Soft market?

[gewehrfreund]

I've been suggesting in passing to people that the gun market (maybe just the used market?) seems pretty soft to me recently.

Here is a prime example for the No. 1 aficionados: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/578393058

This probably represents close to the bottom end for a nice No.1 on a major internet auction site that did not somehow escape "under the radar". This one had 11 bids from 9 bidders, but still sold for only $680. I'll bet the seller wishes he had started the bidding higher, or lowered his BuyNow price (which was $950).

The winner is getting a 1V 220 Swift for about half of what the newer run of these are/were selling for last year.

It appears to me that guns in forum classified sections are also moving slowly, if at all.

I follow other things on the auction sites too, and it's the same for most guns, other than the ongoing feeding frenzy for Colt snake guns, and a few other "it" models. Things that do sell, often get only one bid.

Is it the economy, uncertainty about the future, or just nearing saturation level for some corners of the gun market?

 

[Heliman]

It is a soft market....for used firearms. Working behind the gun counter for a large sporting goods chain, new firearms are selling well. Most sales are striker fired semi-auto pistols and tactical shotguns, and to lesser and surprising extent AR's. The slowest sales thus far seem to be wheel guns and hunting rifles.

I have had several traditional used firearms for sale locally with little interest. Don't know why. Not quite convinced it is the economy based on new gun sales....

 

[ruger66]

I think it has been soft for awhile. There has been a few collector on this site that have sold off a lot of there guns. Not really a lot of young collectors. The young people are running around grabbing up the black guns. Walnut and blue have gone out of style!

 

[gewehrfreund]

Doesn't bode too well for me nearing retirement and expecting to sell off a fair percentage of my accumulation in the next year or two.
Oh well, be it guns, stocks or whatever, my nickname could be "BHSL" (buy high, sell low) :roll:

 

[ruger66]

Doesn't bode too well for me nearing retirement and expecting to sell off a fair percentage of my accumulation in the next year or two.
Oh well, be it guns, stocks or whatever, my nickname could be "BHSL" (buy high, sell low) :roll:

I know what you mean!

 

[WAYNO]

I echo the soft sellers market. I've always got stuff for sale. I have offerings on a local board, at very fair prices that have remained unsniffed for months. The biggest part of the soft local market is the background check requirement in Oregon. Pretty much shut my sales down overnight. And selling on the Ruger Forum, lots of similar items at similar prices. Add shipping and any transfer fees and it's pretty much not worth listing my items.

Guns are a part of my "portfolio", and like a tanking stock market, do ya liquidate, or wait for the rebound? And hope by then, there's still some mature collectors that appreciate blue and walnut and revolvers.

WAYNO.

 

[DGW1949]

Aside from paramilitary type weapons and/or SD handguns, I don't know of too many people who are buying guns (or anything else) these days "just because". On the other side of that coin, I know quite a few people who are presently trying rid of guns which they have no real need for.

So yeah....from where I'm sittin', what I call "the general gun market" looks perty-soft to me too. I also agree that there's deals to be had these days which would have been unheard of just one or two years ago.
That's great you're a buyer , but not so great if you're the seller. Either way though, I don't look for the situation to change much anytime soon.

DGW

 

[gewehrfreund]

"And seldom is heard, an encouraging word . . . ."

 

[WAYNO]

"And seldom is heard, an encouraging word . . . ."

Not entirely true. I'm still buying as many guns as ever. :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

 

[Captain America]

Yea, I think it's just a changing market, I come from the motorcycle world, I always have a tourer, a café bike, a chopper, and a classic bike on hand and over the years the values have really changed with the times. It's not uncommon to see a $100,000 WCC bike sell for $8000. I build/buy my bikes to ride, I buy my guns to shoot, investments, well, they're risky.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Different markets within the big picture. With the interest in the single shots lessening, it's understandable, especially in what is to many a unknown chambering. With the used v new aspect... I know a lot that just cannot fathom the idea of buying any used. Most are the newer/younger shooter that "knows" yet can't demonstrate it - the millennial still enjoying mommy and daddy's money.

 

[roofinspector]

I have not noticed a lot of movement in preowned no.1 cash prices in the last decade.

