Why are revolvers so expensive?

[Oxygen Mask]

With all the moving parts and complexity of semi autos, why are revolvers 2, 3, even 4x the price?
I don't get it.

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[Knobgoblin]

I see $400 revolvers for sale everywhere.

 

[66PonyCar]

Revolvers take more machining, more labor, productions runs are smaller so per gun cost is higher.

 

[Stomper]

Taxes are also a major contributing factor to pricing....

 

[RVTECH]

I recently looked at an RIA revolver and while it CERTAINLY ain't a S&W or Colt it wasn't too shabby for $219.

 

[RVTECH]

On the 'flip side' however how/why are some semi autos 2, 3 or four times the price of other 'comparable' semi autos - or revolvers? ?

I have seen these 'Stacatto' brand guns starting at like $2400 and they don't look/appear to be much different than MANY comparable or similar semi autos that are a whole lot less.

 

[Alexx1401]

With all the moving parts and complexity of semi autos, why are revolvers 2, 3, even 4x the price?
I don't get it.

There used to be a hell of a lot more labor involved in the making of a wheel gun. Not as much anymore as so much is done by automation. Quality wheel guns still need more hand work to make them nice and smooth. Most auto's no longer need much at all.

 

[WillametteWill]

Generally, lots more metal, precision moving parts to make sure the cylinder lines up with the barrel, many parts that have to fit together like a watch, and likely the biggest reason now - production volumes. They really are not any more expensive than nicer 1911s.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Generally, lots more metal, precision moving parts to make sure the cylinder lines up with the barrel, many parts that have to fit together like a watch, and likely the biggest reason now - production volumes. They really are not any more expensive than nicer 1911s.

On the average, they are cheaper than nice sigs, beretta, h&k ,etc.
Plastic frame revolvers are the same price as glocks.
I honestly don't see a valid premise in the original post at all.

4 times the price ? Of what, the mighty Lorcin??

 

[Nosferatu]

Because people pay it.

 

[spookshack]

They suck. Discuss…..

 

[TTSX]

What's your definition of expensive? $400? $800? 1200? What revolver and what semi auto specifically are you comparing?

 

[Bobbygun]

I paid a lot more for my Colt Python than I did for my Beretta 21a Bobcat. It was worth it.

 

[Oxygen Mask]

Ok, take a brand, say S&W, the common pistols M&P Shields etc are 400 to 600ish. The popular revolvers are 1000-1500.
Same for Ruger, Taurus.
Go to Bimart, all thei pistols are 250-450, all revolvers 700 to 1000.
Sure you find cheaper revolvers or more expensive pistols, but generally revolvers are much more expensive.

 

[Bobbygun]

I Googled "Colt" and the first response was the company with sub listings of "Revolver" and "Pistol". Clicking on those links brings up the first page in each category and there are some that are more expensive than others in each category. In general, the difference between the two categories isn't really that glaring.

If comparing the plastic fantastic of the pistol world to revolvers, I could see the revolvers being much more expensive. But I don't see a lot of plastic revolvers for a fair comparison.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Ok, take a brand, say S&W, the common pistols M&P Shields etc are 400 to 600ish. The popular revolvers are 1000-1500.
Same for Ruger, Taurus.
Go to Bimart, all thei pistols are 250-450, all revolvers 700 to 1000.
Sure you find cheaper revolvers or more expensive pistols, but generally revolvers are much more expensive.

Branch out from bi mart??

 

[MannyGlocks]

Rock Island M200 .38 cal. revolver can be bought 'new' for $200.00

Hitchcock 45 found them to be better than good for the money.

 

[TTSX]

Ok, take a brand, say S&W, the common pistols M&P Shields etc are 400 to 600ish. The popular revolvers are 1000-1500.
Same for Ruger, Taurus.
Go to Bimart, all thei pistols are 250-450, all revolvers 700 to 1000.
Sure you find cheaper revolvers or more expensive pistols, but generally revolvers are much more expensive.

So you just answered your own question. Brand to brand, the polymer pistols will have at the very most 1/2 the amount of metal and machining as the revolvers, plastic costs diddly squat so... There you go. Twice the materials, twice the machining, twice the price as a baseline.

 

[Oxygen Mask]

Ok. Makes sense.

 

[DirectDrive]

Revolver manufacturing requires highly skilled workers.
For example, Smith and Wesson is relocating to TN.
They have been able to send AR and striker pistol manufacturing to TN.
Their highly skilled revolver work force is in MA and revolver manufacturing is still in MA, AFAIK.

I don't know when or if they will move revolver manufacturing.