(NGC) surprised at low gun prices at an auction today

[Gliderjohn]

There was a gun auction today in my area, about 30 miles north of Wichita. Just under 100, mostly lower end stuff but also a few nice ones. Here were some of the sale examples:


Like new NEF 20ga  - $50
Very nice H&R Topper 158 in 20ga - $60
Like new Beretta A-302 12 ga - $280
Two nice Wingmasters (90%), one 12ga and one 16. - $200 ea.
Several 90% cond. Winchester 1300s in various ga average around $130 ea.
Brand new in box and wrapper 10/22 - $200.
Nice Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 sp went for $110.
Brand new in box Taurus M709 slim 9mm - $225
A very beautiful and in 90%+ Winchester Trap Gun - $125
A very nice Rem 878 Automaster 12ga - $150
98% condition Re 597 - $80
Brand new in box standard Ruger MKIII - $250
Like new Weatherby Vanguard in 300 mag - $275
90%+ Weatherby PA08 12a shotgun - $225


The bad news was that I was selling some guns there, including one of those Wingmasters and one of the Winchester 1,300s. I did buy a decent Mossberg 250CA missing the mag for $55. Checking the common places on the net it appears that everyone is out of stock of those mags.
Just thought some of you might have been interested in the deals.
GliderJohn

[Lannis]

There'd have been a differently themed post if there'd been any Colt Python or Cobra revolvers for sale.   Prices for those once-common guns are stratospheric and going higher .....

Lannis

[sign216]

Those prices are low.  They should have put off the auction until closer to the holiday season.

And Lannis, you're right.  Now that Colt stopped production those revolvers are becoming collector items.  I think you can still get an old thin-barrel Police Positive for cheap, but that's about it.  Even Detective Specials are through the roof now.

I'm sad that so many old time American gun makers, like Colt, have given up.  What's up with that?

[T in NC]

ib


I'm sad that so many old time American gun makers, like Colt, have given up.  What's up with that?

Lawyers. Sorry Bill.

[normzone]

I've got my mom's Colt Python, 2" barrel. It was her first purse gun.

But I doubt it's worth much, she didn't take very good care of it.  Dinged front site and tweaked ejector rod.

Heirloom hand cannon anyway...

[boatdetective]

I bought a Colt 22 Officer's Match just as a collector piece. Really lovely piece of work.

I'll still keep my eye peeled for decent older S&W revolvers. Certainly, they ain't made like that anymore.

As an interesting point, tho, I noted that my tupperware H&K VP-9 - while 100% machine manufactured- it extremely accurate. High precision computer controlled machining does seem to make a difference when it comes to accuracy.

[SteveAZ]

Those prices are low.  They should have put off the auction until closer to the holiday season.

And Lannis, you're right.  Now that Colt stopped production those revolvers are becoming collector items.  I think you can still get an old thin-barrel Police Positive for cheap, but that's about it.  Even Detective Specials are through the roof now.

I'm sad that so many old time American gun makers, like Colt, have given up.  What's up with that?

In Colts case is was the double whammy of no more military contracts and police forces largely moving to Glocks. There were other factors as well but they never really came back from losing their military contracts.

Lots of history going away there. Sad.

[56Pan]

Went to a gunshow here locally today.  Went to the same one about 2 yrs. ago and one of the fellows there had several M1 Garands in good condition for sale.  All around 8-900 dollars.  Talked with him and he was a retired US Army armorer and specialized in rebuilding Garands.  I had one I'd bought about 20 yrs. ago for $296, one of the Springfield made rifles, and asked him if he could rebuild it.  He did so a couple weeks later and charged me $240, I think it was, and did a fine job.  Today, you couldn't touch an M1 Garand for less than $1100.  Wish more stuff I've accumulated over the years would appreciate in value like that.

[SmithSwede]

Wow.  I would have been all over that Charter .44.   

The Colt Pythons get all the attention.   I much prefer the Colt 3-5-7.  Same lock work and hand fitted action, but without that cursed ribbed barrel.  Don't see them too often.

Colt match revolvers in .22 and .38 are also very sweet. 

And as much as I like S&Ws, I admit the finest practical snubby has to the the Colt Detective Special.

[sign216]

And as much as I like S&Ws, I admit the finest practical snubby has to the the Colt Detective Special.

Swede, why the Det Special over the ubiquitous S&W snub?  I admit, the Det Spec has style and "coolness" that nothing can match, but the Smith is smaller and easier to repair.  The Colts are great, until you have to fix them.  Then it's like working on a watch.

