|
Post by aj czarkowski on Jul 22, 2014 20:37:02 GMT -5
I found a short review from Redwolf on this, it's the last gun they review on this video. Way too much money for a gun that shoots 280 fps in my opinion. I really wish King Arms would clone Tanaka's G33/40 like their Kar98k, the G33/40 is one of my favorite rifles. They were produced from 1942 to 1944 in limited numbers in a single factory in Czechoslovakia for German mountain and paratroopers. The plate on the side of the stock is for using to climb up a mountain. Make sure to pick one up for your next hiking trip. tinyurl.com/oolmz6nEDIT, well the video isn't working on here for some reason www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Jcf8OuWlQ&
|
|
stuka
Sergeant
The one and only
Posts: 1,205
|
Post by stuka on Jul 22, 2014 20:40:15 GMT -5
vids private
|
|
|
Post by aj czarkowski on Jul 22, 2014 20:45:24 GMT -5
well, I posted the link to the website. I can't view the video anymore either for some reason.
|
|
|
Post by volkssturm on Jul 22, 2014 22:54:37 GMT -5
Looks good, but way too much money.
|
|
|
Post by ssgjoe on Jul 22, 2014 23:03:57 GMT -5
I don't understand why airsoft Kar98s cost about twice as much as a real one.
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 22, 2014 23:28:28 GMT -5
Because there is a huge difference in economy of scale on an item you make three million of vs an item you make several thousand of. Also consider real dollars from 70 years ago vs now. In 1967 the Beattles concert at Candlestick park ranged from 4.50 to 6.00 for the best seats. That was 1967. Costs 30 years earlier were lower still. The cost comparison between real guns and airsoft guns is a silly and frankly sophomoric discussion.
This seems too high for a 300 FPS bolt action rifle powered by a spring. i'm sure its an excellent replica but with the Japanese restrictiond on power, their high labor costs (compared to the Chinese) and their anticipated low volume sales i'm sure its priced where it needs to be to cover their set up costs. Too rich for my wallet.
|
|
|
Post by insterburger on Jul 23, 2014 8:01:52 GMT -5
The only "real" 98k's you can get for less than an airsoft springer are re-arsenaled guns that have been heavily mixed and matched, such as Russian captures, Yugo reworks, or the ones that come out of the middle east that have REALLY been through the grinder. Even a bolt-mismatch is up around a grand these days, and all-matching examples are typically around $2k.
In terms of what 2nd Bat is discussing-- the real cost of a 98k during WWII against the cost of making a springer-- the 98k is STILL comparable at worst, or more expensive. Looking at various sources and using different calculators, the cost of a Mauser 98k rifle to the German government during WWII was about $28 in 1942 dollars. Taking a straight CPI calculation, that would translate to about $400 in today's dollars. BUT, if you calculate in light of the relative value of skilled labor in 1942 and 2014 (a necessity with something like a rifle, or for that matter an airsoft gun), that price jumps to $900 per unit! So even with economy of scale, the 98k was an expensive rifle.
Oh, and for the record, the Beatles' last concert at Candlestick was August 29, 1966-- not 1967 (I'm a huge Beatles fan!)-- but the point is entirely valid nonetheless. You pegged the price range, and it's worth mentioning that of about 45,000 available seats, only around 25,000 of them were sold, leaving close to 20,000 empty seats. The price range of that concert in today's dollars would be in the $30-40 price range... clearly more than most people were willing to spend to see the Beatles, and not really cheap even by today's standards.
BTW, that Candlestick Park concert was recorded by one of the Beatles' assistants on a hand-held tape deck at the request of Paul McCartney (it was the last night of the tour, and I think he knew there would never be another Beatles concert) and has been extensively bootlegged. If you're a Beatles fan, it's worth hearing-- the sound quality is pretty bad, but they perform WAY better than they had been on other dates of the tour, and it just drips with history. Unfortunately about one minute into their last number, the tape runs out.
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 23, 2014 17:17:07 GMT -5
Awesome breakdown on the lunacy of a discussion about the cost of real steel vs airsoft guns. A number of factors not considered or brought up previously.
|
|
|
Post by cblackthorne on Jul 28, 2014 13:40:53 GMT -5
In the midwest at least (Missouri, Kansas), "real" Kar 98s run about $350 on the average based on condition with mismatched numbers. Matching with good eagle marks and you might pay $750. I just purchased my 5th Mauser 98K last month for $300 from another re-enactor. The stock needs some cleaning but its solid.[/p]
Anyone getting $1,000 or more for a Kar98 is getting way above market value for a Mauser, event with matching numbers.
