Hi everyone,

I've been contacted through one of my wanted ads by a gentleman selling a SA Russian Model and I'm curious to know what people here think about it's value having been reblued and the barrel has been cut down.

He is asking $3500 CAD which I think is high but I don't want to be insulting with a low offer. I was thinking it was maybe more around the $2800 Range but Antiques carry different prices up here in Canada.

Appreciate any advice.

i can't help you but believe you came to the right place to ask. i will be watching to see if i might learn something. happens most every time i log in. absolutely GREAT site. only forum i have ever been a member of that i liked for very long. THANKS Members!! kenny, texas

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Too good

I agree, the amount of knowledge, enthusiasm and friendliness I see here is a fantastic.

Darknight, If that gun was in the US, it would be a shooter, not a collectable, as it's been heavily buffed, reblued maybe more than once and having a cut barrel and maybe with in the low 3 figures US, if mechanically OK. Having said all that, gun values in Canada are deeply affected by what the law allows, so it's difficult to place a value range unless one is a serious follower of Canadian gun sales. Ed.

It is not only reblued, but heavily buffed, ruining every original edge and surface. By all rights, it would not even rate in the Poor category by most judging standards. This situation is, however, very difficult to assess value and it is more likely that intrinsic value could be higher than stated value. Someone out there will pay much more than they should because they like the gun for whatever reason.

This is a US perspective on value and you would have to gauge how much premium one might receive in Canada. Having said that, a Poor condition Model 3 Russian is still valued at $600, but my opinion is that $450 would be a more realistic number. Only selling at auction will determine accurately how much the gun is worth to bidders.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thanks, for that. I would 100% agree that a poor condition value on a Model 3 Russian in the states would translate the same as poor condition in Canada to a collector. I am viewing my purchase of an Antique pistol as a collector would, I'm not going to pay a chunk for something that I would not be able to resell tomorrow if I had to.

I am guessing that $2800 Canadian is around $2200 US.
NO WAY

By all means throw up your suggested prices

Based on this link

NRA Museums:

I think the gun would match the conditon of FAIR more than POOR?

FAIR: Modern guns must be in safe working condition, but can be well worn, showing visible repair or replacement parts, or needing adjustment or minor repair. May be pitted so long as pitting does not effect function or safety. Antique guns may have major parts replaced and minor parts missing, may be rusted, pitted, heavily buffed or refinished, may have rounded edges, illegible markings, cracked or broken grips, and should be working or easily repaired.

OOR: Broken, poorly refinished, heavily rusted and pitted, or otherwise generally undesirable. Most often valued only as project guns for amateur gunsmiths, curiosities for display, or parts guns

Smith and Wesson Catalogue states for Model 3's Circa 2006

Exc+ Exc Fine VG Good Fair Poor
6000 4500 2000 1250 950 700 400

So even a fair gun at $700 x (2% Inflation x 14 Years = 28%) $896 USD To CAD $1163.

It’s amazing due to Canada’s gun laws the 44 Russian is basically the only large caliber shooter that is exempt. It’s a sellers market up there for sure.

We are being bias here in the U.S. because of the availability. Sounds like you need to take a road trip to A couple U.S. gun shows once this virus is sunk and shop here.

Everyone is trying to be nice but I’ll give it to to straight. That gun is in POOR condition. It has nothing going for it whatsoever. Look also at the photo of the barrel to frame fit at the latch? Talk about slop! It’s horrible! And then blued over the slop. I would wager that it’s not even safe to shoot!

Pass on it!! It has very low value! Shadow box gun at best.
$3500 is crazy!

I have an open mind when evaluating antiques from every angle. Even the parts gun evaluation is very low due to the heavily worn parts.

$200-$350 max. I personally wouldn’t buy it at that price. One can say that the parts are worth more? Not from those photos they aren’t! Every part that I'm seeing in those photo's are heavily worn!




Murph

This is why I come here. Thanks guys, informed the seller I will be passing. On to the next one!

Yea might be something to do in the future for sure. The antique market here is apparently hot haha.

Take a look here, one of our main gun classified websites.

Firearms | No PAL Required | GUNPOST

I have been on American websites and have noticed the price difference for sure, I wish I knew more about the legalities of importing Antiques from the USA it could be my new business venture

I'm in Canada
Even in Canada that's a ridiculous price.
Because you don't have to register it and you can pack it in the
woods they get high prices.
But for that one 2k cdn tops 1.5 is what I'd sell it for

So our formula should be S&W Catalogue Price based on condition and adjust for inflation and add 30% because it's Canada and we get our value haha.

I think the values for S&W 44 Russians have definitely crept up more than inflation over the past 10-15 years


if you check rock island's last couple big auctions, even the NRA fair or refinished ones are fetching between $1500-2000 depending on the model


Auction Catalog 1035 - Rock Island Auction | Rock Island Auction
Auction Catalog 80 - Rock Island Auction | Rock Island Auction
Auction Catalog 79 - Rock Island Auction | Rock Island Auction


But at $3500 you could buy two of them here and also have enough money to pay for an exporter to send it to you!

True true that might be another idea. Thanks for the links, would you happen to know a good exporter?

Joe Salter at Antique Handguns/Pistols & Rifles - Collectible Guns & Firearms For Sale | Down East Antiques. If anyone knows how to import and export guns from Canada, it's Joe.

Mike

Also, "Simpson Ltd." ( in the U.S. ) is very good and long experience in managing imports/exports - shipping from anywhere to anywhere, old or new, or antique.

I would say, stay away from any re-finished examples, and go with an original un-messed-with, always...

Low Blue, but good mechanicals and bore, is always what it is - honest, real, no BS, no apologies to make, and none called for, and is respectable and can be cherished without demure or hesitation.

'Period' aftermarket Nickle or Tin plate, is forgivable and in my Book, rates as 'Honest for that it is and was' in historic context...if a step down from 'un messed with'.

Re-Blue, "No", no matter by who or when, unless maybe, if it was for sure done by S & W, and done 'back when'...but, even if done by S & W 'back when', it is still a step down from 'un messed with'.