I saw a Lyman Great Plains Rifle in a pawn shop today. I didn't look at it closely, but it was a percussion model. Price tag said $375. Is this a good enough price for me to go back and look at it more closely, or should I even bother?
Great Plains Rifle Price
- Thread starter DixieTexian
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If you're a haggler you ought to be able to get it lower than that. Before I bought it I'd have to get myself one of those drop in bore lights. There can be some really nasty stuff lurking down near the breechplug.
Check out the nipple, if it's peened that means the previous owner was dumb enough to dry fire it a bunch and you'll have to buy a new nipple. This isn't the end of the world but it will give you some bargaining power.
Check out the nipple, if it's peened that means the previous owner was dumb enough to dry fire it a bunch and you'll have to buy a new nipple. This isn't the end of the world but it will give you some bargaining power.
arcticap
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That's quite a bit more expensive than most used TC's, yet the Lyman's cost less to begin with. So it would seem that there's quite a mark up on that rifle unless it's mint.
The market for used bp rifles isn't that good. I say its way too high. There is a store around here that has a couple on clearance for 330 new. For 375 it better be a nice rifle. I only paid 300 for a used custom made gun. I tried selling a couple of new Cabelas hawkens awhile back I picked up in the bargain cave and had a hard time moving them. I eventually sold them but it took over a month on the auction sites and I didn't get what I wanted for them and they were well below the Cabelas price and they were new. Might look into the Cabelas. Made by the same people that make the Lymans.
I see you are a lefty. Where abouts are you? I'm a lefty too.
I see you are a lefty. Where abouts are you? I'm a lefty too.
i bought a lyman great plains rifle from Midsouthshootersupply.com for $380 brand new, i think they have gone up to $409 now.
What was and what is are to different things. The dollar falling to the Euro makes a bunch of difference. I have seen new great plains rifles being sold at $625. This is directly related to the falling dollar. So when someone says that they paid some amount two or three years ago this means diddly in today's market.
It does make judging value more difficult when looking at a used piece. If it was me I would give it a good looking over. Inside the bore, use a bore light, as well. Then I would put two hundred and fifty dollars on the counter and say I will give you this for it. If he says no walkout, but say thank you for your time. Then come back week or so later and show him the money again. Showing the money is important, it's your bait. After he has had time to think and see that you are the only one that is interested he just might go for it. But with all that said $375 will be the cheapest price you will find for one that is not from a private party.
It does make judging value more difficult when looking at a used piece. If it was me I would give it a good looking over. Inside the bore, use a bore light, as well. Then I would put two hundred and fifty dollars on the counter and say I will give you this for it. If he says no walkout, but say thank you for your time. Then come back week or so later and show him the money again. Showing the money is important, it's your bait. After he has had time to think and see that you are the only one that is interested he just might go for it. But with all that said $375 will be the cheapest price you will find for one that is not from a private party.
I guess lefty guns don't sell to well since I know where there are a couple for 330 brand new. The right handers are 420.
Dixie, the bore light is a good idea but the only ones that work in a sidelock are the ones you drop in. If you don't have a drop in get a nipple wrench and take out the nipple and shine your light there or stick a toothpick or a straightened paperclip in and see if you can pull out any crud. Do all of this in front of the pawnshop owner and then put a frown on your face say "Hmmm" and then offer him a lot less.
Pawn shop owners aren't stupid but they are more concerned with what they payed for the gun and getting their profit margin out of it. If they factored in the worth of a dollar vs. the euro he'd be changing his prices weekly.
Pawn shop owners use a book of gun values to set their prices. This book is heavily influenced by the dollar to the Euro when looking at imported arms.
Something that I find very disturbing is the lack of understanding of economics. It effects every aspect of our lives and so few know much about it at all. This is why Ron Paul can make statements like "It's the war in Iraq that is dragging our economy down." For all of those folks that know little to nothing about economics this might sound accurate. But it's total BS. After listening to him speak I am very glad he has little to no chance. It's really the duty of every citizen to educate themselves so they can make informed decisions about economic and political issues. But it's a very rare thing for an American to educate themselves. If it's a hobby that they are interested in, such as baseball or black powder shooting, they will strive to learn every little bit of trivial information there is. But when it comes to issues that effect theirs and everybody else's lives they spend little to no time at all.
When this country was being founded there was a major battle between Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wanted everybody,regardless of social status, to have an equal say, or vote if you will, in the running of the government. Jackson wanted only land owners to have a vote. For a long time I thought Jefferson was right. But as I grow older I am beginning to believe Jackson was correct. The level a person educates themselves to directly effects how well they do financially. This also effects how they vote on issues that require educated and informed decision making.
If one wishes to educate themselves a very good place to start is called "The Teaching Company." They have university level course on dvd or audio tape. They have a very good course on economics, among others. You can find them at www.teach12.com. Myself I take advantage of their sales. The courses are much cheaper when on sale and every course will go on sale at some time.
What if the book is last year edition? The it doesn't mean squat as far as the strenth of the dollar now. The pawn shop guys I knew gave 25 to 50 percent of the value then sold it for 75 percent on up depending on condition of original value
I am not sure if you ment to sound condescending but you did.
I am not sure if you ment to sound condescending but you did.
