Online/Auction/Trusted FFL? Best method to locate and purchase a "rare" firearm??

John Gault · Oct 21, 2023

Who do you use, trust, method to, search for, find and purchase a low production firearm
( Revolver)
Every time I search online i find something that sold but never for sale.

Auction houses, Brokers,
Not sure if asking a local dealer to help would bear fruit...

Richo877 · Oct 22, 2023

John Gault said:
Who do you use, trust, method to, search for, find and purchase a low production firearm
( Revolver)
Every time I search online i find something that sold but never for sale.

Auction houses, Brokers,
Not sure if asking a local dealer to help would bear fruit...

Depends on the specific gun you're looking for and its availability. I don't purchase rare firearms, but I see some on gunbroker. As far as trusted ffl's, go to one of your local shops and have a conversation with the dealer. I'm not fond of big business models like cabelas, sportsmans and the like, but I have a ffl close to home that's a real good guy, so he gets my business. Most dealers have an ear to the ground or at least can put out the word for you to find something specific. They usually have a lot of friends they can ask.

solv3nt · Oct 22, 2023

What are you looking for?

kmk1012 · Oct 22, 2023

solv3nt said:
What are you looking for?

Was just going to ask the same thing.

Richo877 · Oct 22, 2023

WANTED: Smith and Wesson 327PD. 4" Barrel model

Long Shot maybe someone has one just sitting in a box on the shelf.... Good to excellent condition please.

www.northwestfirearms.com

Tlock · Oct 22, 2023

Ron and Doug at guncrafters in salem can put some feelers out for ya. They are pretty good at finding rarer firearms

kmk1012 · Oct 22, 2023

Tlock said:
Ron and Doug at guncrafters in salem can put some feelers out for ya. They are pretty good at finding rarer firearms

Cowboy Ron loves my kids, a couple weeks back he had my 5 year old daughter riding the saddle by the door. Thinking she was a city kid but she still had horse hair on her jeans from riding earlier that day. Great guys in there for sure.

John Gault · Oct 22, 2023

Looking for a S&W 327PD older model with the 4" barrel.
One actually just came up on Gunbroker in auction but it's getting priced beyond my desire vs actual value calculation...

I have the .44 version which was less when new in the box

Tlock · Oct 22, 2023

kmk1012 said:
Cowboy Ron loves my kids, a couple weeks back he had my 5 year old daughter riding the saddle by the door. Thinking she was a city kid but she still had horse hair on her jeans from riding earlier that day. Great guys in there for sure.

I try to stop by couple times a month just to bs. Kinda the last shop around that's not all tactical guns and gear.

solv3nt · Oct 22, 2023

John Gault said:
Looking for a S&W 327PD older model with the 4" barrel.
One actually just came up on Gunbroker in auction but it's getting priced beyond my desire vs actual value calculation...

I have the .44 version which was less when new in the box

Out of my own morbid curiosity, why that one and not another 357?

Richo877 · Oct 22, 2023

John Gault said:
Looking for a S&W 327PD older model with the 4" barrel.
One actually just came up on Gunbroker in auction but it's getting priced beyond my desire vs actual value calculation...

I have the .44 version which was less when new in the box

Rare and low production runs only go up from original price though. As the years go by, there's less available and many get wear and tear. I just started peeking around and found a couple still new in box. One is pending sale and the other one sold for $1400. I'm guessing they are only going to get more expensive as the years pass.

John Gault · Oct 22, 2023

I get it....
I'd rather give someone local 1400.00 for new old stock than get involved in an auction on something used I can't touch first....

TNThomas · Oct 25, 2023

John Gault said:
Who do you use, trust, method to, search for, find and purchase a low production firearm
( Revolver)
Every time I search online i find something that sold but never for sale.

Auction houses, Brokers,
Not sure if asking a local dealer to help would bear fruit...

Check Riverofguns.com. essentially its a search engine for classified ads.

TTSX · Oct 25, 2023

My suggestion is to find an FFL that has a history in that kind of firearm. For example, if I wanted an Olympic style free pistol, I'd probably talk to Neal at gun pro in Springfield as he was an Olympian and almost certainly has contacts. If I wanted a Colt SAA, maybe a guy who regularly participates or used to in cowboy action shoots... If you find the guy who knows the guy, you'll get your gun. There are TONS of guns for sale that aren't advertised.