USFA Prices

[markg44]

Is it my imagination, or are prices settling  down a bit. Seems like the auction sites are kind of flat, same stuff listed over & over. Maybe everyone  just looses interest in the summer heat.

Mark

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Mark,
Welcome to the forum!
I've noticed the same thing but I think that a great part of it is the fact that many sellers are under the impression that anything from USFA is "golden."  Starting bids/reserve prices are often set so high that bidders quickly lose any interest.  You see these guns listed over and over again (there are a couple of these on GunBroker right now).  You would think that the seller would finally get smart and lower his opening bid amount.  Still... hope seems to spring eternal in the hearts of these sellers!
CJF

[yahoody]

The smart collectors got in and bought what they wanted early on.  Others I am guessing got in late (last 2 or 3 years) thinking there was no end to the upper side of USFA prices.  Many of those guns bought a year or more are now are being relisted at what I would consider crazy prices for a nice 2nd gen or even a 1st gen Colt!  Sillier yet when you know what the guns sold for  even a year or two ago 2nd or 3rd time around.

Once the big $ collectors were gone prices have dropped significantly.  IMO it is going to a looooong time before some of the buyers/collectors selling now make the kind of interest money they were hoping for on their USFA guns.

But with both USFA done and Colt damn near dry for production...who knows!? 

The price issue really is...with Colt you pretty much know what you are getting.  USFA can be anything for a Uberti put together and finished here (not such a great deal IMO)  or a full on USFA gun.  Again imo, sucks to be you if you paid USA prices for an Italian clone thinking you had an investment grade/quality gun.   Knowing all to well that you can buy a Uberti (damn fine SAA by any comparison here) for $500/600 any day of the week.

[Pangaea]

Like all things in life, there is a price to pay for the learning curve.  When I purchased my USFAs it was never my intention to buy them as an investment.  Prices have flattened, now that most of us insane buyers have about all of the examples made that we want.  Still a few to get.  Those weapons that are unusual or rare are still commanding good prices.

Yahoody has the great benefit of having been around the block many times, that type of knowledge is invaluable.  The rest of us just learn as we go. 

Hope all is well with everyone. 

[yahoody]

I suspect Pangaea and I had/have a similar reason to buy USFA.  We like the quality of the guns.  I shoot a few of mine and bought a few more that I have salted away.  I get talked out of one on occasion by someone I know will treasure them like I do.  Not loosing money on them.  But then....I ain't asking double what I paid for any one of them either    I doubt you'll see Pangaea or my self on GB anytime soon selling off our collections. 

Market has slowed I think because a few who bought a lot of guns and then have gotten greedy trying to resale them.   I hope the over priced guns end up in estate sales with the money going to the widows. 

But hey, like every thing, that is just my rather salty opinion :-)

[Highlander999]

I went out to one of the gun auction sites, and it appears most of the USFA's are in the price range that they would have been at full retail three or four years ago on the USFA website.  So, the rush must be over...

[Pangaea]

There haven't been any real decent hard to find guns on the USFA end of Gunbroker for a while.  I can't remember when the last time I saw an Omni Potent on there.  Most of the guns being sold are examples of those already owned by most of us "collector types".  If a lend lease gun, 30 carbine or snubnose came up, I'd almost guarantee it would go for good money.  There is a 1911 on there right now that will go for considerably less than the last two, mostly because it has been messed with.

Glad to see some activity on this board, been a while. 

[yahoody]

I didn't look far.  But did cruise GB this morning.   Worth noting that many of the guns are listed as "made in America" now, that obviously aren't.  Nice hook for the seller however.   Lots of US Pt. F. A. Mfg. Co. guns done on Uberti frames and/or Uberti parts guns.  The USFA guns that actually are US made are still listed @ asking prices double or more (generally more) than the original retail pricing.

Currently a few very nice guns on GB that are not what I would consider common, not snub Omnis how ever, but the buy in is pretty steep all things considered.

[yahoody]

"Is it my imagination, or are prices settling  down a bit."


Two weeks later and I would say you are right.....prices have settled enough to buy a new pair of Rodeos at $1400 all in.
First USFA guns I have bought in a while.  Same guns that were selling for well over $1000 each just a few months ago.

But what I really notice is the Italian guns being listed at silly prices or nice USA guns being listed for stupid silly prices.   Market for Colt guns is still strong and prices very good for the sellers.

Be interesting to see where the USFA guns are a year from now.  My guess is the prices will continue to climb over the long term.

[Galen]

Made in America? Anyone remember when Colt brought back their black powder line? Colt  claimed serial numbers would start where they left off at, guns made with original tooling, made in the Colt factory! Then we slowly learned the truth. Guns where imported as parts from Italy. Iver Johnson did the bluing and assembly. These firearms never made it to the Colt factory.

[yahoody]

"Then we slowly learned the truth."

there in lies the rub.