Looking for miniature weapons for sale? Then you probably are interested in two standard characteristics: price and quality. But the market of miniatures can surprise newcomers. Often the sale price of proposed products seems unmotivated until you learn the history of a particular instance of weapons and do not understand the logic with which such goods are valued.
To help you – we will make a short review of the modern market of miniature guns. What is most often offered and where is it better to make a purchase? Since the circle of people interested in this topic is not very wide, it is better to consider these questions on a global scale. The most of local markets do not have all assortment and varieties. In America such models as Beretta, Derringer and Colt are popular: especially Colt 1911, which was a regular weapon of all US servicemen for 70 years, and still remains the most popular firearm. Not surprisingly, miniaturists often use it as a prototype for their small copies. Germany and Austria have their own tradition: decorative handguns Berloque with round carved handles are sold there (one of them is shown in the first picture). In addition, European masters are very fond of an old Luger Parabellum – a pistol that was worn by all officers during the World War I. Russian manufacturers more often specialize in domestic TT pistols, and some manage to reproduce more complicated mechanisms, such as the Shpagin submachine gun or the Kalashnikov automatic gun.
In short, we advise you to arm yourself with a dictionary and look through foreign websites that have miniature weapons for sale. It will expand your horizons, allow you to assess all the opportunities available and, perhaps, help save money, even if you pay a lot for transporting your purchase.
To orient you – we list the main manufacturers, which are worth your attention.
Let’s start from the simplest and cheapest options. They are offered by “Uberti” company (Italy). For 400-600 dollars you can buy a good copy of an American revolver of the 19th century, made on a half scale size. In the second picture you can see the copy of Colt Single Action Army revolver of 1873, made by “Uberti”. Such a low sale price is formed due to the mass character of production, and to the size of these weapons. Many collectors generally do not consider the models made on the scale of ½ to be real miniatures. The firearms mechanism is more difficult to create and adjust if it is much smaller than its prototype. Therefore, high-tech products that reduce originals three (four, five) times are more valuable and expensive.
The next price category – exclusive works of private craftsmen who make miniature weapons for sale. The specificity of their works – they do not repeat each other. And you’ll never find too many of them, because each project requires many hours of individual hard work. Such specialists as David Kucer usually estimate their products at $3000 – $8000. The price can be even higher if we speak about complicated mechanisms that require more skills and time investments.
Exceptions can be found, if the master specializes in one or two products, making similar copies – then the price of every copy is lower. However, it can grow if production ceases – so, saving the same demand, the market doesn’t receive new goods of this type. As an example, we can mention Tom Weston. This Mexican had his own weapons store, very popular in the middle of the last century. There he sold both full-sized pistols and their miniature copies of his own production. After Weston’s death, his case was not continued by successors, and the works that stayed in private collections now cost several times more. The pistol that you see in the photo has a fairly simple mechanism, it was produced in the amount of 200 exemplars. Today in online stores they are sold for $900. More complex models by Weston, also made in several copies, are offered for $3000. In general, they are more expensive than Uberti’s serial models, but cheaper than Kucer’s exclusive products.
Works by Tom Weston (click on the picture to see it in large size).
On the left: Belmex pistol, 2 mm caliber, with a leather holster. On the right: Colt Walker revolver in a box with accessories.
What is more highly valued? Works of those who, figuratively speaking, more likely serve the art, rather than make miniature weapons for sale. The products of such masters as Michel Lefaivre and Antonio Rincon not only have no analogues, but also are incredibly beautiful. They are created with such love and such attention to details that it is very difficult to evaluate them in terms of money. These weapons are equated with museum exhibits. If some of them get to auctions – it’s about tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As you can see, the price depends on exclusivity. This is the peculiarity of the miniature guns market: things that are offered for sale in large quantities are not so valuable for collectors, even if they are high quality.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, the well-known Russian company “Miniature Arsenal” sells its serial pistols an average for 15,000 euros. A European company “SwissMiniGun”, which is a serial manufacturer of just one product – a tiny copy of the Colt-Python revolver – sets prices from $6,500 to $50,000, depending on which material and type of decoration you choose. Not the best proposals, when it comes to serial weapons that have been being produced for several years. However, in these cases, many buyers are ready to pay for the brand.
Miniature weapons for sale: the price from the manufacturer
At the same time, there are options that optimally combine high quality, small number and an affordable price. It applies to serial products, which are still not well known and not widely represented on the market, therefore they are not considered to be mass products. For example, this little Derringer. It is very similar to Tom Weston’s above-mentioned pistol, but its size is even smaller: at the moment it is the smallest operating pistol in the world. Its length is only 25 mm, height – 15 mm, and the caliber – 1 mm. Another distinguishing feature of this model – the materials. The weapon is made of 14k gold, including even moving parts and screws (the only exception – two Swiss steel watch springs). It makes this pistol not only a rare example of a highly artistic miniature, but also a piece of jewelry with an unusual design. The handle of the gun is made of mammoth bone and has a ringlet – so, it can be worn as a precious decorative pendant. At the moment, about a dozen of such products have been produced for sale, and the edition is limited, so in the future their price will increase. Now you have the opportunity to purchase this rare specimen of miniature weapons for a sale price $1200. It does not matter if you want to replenish your collection with a new exhibit, or you are looking for a gift for a friend who loves stylish and beautiful things – in any case this is a good opportunity to purchase the desired product at a bargain price, directly from the manufacturer. Find out more about this model and place an order here.