Are the prices of reproductions catching up to originals?

[bioprof]

I've noticed that the prices for reproduction bp revolvers has been steadily increasing, but the prices for original revolvers has remained about the same. Do you think that the price of reproductions will eventually catch up to some of the more common originals like the Colt 1849 Pocket revolvers?

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Its a result of several factors. 1. devaluation of the dollar against the Euro, 2. Better quality from the European makers, 3) lack of spare cash for luxuries due to 10% unemployment and crappy economy in the US. I'm sure there are others as well.

Back in the early to mid 1980's there was a recession that led to higher unemployment and slightly reduced real estate values, rif's, etc. I bought up a crap load of 19th century centerfire single shot rifles. Folks who were feeling the pinch were unloading there guns, so the market had plentiful supply and the demand was down due to folks not wanting to spend their cash on non-necessities. I was getting Remington rollers for 50 - 80 bucks. Bought several martinis, large and small for 75 bucks each. Ballards could be had for 150. 4 or 5 years later I tripled and quadrupled my money.

With the current hemorrhage of tax money overseas and for social programs, it doesn't look like things will turn around anytime soon. We have been drug down by GW and Obama is making sure we stay there. I'm beginning to think the US is becoming a third world country.

There's alot of folks trying to unload their guns on line and there aren't as many bids as a year ago.

A fellow in my community hasn't missed a shoot at friendship in 20 years, says he isn't going this fall. Between trying to help his daughter's family save their house from foreclosure and other costs going up, he says he just can't afford the trip.

Things are so bad, folks come down our driveway and ask us to take their horses (free)at least once a month. We took two of them, both young foals, and the former owner of one brought us 30 bales of hay just for us to take her. Didn't want her going to slaughter.

Some acquaintances have unloaded every gun, keeping only a shotgun for hunting. And now the biggest employer in town, Harley is laying off 150 more workers and may even close the plant. It's gonna be really bad around here.

 

[Bearbait2]

Mr. zimmerstutzen,
You don't say where you are located.
Which/what "Harley plant" are you referring to?
Best Wishes

 

[wildeagle]

Mr. Zimmerstutzen resides about an hour away from me here in Penna. It is not only Harley that is hurting. Tyco ( used to be AMP ) just shut down one of there oldest and dependable electroplating plants ( Carlisle ). Schindler, a leading elevator manufacturer just recently laid off 1/4 of their work force (Gettysburg ). The paper mill at which I worked for almost 20 yrs closed it's doors a month ago ( Mt Holly Springs ). A second mill in the same town is teetering on the edge of closing. It is happening everywhere, and happening quickly. The future is looking bleak, a lot of people are looking down the barrel at a sobering reality check!!!

 

[shmrck1]

wildeagle,
I guess I have to say I agree with most
of your observations.Downsizing and outsourcing are an issue.My son-in-law recently waited
6months to get the Harley he wanted and paid cash
for.Downsizing? Maybe:hmm:
I work at a company that at my place
of work had 5 workers working on the receiving
dock.Currently there is 1 and the job is being done better!Jobs are being
cut from the dock to the front door of this
retail store. The reason is not China,Korea or
Japan or even Mexico.
Well then snake-eyes what could it be???? :hmm: Well in the case I describe it is
the computer. Either work with it,and use it,
or blame it on something else and die.
I don't like it either,but that is
the way it is.IMHO :surrender:
snake-eyes

 

[Blizzard of '93]

hope not prof.
on 'antique roadshow' lately an original '51 Colt Navy in 'fair' condition was appraised at 3,500$$. IMO it wasn't much to look at.

 

[Bearbait2]

Mr. wildeagle,
Are you gentlemen referring to the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Co or some other "Harley....plant"?
Appreciate you assistance in this matter.
Best Wishes

 

[wildeagle]

Good day to you Windwalker. No need for Mr. , Wildeagle will do just fine. Yes, it is the motorcycle plant of which we speak. I'm not saying that the Company is folding up, just that downsizing is taking place, at least at this particular plant. And by no means knocking the machine, I'd love to own one, just other priorities to take care of first. :surrender:

 

[wildeagle]

Snakeyes, Let me first apologize to Bioprof for kinda hi-jacking his post, Bioprof I apologize. I agree with you Snakeyes that a lot of the blame lies with we the people, we have come do depend on someone or thing to "take care of us". I feel that we need to become more self-relying and possibly a lot less lazy as a country. OK, I will hand it back to bioprof, sorry about the digressing. :bow:

 

[bioprof]

No problem. I guess what I was thinking of was that I have seen some of the more common bp revolvers like the Colt 1859 Pocket Pistols for sale for around $850, which is about what they sold for 5-10 years ago. In the meantime, Italian replicas have gone up in price almost every year.

 

[bprevolver]

I posted this same info on another posting but it seems very appropriate here as well.

Take good care of your Replica Arms 1860 Army. Too bad you are shooting it. This revolver NIB with papers, etc. could bring over $500 to a serious collector. Since I am a collector and no longer a shooter I concentrate on historical information about the modern production black powder percussion revolvers and their collectiblility. Replica Arms was one of the first in the business. Most of these guns were make by Uberti and Armi San Marco.

By the way, Blue Book is worthless for finding true value of replica revolvers. They do not even list 1/4 of the revolvers manufactured and/or distributed. I love to buy these guns at their listed values. Have you ever wondered how they come up with their values?

Thus far in doing research for a book the following have been uncovered. There are:

240 Colt Models and variations
14 Remington Models and variations
5 Other Union Models
14 Confederate Models and variations
39 Non-Historic Colt Models and variations
16 Non-Historic Remington Models and variations
13 Non-Historic Confederate Models and variations

Manufacturers and Distributors Who Marked their Guns

4 All American made replicas
5 American Assembled replicas (Included Colt)
21 Foreign Manufacturers
53 Distributors who marked their guns.
24 Possible markings but not yet observed

In addition there are probably over 100 commemorative and special edition revolvers that have been produced.

RPRCA, Ltd has over 800 revolvers in its collection with very few duplicates. As you can see these revolvers constitute a very wide group of collectible revolvers. Value is based on supply and demand. The 2nd & 3rd Generation Colts have pretty much stabilized in price because these were aimed at the collector as well as the shooter. Therefore, there are many NIB Colts available. Not so with other replicas such a Replica Arms which were directed primarily toward the shooter so there are very few of these that can be found NIB.

 

[T.C.Albert]

So, whats the ball park value of an early and unfired Replica Arms Paterson Colt ?...(also with newer but unused Paterson capper,un-embossed unfortunately; 5 shot powder dispensor; plain 2 handled bullet mold, Im looking to add the proper 3 handled version; Paterson cleaning jag, Paterson loading tool etc... in a nice antique wooden case)

I dont ever want to part with it, but it is good to know the value of a thing.
TCA

 

[Mulebrain]

Not till way after were all pushing up daisies :grin:

 

[bprevolver]

Got a picture? What are the other markings on the Paterson? MOFRA? A double diamond? What is the date code?

This sounds like on of the early cased sets that were by Replica Arms or Dixie Gun Works.

 

[T.C.Albert]

BPR, I will dig it out of storage and see just what the marks are, but I have tried to research them in the past and they are not like the more commonly identified ones...If I recall correctly, it has a pretty low serial# which is why I think it may be an early example, the accoutrements are more recent and all from VTI...

The nipples will be a bugger to change if they ever need it...they are not standard at all, the rims are round and have no flats for a normal wrench..instead they have holes in the rim that a wrench would need to have corresponding pins for...

TCA