I have always wondered

[winnie_the_pooh]

Owners of double rifles ( read no ammo) in India or banged up shotguns with one of the English gun makers names on them, want international prices for them. Now if one of these gentlemen had a S&W .32 revolver,would he sell that for the going international price for it ?

[Vikram]

I think it's greed, misreading the situation and did I say greed?

One dealer advertised an Alex Henry blackpowder rifle, heavily pitted and rusty, for over a million rupees,if I am correct.He called it an antique,I believe. BP rifles do not command as much price as Nitro rifles even abroad.One can get them at quite reasonable prices.

Best-
Vikram

[shooter]

good one WTP

[nagarifle]

yes greed and lack of customers knowledge regarding whats what is the main reason for being ripped off

[The Doc]

Now if one of these gentlemen had a S&W .32 revolver,would he sell that for the going international price for it ?

No .

Even a pre-owned IOF revolver sells on a premium of 25-30K what to talk about a S&W .32 !

best,
Rp.

[Bespoke]

The gentleman will not sell his .32 S&W for international price for simple reason because if he goes out to buy similar one in the market he won’t get it for international price. That is not the case with good British guns.

The positive side is at least something is being traded at international prices.

[Vikram]

The positive side is at least something is being traded at international prices.

[youtube][/youtube] Please.


Best-
Vikram

[Bespoke]

good British guns

The going price of 12 bore shotgun from a H&H or Purdey in India today is between 6 to 12 lacs and a Boxlock double rifle in from a good British maker is from 4 lacs to 8 lacs and a good sidelock double rifle from a top maker runs from 12 lacs upto 25 lacs and I think the prices are fair enough.

This being said yes there are people who ask for crazy prices regardless of the value but that is the case with all sorts of firearms not just British doubles.

[Vikram]

good British guns

The going price of 12 bore shotgun from a H&H or Purdey in India today is between 6 to 12 lacs and a Boxlock double rifle in from a good British maker is from 4 lacs to 8 lacs and a good sidelock double rifle from a top maker runs from 12 lacs upto 25 lacs and I think the prices are fair enough.

This being said yes there are people who ask for crazy prices regardless of the value but that is the case with all sorts of firearms not just British doubles.

But,Bespoke, Winnie was talking about double rifles with no ammunition available in India and many in a state of disrepair.I find that a bit unreasonable.Don't you agree?

Best-
Vikram

[winnie_the_pooh]

Boxlock double rifle in from a good British maker is from 4 lacs to 8 lacs and a good sidelock double rifle from a top maker runs from 12 lacs upto 25 lacs and I think the prices are fair enough.

Only on IFG.

[dr.jayakumar]

i don't think it has any use here in india...?

[essdee1972]

Demand and Supply, coupled with 1) collector's enthusiasm, and 2)show off value. Anyone familiar with real estate in Mumbai would understand. Or anyone who has ever seen an auction, for antiques, artworks, suchlike.

Any collector would be willing to pay almost any amount for something he is passionate about (guns, stamps, whatever). And the truth is quite a few people have guns because of the show-off value (even collectors - I never saw a stamp collection hidden in an attic!). Hence, in the absence of a proper free market, and with a limited supply (only old guns leftover after the import ban), it becomes a total seller's market. And being a seller's market, it is upto the sellers to decide whether they want to sell at international prices, local prices, 20000% markup, anything. If one or two of us don't (or can't) buy, there will be a hundred waiting in the wings.

We in India are used to ludicrous waiting periods (till the 80s) for a lousy Bajaj scooter, waiting in lines at the "ration shop", running pillar to post to get the insurance money of a deceased family member. We shouldn't be complaining about a bit of profiteering!!

Till we get a buyer's market, like in, say US, enjoy!!!

[Bespoke]

Vikram,
I agree that some of the guns are in pitifully condition and we have seen few examples of IFG and we also have seen examples where there is huge divergence between value and asking price.

What generally happens this if someone own a .500NE Westley Richards and first thing he does is go on internet and checks the prices of the .500NE Westley Richards for sale they would be around “$35,000 to $50,000” and converts them into rupees and ask for that price without realizing that that asking price includes sellers premium which can run upto 50% or more at times and needless to say his gun remains unsold for a year or more then he realizes what the genuine prices is and makes the deal sensible.In my own experince,I have observed this pattern.

I think that correct estimates are close to U.K auction houses realized prices. In U.S they tend to sell at much higher premium.

The ammo for most British large calibers is available in India is floating around because most of the exporters buy the ammo and never export them for it is not financial viable to do. Then one can always import for a price.

I think there is nothing wrong with seller asking for a sensible international price, if the firearm is in a decent condition.

Essdee,

I think collector’s enthusiasm should not be mixed with showoff a true collector does it out of passion and yes these collectors are rare but they are the real collectors. I am sure there would be thousands of people willing to pay millions or more for stolen Da Vinci, Rembrandt ,Van Gogh etc.. to hide it in their basement and just admire it.

It’s common to see fine things going to anonymous buyer from anonymous seller simply nothing “Property of a gentleman” of “property of a lady”.

Yes these guns have a lot of snob value but it’s not a show off for everyone.

It’s very simple the .32 S&W he will not sell at international price because there is ban on import. He will sell his bespoke firearm for international price because there is no ban on exports.