There just isn't that much of a supply of new DA/SA revolvers,,,
There just isn't that much of a supply of new DA/SA revolvers,,,
The list of manufacturers making new guns is somewhat short.
S&W
Ruger
Charter Arms
Taurus
Rossi (maybe)
Alfa Proj (Czech import)
Am I missing one or more?
I was fortunate to buy a Rossi Plinker just before the Taurus/Rossi merger,,,
If I recall correctly it was around $365.00 + tax and transfer fee.
I was shooting it at my rifle-pistol club last fall,,,
A man saw it and said he had been on Buds waiting list for months.
He offered me $450.00 cold hard cash for mine on the spot.
If a person wants a DA/SA revolver,,,
And doesn't want to pay new Ruger or S&W prices,,,
That person must either go for a second tier gun or a used one.
Used S&W revolvers are going for as much as the new offerings if not more,,,
That leaves very few choices for the person with a skinny wallet,,,
So It's only natural that people are looking at older guns.
That scarcity of product and the resultant higher demand,,,
Is what is fueling the higher prices of the H&R guns.
About 8 years ago I bought a nice used S&W Model 34 off of Gunbroker,,,
It was a graduation gift for a young lady who I taught to shoot,,,
I paid $415.00 + $40.00 + $20.00 for a very clean gun.
If I wanted to do the same today,,,
I could get her a brand new semi-auto for that money.
Or I could get a new Charter Arms Pathfinder for $365.00,,,
But that's the only choice for under $400.00,,,
The Rossi's are non-existent right now,,,
Taurus models are all over $500.00.
It could also be that people are collecting the H&R revolvers now,,,
That and High Standard guns are about the only guns cheap enough for a starting collector.
I do know one gentleman who is in just that situation,,,
He wanted to start a collection of revolvers for his grandson,,,
He can't afford any of the vintage S&W's so he opted for a third-tier collection.
He has paid what I thought were ridiculous prices for some of his guns,,,
Now I will say that he only buys guns that are extremely clean,,,
Maybe people like him are also driving the prices up.
Just two weeks ago I paid $191.48 (otd) for a decent H&R 949,,,
Three years ago I would have passed and kept looking,,,
This year I think I got the gun for a good price.
Times change,,,
The wheel turns,,,
Nothing stays the same.
Aarond
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