What the hell is going on with used DA/SA .22 revolvers?

TruthTellers · January 19, 2018, 03:26 PM

I've been watching auctions on .22 revolvers for over a month and the past week, I've seen two guns sell for over $400 used.

Now, you would likely say, "$400 for a used .22 revolvers is pretty good. I'd love to buy a S&W or Ruger for that price."

Here's the thing: they weren't Rugers, Smiths, or Colts. The first one was a Charter Pathfinder 3 inch blued and it sold for $456. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that. I mean, the Charter .22's are a good gun, especially those made in the 70s/80s, but I didn't think they were worth that amount.

I wrote that one off as a fluke as it did look in really good condition, probably 98%, but then I watched the auction for an H&R... yes, H&R 9 shot. Here's the result of that auction:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/738094720

$405! I know the top break 999 Sportsman revolvers go for a pretty penny, but this is not that! This is an H&R, a decent yet unspectacular brand of low cost firearms.

What's next? Am I gonna find a Rohm that goes for $250? Anybody know what the reason is for these high prices? It's uncanny.

**44 AMP** · January 19, 2018, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Anybody know what the reason is for these high prices?

PT Barnum knew the answer!

"There's a sucker born every minute!"

Sevens · January 19, 2018, 05:09 PM

You have seen TWO auctions end higher than market and you believe there is a newsworthy development...?

Gunbroker attracts all kinds of buyers. If you really want to see a trend worth investigating, follow these two models for four months and note every sale. One sale of each, taken on it's own is almost statistically irrelevant. Certainly insignificant.

Please note -- I am not saying that this topic isn't relevant. Frankly, I find Gunbroker activity to be wildly interesting and research in to different auctions and their results, compelling.

But to pull two different auctions that are only tangentially related... well, I believe that it is WAY too small a sample size from which to draw any conclusions. And sometimes... you can find them related by a single (oddball) bidder.

briandg · January 19, 2018, 07:21 PM

It is because nobody wants them yet somebody wants them. A revolver is more demanding to manufacture than a plastic framed semiauto. Nobody wants a $1,000 new smith and wesson and rimfire revolvers are almost certainly the lowest on the chain of sales. People who want a revolver are likely to forgo the price of a new or used premium, and there are not that darned many revolvers around that are worth owning at the level you are looking at.

James K · January 19, 2018, 09:57 PM

I think that is the result of a climate of fear among people who desperately want to buy a gun "before", with "before what" never quite clear even in their own minds.

Jim

JERRYS. · January 19, 2018, 10:22 PM

the Sig P232 use to sell for $450, then when production ceased they went up to $800. now you're lucky to sell one for $500.

its just what the market bares at the time.

TruthTellers · January 20, 2018, 12:07 AM

Quote:

I think that is the result of a climate of fear among people who desperately want to buy a gun "before", with "before what" never quite clear even in their own minds.

If that were the case, then the bidders who drove up the prices on these two revolvers would have looked at some .22 semi auto pistols, no?

I followed the auctions on Charters and H&R revolvers to see what the going prices are for certain models and I have to imagine these were abnormally high, but Idk. I figured the Charter would be around 300 and the H&R around 250.

hemiram · January 20, 2018, 07:23 AM

I want a Dan Wesson 22, but wow, they are expensive. I've bid on a couple on GB, but they always get into stupid territory and I'm done.

mk70ss · January 20, 2018, 08:07 AM

Those well made, durable, accurate, .22 DA revolvers are getting scarce. Supply and demand my friend. Only Ruger and S&W really make a quality .22 DA revolver any more

ViperR · January 20, 2018, 08:48 AM

If you really want an eye opener, Go on GB and see what vintage S&W 34's, 63's and 18's are going for.

Rifletom · January 20, 2018, 11:07 AM

If you want a new H&R revolver, go to budsgunshop. They have 'em for $150.00, new. There ya have it.

Onward Allusion · January 20, 2018, 11:36 AM

The last time I'd shot 22LR was probably over 6 months ago. I primarily shoot pistol, so I mostly shoot 9mm for practice. My thinking is that it serves double duty - 9mm is inexpensive and reloadable AND FMJ rounds can be used for SD in a pinch.

Going back to the OP - yeah - Double Action 22LR revolvers are notoriously expensive, even Taurus 22LRs are expensive. For example, one can buy a Glock with up to 3x the capacity for the same price.

Yeah, I don't shoot 22LR much these days.

