For the past couple of years, gun and ammunition prices have been creeping upward. Since the 2008 elections, the prices on some firearms have skyrocketed. If you are in the market for a firearm, don’t be afraid: good deals can still be had. You just have to be patient, and be ready to deal with cash when you find something you want.
For example, a friend of mine at work had a nice NYPD Smith and Wesson model 64-1 revolver. This was one of the last revolver models approved by the NYPD for carrying. My friend, a retired NYPD cop, was keeping his full-sized duty gun but was trying to get rid of this one, a 2″ barrel K-frame with a bobbed hammer. He only wanted $100 for it. I was willing to buy it sight unseen at that price, and cash quickly exchanged hands. As a Smith and Wesson revolver guy, I can’t resist picking up a pre-lock gun that has some history behind it.
In another example, my father called me just a little while ago. One of his friends has some pistols he is looking to sell for some extra money. For $150, my dad picked up an unfired FEG P9R with two magazines, holster, and ammo. Looking around at some of the auction sites, the same gun starts at $295 and goes up from there.
Recently, a local police academy was liquidating some of their unused inventory. Back in a corner of their firearms vault were more than a dozen Ruger Mini-14’s. Most of the rifles were unfired, and none had ever been issued for use on the street. In fact, most of them had merely sat in the vault for about a decade, completely unmolested. The price? $250 each. I missed out on that deal but would have bought every one of them if I could have.
The point I am trying to make is this: unless you must purchase a specific firearm today, be patient. Ask around at work, at church, and at other gatherings. There is always someone who has a gun but would rather have some money. Once people know you are in the market for something, word of mouth will bring the deals to you. You just have to know what you want and be willing to pay cash immediately.