Can someone explain the reason this pre war 38/44 sold for such a high price, is it due to what the seller claims as a rare barrel length.
Are 6.5 inch barrels that rare on 38/44 pre wars?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=80053217

5" was standard with 4 and 6 1/2 bringing a premium and it has not been reblued or fitted with after market/replacement stocks

IMO it's not in collectible condition but the 6.5" barrel is uncommon and the gun is complete and original. I wouldn't pay that much for it but others obviously would.

Saxon
A little high for me to, I would have stopped about where Aspenhill did.Looked like a miner bidding war at the end.To bad it's not as nice as GLL's, that's a real beauty.

Someone out there has more money than brains!

The beauty of the auctions is that it is a true measure of what the market will actually pay for an item. Whether or not is was not a smart purchase, there are at least two people that think it was a good value, and the others didn't, hence the market proce is established.

Having on of those 6.5" pre war Heavy Dutys that is still an "original finish gun" is a rarity in itself. They are only original once, and that gun is one that no one will ever have to make any excuses for. It's the real deal and not worked over to look new, when it's not.

Congrats to whomever the new onwer is.

I know a large collector of Registered Magnums that was offering monies only a few years ago for any mint RM that by todays standards is a small percentage of what that guns are bringing, and some people thought he was totally crazy too. "Crazy like a fox" as it turned out.

quote:

it's not as nice as GLL's,

and that has to put a big smile on his face that will not come off for a week

GLL's now lives with its sibling in Texas !

Jerry

I think what happens with these auctions is that we see a premium paid, not so much because the item is worth it, but because someone gets carried away with the auction process itself. I’m no expert in apprising antique guns by any means but form what I’ve seen, $1000 for that gun, in that shape, is steep absent some connection to a famous person or event. The bad news is that these auctions drive up the price for everyone. If the buyer of this gun bought it to bang away at a sand bank or to take out a fondle one in a while then it was a good investment. If he bought it to add to he kids college fund then he should have put the 1000 bucks in an IRA instead. Strange business, this gun collecting thing.

And GLL, you sure do post some nice pictures here!

Seller with a great rep + many excellent pics + accurate, knowledgeable description = max sales price realized.

Bob

The reputation of the seller, along with his guarantee goes a long way, also. It isn't a risk or gamble like many auctions are.

quote:

The bad news is that these auctions drive up the price for everyone.

cmj8591. Great point, it's a nation wide market now, and when you bid, you are bidding with a large group of people who want that must have Smith and Wesson just as badly as you. You can still find good buy's now and then, but gun prices are on the rise due to internet sales.

the 6 1/2 heavy duty is one of the rarest barrel lengths in prewar.
there are 6 documented in the s&wca data base
the price paid for this one was a bargin
even in its conditon i have not seen over two or three come up for sale in the last few years.
bill and i have two of the best conditon guns in this barrel length
and it would take a lot more than what this one sold for to buy mine or bills.
if i didn't have one i would have payed
more than the price this one sold for.
just a matter of supply and demand.
jim fisher

I can't say much more than what Jim has said! When you add the number that were shipped with the known guns and it raises the number into the 20's! I'll add a pic for you-enjoy!

Bill

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