[John A]

I'm looking for a 4 or 6 inch barrel for a Dan Wesson .44 in stainless if anybody has one of those, pm me please. I'll even trade some Guzzi speed parts if that is desire able .

[Perazzimx14]

I remember the days not too many years ago when Dick's sporting goods would sell the 10/22 carbines for $79.00. Now they the bring about $400.

[Offcamber1]

I was at a small gun show yesterday in Sullivan, Indiana and prices were pretty much the same as they always are.  John, you had a great opportunity to add to your collection, that .44 Bulldog was a world class steal and makes a great carry piece.

There was only one Colt revolver there, a well used Detective Special, no holster, no box just the gun itself for $700.00.  There were no Snake revolvers there at all.  Those are getting obscenely priced these days.

[vstevens]

My personal fav was always the Czech made CZ 75... just fit my hand perfectly.  Don't hear much about them.

[cruzziguzzi]

Man... I'da been all over that "Topper". I've been shifting a 30-30 barrel for one of those all over the shop for a couple years since accidentally selling mine. Drinking and firearms horse-trading should never be mixed.

20/30-30 is a great campsite, semi- long gun.

Generally, the guns you listed languish as folks spend their priority money on feared-to-be legislated firearms and high priced ammunition.


Todd.

[Lannis]

Swede, why the Det Special over the ubiquitous S&W snub?  I admit, the Det Spec has style and "coolness" that nothing can match, but the Smith is smaller and easier to repair.  The Colts are great, until you have to fix them.  Then it's like working on a watch.

I always owned and swore by nothing but S&W revolvers, until I inherited my mom's carry gun, a Series III Detective Special.   

They are VERY well made, VERY tight, feel good in the hand, shoot good ....

... and they do have style and "coolness" that nothing can match!   I've got all the guns I "need" (whatever that means) at the moment, but if I found a nice Series I, I'd be on it .....

Lannis

[Gliderjohn]

I have not shot a detective special since I was in early high school. I remember not being able to hit much with it, but I am quite sure that was my lack of skill at the time not the Colt. A few years back I inherited a S&W Mod. 36 in 38SP with the 1 7/8" barrel. It is a somewhat older model having the pinned barrel and site, and the diamond grips. When I got ready to first shoot it I didn't expect to hit much with it either, WRONG! It is a great little shooter. Can generally put 4 out of five rounds into a 4"x6" target at 50'. Very nice trigger and action.
GliderJohn

[acogoff]

     Well, I paid $65.00 for a new Ruger 10/22 in 1973 or 74 I think , but that was a week's take home pay after taxes for me at the time.

[SmithSwede]

Sign216:

Of course, this is largely a matter of personal preference.  When it comes to snub nose/Chl use, I prefer the Colt Detective Special D frame to the S&W J frame for several reasons.  The Colt is 6 shot, while the Smith is 5 shot.  Related benefit is that the Colt can be loaded with exact same speed loaders as a K frame Smith (which is nice if you often have both the little Colt and K frame Smith handy). 

The Colt is just enough bigger and heavier that for me it shoots much more accurately for both fast double-action and also slow precision single action.  The Colt is much more like a full size revolver in terms of shoot-ability than the J frame.

But at the same time, the slightly larger size and weight makes no practical difference in carry comfort, assuming a holster.

I prefer the feel of the DA action of the Colt to that of a Smith with a *coil* mainspring.  (But prefer a leaf spring S&W to any Colt).

Accuracy seems better with Colt compared to J frame.  The little Colt can shoot 2" groups at 25 yards. 

And yes, there's the coolness factor.  One of my favorite Colts is a first Generation Detective Special made in 1931.   It evokes G-men, gangsters, and Bogart in a way the J frames don't. 

Downside is the Colt is a more finicky mechanism, Harder to work on, not an intuitive design.  Not a robust to a LOT of shooting and more prone to go out of time. 

For high volume revolver shooting on a medium or large frame, give me a Smith.  But the Colt DS is in my opinion the ultimate snub nose (although the Smith J frame is also excellent).

I also really like the old leaf spring, I-frame Smiths.  Have a 4" barrel I frame in .38 S&W that is about as easy to carry as the Colt.  But 5 shot. 

[sign216]

Ok Smith,

I can understand your reasoning.   
I usually carry my S&W shrouded-hammer Bodyguard in my pants pocket, where the trifle larger size of the Colt is a problem.

I've also got a heavy barrel Police Positive that I love.  Colt actions are vault tight, with a terrific blue.