Which is nuts.
I bought two good condition 604s in the last 2-3 years. One working well and in standard format from a dealer for £250, one needing seals but with the sight extension at auction for a lot less (£150? Can't remember, but not much more). Both with the proper target grip.
I can't imagine a near-mint 604, cased/boxed, with bits, making more than £350 in the private market (that is the top end of excellent FWB65/80 or Diana 10M money, so about the right area, I think). Still £100 less than a lower-quality 6004 new.
And you can get an early-production Gamo Compact for £125-160 (or less). It's definitely not equivalent to a FAS. But it may be to a Chiappa. I mean, I have one, and it works.
Very interesting-
several months ago I bought a FAS 604 off here. It had been rebuilt with parts supplied from Chiappa, the pistol wasn't especially cheap but I took a punt at it.
When it arrived my initial thoughts were it looked scruffy but the packaging it came in revealed quite a lot of spares. Anyway I tried it and fell in love very quickly! Since then I've refinished the grip and I'm quite happy with its 'battlefield action finish' - let's face it these pistols are meant to be used not looked at.
I used it tonight to shoot a couple of UBC targets for this months comps- very happy with the results!
Oh, before anyone asks I use JSB match lightweights in all my target pistols- I find them the best without doubt.
video transferred to DVD, USB etc. Old negs and photos scanned to digital media
www.digitalconversions.co.uk