Increased Prices of Replica Percussion Revolvers

[drjldavis]

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 economic fiasco of out illustrious Obama's total lack of how free economics work.  As he prints money without any form of backing the value of the dollar on the world market depreciates, thus more dollars are required to attain the same revolver than it did two years ago.  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? 

[Major 2]

in a word ...NO
I remember $0.24 a gal. gas with a price war you could get it @ 18 cents and a free plate or glass or even Top Value Trading Stamps.

Those days are LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG gone.

[Dick Dastardly]

The gas war is over.  Gas won.

As far as guns are concerned, unreported inflation seems to be the major cause.  That and the declining buying power of the once Almighty Dollar.  November's coming.  Let's turn things around.  I know it's hard to turn a stampeding herd, but the leaders have to be turned (out of office) first.  Then the rest will eventually follow.

DD-DLoS

[Long Johns Wolf]

My 2 € cents from a European perspective. Regarding prices we have a fragmented replica revolver market over here. While I have not researched the prices in depth as Jim did I have compared them...over the years.
Here are my observations:
# most manufacturers of the replicas are in Europe or are subsidiaries of European companies
# excluding the exchange rate effect vs. $$ for the last 20 years prices for the C&B pistols but also SAA clones etc. were significantly lower in the USA compared to Europe...between 20 to 50 %. This applies to new and preowned guns.
# due to tight gun legislation in most European markets which also covers C&B pistols there is no doubt that the volume market for replicas is in the USA
# price increases of newly made replicas is also affected by the cost increase of the raw materials. Think of all the steel that is routed China and India way due to their booming economies
# as gun laws got tighter in Europe prices for preowned replicas have been dropping over the last 20 years. Replicas are not considered worth to be collected. This includes rare pistols like G&U marked revolvers or early no name replicas. To give you an example you can buy well maintained "mainstream" ASM, ASP/Euroarms, Pietta or Uberti made Colt 1851s, 1860s or Remington 1858s for € 50.00 to 80.00 which equals ca. $ 70.00 to 110.00 at today's exchange rate. Shooters on the other hand tend to purchase newly made pistols...just in case...despite their higher price...because they do not wish to give away a slot on their expensive gun license for a preowned pistol that might have issues and comes without factory warranty.
# prices for a few selected preowned C&B revolvers are stable or have increased over the last years, like 2nd & 3rd gen Colts, Centaures, exotic models like early Paterson replicas or Palmetto Roots pistols but also Pietta's Starr or LeMat revolvers and possibly a few others. On the other hand famous hard steel Santa Barbara Remmies are perceived no more desirable than an Uberti.
# since we have this appearantly neglected or underrated replica market in Europe with low prices and readily available pistols but also a booming US market for preowned pistols with increasing prices...there seems to be a business opportunity.
Long Johns Wolf

[fourfingersofdeath]

I think the cupboard was pretty much bare by the time Obama got to it.

[Paladin UK]

Current price GAS here in the UK      1.98217 USD............             
  PER LITRE
Paladin (Whats fed up constant price increases ... specially soon as winter approaches  ) UK

[Drayton Calhoun]

Current price GAS here in the UK      1.98217 USD............             
  PER LITRE
Paladin (Whats fed up constant price increases ... specially soon as winter approaches  ) UK

How muchof that is tax?

[TomBullweed]

1. I wore out five or six C&B pistols in the '80's.  They simply did not last due to poor quality and materials.  My Uberti 1849 is the lone survivor.  The current guns are much better made, have better finishes and seem to be made of better materials.
2. I visited Ireland in 2002 when the Euro waas $.84 USD.  Now the Euro is $1.30+ USD.

I expect that these two factors are the major reasons that inexpensive frontloaders and C&B guns are in the past.

A $500 gun will easily shoot twenty $25 boxes of ammo for each that I keep it.  That is the cost that has risen dramatically!

[fourfingersofdeath]

Current price GAS here in the UK      1.98217 USD............             
  PER LITRE
Paladin (Whats fed up constant price increases ... specially soon as winter approaches  ) UK

Gasoline (we call it petrol) is about $AU1.25 a litre. There are four litres in a Yankee gallon! Thats $AU5 a gallon here and close to $8 a gallon in England. Bugger!

[Fiddler Green]

I believe that I brought up this same topic two years ago and was told I didn't know what I was talking about. Makes me feel a little like Ron Paul.

[litl rooster]

first let's fix the math

How many liters are in one gallon? Answer 1 US gallon is 3.78541178 liters  (there are 4 quarts in a US gallon)
Not my opinion just fact


  I've been watching Gun Prices in the shops and on line, what I notice is they are up, but they are not selling like the media is swearing they are. Just my opinion

[Pony Racer]

LR definitely agree.

Guns were selling hot right after election but i think at least here they have somewhat gone back to normal sales levels or even a little below.

Hoping I can kick this bug and shoot tomorrow.

PR

[Fiddler Green]

I guess I missed where we were talking about gasoline and chemical guns: I thought this was about Cc&B and their prices are up compared to other types of firearms. 

[litl rooster]

it still went back to guns

[Paladin UK]

Fer LR..........
Jest been lookin at yer new Avitor (sp)


Niiiiiiiiiiiice pair o legs ya got thar pard!!

Paladin (Whats always been a `leg man`  ) UK

[Steel Horse Bailey]

 

[Major 2]

I guess I missed where we were talking about gasoline and chemical guns: I thought this was about Cc&B and their prices are up compared to other types of firearms. 

Go back to the opening post and re-read it 

Note the question posed ?

"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? "

[Drayton Calhoun]

Can't help but chuckle. I remember oh so well hearing my parents talk about how much the prices of things had gone up since the Great Depression...dang, now I'm doing the same thing!