Onward Allusion · January 20, 2018, 11:37 AM

NOT H&R -

Heritage Rough Riders . . . zinc alloy single actions . . .

Carmady · January 20, 2018, 12:38 PM

Check the prices on old High Standard .22 snubs.

I was thinking about grabbing one a few months ago because of the very low price, $375, but it was a MK IV .22 mag. Too heavy and too short a barrel for what I'd want in a .22 mag, but I'd have jumped on it if it was a .22 LR Sentinel (9 shots).

TruthTellers · January 20, 2018, 01:20 PM

I was primarily looking to see what the older Charter's were going for because I'd rather have a nice looking blued Charter .22 for $300-ish than a new Ruger SP101 and it's gritty and heavy trigger. I will admit that they're pretty rare because I've only seen two of those older Charter's on gunbroker.

T. O'Heir · January 20, 2018, 01:40 PM

"...they weren't Rugers, Smiths, or Colts..." Exactly.
No H&R anything since 2015. No collector interest either.

DukeConnor · January 20, 2018, 05:05 PM

I feel some of the high bids on gun broker come from a couple guys, with money, going after a piece to complete some sort of collection.

There are alot of wealthy people in this country. A thou to them is like 5 bucks to me.
They aren't worrying about a few hundred dollars. They see something they want and buy it. No matter the cost.

ThomasT · January 20, 2018, 06:05 PM

I have an old flat latch model 34-1 and there is one on GB for a buy it now price of $1300. Good luck with that. It was clean and had the box, paperwork and original grips. Mine does not have the box, paperwork or original grips but if I could get $600 for it I would sell it I think.

I like my Ruger single sixes for 22 revolvers. But yep, some gun, heck all gun prices have went crazy.

shootniron · January 20, 2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

If you want a new H&R revolver, go to budsgunshop. They have 'em for $150.00, new. There ya have it.

They do not have NEW H&R revolvers!

TruthTellers · January 20, 2018, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeConnor

I feel some of the high bids on gun broker come from a couple guys, with money, going after a piece to complete some sort of collection.

There are alot of wealthy people in this country. A thou to them is like 5 bucks to me.
They aren't worrying about a few hundred dollars. They see something they want and buy it. No matter the cost.

I actually thought earlier today that it must have been people who have a Charter Arms collection going and the 3 inch .22 must have been the one that has eluded them so far.

That's probably what accounts for it.

johnwilliamson062 · January 21, 2018, 12:13 AM

Federal 22lr bulk packs are back on the shelf at walmart nationwide.

shootniron · January 21, 2018, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Federal 22lr bulk packs are back on the shelf at walmart nationwide.

NOT in my part of GA...

They have not been on the shelf here since the week after Sandy Hook.

Plenty of other ammo...NO .22 ammo at all.

aarondhgraham · January 21, 2018, 01:28 PM

There just isn't that much of a supply of new DA/SA revolvers,,,
The list of manufacturers making new guns is somewhat short.

S&W
Ruger
Charter Arms
Taurus
Rossi (maybe)
Alfa Proj (Czech import)

Am I missing one or more?

I was fortunate to buy a Rossi Plinker just before the Taurus/Rossi merger,,,
If I recall correctly it was around $365.00 + tax and transfer fee.

I was shooting it at my rifle-pistol club last fall,,,
A man saw it and said he had been on Buds waiting list for months.

He offered me $450.00 cold hard cash for mine on the spot.

If a person wants a DA/SA revolver,,,
And doesn't want to pay new Ruger or S&W prices,,,
That person must either go for a second tier gun or a used one.

Used S&W revolvers are going for as much as the new offerings if not more,,,
That leaves very few choices for the person with a skinny wallet,,,
So It's only natural that people are looking at older guns.

That scarcity of product and the resultant higher demand,,,
Is what is fueling the higher prices of the H&R guns.

About 8 years ago I bought a nice used S&W Model 34 off of Gunbroker,,,
It was a graduation gift for a young lady who I taught to shoot,,,
I paid $415.00 + $40.00 + $20.00 for a very clean gun.

If I wanted to do the same today,,,
I could get her a brand new semi-auto for that money.

Or I could get a new Charter Arms Pathfinder for $365.00,,,
But that's the only choice for under $400.00,,,
The Rossi's are non-existent right now,,,
Taurus models are all over $500.00.

It could also be that people are collecting the H&R revolvers now,,,
That and High Standard guns are about the only guns cheap enough for a starting collector.

