If I remember correctly, those rifles were for sale new at the Dallas Safari Club show for $9,000. at the GSI distributor booth.

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Beller:
If I remember correctly, those rifles were for sale new at the Dallas Safari Club show for $9,000. at the GSI distributor booth.

Yep, and this is used, however slightly, and has been on there for a long time. While we're pointing out overpriced Merkels, WR USA has 1 for $10.5K, also for a long time. Make you wonder if these dealers are really generous when they take these in trade or buy them outright, or, do they just want way too much. Ya think!

everyone remembers the deals " they could have gotten..... then "

well guys, ....then... isn't now.

i posted 2007 dealer costs on merkels here a week or so ago.

the arabesque model is dealer cost of $8,800

the game engraved one is more.

if you wnat one ...NOW .... don't expect to pay the price from ... THEN !

The list "dealer price" for a new 140-2.1 is $9800 The rifle listed on the auction site is not a 140-2, as listed, but a 140-2.1, which is a $1000 up grade, with a MSRP of $12,500. The rifles GSI were selling were 140-2s.

That being said, I'd rather have the 140-2 anyway, and $9500 is $500 too high for that one. The days of finding them at $7500 in like new used, are over gentlemen!

BTT

MACD 37

i agree with you 100 % about the days of finding $7,500 big cal merkels

they are gone.

say A M E N to that

I stand corrected on the Merkel listed on GA. I had called on it but it was never in the hunt because of the biggest fault there is with Merkels...the relief engraving is an eyesore. The used gun at WR is a 140-2 and they're hanging it out there at $10.5k.

$7500 nice guns are not gone. I've just passed on 2, one last week and one in January. And TOMO you of all people should know that when we start seeing numerous Merkel ejector guns, and start to see them sold used that it's not going to help extractor gun values. And Merkel being Merkel will sell as many as they can make.

I almost bought the one last week but I believe a modern double, purchased new, should have ejectors and I really wanted them all along anyway. So I ordered a Merkel ejector gun and did so over Chapuis because the Merkels lines are much more pleasing to my eyes. AND it'll cost $1,000's more than a used Merkel but that's the way it goes. I'm even buying it locally, which I myself still can't believe, meaning I'll pay sales tax too. But I'm getting a great deal, before the tax hit anyway, and any issues with the gun are resolved with a simple drop off at my dealer.

Merkel has 2 levels of dealer pricing and it is my understanding that GSI sticks to that pricing structure. For those who are not aware of this TOMO and MAC should state if it's regular dealer price or volume dealer price, as per GSI's price sheet, that they are quoting. Volume dealer price = distributor price.

SHOWBART
the prices / costs i listed are dealer prices.

it is generally possible to buy a rifle at those

volume dealer / distributor prices are less, but the average buyer cannot get those prices , even if he is aware of them.

it's kind of like knowing what the true dealer cost is with rebates for a car, but find a dealer who will give up all his profit ? you'd have to be a pretty good friend for that.

if you are able to buy at volume dealer price please share that information with all the ar readers. they would like to know.

my gunsmith will be offering conversion from extractor to ejectors. he has done mine already

merkel will stop importing extractor rifles, but there are a ton of them here already, so converting them makes sense.

Regardless of what dealer pricing may or may not be if it doesn't sell the price is too high.

Most people like to buy new and will only buy used if given a substantial discount. Apparently this discount is not enough.

Tom, I meant for those guys who might be pricing rifles with a dealer. Helps to know. The dealer doesn't have to disclose his cost, doesn't have to discount much, if anything.

Many will charge and get full retail. Many will pay it. Merkel MSRP will still be $1k less than Chapuis.

I was thinking about getting an ejector 500 but ordered the 470. Now I'm flip flopping again. I've considered getting both and keeping the one that feels best for me. If anyone is interested in exploring this with me then send me a PM. Let's discuss it. I'm pretty sure I can get a couple of rifles from the first lot due at GSI. Tom is right, these guns will be allocated.

Showboat, when your spending that kind of money on a gun, I think it's worth spending a little extra to get it the way you want it. While some may not agree with the extras that you like on a gun, who cares?? Its your gun and should be made the way you like it. I spent extra on a 4 bore to have 24" barrels and a left handed stock. I do not care if it hurts resale value, because I have no intention of selling it while I am still breathing.Congratulations on the new order..

quote:

Originally posted by Showbart:

I was thinking about getting an ejector 500 but ordered the 470. Now I'm flip flopping again. I've considered getting both and keeping the one that feels best for me.

