Gun Economics

After work today, I drove over to Kenny's pawn shop to see what was available. A grin crossed Kenny's face as I entered the shop, and he met me at the gun counter. Under his glass, Kenny had a couple of plastic pistols, but also a Beretta 92FS. The 92FS is a pistol that has not increased in price in the market. Back in 1991, when I purchased mine, they sold for about $550 new. They were the hot ticket item twenty years ago. Gun owners were facing the unknown realities of the Clinton Assault Weapon Ban, and the market for full capacity semi-automatic pistols was nuts with angst and trepidation. The Beretta 92FS still sells for about $550 new, but today there are also many used examples on the market for about $350 each.

Kenny's Beretta wore aftermarket Hogue grips with finger grooves, a definite minus for me. It was in good shape, it was early enough to have the metal trigger, safety, and guide rod. the action worked as slick as any Beretta, like oiled glass. Kenny did not have the box or the original grips. I saw he had it priced at $349. If I did not still have the Beretta 92FS that I purchased right after Lethal Weapon for $560, I might buy this one. Instead, I take my lesson on the realities of gun economics.