Finding revolvers

U

UncleEd

New member
I regularly check TheOutdoorsTrader for handguns on sale in Georgia.

About the only revolvers ever up for sale are the J-frame 442 or the Ruger
LCR. Otherwise it's all Glocks, more Glocks, Berettas, Jennings, Kahrs and
more Kahrs and more Glocks, etc.

Usually on OutdoorsTrader these are individual sales and the prices are more realistic than on GB, et. But people just aren't trading or giving up their
revolvers, meaning Smiths, Rugers or Colts.

As one guy posted today, "My crap could be your crap." And he
mentioned a 9 mm LLama.

In local gun stores, the scarcity of revolvers also exists although I am seeing
dealers ordering more new revolvers from Smith and Ruger other than the
"belly" guns.

I've been told Smith production of revolvers is piddling and to get one, a dealer has to commit to a lot of their plastic autos. He might be just
blowing smoke but I wonder.
 
Thanks for the listings, which I'm afraid just prove my point.

Not crying or anything; just pointing out how difficult it is to
find decent revolvers at decent prices.

The "usual suspects" are showing up among the added listings
provided, good friends.

My half dozen LGSs, and I'm not talking ma and pop places either, just aren't
getting used or new revolvers other than the LCRa and 442 and the like.
 
I just walk into "Ali-Babba's House O Guns" every couple of days, and look in the case and see what's new.

http://www.greentophuntfish.com/

Sometimes there's a bunch. Sometimes there's just a few.

That's why you have to stop in every couple of days.

You snooze...you lose.
 
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In my experience, in my area, there are certain shops that tend to attract revolver owners. One in particular specializes in used guns, and has a strong preference for older firearms. I have seen some real gems come through there. It may take some looking around, but those kinds of shops are around. If you find one, hold on. My shop is a small shop in Indiana, but he's great for oddball pieces. I also suggest checking pawn shops, because you never know what you're gonna find.
 
I'm in SW CT and revolvers aren't hard to come by. Everyone my age is into combat plastic and tacticool AR's. I prefer revolvers and 1911's.
 
Revolvers don't sell like the plastic semis. Every kid (and most people are KIDS, when it comes to guns) - want the latest gee-whiz plastic wonderguns. Dealers are not going to stock what doesn't sell.

In addition, those of us who fancy revolvers tend to keep them.

Market conditions, including the relative popularity (or lack thereof) of specific types of guns, vary widely in different places. I've always found this to be amazing, but it's true. So, it just may happen to be that revolvers are not popular in parts of Georgia....but much more so in parts of, say, Ohio. That's the market. Go figure.
 
About three years ago I noticed an up swing in the number of used revolvers for sale at my local gun store. It lasted for about three or four months.

It might have been just a local blip in the great scheme of things here in the Twin Cities.

The gun shop guys and I opined that it was the feeding frenzy to trade in revolvers to get a high capacity semi-auto before bans and restrictions went into effect (never happened) but the gun shop guys would agree with me if I said the earth was flat ('Sure looks flat to me, Dale!') to make a sale.

Anyway for what ever reason it did seem like there were a large number of used, usually with very, very low round counts, revolvers sitting around in the cases on consignment while the semi-auto's were going out the door at record pace.
 
ironically I can't sell my S&W 4" model 64-2 pinned barrel in Alabama for $400. best offer I've received is $300.
 
Look up auctions in your state, like this one.
http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/auctionview.cgi?lid=2456039

Jeff Dobson & Associates proudly provide all of Georgia with the finest auction services available. We specialize in antiques, FIREARMS, estates, farm equipment, commercial assets, and more.
Click to expand...

796 CANTON ROAD
JASPER, GA

Georgia's just a little state so you can't be that far away. The next auction is July 11. I bet they have some revolvers.
fi217.cgi


Prices at auctions can be all over the place from low to high, so preview as much as possible and make up your mind on what you're willing to pay before hand.
 
So I start a thread on the dearth of revolvers. In my case
I've been looking to add some 2-inch Model 10s.

