S&W goldmine

[wpeel]

Just got back from a local pawn shop. They had close to 60 various S&W revolvers on display. ALL were new in the box, unturned with original boxes and paperwork. Prices were commensurate, of course. Rarest one I saw there was a new, unturned, unfired 38/44 Outdoorsman, in four inch trim. I hadn't ever held one before today. Probably had four or five Model 14s...if I had been blessed with sufficient coin of the realm, I'd have bought at least two of them.

Mercy.
From what I could gather, the fellow was an aging collector, that wanted to sell off some of his collection, to leave some money for his kids.
I spent over an hour in there, just looking and lusting.

[squawberryman]

MAN, do you not own a camera? You're killin' us.

[wpeel]

Have to make a correction. Now that I think about it, that wasn't an Outdoorsman. It was a Heavy Duty.

[edk]

On a similar note my local dealer just took in a collection of approximately 100 Colt SAA revolvers. 75% NIB unfired. They're not on display at this point. For a certainty there are some collections being liquidated.

[bisleyfan41]

The Boomers are aging and beginning to clear things out. I think you'll see this trend grow significantly in the near future. And the typical gun buyers of today are far less interested in wheelguns than past generations. A market suddenly flooded with vintage S&Ws and Colts may bring reduced prices.

[Fowler]

Yup it is just how it is. When Elmer Kieth’s family decided to sell I think the population base that held Elmer in such high regards was aging and at the peak of their financial mean. Their kids, regardless of age didn’t grow up reading Elmer and sure wouldn’t pay the premiums the hopes his guns would bring.

You would think wheelguns in general would plateau out but it doesn’t seem to be the case and most shops I go into have very few “interesting” wheeguns to look at so those who have them seem to be keeping them.

We will see how everything goes over the next 15-20 years.