What Do You Consider an Expensive Gun?

[billt]

The longer you've been in this game, the more expensive they get! You tend to remember prices, but quickly dismiss inflation. I paid $800.00 for a new Beretta Onyx Sporting Clays O/U back in 1994, now it's over $2,000.00. If I want to make myself sick, I pick up the first Gun Digest I ever bought in the 6th grade. It was a 1961 edition. S&W Model 41 $100.00 brand new. A Grade 1 Browning Superposed $285.00. Anyway, you get the idea. They're all too expensive!  Bill T.

[r_w]

"Expensive Gun" - noun/concept:

1. Any gun that I need but truly cannot afford to buy.
2. Any gun that I want but can't justify the compromises necessary to purchase.

and


3.  Any gun that don't go bang when you pull the trigger

[Tyler Durden]

Since I live close to Sparta, IL where the American ...err... Amateur Trapshooting Association has its very big 2 week long national championships called the Grand, I get to browse the vendor booths like Beretta, Perazi, and Kohler (if I am even spelling that correctly). 

The first year that the Grand was here in Sparta, the local papers had a big spiel about a $420,000 shotgun.  IIRC, it was a finely engraved 4 barrel set, shotgun by Perazi.

So....that kinda puts things in perspective.

Another thing that puts gun prices in perspective is a friend of mine is an FFL in Missouri and the po-po officers can get their Glocks for $250 each.  Jeesh.... no wonder Glock has such a huge market share in the LE world.

I had lusted for a stainless Beretta since about 1994.  I finally bought my first one in about 2005 or 2006 when I heard that Beretta USA was going to stop making them.  I have four now, 2 92 FS Brigadier Inox's and 2 96 Brigadier Inox's.  I got them all at about $600 each, which I think is a steal for something that will probably never be made again.  Ah....ah...Just a quick look over at the Beretta USA website shows that they are still making the Inox models, just none of the Brigadier or Elite models.  The nice thing about the Brig models is that the front sights are dovetailed in, so it is replaceable with a fiber optic or a tritium night sight.

Having a gun that runs 100% in competitions is.....(wait for it).... priceless.   

[Tyler Durden]

Beretta of Italy does make a 92/96 Stock or Combat model that does have the safety or decocker on the frame.  I would absolutely love to have one of those, but the few I have actually seen on gunbroker have gone close to $1,500.   

[TAB]

kohler makes  plumbing fixtures and generators.

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

kohler makes  plumbing fixtures and generators.

I think he meant Kolar Shotguns, handmade, pricey.....out of Wisconsin...

[r_w]

kohler makes  plumbing fixtures and generators.

Speaking of which, that is one fine example of plumber's butt...     

[TAB]

Speaking of which, that is one fine example of plumber's butt...     

it would be if we got rid of the thong.

[tombogan03884]

 If I were buying a O/U for competition, and having it fitted to me for length of pull etc. I would not blink at spending $10 or $20,000, $10,000 for a Krieghoff would be reasonable..

[Timothy]

There are some great guns out there for less than 10K that aren't adorned with another 10K of engraving.  As a machinist, you're aware that fit of a break action needs to be close tolerance to last the tens of thousands of rounds these guns are fired in competition.  Even a small amount of movement in the gun will cause problems over time. 

It's the hand lapping and attention to detail that you're paying for.  The rest is just for show!