vintage repo tin sign S&W's

[rock doc]

I know next to squat about S&W top breaks, but I'd be interested in knowing if the revolvers in this vintage repo tin sign are 4th Model 38 S&W's. If not, then what are they?

[orbruce]

They appear to be New Model #3's, Target Models, based on the sights. There was no "4th Model" in the New Model #3's.

B. Mower

[lebomm]

And the one on the left is reversed.

[opoefc]

As said above, the gun is a New Model No. 3 Target and apparently when the photo was made for the sign, the photographer had only one gun, so the left gun is a reverse image of the right gun ( Unless the left gun is the rarest NM#3 Target ever made, with the side plate on the right side!) Ed.

[rock doc]

Thanks for your help. I was thinking about buying one, but after looking at the prices, I think that I will just be content with the tin sign.

[opoefc]

You might want to think again. Quality S&Ws , like the New Model No. 3 targets, are great items for your "hard asset" portfolio. Much better than the stock market. Find the best examples you can, negotiate a fair price, and enjoy your purchase while it goes up in value. Remember - "They don't make them anymore." Ed.

[DWalt]

Hard assets don't invaribly go up. And nearly always, you are in a situation of "Buy retail, sell wholesale." And liquidity is an issue. While unlikely, it's entirely possible that serious anti-gun legislation could convert your hard assets into contraband overnight.

Guns are OK as investments if you have a long time horizon. But only those in top condition and scarce. As I've previously mentioned, I wish I had been able to buy thousands of Lugers in the late 1950s when they were selling for $20-$25 each. But I wasn't and I didn't

[Club Gun Fan]

If I may, I'd like to ask a question I know others are asking. How can a tin sign S&W never made be a "vintage repo tin sign". In order for it to be a repo, it would have to had been made.

[deadin]

Very astute, Don.. Probably better described as a "Recently made fantasy item"

(Ask any Coca-Cola collector about fantasy items.....)

[opoefc]

I respectfully disagree with DWalt. Think of all the times you regretted not buying a S&W when you could have, even at market price. That was because you later had to pay much more if you wanted the gun. Don't buy hard assets at retail, buy them at the lowest price you can negotiate, but don't buy them at retail.
Small auctions, small gun shows and isolated pawn shops can be goldmines. Overseas auctions also, due to variations in currency vs. the dollar. 10 yrs. ago, Australian and Canadian auctions were selling super S&Ws ( 99% Target T-locks, etc. ) for less than 1/2 what they were bringing in the US. My IRA loaded up on those! If you passed up the $25 Lugers, that was a mistake. I didn't. The risk that they would become $10 Lugers was was super slim. I can honestly say that in 70+ yrs. of gun dealing, I've bought 1,000s of firearms, and can say all most 100% were sold or traded never for less than I had invested in it. Not because I'm any smarter than any other buyer, but often because the demand outstripped the supply of quality collectables. Markets change, of course. Right now, a nice New Model #3 is in heavy demand overseas. mostly because repressive gun laws on more modern gun ownership and partly because of the decline in the dollar value. "Carpe Diem" when it comes to the economics of dealing in hard assets. Just my opinion and experience. Ed.

[Thuer]

To my suprise i do see even the value of a simple MK IV or a Enfield revolver rise.
The price of a New Model 3 are overhere in the Netherlands rising to. Even that we have a very restricted gunlaw.

[DWalt]

Not that I passed up the $25 Lugers in the late 1950s on purpose. I bought some (sadly, all of them are now gone), but I had nowhere near the financial resources to accumulate very many of them. I was making about $40 a week at that time, so $25 was a substantial sum to me. And as time passed what I did accumulate were other drains on my earnings.

[opoefc]

DWalt, I certainly understand that financial resources can limit gun buying. I wasn't making much more than what you quoted and had a family to support. The 50s were the golden age of gun buying opportunities with all the WW2 surplus hitting the market. There were several large import dealers in Los Angeles - Federal Ordnance, Golden State Arms, Winfield Arms, etc. that had carloads of firearms arriving daily. Their warehouses were stacked to the ceilings with S&Ws, Colt, Lugers, Mauser, Winchester, Remingtons, etc.,etc. and they were eager to deal. I opened accounts with them, which gave me 90 days to pay, plus discounts of up to 30% . I would buy 30 to 50 good condition guns selected by me from the piles, take them to the flea market or gun show on weekends and sell them all at retail, or close to it. Really minty, or rare, guns I would keep and set aside for my collection. Pay off my account and repeat the operation the following month. By the mid 60s the supply tapered off so I opened a gun store as a side line, and let the salesmen bring the guns to me. You will never get rich with a gun store, but you get the opportunity to acquire a lot of nice guns that come in the door! Ed.

