I'm being offered a pre-Model 27 in the S90,000 serial number range. It has no box or papers. It has the 3.5 inch barrel. Finish would rate in the 95-97% range with just high edge wear. Grips are the correct magnas. The seller is asking $1600. I know that the 3.5 inch barrels generally are worth more. Is this a reasonable asking price?

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Joseph L. Lyon

I`m cheap, so I`d say he`s about $1000 too high.

I went to an auction about a month ago to bid on a pair of Pre-27's both 3.5" barrels. They both sold for $1300, there was 5% sales tax on that as well as a 17% auction fee. I don't think $1600 is too high if you have the money and you like the guns. Definitely at the top of the retail price though.

I'd sure like to know where dhallz71 finds pre-27s with 3.5" barrels for $600. I'll take one right now, cash money and I'll pay for shipping it.

$1600 seems a little high but I don't think you are going to find any (or at least very, very few) for less than $1000.

YMMV,
Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

i agree...they are pretty much at the top of the scale

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I found a nice 6" pre-27 for $920 shipped with a holster of some sort. I believe it to be 97% to 98%. All matching numbers. It dates at 1951. It's supposed to ship today.

I think I did pretty well, though. Other pre-27's of similar quality were considerably higher on the gun sites.

I think it is high for the condition. I think $1200 to $1400 is more reasonable.

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Dick

$1600 Sounds pretty high to me too Lynn. Of course, if you were to sell me back my old unissued Utah Highway Patrol Mod. 27, you could afford to upgrade to this really nice but kind of expensive pre 27.....

My opinion is that it's too high. I bought a 3 1/2" pre 27 about 2 years ago for $950, at about 90-92 condition, but also had a red ramp front sight (which was a S&W option at the time, 1952) The other 3 1/2" pre 27 in that auction went for $825 and was in nicer condition (but no red ramp), neither had boxes, etc. A 4" 5 screw pre-29 would be in that $1600 price range, but it's up to you.

I`ve bought 2 in the last year. One for $335, and the other for $325. Both are shooters and nothing to look at. Lots of wear and scratches on both of them.

The fact that you stumbled on (or maybe you're just smarter than the rest of us) extremely low priced examples doesn't mean those kind of deals are common. In fact that kind of luck, particularly twice in the same year, is pretty rare. The OP could wait a long, long time for a $600 3.5" pre-27.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

I would offer him $1300 and leave it there. It's a nice gun but $1600 is a bit too much. $1300 I think would be as the old man says on Pawn Stars "Top of the mark, son."

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Vaya con Dios

I concur with Mr. LaPell. $1600 for a gun in that condition (95-97%) without the box is a stretch. I might offer $1200 to $1300 and see what happens. Good luck, in any case.

Respectfully,
Mike Q.

It's not like this discussion needs another vote for the prevailing opinion, but I'd expect a $1600 gun either to have the original box and accessories or to be a 98-99% specimen. The model needs to be a lot scarcer for a gun to pull $1600 with high edge wear.

Maybe my mind's eye is seeing something a little rougher than the reality, but I don't think I'd go much over $1100-1200 for this gun unless there was some sort of burning emotional connection that really made me want it.

Just in case there is doubt about the age of this gun, it's probably a 1952 shipper, and this thread would be properly housed in the 1896-1961 forum.

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David Wilson

Make a reasonable offer and walk away. If you have a $1600 budget you can find a better example and that's the bottom line.
Guns are either shooters or collectibles. If one want a shooter find a 27-2 in that bbl length and save $$$$. If one wants a collectible, then to overpay depletes the investment aspect and one would want an original box and accessories anyway.