Increased Prices of Replica Percussion Revolvers

[SOLANCO]

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In 1965 +/- my sporting goods store had a fibre barrel full of Lee Enfield rifles muzzle down. I pulled out a jungle carbine model and paid something like $15 for it.

 

[springfield art]

I have been conducting some research into the price increases that we have all seen in the past couple of years. A lot of this is due to the weakness of the dollar against the Euro. This could be temporary depending on how the government reshapes itself in the next couple of years. I have communicated with many people in both the collecting and shooting fraternities and many are putting off acquiring new revolvers thinking the prices will go back down. However, in talking with the importers of Pietta and Uberti percussion revolvers this is definitely not going to happen. If you check out the Web Sites of the major importers you will find the disclosure, “Prices may change without notice”. All have informed me that they have already been notified by the manufacturers that there will be a definite increase in prices of these revolvers in 2011. Also, more and more the manufacturers are requiring CASH from the importers rather than credit. This means they can only order in small quantities for resale. Many have discontinued offering percussion revolvers because of this. Uberti was absorbed by Beretta and as a result the delivery of percussion revolvers has become totally unreliable. I have been told that an order placed now may not even be filled until October of 2011, with a possible increase in quoted prices. This is also true of Pietta. Cabela’s is probably the largest retailer of Pietta revolvers and many are on back order. One reason for the low Sale prices that you see Cabela’s offer is an attempt to turn the inventory fast in order to maintain a high volume of new orders from Pietta and maintain a contracted price.

Another very important point is the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Manufacturers and importers both sense that this also may cause a resurgence of interest in reenacting thus an increase in the sales of replica percussion revolvers.

The collector value of replica black powder revolvers is most definitely causing prices to increase. One of the most outstanding examples of this is the in depth research done by Wolf Niederastroth into the Centennial 1860 Army manufactured in Belgium by Centaure. This was the first mass produced replica 1860 Army that came into existence with the efforts of William B. Edwards. The prices of these revolvers were pretty much the same as their Italian counterparts through the years. With the information uncovered by Wolf the collectability of these revolvers dramatically increased as did their prices.

In short it is suggested that the prices of new replica black powder revolvers is not ever going to drop to the levels of two years ago. Indeed, right now the prices of rare markings on older revolvers are probably as low as they will ever be. As the number of collectors increase, so will the prices. As more information is uncovered the number of collectors increase.

Do you think the price of gasoline will ever be $1.25 a gallon the same as when a replica black powder percussion revolver was $69?

I read recently that trans-ocean shipping container costs have gone up as much as 10 times the pre-covid rates; add in the European War of Aggression by the Mad Little Dictator Mr. Putin, and there you have it. I enjoyed your post, very interesting; esp. to older fellows such as myself that recall the Civil War Centennial days; I wish I still had my little flyer leaflet that Navy Arms put out announcing the availability of the 'Reb' and 'Yank' revolvers! I don't know when you posted it, but the reference in there to Oct. 2011, is that a mis-type or was this originally from prior to 2011? Interesting nevertheless.

 

[springfield art]

In 1965 +/- my sporting goods store had a fibre barrel full of Lee Enfield rifles muzzle down. I pulled out a jungle carbine model and paid something like $15 for it.

I recall barrels at that same time, full of Italian Carcanos, $18.00, and in Center City Philly at Goldberg's, Springfield 1903's for $50., same time frame. Pre-'68, cash-n-carry!

 

[springfield art]

And what was the minimum wage and the cost for a gallon of gas?

Yep. Gas at 25 to 28 cts. gal., min. wage about $1.25.

 

[Valkyriemc]

Yeah, I started work in '64 , @ $1.25 I believe. What got me thinking was all the ads in the NRA magazine and others were firearms could be shipped to you directly stopped after the Kennedy assassination.

 

[Crow Choker]

I'm a $1.25 an hour veteran wage earner from the mid/late 60's. Recall when I was getting $2.25 an hour the summer of 69 building prestressed concrete bridge beams working 55+ ours a week, taking home around $115 I thought WOW. Then started working at a packing house making $3.65 an hour, taking home around $170 a week, delayed going back to college (vet medicine), never did return. Eventually ended up as police officer. Recall gas .27-.30 a gallon, $3.50 for a good size T-bone steak, $2500 or a bit more or for a Chevy Impala Super Sport with a 327 engine. etc. When I was around 16 (1965) a friend and I went to a hardware store in the big city close to us to buy new fishing poles. There were three cut fifty gallon drums sitting in the outdoor sports area. One was full of US 03 Springfields, one of German K98k Mausers, and the other full of British Enfield's. We were taking them out looking at them. An older guy told us we should buy a couple of each as they would be worth more than the $15-20 asking price. Well we both had only around $15 to spend so we each bought a Shakespeare rod and reel. All the guns were covered with tan cosmoline. We had it all over ourselves-had to ask for rags to get cleaned up. Should have gone home and figured how to come up with around $100 and gone back and bought some of those rifles.