[JSR III]

A very short while ago (in dog years) you could buy an M1 through the then DCM for $165. I wish I had pulled the trigger then but waited. IIRC my M1 cost me $750 when I finally decided to jump in. The fun part is that it shoots too.

And while we are talking about dog years, I just passed the 23,000 day mark on this 3rd planet from the sun.

[H Richard]

That's what I paid for my Garand, $168, and a $150 for a brand new Unertl 20X Target scope (to go on the Anschutz 54 match rifle I go t for a compound bow I had won and $125 cash). I wasn't any better off then any of you , in the 60's when I got married I was making $80 a week. That didn't leave a whole heck of a lot. Unfortunately I wasn't into guns back then, just the few I had inherited. By the early 80's when I got interested in shooting a majority of the good deals were gone, but still some around. I took advantage of those I could. Best deal I ever made was a really nice 3 1/2" Pre 27, with a Heiser floral carved holster for $325. I later sold the holster for $225 (a good deal to the buyer at the time) so I have $100 in a 97% pre 27. There were a few more deals like that but I didn't get into actually collecting (accumulating) until I retired in 05. Now you have to hunt for deals. Gun shows and small local gun auctions as well as Gunbroker and the forum have been the sources.

[DWalt]

Way back in the 1950s, at least where I lived, gun shows did not exist. A good substitute was the local weekly cattle auction. There were always two or three guys who sold and traded guns with the farmers and ranchers out of their car trunks in the parking lot. There were some pretty interesting guns to be found, occasionally even machine guns and other ordnance items brought back from WWII. I haven't been to a cattle auction since then. I wonder if those gun traders are still found there in rural areas?

[deadin]

Sounds like there are some cases of “Old-Man-itus” going around.


I too, remember starting collecting in the late 50’s, early 60’s when prices were low (by today’s standards). I also remember that I was so poor (by today’s standards) that I only could afford to have a couple of guns and if I wanted something new, something old had to go. Of course, in those days, you could trade a couple of $5 cats for a $10 dog. Now days nobody trades even up. If they are even willing to consider your cats it seems they want you to pay them to take them off your hands. (And don’t even ask what they want for their dog……)


One thing that still holds true.. I have never owned a Colt SAA as I have never been quite willing to pay the current going price. That was true when they could be had for under $100 and today where even a rough one is approaching $2000+.
One thing to look forward to is in another 50 years folks will be reminiscing about how they could have picked up a Jennings for under $100 back in 2013. ...At least I won’t be there to complain.
(I used Jennings as an example because they are all metal and possibly will still be around in 50 years. I’m not so sure of the survival rate of the current crop of plastic guns,,,,,,)

[shouldazagged]

Originally Posted by deadin

One thing to look forward to is in another 50 years folks will be reminiscing about how they could have picked up a Jennings for under $100 back in 2013. ...

My GOD, what a hideous thought! Go wash your keyboard out with soap!

[tjpopkin]

Dean,
As much as I am devoted to S&W, the Colt SAA is amazing, even by today's standards. I bought a couple when I was shooting in SASS, called Walter Wolff and got some spring kits, stoned the trigger, regulated the barrel...and viola....two great shooters. I have since sold the 7.5" gun and kept the 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 target version. Really like them, and again, good investments....



Terry

[Göring's S&W]

While unlikely, it's entirely possible that serious anti-gun legislation could convert your hard assets into contraband overnight.

While we are all speculating, of course, new stricter gun legislation could easily have the OPPOSITE effect on prices, if say whats here already was it - no more. The only thing for certain is that guns can easily outperform most other investments, for a variety of reasons. Most collectors do not apply the wise advice Ed has given in this thread, and are thus critical of guns as an investment. I don't have as many years as Ed, but I have done well thus far myself. Its not for everyone, certainly, but it works for me.