I know this will come as a shock, but my High School job was pumping ethyl, as in gas. It was the high priced flavor a $.329, with the low grade stuff at $299 when not on sale. Its 10 times as much in dollars today. Back when the commie obama was in charge, it was up well over $4. So I paid $1775 for my P210-7, new in box. There is this thing we call inflation. Its really the value of the dollar going down, not the price of stuff going up. I'd like to sell some of my stuff, but I want full value for it. I paid value, I want value back.

^^^^what rburg said^^^^
a man who gets it

If that were the case then the prices of old SIGs would track inflation. They don't - there've been multiple sudden jumps that have nothing to do with the rate of inflation.

Completely dominant new SIG pistol type made today: something with a polymer frame/grip module. Despite the praises sung over the P320 and P365, it's not particularly hard to wax nostalgia when we're in a veritable sea of guns made from vats of chemical goop, no matter how good those new guns might be. Nor is it hard to forget the initial missteps that SIG had with those goopy designs, thanks to Google searches and posts and articles still hanging around to remind 'old timers' and learn the uninitiated about those sad and unfortunate QC tales that both of those platforms have gone through--and in the P320's case is still going through, however unproven its current controversy may be. Hell, even that the current trigger discharge controversy exists AT ALL is enough to make many begin to wonder and feel if the 'old way' wasn't the right way all along. I'm amazed at how many younger buyers have been coming into the shop in recent months asking for nonexistent alloy SIGs.

The fact that SIG NH is making and shipping fewer classic P-series guns these days certainly doesn't do much to alleviate that feeling that the traditional Ps are worthy of having. Me having to tell customers that I've had all of those vaporware new P226s, P229s and P220s on order since last August probably doesn't help either, at least locally, especially when our display case these days has a steady supply of the aforementioned polymer SIGs. Add last year's SIG Germany shuttering of its doors, presumably forever ending the flow of European SIG firearms, let alone the Swiss classics whose supply is already finite. Then top it all off with the ongoing effects of the political, social and various goings on outside of the factories themselves in the past recent years or so to add further fuel to the fire, and it's been the proverbial 'perfect storm' for the rise in old SIG pistol values.

quote:

The fact that SIG NH is making and shipping fewer classic P-series guns these days certainly doesn't do much to alleviate that feeling that the traditional Ps are worthy of having.

Peruse GB and look at the prices used Classic's command. The least desirable of the lot (evidently) are P226 .40; you used to be able to see them south of $400 as a matter of routine. Not anymore. And 9mm? Many used guns are going for ridiculous prices.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
I know this will come as a shock, but my High School job was pumping ethyl, as in gas. It was the high priced flavor a $.329, with the low grade stuff at $299 when not on sale. Its 10 times as much in dollars today. Back when the commie obama was in charge, it was up well over $4. So I paid $1775 for my P210-7, new in box. There is this thing we call inflation. Its really the value of the dollar going down, not the price of stuff going up. I'd like to sell some of my stuff, but I want full value for it. I paid value, I want value back.

This isn't simple inflation, this is full blown collector interest.Locally I bought a P229 .40S&W German made for $350 with 3 mags old night sights and the case. I could easily flip this same gun on GB for damn near double. Not more than a year ago I would have passed it up as they were selling for about $400.

quote:

Originally posted by sw4566:
I think the fact that SIG Germany shut down is causing a bump in prices for anything labeled “Made in Germany” or “ Made in West Germany”.

This, without a doubt. The W. German SIGs, not so much, but the late models that came out of SIG DE are going for insane prices on GB.