Why Are Deerfields So Expensive?

[Black Fly]

On a whim, I was thinking it might be nice to have a Deerfield 44. I was looking at them on GunBroker and the prices listed seem really high. Just curious, is there some reason these little guns are listed for such high prices.
Thanks
Bfly

 

[Lloyd Smale]

think of all the small parts that have to be machined and fit properly to work together automaticaly and youll understand why it cost more to make one then a bolt action rifle.

 

[Black Fly]

Were they always that expensive? :?: The one's I saw were about $1200, I thought they were in the same price range as the original 44, maybe a bit more like the newer Minis.
Bfly

 

[9x19]

When they were in production they were around $500 -$600 New... and they didn't sell well.

Now that they are no longer being made folks think they are worth more... same story with the PC9, etc.

 

[wwb]

The price is whatever the market will bear. In those parts of the country where they are a popular deer hunting rifle (carbine) they will command a pretty good price. Why ? They are no longer in production, so the supply is finite, and those who have them are reticent to part with them... as a result, demand exceeds supply, resulting in the higher prices.

That said, some websites (Gunbroker, for one) have some listed at excessively high prices..... note, however, that they don't sell at those prices. Knock off a hundred or two and they would be gone.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Supply vs demand It's how all markets work. Happens quite often. ppl think an item will be readily available and they put off the purchase. It gets discontinued and suddenly it's a high priced collectable.

 

[dfletcher]

On a whim, I was thinking it might be nice to have a Deerfield 44. I was looking at them on GunBroker and the prices listed seem really high. Just curious, is there some reason these little guns are listed for such high prices.
Thanks
Bfly

Because when they were made no one liked them .... :wink:

I like GB and buy there fairly often. But the concept of an auction, it seems to me, benefits the seller. You get the product in front of a few people who all want it at the same time. Does any one think having another fellow show up at a car dealership at exactly the same time as you saying "hey, I want that exact car too!" would result in a better deal for the buyer?

I'd be more inclined to go with an older Ruger 44 tube mag fed.

 

[NH Rugerman]

I have always believed that Ruger would have had so much more success with many of their rifles such as the models 96 and 99 if they had just stocked them in walnut instead of those ugly, boring hardwood stocks.... Even as an option it would have increased sales and just maybe, kept them in the catalog...Just my opinion.

 

[500jrh]

I agree 100%. Most hardwood is plain as can be. There are exceptions, of course, my Mini-14 Ranch Rifle came with a tiger-striped piece of Birch you have too see to believe, but too many are stocked in overpriced kindling.....A Deerfield with nicely figured Walnut, you might have my attention at $8-900.

 

[TINCANBANDIT]

I have one of the original 44 Carbines (not built on the Mini platform)

I paid $390 for it about 3 years ago

 

[montegomx70]

Supply vs demand It's how all markets work. Happens quite often. ppl think an item will be readily available and they put off the purchase. It gets discontinued and suddenly it's a high priced collectable.

What he said, be happy you are not looking for a Colt Python!

 

[TinkerDave]

Because folks on this forum buy them for their private museums. TD

 

[5of7]

When they were first introduced, they sold for $108.

I remember because the 10/22 was $54 at that time and I was struck by the relationship between bore size and price. Sometime in the 60s I think. Wages for blue collars were around $3.50 pr. hr.

The reason why they are so high now is simply because they are not in production anymore....people seem to think that makes them more valuable.... 8)

After some thought I realize that I was thinking of the earlier model 44 Ruger. I know that these are commanding a high price due to the collectors appeal.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

2002 Sturm Ruger Deerfield Carbine 99/44 Deer Rifle Print Ad

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Sturm-Ruger-Deerfield-Carbine-99-44-Deer-Rifle-Print-Ad-/231036324767

It has a MSRP of $675 I seem to remember they were about $475 at Walmart.

 

[mohavesam]

What I don't understand is why Ruger dropped spare parts for them so quickly.
I just love it when the parts & service department tells me "You might try looking for that on the internet..."
Wow. THAT took some deep thought.

 

[lookieloo]

On a whim, I was thinking it might be nice to have a Deerfield 44. I was looking at them on GunBroker and the prices listed seem really high. Just curious, is there some reason these little guns are listed for such high prices.
Thanks
Bfly

Back in college, I decided to buy my first gun on my own, and I wanted an SKS (I had been told as a teenager that it was cheap and good enough for East Texas hunting). You can imagine my surprise to find out that their importation had been curtailed and that the price had gone from ~$80 to ~$250 (this was the early 2000s). Now they're $400+.

Don't get me wrong, the SKS is a decent rifle; but it ain't worth a penny more than $200 as far as I care in today's dollars. Ergo, I will probably never own one.

The same goes for the Deerfield. While it strikes me a good gun to have, I see no reason to pay collector-value for something I want for practical use......... Ergo, I will probably never own one.

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I do wonder though if now might be the time for Ruger and other companies to bring out more autoloading pistol-caliber rifles in light of recent shortages. Might help unload the pile of large pistol primers languishing at my store.