I have a Beretta 84B .380 cal semi-automatic pistol, which was manufactured in Italy. I purchased it in NYC in 1981 for $325. I was in a gun shop in Santiago in August 2009 and saw the same gun on display. I asked what the price was and was told $145,000 pesos. I was shocked to find that this gun was approximately $4,000 USD. I went on line and found that this gun can still be purchased (used) in the US for anywhere from $400 to $600 USD. I was also told by the dealer in Santiago that no guns can be imported by a private citizen, nor can a previously owned, legal gun from another country, be registered in The DR by the owner. Makes me wonder what kind of guns do local Dominicans carry when the salaries earned there are not indicative of what they might pay for a "decent" gun.
Brother I was thinking the exact same thing. Zoom said he paid $1200 for it, I was like Damn bro, you could have bought the original CZ for like $425-500.
But here if you wanna know what they are getting, look at them, the AMET, PN, most of these guys use junk .38s, old US issue .45s(before 1991). Look at the "watchiman" and you even think less. 12 gauges with no bluing on them, rust on the barrels, pitting on the trigger guard(if this is the external, what do the guts look like?). Now I m not saying that they dont work, but with some of these pieces I m thinking this guy is going to blow off his thumb and maybe kill someone. Shoot(not literally) but how long do you think the shell has been in the barrel(assuming its a slug and not buckshot)? Reagan days?
And someone explain to me what is to stop me from putting 100 .45 ACPs, .40 cals, 9mm(those cheap Taurus knock off ones made in Argentina and Ecuador) in a 55 gallon drum interspersed with a couple houndred pounds of rice and other commodities and coming here and selling them? Not saying that I want to do that, BUT they dont Xray every barrel entering the country.
This will tell the quality of the weapon they use. Do you ever see any holsters? If you pay $1200 for a weapon, wouldnt you want to take "REAL GOOD" care of it? What kind of schmuck tucks the gun in his belt on between his pants and shirt? I know they have cobblers here who can work with leather. No one pays $4000 for a S&W .40, or SIG 228(assuming it is avaibable here, and they dont retail for that in Miami) and scuffs it up between his belt or tucked in his pocket. That dealer may be on point but these guys buy used US surplus. Thats the only way. Shoot, a quality handgun costs at least 2 months salary for a PN. But USA surplus and ghetto blaster crap he can get for half that same salary.