I do know one gentleman who is in just that situation,,,
He wanted to start a collection of revolvers for his grandson,,,
He can't afford any of the vintage S&W's so he opted for a third-tier collection.

He has paid what I thought were ridiculous prices for some of his guns,,,
Now I will say that he only buys guns that are extremely clean,,,
Maybe people like him are also driving the prices up.

Just two weeks ago I paid $191.48 (otd) for a decent H&R 949,,,
Three years ago I would have passed and kept looking,,,
This year I think I got the gun for a good price.

Times change,,,
The wheel turns,,,
Nothing stays the same.

Aarond

.

johnwilliamson062 · January 21, 2018, 05:10 PM

Quote:

They have not been on the shelf here since the week after Sandy Hook.

Have you checked since after Christmas?
In my area they suddenly started appearing around the first and there is now a constant supply of the 325 white boxes at the two walmarts I am between. Over on rimfire central a few spread around the country have reported the same.
We did have quite a cold snap that may have made a short term increase in availability, but I don't think people buying to shoot was the problem.

Still about $.05 a round, but better than I have seen for a bit.

January 19, 2018, 03:26 PM	#1
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,883	What the hell is going on with used DA/SA .22 revolvers? I've been watching auctions on .22 revolvers for over a month and the past week, I've seen two guns sell for over $400 used. Now, you would likely say, "$400 for a used .22 revolvers is pretty good. I'd love to buy a S&W or Ruger for that price." Here's the thing: they weren't Rugers, Smiths, or Colts. The first one was a Charter Pathfinder 3 inch blued and it sold for $456. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that. I mean, the Charter .22's are a good gun, especially those made in the 70s/80s, but I didn't think they were worth that amount. I wrote that one off as a fluke as it did look in really good condition, probably 98%, but then I watched the auction for an H&R... yes, H&R 9 shot. Here's the result of that auction: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/738094720 $405! I know the top break 999 Sportsman revolvers go for a pretty penny, but this is not that! This is an H&R, a decent yet unspectacular brand of low cost firearms. What's next? Am I gonna find a Rohm that goes for $250? Anybody know what the reason is for these high prices? It's uncanny. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

January 19, 2018, 05:09 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	You have seen TWO auctions end higher than market and you believe there is a newsworthy development...? Gunbroker attracts all kinds of buyers. If you really want to see a trend worth investigating, follow these two models for four months and note every sale. One sale of each, taken on it's own is almost statistically irrelevant. Certainly insignificant. Please note -- I am not saying that this topic isn't relevant. Frankly, I find Gunbroker activity to be wildly interesting and research in to different auctions and their results, compelling. But to pull two different auctions that are only tangentially related... well, I believe that it is WAY too small a sample size from which to draw any conclusions. And sometimes... you can find them related by a single (oddball) bidder. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

January 19, 2018, 07:21 PM	#4
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	It is because nobody wants them yet somebody wants them. A revolver is more demanding to manufacture than a plastic framed semiauto. Nobody wants a $1,000 new smith and wesson and rimfire revolvers are almost certainly the lowest on the chain of sales. People who want a revolver are likely to forgo the price of a new or used premium, and there are not that darned many revolvers around that are worth owning at the level you are looking at. __________________ None.

January 20, 2018, 08:07 AM	#9
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,598	Those well made, durable, accurate, .22 DA revolvers are getting scarce. Supply and demand my friend. Only Ruger and S&W really make a quality .22 DA revolver any more __________________ Say when.....

January 20, 2018, 11:36 AM	#12
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	The last time I'd shot 22LR was probably over 6 months ago. I primarily shoot pistol, so I mostly shoot 9mm for practice. My thinking is that it serves double duty - 9mm is inexpensive and reloadable AND FMJ rounds can be used for SD in a pinch. Going back to the OP - yeah - Double Action 22LR revolvers are notoriously expensive, even Taurus 22LRs are expensive. For example, one can buy a Glock with up to 3x the capacity for the same price. Yeah, I don't shoot 22LR much these days. __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

January 19, 2018, 09:57 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I think that is the result of a climate of fear among people who desperately want to buy a gun "before", with "before what" never quite clear even in their own minds. Jim

January 19, 2018, 10:22 PM	#6
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,968	the Sig P232 use to sell for $450, then when production ceased they went up to $800. now you're lucky to sell one for $500. its just what the market bares at the time.

January 20, 2018, 07:23 AM	#8
hemiram Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Location: Toledo, ohio Posts: 762	I want a Dan Wesson 22, but wow, they are expensive. I've bid on a couple on GB, but they always get into stupid territory and I'm done.

