$$$ Price of Used Guns?

[64MercurysRule]

Ya with the price of things going up even an old piece of machinery , no matter what it is , has value ...... " Tide lifts all boats "

 

[Skully]

Gunbroker.com once in a while i buy here but the prices are usually too high. Some exotic stuff is cheaper but takes the right person. It's why i usually list on other fourms and ship my rare stuff

 

[Juniper9mm]

I priced some stuff < $200 of what I have seen in some shops and have the original S&W box still no interest ! I am not giving stuff away period but will give a long-standing member a sweet deal because we are in da club .

I have done this here and will continue to do so. I've gotten a lot of great deals over the years and don't mind returning that back.

 

[CLT65]

On the flip side, there are some older guns that can be had at pleasantly surprising rates these days.

True, I've seen some good deals on vintage bolt-action hunting rifles. It wasn't on here, but I passed up an older Remington 700 .25-06 recently for $400. I love those classic rifles, but already have several that I haven't used in decades.

It seems like many of those older rifles are undervalued now. Modern manufacturing methods can produce cheap rifles that often shoot really well, but they just can't compare to the feel of some of the old guns.

 

[oremike]

I was looking at a couple 40 S&W's here because I only have my CZ and then realized I could put the 40 barrel back in my Sig P-229 and that would give me 2 357 Sigs and 2 40 S&W's and that seemed just the right number of each. When I bought the Sig I dropped in the factory 357 Sig barrel and never shot it with the 40 S&W barrel. So I basically got a new to me gun found in the back of gun safe.

 

[nick1980]

Prices in the classifieds here are comical. Vast majority are overpriced and just sit there. I check couple times a week at least and it's just the same stuff sitting there.

 

[64MercurysRule]

Prices in the classifieds here are comical. Vast majority are overpriced and just sit there. I check couple times a week at least and it's just the same stuff sitting there.

Cars overpriced on Craigslist are the same way .......

 

[gmerkt]

However now with FFL fees, the possibility of a BGC delay and other issues traveling to buy a gun (of any major distance) is simply not 'in the cards'.

This is much the same situation here in Wash. only worse. This is why lately, when I bother to put something up in the NWFA ads, I limit availability to the FFL dealer I use for transfers. Otherwise there are just too many variables and imponderables to consider a lot of run-around. Even some western Wash. people don't get this; they balk at driving from Tacoma to Everett. To some extent, I get that, what with traffic and all. But I used to drive that far once a month just to go to the WAC gun shows. If they want it, they will drive for it.

And sometimes, I have to take with a grain of salt such statements as, "I'd buy it if I didn't have to drive 50 miles." Yeah, maybe.

I've gotten a few requests from potential NWFA buyers who want me to ship to Oregon. When I explain that I have to pay an FFL dealer to run it through his books and ship it, interest vanishes completely. These costs of course are the same they'd pay if they bought it through Gunbroker. What did they think, that I'd just box up a handgun and mail it to them??

SB 941 destroyed a big part of the gun 'hobby' for me, in that prior to it I probably bought, sold or traded 5-7 guns a year but that came to an end.

This is real. The legal obstacles that have been thrown up here have stifled what I'd call casual buying. Meaning, because you might have the money and doing it wasn't a big deal. No longer.

This is the main reason gun shows have turned into such spectacles of terminal morbidity. There's no action. Lots of gun flipping used to take place because it could be done. Remember the vultures hanging around the entrance to the hall, just waiting for "fish" to come along with something to flog off? Sellers who may not realize the potential value of the sale. Because the FFL transfer requirement, the BGC, and the 10 day wait have killed it.

Also because buying was much easier pre SB 941 sellers knew this and prices of used guns were much more competitive and deals easier to make.

Here I have to disagree, a bit. Yes, deals were easier to make. But in my experiences lately, prices often have to be cut simply to move the merchandise BECAUSE the legal obstacles make it more difficult and therefore less appealing to buyers. With the now usual legal barriers in place, the only thing a private seller can do to offset them is offer price incentive. Unless I've missed something.

Of course rare, hard-to-get, and unusually popular items will continue to command decent prices to the right buyers.

Due to an unexpected inheritance, I find myself having to unload a large number of guns. It's a tough racket under current conditions. Most of my action is done through Gunbroker which entails another set of hassles. Some sell on consignment. I will never be desperate enough to sell any under the table. I'm of no mind to get in trouble with the law.

 

[Paolung]

It seems that there are primarily two types of people selling their guns. The first type just want them gone quick and easy, and usually sell them for 50 cents on the dollar (or less) at gun or pawn shops. Then there are those who feel the need to get back what they've got into it. They post it here and it sits forever, or until they find a sucker. Occasionally the former type will post their wares here for cheap, and it goes fast. I don't constantly peruse the classifieds here, so I usually miss them too, but I've heard stories.

On the flip side, there are primarily two types of people buying guns. The first type just circles around like a vulture, trying to find a sucker desperate to sell a gun at terribly low prices, lowballing in the hopes that someone will be desperate enough to volunteer to get ripped off, and then patting themselves on the back for the great "deal" they got.

Then there are those who feel that they should pay a fair price and get good value out of guns - usually somewhat less than what the guns cost new (unless it's a high-demand or that rare model that appreciates significantly in value), but certainly nowhere near half.

I've run into both, and I've been a victim of the former type when I didn't know what I had (or I didn't research what THEY had well enough). Live and learn; I no longer consider myself an easy mark - but I'm willing to sell at a fair price where I don't feel I'm getting ripped off and the buyer doesn't either.

