Price Check - Colt .38 Special 4 inch revolver

[BowMan]

I have been offered a Colt revolver chambered in .38 special with 4 inch barrel. The gun is in very good condition for its age.

The quoted price is 6.5 Lakhs.

Is this fair price for this gun or is the dealer asking too much?

[winnie_the_pooh]

BowMan,

6.5 lakhs for a .38 Spl is highway robbery.You will not be able to get any ammo for it AND you will face a lot of trouble when you go to get it endorsed on your license and then every 3 years at the time of renewal.

I am sure google gurus are going to endorse it enthusiastically and egg you on to buy it

[BowMan]

If 6.5 is highway robbery than what is a good ballpark figure?

Ammo is not a big issue as I can get it on my travels abroad.

[TC]

Do you have a licence that specifically mentions ".38 special" ? If yes, go ahead. But bargain ... .38 specials do not have buyers for reasons Winnie has rightly stated. Five or Six years ago a dead man's .38 special Colt was put on sale by a rather greedy dealer in Kolkata for only Rs 1.25 lakh... He did not find a buyer in Bengal till I last heard.

One and a half years ago I helped a friend buy a .32 Smith 3 inch barrel for 4.65 lakh from a dealer. It had the original box and papers. A 2 inch .32 Colt detective special is the most sought after revolver in the present Indian scenario (perhaps in the US as well in the .38 cal) The maximum price for one is 6.5 lakh to 7 at the most. Now you can compare.

My views and experience entirely. You are best judge.

Cheers
TC

[winnie_the_pooh]

Re. the price Rs.65,000 max

[nagarifle]

45k, its like buying a roller but no petrol to run it.

[BowMan]

Do you have a licence that specifically mentions ".38 special" ? If yes, go ahead. But bargain ... .38 specials do not have buyers for reasons Winnie has rightly stated. Five or Six years ago a dead man's .38 special Colt was put on sale by a rather greedy dealer in Kolkata for only Rs 1.25 lakh... He did not find a buyer in Bengal till I last heard.

One and a half years ago I helped a friend buy a .32 Smith 3 inch barrel for 4.65 lakh from a dealer. It had the original box and papers. A 2 inch .32 Colt detective special is the most sought after revolver in the present Indian scenario (perhaps in the US as well in the .38 cal) The maximum price for one is 6.5 lakh to 7 at the most. Now you can compare.

My views and experience entirely. You are best judge.

Cheers
TC

So 1.25 is the upper limit. Can you find out if it is still on sale and pm me some of the details please?

[BowMan]

45k, its like buying a roller but no petrol to run it.

45K for a colt???!!! Are you absolutely sure about this. If you can find a good one at that price than I am more than happy to lap it up.

[winnie_the_pooh]

If you are only interested in buying a Colt revolver,go ahead and buy it.However your response does beg the question ,"Did you read what people wrote in response to your query?"

I can get you a Colt revolver for 5-15,000/- ........if you can get a license for it.

[BowMan]

If you are only interested in buying a Colt revolver,go ahead and buy it.However your response does beg the question ,"Did you read what people wrote in response to your query?"

I can get you a Colt revolver for 5-15,000/- ........if you can get a license for it.

To put it concisely. I do have the paperwork ready and .38 special is a very respectable cartridge delivering approx 190 - 240 Joules energy at muzzle.

It is a sad situation that in our country such poor and outdated loads like .32 S&W Long have overtaken in popularity but I am definitely not interested in that caliber.

I am also aware the the gun is a very desirable one but the Indian market behaves erratically. Hence the query to know what is the 'going rate'.

[TC]

Bowman, the dealer died two years ago but before that he sold it to some dealer in Kanpur or UP at "wholesale price" i.e. at the price Winnie and Nagarifle are quoting for a .38 special. Frankly speaking, Rs 1.25 lakh is not the upper limit for a .38 special in India. The upper limit is the figure at which any dealer or licence holder will let it go and wash his hands off.
And, with all humility I beg to differ from your observation that the Indian market is very erratic. The Indian market had steadily adjusted itself to the real life scenario as far as guns and ammo are concerned. Those who have gathered knowledge about guns and observed the market over the years should not fall for googlies.

Cheers

TC

[winnie_the_pooh]

BowMan

You are going to make one dealer very very very HAPPY.

You asked what you should pay for it and you got the answer.You seem to be willing to go ahead and pay the dealer the asking price anyways.I feel like I wasted my time answering your query.

The difference between some one with a .32S&W Long revolver and you with your .38Spl revolver is that while he has a revolver,you have a paper weight.A catapult would be more useful.

[BowMan]

Winnie - Thanks for Shareing the info mate. I really appreciate your inputs. The idea is to make the dealer and the customer both happy (win win) and so I am asking all these questions

TC - I can understand what you are saying. The .38 special is not in vogue here but its the caliber of my choice. As regards to my assertion that the Indian market is erratic, how else do you explain a .38 special for 45/65K, a .32 S&W Long for 4.5 L and a .22 LR for 10 L ???!!!

You must agree that the market has adjusted to conditions which are imposed to restrict the market and a market that is not free can never behave rationally.

[TC]

Bowman... I am yet to come across a gringo who will buy or sell a .22 pistol or revolver for 10 lakh... If you come across one please let me know.. want to make some money

My Colt should fetch at least 15 in that case

Regards

TC

PS: There is nothing wrong with the market bowman.. its just behaving in accordance with the theory of demand and supply that is taught in school

[BowMan]

TC,

Nice that you brought up the demand and supply theory. Let me remind you that it works in a perfect/competitive market viz. Infinite buyers and sellers, zero entry and exit barriers, perfect mobility....

Please enlighten me which of these factors are present in the Indian Arms Market.

Here we probably have something which resembles a Oligopoly.

As regards to the 10L price tag being true you will have to take my word for it just as I take yours. It is a Model 18 S&W nib with papers.

Anyways that is a rhetorical question which can be debated but my immediate concern is a good deal.

Thanks
BowMan