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larvatus · October 3, 2008, 01:31 PM

I am not telling anyone what to buy. That said, $2,000 seems to be the price threshhold for a handgun or rifle newly made to a reasonable standard of quality. This means machining the action to close tolerances out of steel forgings. With repeating shotguns, close fit is not nearly as critical, so you can get away with spending less. Then again, it would cost well over $1,000 to reproduce an old school pump gun like a Winchester M97 or M12, using American labor. And many benchmade M1911 pattern pistols selling upwards of $2,000 are built with MIM firing systems.

It is possible to find bargains in finely made surplus firearms, but they are few and far between. The unissued FN M30 Mauser carbine that I bought for $300 in the early Eighties is easily worth $1,200 today. An unissued Swiss K31 carbine would command a similar price. These guns are made as well as $2,000 sporters of 2008. You get what you pay for.

October 3, 2008, 01:31 PM	#15
larvatus Junior member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 925	I am not telling anyone what to buy. That said, $2,000 seems to be the price threshhold for a handgun or rifle newly made to a reasonable standard of quality. This means machining the action to close tolerances out of steel forgings. With repeating shotguns, close fit is not nearly as critical, so you can get away with spending less. Then again, it would cost well over $1,000 to reproduce an old school pump gun like a Winchester M97 or M12, using American labor. And many benchmade M1911 pattern pistols selling upwards of $2,000 are built with MIM firing systems. It is possible to find bargains in finely made surplus firearms, but they are few and far between. The unissued FN M30 Mauser carbine that I bought for $300 in the early Eighties is easily worth $1,200 today. An unissued Swiss K31 carbine would command a similar price. These guns are made as well as $2,000 sporters of 2008. You get what you pay for.