I was primed at an early age to collect repro percussion revolvers. As a kid in the early 1970's I remember the popularity of all things black powder. The navy and replica arms catalogs could make a kid dream and wish he had some or all of the neat stuff they were making at the time. But alas, nothing that cool comes cheap. And so it was with blackpowder revolvers. As I remember it, everything was priced at around a hundred bucks, A fortune for a kid in his early teens in the 70's.
Those revolvers were completely out of my reach at the time but somehow I reasoned that time and the publics sometimes fickle wants in firearms would bring these guns to an affordable level. And well heck, it took over 40 years but sure enough it happened. lots of early repros are affordable. I was not completely right, people still love cap and ball revolvers. but the revolvers themselves evolved. they became better, better fit, better finish and more value for the money.
The early guns, in my opinion have a hard time competing against the new wonderfully fitted and finished 300 dollar Uberti pistols, a huge value for the money. However that makes the field of collecting early repros ripe for the would be collector. Guns are often bargain priced. Lots survived in unfired condition and many were made and marked for a bewildering array of different companies that marketed them to the public. variety and variations abound. the trick is separating the treasures from the chafe. and thats still a work in progress. I think a clear cut knowledge of what is rare is still years away. but rest assured, some good values are out there. Jay