Today I just happen to go to one of my favorite places and
I find three. The store hasn't had much in older Smith revolvers for
quite a while but a collection came in and happiness reigns with
decent prices for very pristine specimens.

Now I'll never need, want, desire or lust for another handgun. ;););)
 
Hi UncleEd,
That's why I started buying from Buds guns in Ky. I couldn't find what I wanted when I wanted it. When I finally make up my mind to purchase a certain type of wheel gun, I've researched the dickens out of it and don't want to wait until my GS finally gets it in. Besides, I've found that my local GS's are like pawn shops and buyer beware. Maybe where you live they are a little more responsible and honest. I'm still a novice at this so I go where I absolutely have a 100% guarantee.
Respectfully,
Doc
 
Most of the local gun shops have a good selection of revolvers. Never had to buy online... but I do live in a city.
 
As a revolver guy it also irks me when I go into a gun shop and see row after row of semi-auto handguns, mostly plastic. Off in a corner are a handful of revolvers, mostly Single Sixes, some S&W J frames and a smattering of Taurus revolvers.
I was in a market a few years ago for a S&W 6" bbl 10 shot 617 and it took me 7 months to get my trembling paws on one. Last year I decide to get myself an 8 shot Smith & Wesson revolver such a 627, R8 or TRR8. I had the cash on hand for over a year and could not find one anywhere. I could have found some on Gunbroker but other than that, no dice. I really wanted to handle one before buying so I held off buying online.
 
Wheel guns

Situation is same in my area. Tons of plastic semi-autos. Makes you wonder
what happened to the thousands of police duty guns. S&W & Colts. Even 32s
that nobody wanted a few years ago are off the market. You can "find" anything
you want on the big sights, if you want to pay that kind of price. Their idea of
mint or like new is far from mine. I just keep looking for local individuals selling
guns. A lot of the younger crowd can't wait to turn "uncle Bill's" guns into
cash when he goes toes up.
 
I looked for over a year to find my S&W 629. Of course, I wanted a certain barrel length and the full lug, but I finally found one (probably paid more for it than it's worth !). I would just google something like, "S&W 629 Classic for sale"....and eventually one turned up. Sounds random, and it is, but it worked for me. Good luck in your hunt. :)
 
I believe a lot of these revolvers are
Owned by folks retired and in their 70's and 80's.They are proud,wise,and very watchful(rightly so).This is where the Colts.Smiths,etc are.They won't be at LGS or the gun shows! :D
 
Semi-autos are fun to shoot and collect, but at heart I am a revolver guy. Like other revolver fanciers, I am annoyed to see row after row of plastic semi-autos at most of the LGS's and only a few revolvers.

As I am typing this there are 12,923 revolvers for sale on GunBroker. Many are overpriced, but there are some bargains out there if you know what you want and are very patient.

In the past couple of years there were certain revolvers that I decided to purchase: an old-fashioned S&W 38 and 32, an old-fashioned H&R 32 magnum, a Rossi Model 720 44 special, and a couple of others that I haven't found yet. In each case I decided on a bargain price that I was willing to pay, then checked and bid on GunBroker and GunAuction for MONTHS until I got what I wanted for the price I wanted.

S&W pre-Model 10 38 special from the early 1900's - $150
S&W Hand Ejector 32 long from the early 1900's - $125
NEF (H&R) 32 magnum stainless steel - $150
NEF 32 magnum blued - $115
Rossi Model 720 44 special - $330

I didn't bid unless the seller was "established", meaning that they had sold hundreds or thousands of guns and had good reputations that they did not want to damage by shady dealings. I spent many months looking and lost many, many bids. But in the end I got what I wanted for very reasonable prices. It took time and effort, but it was kind of fun and worth it in the end.

Here is the S&W 32 long. I just wanted good shooters, not guns with perfect finishes. It locks up tight, is accurate, and fun to shoot. $125 well spent, IMHO.

SW20Hand20Ejector20Right_zpszz2eq3mo.jpg
 
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