Distributor Exclusives

[Johnnu2]

Not being a collector, I was wondering how collectors view and track Distributor Exclusives; in particular the Williams Shooting Sports Bisleys (yes, I now have my first two, New Model guns). I would assume these exclusives are not produced in large quantities (?); and that there must be a bazzillion variations brought forth by the various/numerous distributors.
So, comments/information welcomed.
THANKS, J.

 

[Geoff Timm]

It's a way for the company to get money up front, rare in the business until lately. The distributors have the money, the companies need the money and folks have opinions they would like to buy.
Geoff
Who is looking for something in a stainless slide over a green hand frame in a LC9s Pro.

 

[Geoff Timm]

Could we crowd fund a customer Ruger Forum pistol?
Geoff
Who suspects we couldn't get enough folks to agree on a MODEL let alone options.

 

[contender]

Well, as a collector AND shooter,,, I kinda watch things.
To a collector of a certain model, say 44 mag NM's, a distributor special in that caliber will attract them to spend their money. To a "general" collector, it may attract them if it's an odd, low production variation, in something not often seen,,, such as the Vaqueros done in the 90's with the engraved & gold inlaid cylinders.
Next,, a lot depends upon the distributor offering,,, & how popular it is for the shooting public. Such as the 44 specials, done originally by Lipseys, that later became a catalog item.

To a collector,,, what we look for are the oddities that are in low production numbers, and desirable to many.
But it can be like trying to play the stock market.

How to track them?
Get a dealer who deals with XYZ distributor & become good friends. They are the ones who give us the production numbers & all the details on any exclusives.

As for the Williams guns,,,, not so much a collectable as a very desirable shooter by the masses.

 

[contender]

Geoff,,, any distributor can get a gun made easily,,,,,, IF,,,,, a few criteria are met.
It must be something fairly easily done to an existing model to prevent an excessive engineering cost.
It must be pre-ordered & a guaranteed sale.
It must be in a quantity enough to warrant the changes.

And yes,,, a group here could work on something,,, but you'd have to have a distributor handle the details.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Could we crowd fund a customer Ruger Forum pistol?
Geoff
Who suspects we couldn't get enough folks to agree on a MODEL let alone options.

I've tried this before a couple of time with just stocks and it became a circus fast. Impossible to get more than 4 or 5 people to agree on a specific choice. Everyone wanted their own specific details and zero variation. Might have been "no swivel studs or I'm out" to the ones insisting they have first pick of the stocks. The first attempt worked great. Others after that...I gave up soon after I even initiated it.
Other biggie is the number of people that wildly wave the "I'll take one" banner yet when it's time to pay, they're missing in action.

Haven;t bothered to try any since.

 

[TinkerDave]

GP 100 stainless 3" barrel in 10 MM auto? TD

 

[Terry T]

Small handgun runs are getting to be a problem for those of us in Ca. since they are not submitted for our 'safe' gun list. :cry:
Single actions are exempt, which helps a bit.
Terry T

 

[Armybrat]

I've been looking for a Talo short spur NV in .357 this summer, but they apparently sold out quickly. So hopefully Ruger will offer something similar as a regular production choice (the Colt style hammer profile, but with standard grips):

http://www.taloinc.com/ruger-firearms/ruger-short-spur-vaquero

 

[WAYNO]

Couple of things going on with all the distributor exclusives.

Some of the offerings are utilitarian, and too often offered in too-small quantities. Guns that should be in the catalogue bur aren't. The stuff I actually want to carry and shoot. The Flattop .44 Special, .44 Mag Super Blackhawk shorty, a KNR4 and for others, the above Vaquero, all come to mind. So for folks like me, they interest me as a shooter. If it's a really great item, and I know it'll be produced in very small numbers. I might buy a spare, left un-fired and in the safe. So I might end up with two.

Then they also offer the Beenie-Baby stuff. Otherwise typical 10/22's, with special engravings on a stock, or laminated stocks with all the colors of the rainbow. Utility-wise, they do nothing that any other 10/22 wont do, but they do cost a bit more. So the most interested parties are collectors that are buying every imaginable variation of a certain gun. And I've found, just like with Beenie Babies or Avon bottles, they don't hold any more value than the basic product. I've learned to ignore this stuff. But for the accumulators of multi-colored 10/22's, it's a great marketing scheme, and I still support the collectors that are buying this stuff.

WAYNO.

 

[Armybrat]

I hear you about the 10/22s - All the colored plastic doesn't stir me like the standard American Walnut on this one I bought new in 1968:

 

[chet15]

I've been looking for a Talo short spur NV in .357 this summer, but they apparently sold out quickly. So hopefully Ruger will offer something similar as a regular production choice (the Colt style hammer profile, but with standard grips):

http://www.taloinc.com/ruger-firearms/ruger-short-spur-vaquero

Where are they? I've not seen one example on Gunbroker. TALO says they shipped in April but...where are they?
Chet15

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

IMO, this gun needs to be made with fixed sights:

If you need a .44 Mag snubby, chances are you don't need adjustable sights.

But since there has never been a fixed sight Redhawk offering, it would be a costly engineering change to the frame casting and proofing of a new design, so there would need to be a significant pre-order to make it worth their trouble.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Seeing the "they should make" and "I wish" threads and the wishful thinking with the 'unannounced product" now I really wonder if people honestly consider the market when they get their ideas of the next sure thing.

 

[chet15]

On the same line I had a friend call up and ask if I could get Ruger to make straight profile 25-round magazines for the M1 Carbine 10/22.
I told him good luck with that one....They are a nice 10/22, but it comes with a walnut stuck which moves the price up. Most people aren't looking for 10/22's with expensive stocks on them...most people want cheap, so the 10/22 M1 is going to be limited anyway. So then why would Ruger spend the $ engineering a straight profile 10/22 25-round magazine when the 25 rounders are just fine. I understand the question, and the reason the straight magazine would look better in the M1 10/22...but for the profit after engineering and only selling a few magazines....no way worth the effort.
But this guy is befuddled as to why they wouldn't do it.
The same goes for any potential firearm model with certain special features. It better be a great idea...'cause Ruger isn't interesting in losing $.
Chet15

 

[BlkHawk73]

But this guy is befuddled as to why they wouldn't do it.
The same goes for any potential firearm model with certain special features. It better be a great idea...'cause Ruger isn't interesting in losing $.

These are the types that I always say to...if it's such a great idea, contract it yourself. After all, if it really is a such a sure thing, something that'll be in high demand, putting your own $ up for it, shouldn't be an issue at all as the profits would be fantastic. ;) Yet to see any of these with the "sure thing" ideas step up. LoL