Author Topic: Smith and Wesson prices (Read 1798 times)

mauser98us · « **on:** April 10, 2009, 06:19:08 PM »

Have not bought a new Smith in about twenty years. Saw a new one at a shop a while back. was taken aback by sticker shock. Question, How does an average working man afford to by these over-priced pieces of crapadeola?

stubshaft · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2009, 10:55:00 PM »

The question becomes, how can you afford bullets or components to shoot it? Have you seen the prices of primers (when you can find them)

beerbelly · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2009, 04:22:02 AM »

The price of everything goes up. What were you paying for gasoline twenty years ago? A bottle of beer?
Beerbelly

His lordship. · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2009, 06:31:38 AM »

Smith and Wessons are not the sort of gun that average people buy in big numbers, I have only had two since I started shooting in the 1970's, the first was a used Model 28 at a low price, the second was last year, the silver colored aluminum J frame for around $400.00, bought new. The fancy N and L frames are too high for me, I have a Ruger GP-100 that works great for the purchase price of $400.00.

If you really want an upper level Smith and Wesson, go ahead and get one. They are a more premium quality gun that should last a lifetime. But you may only be able to have one or two due to the price. They are different to other guns in their archaic machining and construction design, but I like to keep one around to see the old style of how guns used to be made.

Brett · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2009, 07:39:35 AM »

Quote from: stubshaft on April 10, 2009, 10:55:00 PM

The question becomes, how can you afford bullets or components to shoot it? Have you seen the prices of primers (when you can find them)

That's the plan. The liberal (socialist) government will say you can keep all your guns if you want them but you won't be able to get ammo for them.

rockbilly · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:59:22 AM »

Buy quality in the beginning and the value of the gun will only go up. Back in the early sixties I bought a pair of model 41s, if I remember correctly I paid about $350. each, that was high at the time but today the guns would eaisly sell for 8-9 hundred. Over the years I have accumulated approximately 40 Smiths, today every one of them is worth almost twice what I paid for them.

In my opinion, investing in a Colt or Smith is better than investing in stocks............

Brett · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2009, 01:00:37 PM »

Quote from: rockbilly on April 12, 2009, 07:59:22 AM

In my opinion, investing in a Colt or Smith is better than investing in stocks............

That's been my experience also. Unfortunately I had made a bigger investment in stocks.

mauser98us · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2009, 04:51:03 PM »

Well I agree Ive got 9 S&W products bought over the years. what i mean is that an average gun like a Model 10 retails for close to 5 bills.This seems extreme to me. I bought my first Model 28 for $160.00 in 1974. Now the eqvilent retails at close to 1200 clams. This does not seem proportonal to the inflation rate etc etc.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:55:23 AM »

Well that is not a realistic comparison. That M-28 was just a used gun in 1974, today it is a collectors item, big difference. I bought an old Brazilian Navy M-1917 about twenty years ago for a little over 100 bucks and today the new production version retails for around $800 but that is also not a reasonable comparison.

rockbilly · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2009, 04:58:25 AM »

Brett. Have you looked at the value of S&W stock lately? Had we taken our investments out of "Cracker Jacks" and bought S&W stock last year we wouldn't be showing a loss today............Hind sight is always 20/20.

mauser98us · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:23:34 AM »

It is a realistic comparison cause I bought that model 28 brand new.I also bought a new model 610 in 1992 for about $400.00. In 1993 I bought a new model 16 in 32 H&R Mag for $350. In 1986 I bought a new Model 29 for $350,hell they are full retail at over $1200 now. My wages havnt tripled in that same amount of time Just saying the ratio seems out of whack. Im not denigrating S&W or its products

Brett · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2009, 01:47:29 PM »

Quote from: rockbilly on April 13, 2009, 04:58:25 AM

Brett. Have you looked at the value of S&W stock lately? Had we taken our investments out of "Cracker Jacks" and bought S&W stock last year we wouldn't be showing a loss today............Hind sight is always 20/20.

I swear I thought Chrysler was going to rally when they merged with Mercedes Benz.