 

[DGW1949]

"And seldom is heard, an encouraging word . . . ."

That would depend on which end of the mule you're standing at.
I'm not a gun collector by any stretch, so I seldom buy one.
That said though....a couple of months ago, I did take advantage of the present market situation long enough to grab a lightly used 70's era Remington 1100 off of Gun Broker for $280.

DGW

 

[RSIno1]

220 Swifts are plentiful and that one has pretty plain wood for a red pad. There are a lot of new people buying guns right now and they don't seem comfortable buying something they know little about used.
If Hillary gets elected watch the prices of No1 and bolt guns soar as they will be the last of the banned/siezed.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

1. Despite what the Obama admin says, the economy sucks.
2. Much of the populace has less expendable money now than they had a decade ago. Priorities.
3. The number of hunters reached a high in 2010-2011 at 19.25 million and was down 15% to 16.7 million in 2015. Fewer people are needing hunting rifles.
4. Low dollar hunting rifles seem to be selling.

 

[cyborgt800]

"And seldom is heard, an encouraging word . . . ."

Not entirely true. I'm still buying as many guns as ever. :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

Me too! I think I'm at eleven since February and have plans to pick a few more up when I find the right prices.

 

[gewehrfreund]

"And seldom is heard, an encouraging word . . . ."

Not entirely true. I'm still buying as many guns as ever. :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

Me too! I think I'm at eleven since February and have plans to pick a few more up when I find the right prices.

Well, I suppose any of us are buyers if the right thing comes along at the right price.

Just curious, what are you buying (and please don't tell me it's striker fired pistols and black rifles)?

 

[WAYNO]

Well, I suppose any of us are buyers if the right thing comes along at the right price.

Just curious, what are you buying (and please don't tell me it's striker fired pistols and black rifles)?

I can't say I've not purchased black rifles and striker fired pistols, because I have.

To name a few...I've bought a Mini Thirty, AK-47, 77/357, three shorty Super Blackhawks, a couple New Model Flattop convertibles, a birdshead Vaquero, a Ruger American Pistol, a S&W Shield, a 40th Anniversary RCA Flattop, and a few Security/Speed Sixes. I do cover many bases, but it's safe to say, more revolvers than anything. :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

 

[gtxmonte]

I would find that Swift to be the exception, other than the rule. I have sold 5 Number 1Vs in various calibers over the last several months and gotten exactly what you would expect them to bring

 

[Rumrunner]

Seems its soft for the ones I want to sell, but not so for ones I want to buy

 

[gewehrfreund]

Well, I suppose any of us are buyers if the right thing comes along at the right price.

Just curious, what are you buying (and please don't tell me it's striker fired pistols and black rifles)?

I can't say I've not purchased black rifles and striker fired pistols, because I have.

To name a few...I've bought a Mini Thirty, AK-47, 77/357, three shorty Super Blackhawks, a couple New Model Flattop convertibles, a birdshead Vaquero, a Ruger American Pistol, a S&W Shield, a 40th Anniversary RCA Flattop, and a few Security/Speed Sixes. I do cover many bases, but it's safe to say, more revolvers than anything. :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

OK, you're forgiven. :lol:

 

[gewehrfreund]

I would find that Swift to be the exception, other than the rule. I have sold 5 Number 1Vs in various calibers over the last several months and gotten exactly what you would expect them to bring

That's good to hear. I hope it holds true when I start selling mine. :wink:

 

[ruger66]

Seems its soft for the ones I want to sell, but not so for ones I want to buy

We must be collecting the same thing!!

 

[gewehrfreund]

Seems its soft for the ones I want to sell, but not so for ones I want to buy

Ain't it the truth!

 

[cyborgt800]

Just curious, what are you buying (and please don't tell me it's striker fired pistols and black rifles)?

I don't mind strikers...I buy what I like, not what other people like or want. That said, here's the list:
P89, P90, P94, P95, P345, 9E, RAP9, Jericho 941, LCP, 870 Express, AR556, Air Magnum 22, Barnett Jackal Crossbow and a wrist rocket! :lol:

 

[Coyote Hunter]

This year I've only purchased two firearms. The first was a Ruger Hawkeye with a 20" barrel as a wedding gift for a future son-in-law. Hopefully he will get to use it antelope hunting with us this fall but the wedding isn't until March or April which is when he will officially receive the rifle. (If no wedding, I have another rifle.)