Or....... If you intend getting a smaller chambered double later, you could do well on a trade, with the one you don't want to keep, for a 9.3X74R double for a matched set of doubles for the world! Americase will build you a fitted case for both rifles broken down!

I'm wondering if current extractor doubles could be sent back to the factory to be fitted with ejectors, for a reasonable cost! Though I usually disconnect the auto ejectors, I like haveing them when I dicide to sell a rifle, and there are some places where they are handy to have, like in very close cover, on very fast things like the cats, or brown bear!

There's a very nice one on the Heym USA website.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI

I'm sticking with the 470. I think it is a better basis from which to start, the goal being to get the best balance out of a big bore Merkel. New_Guy has a great technique to get the proper weight in the right places and get the 470 to a very nice place. The 500 in turn may be too muzzle light for any weight redistribution. It balances perfectly well now but I am convinced it is too light and probably too small for caliber.

showbart - good decision. you won't regret going with the 470

good priced doubles are still out there... I missed out on a clean Searcy 450/400 for $6800, and Mike Davis was offering his 470 Merkel for around $7400 to DRSS members and no one jumped on it... that was with case, ammo, and slip cover... there are a couple of sub $7500 guns I'm looking at now... I feel the double rifle market is going to do what the old sxs shotgun market is doing... as the people fond of this type gun die off... there is a smaller and smaller market of buyers... so prices should remain good... it's not like gunmakers aren't still producing new guns at reasonable prices, so used guns will have to sell cheaper to sell...

my two cents

Actually, I have a different view of pricing trends for doubles.

Searcy entry level doubles have increased 50% in price over the past 5 years. A Heym 88b has increased by the same percentage. I have not followed Merkel or Krieghoff prices closely so I cannot comment on their trends.

As for used doubles, 5 years ago a guy could buy a good used British boxlock 450-400 for $7500. Now the same thing is going for $16K to $18K.

5 years ago I could buy a totally refurbished and beautiful H&H sidelock double for $27.5K. Now the same thing runs at least mid $40's, and sometimes the asking price is over $60K.

Perhaps the double makers will saturate the market and drive prices down. However, I continue to observe a strong upward trend in pricing.

In a brief conversation with George Caswell of Champlin Arms, he said that he was busier at the safari shows than ever, with LOTS of buying going on, and his inventory is never inexpensive.

Yep....and throw in the fact that the Stock Markets are giving everybody the jitters....Here come the solid asset buyers....DR prices will definately go up faster than slower.

I cite the fact that there was a finite number of Pre-war guns made and relatively few of those have survived intact. Pretty simple to figure out that those prices will escalate rapidly as the "Boomers" retire, cash-in and go hunting / collecting.

Buy all you can afford NOW!

quote:

Originally posted by 470CapstickA2:
good priced doubles are still out there... I missed out on a clean Searcy 450/400 for $6800, and Mike Davis was offering his 470 Merkel for around $7400 to DRSS members and no one jumped on it... that was with case, ammo, and slip cover... there are a couple of sub $7500 guns I'm looking at now... I feel the double rifle market is going to do what the old sxs shotgun market is doing... as the people fond of this type gun die off... there is a smaller and smaller market of buyers... so prices should remain good... it's not like gunmakers aren't still producing new guns at reasonable prices, so used guns will have to sell cheaper to sell...

my two cents

A lot more folks were saying that with great conviction 15 years ago, and prices have tripled in many cases since then. It's just wishful thinking. Prices will continue to rise.
-----------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

400 nitro's right on the mark. When I started buying Double rifles and other break action rifles over 20 years ago there were a lot fewer guns to choose from. now that they are becoming readaly availble I'm seeing interest grow at least as fast as the supply.

some of the current manufacturers are experiencing production backlogs on their double rifles.....

and the old original rifles just keep escalating in price.... when you can find them.

they are really drying up.

it is increasingly difficult to find them in the first place then to find them at rational prices. but they will not get cheaper. every one that is bought and squirrelled away in the vault is one less to choose from. there will come a time - not in my lifetime - when you will only be able to read about these old warriors, but finding one to buy will be next to impossible.

i guess the message is get them now while they are still available !