Autorim · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2009, 02:51:12 PM »

LIke it or not - it is the current reality. The world generally operates on perception - perceived value - perceived politics - perceived economic conditions. The ammo and firearms status is the world we live in.

williamlayton · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2009, 01:53:50 AM »

This thing has hit a nerve.
I am the worlds biggest cheapskate. That said, I have found, over the years, That I save money buying once.
I see what has been around, works, and let me repeat, works every time and that is what I go for. I don't care what it cost, I only want one of it, one time.
My wife spend more money buying cheap, two or three times and waste more energy and temper doing it.
It proves out to be moreso in guns. I have owned the Stars, and some cheap knock off made pieces of iron.
I buy a well made piece, have it checked and GOOD parts added when necessary (or, because I want them) and go my merry way.
I don't trade anymore. What I buy I keep.
S&W's are keepers, Colt, STI, Winchester, Browning, Sigs too name a few.
Blessings

buck460XVR · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2009, 03:26:22 PM »

Quote from: mauser98us on April 10, 2009, 06:19:08 PM

Question, How does an average working man afford to by these over-priced pieces of crapadeola?

We save and scrimp on other things, cause we know there is value in quality. Not only do we like nice things, but odds are it'll have substantial value should times get that bad we need to sell it. We also know that we are not only buying a handgun, but an heirloom that will be passed down thru generations...........not just a firearm, but a piece of art. I've yet to know of a son that was disappointed to inherit his dad's Smiths. And on top of this, we know that parts will still be available when our great grandson finally shoots the 686 loose.

BTW.............in this month's American Hunter a survey by Southwick and Associates shows that S&W is the top selling brand of handgun accounting for 20.6% of all handgun purchases. Says something for S&W's reputation for quality, reliability, accuracy and customer service. Apparently not everybody thinks they're over-priced pieces of crapadeola.

Tiapan64 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2009, 05:31:58 PM »

Quote from: williamlayton on April 14, 2009, 01:53:50 AM

This thing has hit a nerve.
I am the worlds biggest cheapskate. That said, I have found, over the years, That I save money buying once.
I see what has been around, works, and let me repeat, works every time and that is what I go for. I don't care what it cost, I only want one of it, one time.
My wife spend more money buying cheap, two or three times and waste more energy and temper doing it.
It proves out to be moreso in guns. I have owned the Stars, and some cheap knock off made pieces of iron.
I buy a well made piece, have it checked and GOOD parts added when necessary (or, because I want them) and go my merry way.
I don't trade anymore. What I buy I keep.
S&W's are keepers, Colt, STI, Winchester, Browning, Sigs too name a few.
Blessings

Amen, it has been said many times, you get what you pay for. Cheap gets you just that...cheap. I have always tried to buy the best quality I can afford. That being said, I have dabbled in the cheap side and always paid for it in the long run. Buy quality and it will last!! and yes hindsight is 20/20,

coyotejoe · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2009, 05:09:28 AM »

S&W is now producing a lot of guns they didn't make 20 years ago and have spent a fortune in tooling up for new production. I personally feel it was a business mistake for them to jump into producing the 1911's and the AR rifles. Granted that lots of those guns are sold but everyone else in the world was already producing them. It seems to be the way of American business to see what others are selling and do the same thing. Why "fight for a share" of the biggest market when you could sell more product with less marketing expense by producing something no one else does and have that smaller market all to yourself? Granted, S&W has done that with their Super Size revolvers like the .500 S&W but I'd like to see a new compact revolver like the Charter Arms Bulldog built with S&W quality, I think they'd sell a lot more of those than of 1911's and AR's.

roger460xvr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 21, 2009, 03:06:15 PM »

Well said buck, +1 on that-------roger460xvr

Ak.Hiker · « **Reply #18 on:** May 21, 2009, 08:23:07 PM »

I have an S&W 1955 45 ACP. You would have to spend some money on a custom gunsmith to match the trigger that came standard. The same with my Colt Python. I have had that Smith for 40 years and it still shoots as good as new.

chucky52 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 23, 2009, 03:05:30 PM »

When my company melted down, I lost a couple thousand in stock. I wish I had bought guns instead.