The other is a 'black rifle'. Or rather the restricted part, a stripped Aero M5 lower receiver. Also a stripped Aero M5 upper. This will get built up into a functional rifle over the next few months but probably won't be complete until next spring. (No hurry on my part, as you can tell.)

Might pick up another 'black rifle', a stripped AR-15 lower, just because they are relatively cheap and that may change quickly after November. Don't need one as I have two complete ARs in .223/5.56 and .300BLK. Any such purchase would simply be a protest vote on my part. (Hell, I might even get two.)


*************************
Correction. I've bought three rifles this year. Forgot about the first, a used Savage 11FXP3 in .243 Win. Couldn't pass up the $295 price tag. It has proved to be a tack driver and will likely go antelope hunting this fall.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

Regarding the 'soft market' there comes a time when more is not better. The last thing I need is another handgun or rifle.

When it comes to AR's I have two, .223/5.56 and .300BLK. Fun, and i'm building a .308 as well but other than for scenarios I hope to never encounter, not really practical for my shooting. My two semis and a lever in .22LR are more practical than my ARs. Have a Ruger 16.1" .308 Scout rifle as well. At least it is fairly practical for my general needs, which is mostly targets and hunting.

Hunting rifles? more than enough. My first was a 7mm RM back in 1982 and I've never needed anything else since then. What are all those other rifles doing in the safe? Is three .30-06's REALLY enough? Maybe someday i'll move to an area where the limited range of my Marlins (.30-30, .375 Win, .45-70) really isn't a limiting factor. Sure, I've used them to hunt antelope to elk but my bolt rifles are a better choice. Picked up a used .243 earlier this year and it is a tack driver (exactly what I expect from a Savage), but it won't do anything my .257 Roberts can't do just as well or better. My .300WM and .338WM are great choices for elk but as I get older I'm realizing that a .308 Win would have taken every animal I've ever shot. Love my old 7mm RM and it's newer brother, a .280 Rem. My 6.5-06AI was custom built for 1200 yard shooting. It is death on clay pigeons at 600 yards but I've never shot it at ranges longer than that.

Handguns? Semis in .22 short, .22LR, .25ACP, .380, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45ACP. If they cant do the job I'm doomed. Revolvers in .22LR/.22WRM, .327 Fed, .38 SPL, .357 Mag and .44 Mag. Tell me why I need more?

Muzzle stuffers? Why do I have two when I haven't shot either one in years?


Hell, instead of buying more I'd probably be better off if I sold a bunch. Or gave some away to my daughters.

 

[gewehrfreund]

I'd give some of mine away rather than try to sell them if I had worthy recipients. My daughters don't have any interest (or time) right now, and I'm not close enough to any of my other relatives to consider them.

Things may change when I can retire and have more time to reload, shoot and tinker with all the things that are being neglected right now.

The real problem is that I've run out of room, and I'm getting complaints about guns showing up in places around the house where they haven't been before.

 

[Heliman]

This year I have purchased fewer than I have sold. At this stage in my life that is good. In the future I will give some to my Sons and sell the rest to provide my wife and family additional income at my passing.

All that being said I have purchased a DAO SP101 snubby, Glock 43, 77 flatbolt, Browning Hi-Power, Colt King Cobra, S&W 66 snubby, red eagle Standard Auto, MKII Target, Rossi 92, Remington 582, 44 Carbine, and more I can't think of off the top of my head.

Standby; there is 4 months left in the year!

Dave

 

[gtxmonte]

I have about 30 I need to get rid of...........all are wood and blue, so I guess I will see if the market is soft. I have 5 more Number 1s that need to go, several lever guns, some Redhawks, other bolt guns........just stuff I don't shoot and don't plan on

As far as buying, I still buy about as much as ever and the same type stuff. I haven't found any of them to be screaming deals. As to what those might be, it's certainly not striker fired black pistols. I don't have one, don't need one and don't want one............LOL!!! I also have an AR and an AK so don't need any more of those either. My purchases are generally single actions or heavy barrel bolt guns