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S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


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Old 12-27-2019, 12:32 PM
Rick Bowles Rick Bowles is offline
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I'm helping with the estate of an old friend but my knowledge of the market for large, top-break S&W revolvers is limited. I think I have a Model No. 3 Russian 1st. Model aka Old, Old Model Russian (blue) and a Model No. 3 Russian 3rd. Model aka New Model Russian (nickel). Both are commercial and appear to be unmolested, with matching assembly numbers in the appropriate places. However, the 1st. Model has replaced stocks and the 3rd. Model carries an old replacement front sight blade. The OOM Russian is mechanically sound but the New Model Russian is remarkably tight and could be shot today,

I realize a no reserve, penny auction would bring a realistic price but I'd rather put a fair price on them and list them on Guns International. I'd like to hear your thoughts on a reasonable price for each. Thanks.

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Old 12-27-2019, 08:39 PM
opoefc opoefc is offline
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What's the serial numbers ? The market is down quite a bit on these guns. I doubt if the American or the 3rd Model Russian would bring $2K in todays market.
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Old 12-28-2019, 12:42 AM
iby iby is offline
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[QUOTE=opoefc;140626793]What's the serial numbers ? The market is down quite a bit on these guns. I doubt if the American or the 3rd Model Russian would bring $2K in todays market.[/QUOTE

Agree
The American might bring a little more than the Russian
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Old 12-28-2019, 09:19 AM
mrcvs mrcvs is offline
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It's an extremely bad sign when the stock market is at record highs and there is record levels of low unemployment, and yet antique Smith & Wesson revolvers are falling off the cliff as far as valuations are concerned. And it's not just Smith & Wesson's. Much antique firearms....

It's sad...

As far as valuation is concerned, it would be a struggle for either of these to crack 2k in today's market.
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Old 12-30-2019, 11:04 AM
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I have been concerned about this for years. As the owners of older firearms age, the younger market seems to favor the black plastic semi automatics. I also started to notice this during the primitive firearms season for deer here in Massachusetts. I hunt with a flintlock that I made myself. Most of those that I see in the woods are using inline cap lock rifles with scopes.

Kind of takes the primitive aspect out of the season if you ask me.

I fear that many of us old timers that are sitting with collections of 160+ year old firearms may end up having to take them with us when we pass. :-(
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Old 12-31-2019, 10:36 AM
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I've learned not to evaluated any Model 3 unless I have it in hand to examine it completely.

Yes, Prices on the oldies have taken a severe correction after years of being run up at auction and because of newbies wanting one in range they can afford.

HOWEVER, Those in immaculate original condition and completely unbooger-ed wont suffer much I feel.

Condition, condition, condition along with scarcity tell the tale with the economy leveling prices into lower price ranges.

Any common configuration, "brown" gun or those showing wear, age, peeling, and (to me) improper function are just "Iron" no matter if S&W or any other manufacturer, e.g. Colt, Merwin Hulbert and other quality manufacturers. Old Colt SAAs are #1 on the buyer beware list !

The future market for the antique S&Ws are to be by the popularity, desire, demand, and condition ... nose to tail, inside and out.

The higher condition, more desirable guns will always bring the premium prices (based on the economy) more than any others and more than the common models where 100s of thousands were manufactured, most being well used and abused.

The thrill is that it will always be new and exciting to someone.

I have many Model 3s that I still shake when I hold them for the scarcity and beauty of what they are.

A nice 8" barrel target with some options on it, a New Model 3 Target in .45 S&W Schofield (only 2 that I know of ... I have one), The 2nd order Australian that are not broad arrow proofed ... 26 ordered. 6"(6+1/2) barrel There are only 3 of those known, 1 in a museum in Australia, another in a private collection here in the USA that was Robert Neal's but is factory refurbished (to me no big deal on the factory refinish) ... and mine, an easy 95% original condition. and then there are plenty more I have hidden away that had I not purchased them 20+ years ago, I'd never have found them.

The TRULY scarce and rare ( not those who become scarce or rare because the seller says so) will always be scarce and rare and likely end up in a museum .... or .... in a PRIMO Private Collection.

There aren't as many collectors of PRIMO Private Collections as there once was (and there were not many back then either) which I feel will turn the scale on value to the better .... within reason.

Don't buy a big dollar Model 3 or other scarce antique unless it is fully examined by someone very knowledgeable of the Model 3s.

All the best,

Sal Raimondi, Sr.
MODEL3SW

PS: I NEVER purchased a Colt SAA because of the amount of Fakes and replaced parts that go un-noticed for decades by the best Colt Collectors and experts !!
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Old 12-31-2019, 12:40 PM
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Kind of a "HUGE" subject really. The Market? To say: "The Market is Down"? to me is not looking at the entire market. Like Sal covered, the Great condition stuff is doing just fine. Average condition Antiques will always suffer first. I think a large part of what's been keeping average condition Antiques alive is that part of collecting that likes to shoot them.

However, that "shooter" part of the market is vulnerable to market interest in general. The Modern gun collector is definitely taking over the "Shooter" market interest. It's only because Semi-auto's can be a lot of fun to shoot!

That's just the way it is folks. We get older and become more obsolete. The finer condition antiques only last longer from a Market interest stand point. Eventually, they start to suffer as well. From a bigger picture? It doesn't really matter though does it? You can't take them with you! While I'm here I'm going to enjoy them with other living collectors. Every show I attend, every conversation with fellow collectors, every breakfast, every purchase, sale, etc. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it! The rest of it ? So be it.

"""""HAPPY NEW YEAR""""

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Old 12-31-2019, 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by BMur View Post
Every show I attend, every conversation with fellow collectors, every breakfast, every purchase, sale, etc. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it! The rest of it ? So be it.

Murph
I feel the same way. And, I suspect that the value of my older Smiths is declining much more slowly than the cars in my garage.
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