The fact that the airsoft market, which Im new to, is asking $400 or more for an imitation rifle is way out of line on what the market will bear.
Regards, Chris
|
|
stuka
Sergeant
The one and only
Posts: 1,205
|
Post by stuka on Jul 28, 2014 13:57:23 GMT -5
I don't believe that's how capitalism works unfortunately. I am not a economics major or w/e but there were several million Kar98's made so thats one element that adds to the lower price. It has a fair amount of demand bumping the price up and the varying conditions also effect the price.
You can't say something isn't worth it if you're not going to buy it. Things are worth what a buyer is willing to pay.
For airsoft, these are higher quality rifles and have lower quantities in airsoft upping demand while there is a lack of supply. The higher quality and lack of supply make the price what they are.
It is what it is and comparing real life firearm prices to replicas is just a silly idea honestly.
|
|
|
Post by insterburger on Jul 28, 2014 17:25:38 GMT -5
All I can say is, you don't really know the current market. Perhaps the local market where you live is depressed below the national prices, or you've been lucky to encounter people who are selling you guns for less than they're worth. If you're seeing all-matching 98k's rifles under $1,000, buy as many as you can and put them up for sale on a national platform, you'll make bank. Sure, they can be found cheaper if you're willing to troll yard sales, pawn shops, and backcountry gun shops-- or from known humpers-- but the market for all-matching 98k's is in the $1-2k range, with some sought after examples going even higher. Bolt mismatches are around $600-800, and decent RC's are routinely fetching $400 +/- now that the imports have dried up and the only stuff coming in is the dregs. The only guns normally found for under $350 are that kind: heavily abused, markings defaced, with incorrect parts, sewerpipe bores, or other deficiencies. If you got a god rifle for $300, then God bless you.
That notwithstanding, I agree wholeheartedly that $400 is more than I'd be willing to pay for an airsoft 98k. But I assume these companies do market research before tooling up and producing a given replica-- they don't just randomly make the next gun they feel like making-- so someone in their organization must believe-- and have evidence to prove to his bosses-- that $400 IS in fact in line with what the market will bear. I guess we'll see.
|
|
|
Post by cblackthorne on Jul 28, 2014 19:45:01 GMT -5
All I can say is, you don't really know the current market. Perhaps the local market where you live is depressed below the national prices, or you've been lucky to encounter people who are selling you guns for less than they're worth. If you're seeing all-matching 98k's rifles under $1,000, buy as many as you can and put them up for sale on a national platform, you'll make bank. Sure, they can be found cheaper if you're willing to troll yard sales, pawn shops, and backcountry gun shops-- or from known humpers-- but the market for all-matching 98k's is in the $1-2k range, with some sought after examples going even higher. Bolt mismatches are around $600-800, and decent RC's are routinely fetching $400 +/- now that the imports have dried up and the only stuff coming in is the dregs. The only guns normally found for under $350 are that kind: heavily abused, markings defaced, with incorrect parts, sewerpipe bores, or other deficiencies. If you got a god rifle for $300, then God bless you. That notwithstanding, I agree wholeheartedly that $400 is more than I'd be willing to pay for an airsoft 98k. But I assume these companies do market research before tooling up and producing a given replica-- they don't just randomly make the next gun they feel like making-- so someone in their organization must believe-- and have evidence to prove to his bosses-- that $400 IS in fact in line with what the market will bear. I guess we'll see. Well to each his own. Im sure prices fluctuate all over the country. Regards, Chris
|
|
|
Post by insterburger on Jul 28, 2014 20:16:18 GMT -5
I'll agree with you on one thing-- $1k is a lot more than I would justify spend on a Mauser rifle, matching or not. But the collector market is nuts.
|
|
Ersatzjack
Corporal
"That silly Franz... he thinks we are winning."
Posts: 1,093
|
Post by Ersatzjack on Jul 30, 2014 10:29:54 GMT -5
Chris, you are getting good buys. Interburger has a better handle on current values IMO. I recently had to buy another RS Mauser and had sticker shock. Still got the Mauser I wanted though so it just comes down to whether you want it or not.
|
|