Are gun prices going up?

[DWS1117]

It seems that all across the board prices are rising. New, used, rifles, pistols, and accessories for them. Everything.

Am I the only one who has noticed this, or am I just a cheap skate?

 

[Atticus]

They definately seem to be creeping up ahead of inflation....and my raises.

 

[Sunray]

The price of everything is going up. This is why most firearms are such a good investment. Even a commercial hunting rifle will hold its value well. Most milsurps tend to do better though.

 

[DWS1117]

ahead of inflation....and my raises.

Now, isn't that the truth! :banghead:

My company has gotten some pretty nice contracts and grants during 2004. We even got a nice contract with the army. Despite the prosperity of the company, all of us underlings have been informed that our raises will be slim to none.

I have noticed that the prices of guns that I had bought just 2 years ago have gon up considerably.

 

[19112XS]

To quote an older (not many of those) and wiser (a lot of those) gentleman;
"The guns aren't getting more expensive, the money is just getting cheaper."
As fewer and fewer examples of the more popular collectors items remain in circulation, demand and therefore prices are increasing on these. (I said that.)

 

[DWS1117]

Yeah, I understand older guns and collector type guns, but the ones that just have me buggin my eyes are the modern ones.

Some (I'm not one of those) expected the pirces on some guns to go down a bit after the AWB. Instead, those guns have either remained at the same price level or risen. Full capacity magazine prices have plummeted, but even the 10 rounders haven't dropped any.

I don't see how some makers stay afloat. Take the 1911 market, everyone and thier brother is making a 1911 pattern pistol nowadays. And, some of these makers produce 10 or more models. Even in the face of all the competition the prices aren't going down. It seems that they are trying to see who can have the most expensive guns.

About the only manufacturer that seems to be keeping prices down is Taurus. The offer a good products and service at a price affordable to most. I am not sure how the company is faring financially. Even Hi Points have gone up. I used to laugh when I would see one going for $200. Now I regularly see them for $200 - $250.

 

[Sodbuster]

New prices are going up. Guns, ammo, accessories. Biggest increase seems to have been Weatherby, both the rifles and ammo. I think in general, factory ammo and reloading components have gone up the most, as a percentage.

 

[OpenRoad]

Could it be that the dollar has been devalued by something like 40% in the past year? Nah...

 

[TooTech]

At the same time there are some excellent deals available on police trade-in pistols available.

Some of the prices on SIGs at CDNN are very attractive!

 

[rayra]

Could it be that the dollar has been devalued by something like 40% in the past year? Nah...

Compared to WHAT, exactly?

 

[OpenRoad]

Compared to the value it had a year ago.

 

[stans]

Between the devalued dollar, the rising cost of defending litigation, the rising cost of materials, the price of guns is going up. Gun values rarely drop if the gun in question is kept in good condition.

 

[greg531mi]

About the only manufacturer that seems to be keeping prices down is Taurus.

Of course Taurus is made in Brazil, I heard they pay skilled machinist down there $65/month!!!!!
No wonder how they keep their prices down............

 

[crebralfix]

First, guns are not an "investment" because in this sense, they are not assets. You will most likely lose money on your guns. Assets put money in your pocket NOW. Your home is not an asset...for you. It is an asset for your banker because it puts money in his or her pocket monthly until you pay off the mortgage. The month you sell your house at a profit it is an asset for you (and only after the total of mortgage, interest, maintenance, and all bill costs over the term of the mortgage). The only way a gun is an asset is if you have a company that uses them in some way to generate money (such as rental guns at a range).

The reason "money is getting cheaper" is because the "money" issued by the non-government agency called the Federal Reserve has NO VALUE (the Fed is a group of private bankers and companies). You cannot go to a bank and ask for your gold or silver. Go ahead and try it.

Remember that a "certificate" is a representation of something else. A "gift certificate" for a store is NOT money. It simply represents a limit on the amount of goods you can walk out with. The "dollar" used to be the same as a certificate and you could trade it in for gold or silver. Now it's just a "Federal Reserve Note"...a piece of paper that cannot be traded in for anything of real value. Buying gold or silver is different from trading in certificates.

The "value" of the dollar is perception, nothing more. Oh, and it's backed up by the US military.

The reason Alan Greenspan says "we need 5% inflation every year" is because that prevents 500% inflation in one year. Everyone would bitch about that; 5% just gets us used to the new prices.

Now, top that off with additional taxes throughout the supply chain...yeah, prices are going up.