Misfire99 -
Thanks very much for your views on economics, education and the American public. Howver, they have absolutely nothing to do with the subject of this thread. Please take care to post such in a more appropriate thread. Thank you.
Thanks very much for your views on economics, education and the American public. Howver, they have absolutely nothing to do with the subject of this thread. Please take care to post such in a more appropriate thread. Thank you.
Cabela's right now is sky high and on sale no less..
http://www.cabelas.com/hprod-1/0009891.shtml
I can't tell if I should be upset, or pleased as of late. It seems suddenly all my guns have increased in values, but then I might like some others...
According to recent posts am I to think my Nor West Gun which I bought as a kit in 89' for about 300, is now worth $1,200.00?
A .40 cal custom LEFTY long gun I bought mint with a Getz swamped barrel and a nice durrs egg lock for 200, is now worth $1,500.00...
The ROA I bought used, but mint in 72' for 125 is now worth closer to 400?
This is nuts!
I kind of like the Lyman Great Plains Rifle for the primitive looks, but I have no idea if the flintlock is any good.. (anyone know?)
http://www.cabelas.com/hprod-1/0009891.shtml
I can't tell if I should be upset, or pleased as of late. It seems suddenly all my guns have increased in values, but then I might like some others...
According to recent posts am I to think my Nor West Gun which I bought as a kit in 89' for about 300, is now worth $1,200.00?
A .40 cal custom LEFTY long gun I bought mint with a Getz swamped barrel and a nice durrs egg lock for 200, is now worth $1,500.00...
The ROA I bought used, but mint in 72' for 125 is now worth closer to 400?
This is nuts!
I kind of like the Lyman Great Plains Rifle for the primitive looks, but I have no idea if the flintlock is any good.. (anyone know?)
This may be good and bad. At $500 for a Lyman that should certainly steer people towards buying an American made TVM or Track of the Wolf. Experienced frontstuffers used to offer the advice, "for a few hundred bucks more you can buy an American made gun and get a lot better gun". But now the seasoned smokepolers can say, "for the same amount of money you can buy American and get a lot better gun."
That's great news for the American gun makers.
BUT when it all goes through the wash we may find that it's bad news. The dollar value is weak against the Euro, however that doesn't bring the price of American made muzzleloaders down. Just a few years ago a guy could get started in the black powder sport for under $300. Now that same beginner is going to have to shell out better than $500. Sure he'll get a better gun if he goes American, but will the sticker shock scare him away entirely?
I started out with a cheap $99 Fox River Fifty. That gun gave me so many troubles I nearly dropped muzzleloading altogether. I moved up to a Lyman GPR for $300. That gun shot so much better I was then hooked on muzzleloading. I would also say that the GPR is not just a "beginners gun". It surely is a gun adequate enough to last a lifetime. But I got bitten by the flintlock bug and ended up with a TVM Early Virginia.
That's great news for the American gun makers.
BUT when it all goes through the wash we may find that it's bad news. The dollar value is weak against the Euro, however that doesn't bring the price of American made muzzleloaders down. Just a few years ago a guy could get started in the black powder sport for under $300. Now that same beginner is going to have to shell out better than $500. Sure he'll get a better gun if he goes American, but will the sticker shock scare him away entirely?
I started out with a cheap $99 Fox River Fifty. That gun gave me so many troubles I nearly dropped muzzleloading altogether. I moved up to a Lyman GPR for $300. That gun shot so much better I was then hooked on muzzleloading. I would also say that the GPR is not just a "beginners gun". It surely is a gun adequate enough to last a lifetime. But I got bitten by the flintlock bug and ended up with a TVM Early Virginia.
I tried very hard not to but sometimes it's difficult. I love this Country and what it stands for. One of the major tenants of a Democracy is the citizenry has to be educated to a level where they can functionally participate in that democracy. The level of education in this country has been going down hill for many decades. Third world children are more educated then American children, and adults for that matter. But studies show that Americans feel that they aren't lacking in education. This is willful ignorance and many will fight and barate those that try to spurn them on to educate themselves so this country doesn't go down the tubes. We see a little microcosm of this right on this thread. I really don't care if people dislike me but I do care if they live up to their responsibilities of being a good citizen and educating themselves so they make good decisions.
And this is exactly what this thread is about. What is a rifle worth and why is it worth that. This is what an understanding of economics gives one. If you don't understand why Reagenomics created one of the biggest economic booms this country has ever seen then you can't make good decisions when you go to the polls. You have a responsibility to this nation to educate yourself. Don't let the nation down.
I really don't want to offend anybody. But if you feel offended please examine why. If it's because you don't understand how money functions then don't be mad at me, be mad at all the people that were your teachers and wonder why they never told you anything about it. Maybe they wanted you to be ignorant so you could be manipulated with feel good rhetoric. or they didn't have a clue themselves. Both are probably accurate for different teachers.
As far as I know most gun dealers sell with prescribed mark-up in mind. Thank God they haven't learned from gas companies. The gas companies charge per gallon what it would cost to replace that gallon.
Tanks for the info. I'll probably pass it up for now. I don't really need to spend any more money, since I just ordered a Walker. 
check out this lyman
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/produ...d=939&osCsid=157c05af34c26375b27c45327e15f0f3
oh and its brand new
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/produ...d=939&osCsid=157c05af34c26375b27c45327e15f0f3
oh and its brand new
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