You can always make an offer at a pawn shop. As a general rule they are trying to double what they paid for it, so use that as your guide. Almost all the gun shops I go to only have new guns, nearly all black polymer. Only recently are starting to see small stainless revolvers making a comeback. Gone are the days when I used to press my nose against the glass to wantonly gaze at Model 29s, 27s, 19s and K-22s. Troopers, Diamondbacks and Colt 1911s.
Now I watch/ search gunbroker for what I’m desiring, mainly looking for true penny start auctions. Or a low buy it now price. I have watched for up to a year for a specific model. That’s actually a good thing, because once you see 10 of them go for crazy high money, you’ve run out of people willing to pay that and get one at a reasonable price.
Guns International is usually very high priced. I have also emailed several sellers there and said, Ok, I’ll pay that price, but never heard back from them. It is a good site to find antiques in great condition but you’ll pay big $$. I was looking at a Winchester collection once and asked the owner where he found his 1895 Russian contract, 7.62x54R. “Guns International “, he said, “And I paid through the ass for it.”
I look at a lot of online gun auctions on Proxibid and Hi-bid (aptly named) but you have to read the details of each auction carefully. In addition to the hammer drop price is a buyers premium (15 to 27%), a handling fee to pack and ship it, shipping fee and sometimes an FFL fee at both ends. You rarely get a good deal, but sometimes, especially if it’s local (in your home state) and you can go pick it up. Make sure they say they offer shipping, not everyone does. It is a source of amazement at what some people pay for guns.