And, since when is a pistol MORE valuable than a rifle? Ballistically, pistols just suck.

Take a look here: http://www.libertydollar.org/

 

[jefnvk]

And, since when is a pistol MORE valuable than a rifle? Ballistically, pistols just suck.

So, I gues my $400 1911 isn't as valuable as my $150 10/22?

Cost of everything is going up. I don't know what the prices of AR-15's were before the ban went in place, but grasping a simple understanding of economics, I find it funnny that people think that they would drop to the same price they were ten years ago.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

I think some dealers are price happy right now. Just got back from the show, eyeballing Taurus PT-92 guns, lots of them around, some used ones, blued used for $399? What? One local dealer was selling New Stainless ones for $389... I am starting to memorize the same guns, same too high price... getting kind of sick. Bleh. Though I did get my Spyderco Spyderfly finally!

 

[eagle45]

Anyone that works in a manufacturing company knows that the price of material (metal) is on the rise and has been for some time. This is the perfect reason for purchasing that new weapon now.

Anyway it worked for me when I bought my Springfield Champion last year, since my wife does all the pricing for the company she works for, she knew that steel was on the rise. She actually suggested that I buy it!

Like I said, it worked for me!

 

[JohnBT]

"Between July 1995 and February 2002, the dollar’s value rose nearly 50 percent in comparison to a handful of other major currencies." - googled up at random from The Economist or some such publication.

So now it's come down some and U.S. exporters better off in most cases. But boy has the imported stuff gotten expensive. Speaking of prices, what ever happened to all the posts about the high price of gasoline? It's $1.60 here.

I suppose the prices of guns have gone up some, but I know the gun stores' labor costs, utilities and such have gone up.

John

 

[OpenRoad]

Just as I suspected, they've got us conditioned to think that $1.60 is cheap gas...

I long for the days a few years ago of $.79 per gallon gas, those days may be gone forever. Sure would be nice to be able to drive my truck again though...

 

[Waitone]

World demand for metal has gone through the roof. We are now in a true shortage situation. What used to be considered junk metals now go for premium IF YOU CAN FIND IT. I work in the metals business and it is a major effort to simply find the stuff regardless of the quality.

I am beginning to hear of substandard metal showing up in guns. Nothing analytical, just beginning to hear stories.

 

[Ala Dan]

Perfect example, when our Steyr rifle stock is depleted and they are
restocked; each rifle will sell for approximately $150 more. Right now,
standard calibers are priced at $574; so that will give you an idea of
the increase expected.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[ceetee]

Originally posted by Open Road

Just as I suspected, they've got us conditioned to think that $1.60 is cheap gas...

I'd love to get $1.60 gas again! Around here, it's $2.05 to $2.09, and holding steady...

 

[JohnBT]

$1.60 isn't a bad price compared to other years when you consider the corresponding income of the period. I sometimes think that I'd like to go back to the $.25 a gallon days, but then again I wouldn't want to because I was only making a buck an hour. I certainly wouldn't want to return the high gas prices of the OPEC oil embargo of 30 years ago when I was a starving student.

What's the price of raw plastic these days?

John

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Really depends on the gun in question. Springfield MilSpecs are just about the same price now as in the early 1990's. Rugers seem to be about 10% higher in 10 years. Colts seem to have jumped a lot. Basic HD shotguns (Winchester Defender, Mossberg 500's) seem to be about the same as 10 years ago.

Just going on some know prices I've paid, I'd say prices for many haven't changed much at all.

 

[Eric Bryant]

Really depends on the gun in question. Springfield MilSpecs are just about the same price now as in the early 1990's. Rugers seem to be about 10% higher in 10 years. Colts seem to have jumped a lot. Basic HD shotguns (Winchester Defender, Mossberg 500's) seem to be about the same as 10 years ago.

I'd chalk this up to improved manufacturing efficiencies offseting any increase in material or labor costs; this is especially true for Imbel's Brazilian manufacturing capabilities.

As far as material costs contributing to the cost of firearms, I call "BS". This may very well be the case with a truck that weighs 5,000 lbs and sells for $30K; in this situation, materials are a pretty significant part of the overall cost. But with a $1000 1911 that contains not even 3 lbs of steel? I've got a difficult time believing that material costs account for any significant increase in street cost. Rather, I think we're just seeing the manufacturers and shop owners attempting to bump their profits after 3 long, hard years - just like many other vendors in many other industries (note that Christmas bargins were not nearly as attractive this year as in previous years).