January 20, 2018, 08:48 AM	#10
ViperR Member Join Date: October 2, 2017 Posts: 78	If you really want an eye opener, Go on GB and see what vintage S&W 34's, 63's and 18's are going for.

January 20, 2018, 11:07 AM	#11
Rifletom Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 786	If you want a new H&R revolver, go to budsgunshop. They have 'em for $150.00, new. There ya have it.

January 20, 2018, 11:37 AM	#13
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	NOT H&R - Heritage Rough Riders . . . zinc alloy single actions . . . __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

January 20, 2018, 12:38 PM	#14
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	Check the prices on old High Standard .22 snubs. I was thinking about grabbing one a few months ago because of the very low price, $375, but it was a MK IV .22 mag. Too heavy and too short a barrel for what I'd want in a .22 mag, but I'd have jumped on it if it was a .22 LR Sentinel (9 shots).

January 20, 2018, 01:20 PM	#15
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,883	I was primarily looking to see what the older Charter's were going for because I'd rather have a nice looking blued Charter .22 for $300-ish than a new Ruger SP101 and it's gritty and heavy trigger. I will admit that they're pretty rare because I've only seen two of those older Charter's on gunbroker. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

January 20, 2018, 01:40 PM	#16
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...they weren't Rugers, Smiths, or Colts..." Exactly. No H&R anything since 2015. No collector interest either. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 20, 2018, 05:05 PM	#17
DukeConnor Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2016 Posts: 224	I feel some of the high bids on gun broker come from a couple guys, with money, going after a piece to complete some sort of collection. There are alot of wealthy people in this country. A thou to them is like 5 bucks to me. They aren't worrying about a few hundred dollars. They see something they want and buy it. No matter the cost.

January 20, 2018, 06:05 PM	#18
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	I have an old flat latch model 34-1 and there is one on GB for a buy it now price of $1300. Good luck with that. It was clean and had the box, paperwork and original grips. Mine does not have the box, paperwork or original grips but if I could get $600 for it I would sell it I think. I like my Ruger single sixes for 22 revolvers. But yep, some gun, heck all gun prices have went crazy.

January 21, 2018, 12:13 AM	#21
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	Federal 22lr bulk packs are back on the shelf at walmart nationwide.

January 21, 2018, 01:28 PM	#23
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	There just isn't that much of a supply of new DA/SA revolvers,,, There just isn't that much of a supply of new DA/SA revolvers,,, The list of manufacturers making new guns is somewhat short. S&W Ruger Charter Arms Taurus Rossi (maybe) Alfa Proj (Czech import) Am I missing one or more? I was fortunate to buy a Rossi Plinker just before the Taurus/Rossi merger,,, If I recall correctly it was around $365.00 + tax and transfer fee. I was shooting it at my rifle-pistol club last fall,,, A man saw it and said he had been on Buds waiting list for months. He offered me $450.00 cold hard cash for mine on the spot. If a person wants a DA/SA revolver,,, And doesn't want to pay new Ruger or S&W prices,,, That person must either go for a second tier gun or a used one. Used S&W revolvers are going for as much as the new offerings if not more,,, That leaves very few choices for the person with a skinny wallet,,, So It's only natural that people are looking at older guns. That scarcity of product and the resultant higher demand,,, Is what is fueling the higher prices of the H&R guns. About 8 years ago I bought a nice used S&W Model 34 off of Gunbroker,,, It was a graduation gift for a young lady who I taught to shoot,,, I paid $415.00 + $40.00 + $20.00 for a very clean gun. If I wanted to do the same today,,, I could get her a brand new semi-auto for that money. Or I could get a new Charter Arms Pathfinder for $365.00,,, But that's the only choice for under $400.00,,, The Rossi's are non-existent right now,,, Taurus models are all over $500.00. It could also be that people are collecting the H&R revolvers now,,, That and High Standard guns are about the only guns cheap enough for a starting collector. I do know one gentleman who is in just that situation,,, He wanted to start a collection of revolvers for his grandson,,, He can't afford any of the vintage S&W's so he opted for a third-tier collection. He has paid what I thought were ridiculous prices for some of his guns,,, Now I will say that he only buys guns that are extremely clean,,, Maybe people like him are also driving the prices up. Just two weeks ago I paid $191.48 (otd) for a decent H&R 949,,, Three years ago I would have passed and kept looking,,, This year I think I got the gun for a good price. Times change,,, The wheel turns,,, Nothing stays the same. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)