 

[RVTECH]

Here I have to disagree, a bit. Yes, deals were easier to make. But in my experiences lately, prices often have to be cut simply to move the merchandise BECAUSE the legal obstacles make it more difficult and therefore less appealing to buyers.

This makes sense and I agree however in the days of no FFL FTF deals there were a LOT more avenues to sell guns and LOT more advertised - and NOT just on forums. Also there were a LOT more older, traditional and collectible guns being advertised as well.

Heck pre SB 941 our local La Pine nickle ad fishwrapper had a specific section for 'sporting goods' - and a lot of the ads were guns. I remember even the Bend Bulletin newspaper having the same. Also I remember there being a REALLY popular NW based advertising website that was well known and always had a lot of guns advertised on it. I can't remember the name but I recall 'back in the day' it being mentioned on this forum - and I bought at least two guns off of it if I remember.

If I recall it 'disappeared' shortly after SB 941 but my point being with no 'freedom' to sell guns it dramatically reduced the number and places to advertise them.

 

[CLT65]

On the flip side, there are primarily two types of people buying guns. The first type just circles around like a vulture, trying to find a sucker desperate to sell a gun at terribly low prices, lowballing in the hopes that someone will be desperate enough to volunteer to get ripped off, and then patting themselves on the back for the great "deal" they got.

That's for sure, been there and done that. One of my earliest gun-trading experiences was something I'll never forget. A local guy had sold me an early Colt pistol for cheap, a 1903 .38 acp as I recall. The mainspring broke on the first magazine through it, and the LGS told me I wouldn't be able to find a replacement. I barely made it home before a "buddy" of the shop owner called me wanting to buy it. Long story short, he practically stole it. I was young and dumb, and he used all the tricks to beat me down and discourage me so I gave it to him cheap. I saw it again a couple months later, on his table at the gun show, for more than triple.

The wheeler-dealer, shyster thing has been going on forever, whether it's guns, used cars, or horses. I still like to find a good deal (who doesn't?), but nowadays it doesn't have to be a good deal if it's something I want.

 

[RVTECH]

but nowadays it doesn't have to be a good deal if it's something I want.

Not just nowadays but Many of us have been this way forever, heck I have, to a degree however pre SB 941 it was MUCH easier to use guns in deals/trades of other things.

I mean if one were 'horsetrading' something IE car, boat ANYTHING of value and you were getting close, guns were an easy, and often very acceptable way to 'seal the deal' - heck I can recall doing it many times - and sometimes taking a gun for part payment from customers in my biz at one time but with an FFL requirement now guns don't have the deal making ability they once did.

 

[deadeye]

This makes sense and I agree however in the days of no FFL FTF deals there were a LOT more avenues to sell guns and LOT more advertised - and NOT just on forums. Also there were a LOT more older, traditional and collectible guns being advertised as well.

Heck pre SB 941 our local La Pine nickle ad fishwrapper had a specific section for 'sporting goods' - and a lot of the ads were guns. I remember even the Bend Bulletin newspaper having the same. Also I remember there being a REALLY popular NW based advertising website that was well known and always had a lot of guns advertised on it. I can't remember the name but I recall 'back in the day' it being mentioned on this forum - and I bought at least two guns off of it if I remember.

If I recall it 'disappeared' shortly after SB 941 but my point being with no 'freedom' to sell guns it dramatically reduced the number and places to advertise them.

Outdoorstrader, really miss that one. Armslist used to be much better before 941 also.

 

[RVTECH]

Outdoorstrader, really miss that one.

That was it ! Ditto on AL as well pre 941.

 

[CLT65]

Interesting, makes sense. I never did that myself, never traded a gun in my life. I never had much money to spend so I was really cheap. When I finally started my career and earning decent money, it wasn't long before I was starting a family. I never had the other toys, no boats, RVs, bikes, cars, or horses. I'm still driving the truck I bought 24 years ago. I understand that "horse trading" for all kind of things is a big part of the culture in many places, but I've never done it myself.

 

[lonebull]

Might check ZIdaho.com...they have what you are looking for listed if they are still available. Would require dealer transfer.

 

[64MercurysRule]

Outdoorstrader, really miss that one. Armslist used to be much better before 941 also.

Nickel Ads was another source ........

 

[RVTECH]

I understand that "horse trading" for all kind of things is a big part of the culture in many places, but I've never done it myself.

I'ts something I grew up doing and will till the day I am gone.

Two things ya have to be aware of when horsetrading' 1st - never think of 'money' as the only thing you want to receive out of of your deal.

2nd when you get past the 'money only' part it opens up a whole new world - and quite often you might receive something you weren't weren't expecting and it's value FAR exceeds what you might have expected.

I learned long ago to always 'read' the buyer and how excited he seems about what you are selling.

I once had a boat for sale and the buyer made a very quick offer which told me he was very interested. Well the offer he made was what I was wanting but I 'threw' an old 'horsetrading' trick at him and said, 'Well, Ok', I'll take it but just so I feel like I'm getting what I want out of it, ya got anything to throw in along with your offer? Just anything you name it'.

So the guy asks me, 'You interested in guns' (well duh but I didn't show TOO much interest) and I said, 'Well yea, whatta ya got' So he says I have a Dan Wesson 4" .357 I'll throw in'.

Well, long story short I got what I wanted out of the boat and the gun which became great trading material!

 

[64MercurysRule]

 

[Certaindeaf]

Some people are just looking for some meat on the bone because ostensibly they just love them a meaty bone. logic