Out of all the handguns I've purchased over the years, only a handful have been new.
I have no problem letting someone else take the depreciation hit. Most people don't even shoot the things anyway. If used cars were like used guns, they'd all have fifty miles on 'em and factory air in the tires.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Elsewhere on the intertubes...
...somebody asked about used guns. They wanted to know what people thought about buying used versus new. I replied
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 comments:
Makes sense to me. But much like buying a used car, it's good to know what to look for. Cracked cones. Cracked frames. WECSOG trigger jobs. Etc.
I wish buying used cars was like buying new guns.
Even though I went the financing route for something nicer I still look at Craigslist sometimes. You never know when you'll stumble across the deal of a lifetime.
But that's much more rare than it was a few years ago. These days it's mostly like the 91' Accord 5 speed I saw this morning. 265,000 miles on the clock and most of the clear coat peeled off and yet they're still asking $2,500. Not to mention an AC system likely still running on the unobtanium R-12.
Sure with guns you get the occasional jackwagon trying to sell their Hi Point for $400 but the number of good values still outweigh the bad.
And still be running on the break in oil. Have gotten a few that appear to never even been shot.
You're right, Tam (as usual!). Most folks rarely shoot their guns. Of the more than 75 guns I own I've only bought three new. Most of those used guns probably have less than one box of ammo through them.
I like "Experienced" guns.
"I wish buying used cars was like buying new guns"
Uh, that should be used guns.
Not enough coffee yet.
When I was a new shooter I bought my guns new from a dealer. I was not familiar enough or comfortable enough to know what to look for to ensure I wasn't buying a lemon. In that respect, ZerCool is right on.
Now that I am much more experienced (but far from an expert) I am more more confident in buying used and my last few purchases have been private party used.
I would buy used guns if I could find any that were priced right. In this area, used guns go for practically new prices. For a 10% difference in price, I'll take the new one.
My very first gun was a well worn M&P from the 40's for all of $110 in the early 90's
And don't forget the discount because of the ooopsie-scratch when someone was replacing the gas cap that time... :V
It's always struck me how narrow gun prices actually are.
I'd bet that 80% of previously owned and correctly operating cartridge firearms trade in the $200 to $700 range.
"WECSOG trigger jobs."
That's why I come here, to learn new terminology.
But yeah that's the thing about gun shows anymore; there's too many optimists on both sides of the table.
I wish I could remember who it was who wagged, "Now that I collect military surplus, I can no longer truthfully say, 'My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car'."
Italian Carcano's are the next big thing. I'm getting a jump on the market.
I remember in the days befor ethe internet, how common the following ad was in the local "trading post" newspaper:
Model 29. Like new. With 20 round box and 19 rounds remaining. Asking $X (about 80% of new).
rick8or:
You need to bloody yourself at least once wile fixing a firearm. But do learn how to fix them right.
Kristophr, Oh, I have and I have.
But guns are a lot like cars and airplanes I've worked on; a blood sacrifice is part of the repair process.
Wait. I've always given blood when doing anything mechanical, either building or fixing. I thought that was REQUIRED. I agree with rickn8or.
Most of the things that interest me aren't available new anymore. Guns hold value well enough and wear slow enough barring handloads and WECSOG that the difference between a thousand rounds through it and new is indistinguishable. Why buy new, then?
Post a Comment