 

[Bad Karma]

Yeah, I started work in '64 , @ $1.25 I believe. What got me thinking was all the ads in the NRA magazine and others were firearms could be shipped to you directly stopped after the Kennedy assassination.

Yep… the first egregious infringement of the Second Amendment.

 

[B P Arn]

Yep… the first egregious infringement of the Second Amendment.

The first? What about the National Firearms Act of 1934?

 

[Capt. Kirk]

The first? What about the National Firearms Act of 1934?

It's 2023, there's 340 million people in this country, we lead the world in mass shooting with 2 a day. Now I'm as pro gun as anyone, but the thought of selling full auto weapons to just anyone that walks in scares the ---- out of me, and it should you. A few laws aren't gonna hurt you.

 

[GYJ]

It's 2023, there's 340 million people in this country, we lead the world in mass shooting with 2 a day. Now I'm as pro gun as anyone, but the thought of selling full auto weapons to just anyone that walks in scares the ---- out of me, and it should you. A few laws aren't gonna hurt you.

Yeah well the NFA is about a lot more than just machineguns. Every other part of it is outdated. Some of it quite detrimental in general.

There's only 2 "mass shootings" a day according to those who use, abuse and manipulate statistics for political gain.

 

[GYJ]

People 13 years ago still bitching about prices

Bump a thread from 2023 in 2035 and they'll see us complaining about $230 brassers when you probably won't be able to get BP guns over the mail and we're all like "those were the days!!"

I guess whining about prices is always in style. I think it's borderline stupid in this context. I bought two really nice Colt replicas a few months ago in the $300 range. Meanwhile, the jon boat I was looking at 2yrs ago for $700 is now $2000! Paying $300 for a Uberti, which is a lot nicer gun than they were when they were $150, is about the last thing I wanna complain about.

 

[Hawk54]

Nothing is going to drop in price. Welcome to reality.

Agree.

 

[Bunk]

And what was the minimum wage and the cost for a gallon of gas?

Good Point!

 

[Hawk54]

Nothing is going to drop in price. Welcome to reality.

Bingo!
I was in a pawn shop the other day and the guy had a Pietta .44 1851 BRASS frame. Price? $275. You gotta be kidding me. Cabelas was usually the cheapest, but now Im not so sure anymore.
[/QUOTE]

Inflation alone is causing prices to go up.
Other factors are at work also.
A year from now prices could be 25% or more higher due to politics and monetary policy.
Looks bad for the long haul. This situation is not going to go away.
BUY NOW.
[/QUOTE]
Gun guy at a big store told me they had two increases in pricing for Italian import firearms last year. About 10% each time. I have been to several gun shows recently and black powder rifles and pistols are very scarce. Some shows had none or maybe an inline or two or a high priced pistol. Just a year or two ago you would see at least a couple of Thompson Centers or CVA's and a single shot or revolver or two. Not so now.

 

[Robby]

It's 2023, there's 340 million people in this country, we lead the world in mass shooting with 2 a day. Now I'm as pro gun as anyone, but the thought of selling full auto weapons to just anyone that walks in scares the ---- out of me, and it should you. A few laws aren't gonna hurt you.

Really! With over 20,000 gun laws on the books, which ones of the "few" are you okay with. It is not a gun problem, period. Being part of the problem is no solution.
Robby

 

[m-g willy]

It's 2023, there's 340 million people in this country, we lead the world in mass shooting with 2 a day. Now I'm as pro gun as anyone, but the thought of selling full auto weapons to just anyone that walks in scares the ---- out of me, and it should you. A few laws aren't gonna hurt you.

Good point,,,I feel much safer knowing the average law abiding citizen can not have easy access to full auto weapons,, Like the criminals do!

 

[Coinneach]

Yep… the first egregious infringement of the Second Amendment.

Is "egregious" a USMC edgemacated wurd for Aussie Diggers to spend half their lives trying to find in a Dictionary ?

 

[Kowalsk1]

Why are you referring to the year 2011?

This is 2023

 

[Packrat]

Well I just saw a 1860 Uberti Army and a 1851 Uberti avy with holsters for $655.00
didn't seem to bad to me

 

[Capt. Kirk]

Well, inflation has been dropping since June of 22, and I've been watching with interest as the prices of some things fall while some don't. Computer parts dropped with the decline of Bitcoin, building materials dropped with the rise in interest rates (thankfully), & oil has somewhat stabilized at a reasonable price as domestic production has fully recovered from the covid shutdown. Steel is down, copper is still up but it's around the same price it was in 2011, I doubt it will drop much considering it's importance in electrical systems. Egg prices are dropping as new layers are replacing the dead birds. All in all I'd say things are looking pretty good in the US, we're in better shape than most of the world, and once Ukraine finishes teaching Putin a lesson things will improve more, esp for Europe and Africa.

So what I'm saying is, BE HAPPY.