OK, people, I need some help…and I’m NOT going to cut this, because I REALLY WANT all of your opinions on the subject.
For that majority of you not familiar with airsoft, substitute every occurence of “Airsoft” with “Paintball” and you’ll get the point of the post, and be able to help me out. =)
For that majority that are relatively new to my Friends List, Airsoft is what replaced 16 years of Renaissance Recreation (Adria/SCA) as my “active” hobby about 2 years ago.
The website can be found here.
In June, I moved (completely on impulse) into the rarefied air of being an “Airsoft Collector” when I bought a new airsoft gun… A G&P replica of a russian SVD Dragunov. One of around 100 ever made. It cost me $1150 (which is what it’s worth), not least of which because it’s made from the real thing.
Yes, you heard me. It’s a “toy” gun that shoots 6mm plastic pellets at velocities low enough to be safe to shoot at your friends, and it’s made from (what used to be) a real Chinese NDM-86 Sniper Rifle. It’s a thing of beauty to behold…and it’s truly a collector’s piece, and one of the most sought after guns, since there really is no other Dragunov replica, unless you want to spend 3 times the money.
However, it has a few issues that prevent it from being the ultimate gun to take the field and play airsoft with.
First, the velocity is not where I want it. It shoots about 300 FPS, when the “speed limit” for a gun like this is 500 FPS.
Second, it’s 10 years old, which means that it doesn’t have the range-extending technology (known as “hopup”) that was introduced in the late 90’s.
(Technical Note: Hopup puts a backspin on the BB while it’s still in the barrel, and the backspin induces lift, making the trajectory very flat)
I *could* send it away to Southern California to have it upgraded for an additional $450. That would add hopup, and reinforce and refine the ‘guts’ of it such that it will MORE than meet my expectations. (The person doing the work states that a true airsoft sniper rifle (the way he builds them) can hit a paper plate at 100 yards on a windless day. This in comparison to most airsoft replicas that would have a difficult time hitting a paper plate at 100 FEET.)
I’ve been having a lot of difficulty finding the ‘spare’ $450 in my budget. (understatement of the year). So it looks like, if I keep it, the upgrade will be a loooong way off.
So, I put up a post to see what the interest might be to purchase it from me for what I paid for it.
And I was offered an interesting straight across trade…
That is a WA2000 Sniper Rifle, originally made by Walther specifically for the Police Sharpshooter market. Fell on it’s face because the PERFECT rifle for the job also cost $12,000 to purchase. The Airsoft Replic is made by Geneth and is even MORE of a Collector’s Item. Geneth WA2000s cost $1900. The one pictured is #196 of 300 ever made. (Interesting note: There are more Airsoft WA2000’s than there are real WA2000s – there were only 75 of the real thing made, and now they cost around $30,000.)
In addition to it being a $1900 “toy gun”, it’s been upgraded to be a useful sniper rifle, already has hopup, and I *could* use it to go skirmish with the day I get it.
Here’s the kicker, and where I need outside, disinterested, (nay, bored, even) opinions…
1.) I think it’s a horrifically ugly. It’d definitely an absolute demonstration of the principle “Form Follows Function”.
2.) The gent that’s offered it as a trade has had it up for sale since January, 2005.
3.) I’m thinking about selling the Dragunov because I’m getting deeper into WWII Airsoft-reenactment, and would use the proceeds from a sale to purchase an Airsoft US-Garand (which is also a limited edition)
and an airsoft German KAR-98…so I can play Axis or Allies in any given game…
So…should I…
A) Trade, then immediately try to sell the WA2000 for $1900, and use the proceeds (whenever they come – it may be a long time…) to buy another G&P Dragunov, a Garand AND a Kar98.
B) Don’t trade, try to sell the Dragunov for $1150 cash, and use the proceeds (whenever they come) to buy a Garand AND a Kar98.
C) Something else…
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance…
(I’ve already been pondering this one myself for over a week, and can’t reach a decision! Time to call in the cavalry!)
Okay, knowing nothing about guns, tho I DO have a desire to try paintball sometime… My two cents are:
The gun you have now looks AWSOME compared to the others. Since I really know very little about it all, all I can go with is apperance. And NONE of the guns you are looking at trading and/or getting are nearly as nice looking as the one you have. I would mow someone’s yard or something to get the extra money to upgrade your gun I think. (As long as that won’t make it look ugly too!
IMHO – Rabbit (C)
Well, my firearms experience is in the gunpowder and steel realm but it seems to me that, based on information given, you would have better luck selling the Dragunov replica (lower price = more potential buyers) and purchasing the two WWII guns than with attempting to market the WA2000. This could be drastically modified by how actively and agressively the guy has been trying to sell the WA2000. More info there could change my opinion.
I’m with llrtpenny. The simplest route is to sell the lower priced one you already have for price you’re certain you’ll get and grab the other two rifles you want.
The possibility exists of trading across and selling it the WA2000 for $1900 (what is the other guy trying to sell it for, by the way) and selling it for enough dough to buy all three. This doesn’t take into account the availability of the Druganov for repurchase. You may find its rarity dramatically increasing the price for interested buyers. Especially if the seller isn’t terribly inetersted in selling.
I think either way you go you’ll need to weigh your own personal priorities and figure out which weighs more.
As a side note I’ve been drifting away from Adria for a few months and have been eye-balling airsoft as a fun pastime.
Get them all!
I dunno what to tell you, really. the fact that this guy has been trying to sell the $1900 since January and there are no buyers means.. a) he’s asking too much or, b) there just isn’t a market for it.
I mean, really. Someone willing to trade you a gun that’s worth $650 more.. and they’d have to put upgrades into the one they’re getting from you if they want to really use it? Seems like something is fishy.
If there were a market for the gun, and he’s just asking way too much… Check and see if there are any like your gun you’ve got (I am -not- going to attempt to keep names straight.. sorry) for sale -first-… THEN if there are, make the trade.. sell the gun, buy the other 3 guns.. and voila!
But really. YOu gotta do the research. You’ve got sound principals, but why hasn’t his gun sold since January? 9 months? Granted, I don’t know if 9 months is a reasonable amount of time in the Airsoft world.
It’s absolutely worth $1900…that’s what they’re selling for in stock condition from Hong Kong.
http://21stcenturyairsoft.com/details/Geneth-WA2000?PHPSESSID=9c057231b9c49e7940e6c405a4b28a42
I don’t know that Terrence has been particularly MOTIVATED to sell it…
He’s something of a collector… Decides that he wants a particular rare gun, and then hunts it down until he owns it…then the thrill is gone.
Curiously, he told me that if I (or anyone else for that matter) wanted to buy the WA2000 from him for cash, he’d take $1000.
Wish I had $1000…then I *might* get them all… 🙂
I agree with you, the WA2000 is an ugly gun. I wouldn’t buy it for that reason alone. Of course, if you are just going to turn around and sell it, it’s appearance is unimportant. How motivated are you to sell the WA2000? What are the odds that you can get a replacement for the gun you already own? (Preferably with the mods already in it.)
Depending on the answers to those questions, I see your real options as selling what you have for the two you want, or trading for the WA2000, selling it, and then buying all three of the less expensive guns. I think the real key is whether or not you can sell the WA2000 quickly and effectively for its current value.