and I'm going
to make a space in there for the Rider just as a point of interest and conversation if
nothing else.
Let me know how you get on with yours.
 
Allison , I think a good

Moly treatment of the bore would be a good idea on that Rider , one of thier chief complaints when they first came out was rough bores , balls getting stuck . Couple balls with lapping compound on them , then some moly would do the trick .
I have seen the engraved model , very nice . There are allot of Pedersoli we don't get here , and am bummed too , I realy like Pedersoli , I owne four of their weapons .
Yes , a nice case for the 51 and seperate section for the 51's protector is a great idea , definately a classic conversation peice since the Rider is the real deal for the ERA too . Sounds like a lot fun :D

Cheers, Jaeger
 
I have a couple of the North American .22 Magnum mini revolvers. Hell, I'vd killed squirrels with mine a couple of times. I put the black rubber grips on them. They are more accurate and easier to hit with if one uses the .22LR load. (half the powder scoop) The magnum powder load (full scoop) make's them jump pretty good. I use Triple Seven 3fff and Remington #11's....
 
Jaeger...Thanks for the bore treatment info. Is moly a grease lube? Which of the
Pedersoli guns do you own?
Gentleman...The wood replacement grips I saw would make the NAA look like a
Stevens. Not a bad thing. Do you use ball ammunition in yours?
 
Allison

they make moly for bore pollishing , special for bore , not just common moly grease , BROWNELLS.COM ...

Pedersolis : all customized too , the Tyron was Val Folgerts personal Rifle from Navy Arms , now its mine !

Tyron Delux .45 Rifle

100_0604.gif

American Jeager .54 Rifle

100_0677.gif

Kentucky .54 Pistol

100_0830.gif

Kentucky Bounty Hunter .45 "LONG" Pistol

100_0833.gif



My Pedersoli want list is much bigger ! :D I am very happy with thier quality .

Jaeger
 
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