Over on the Colt Forum, someone started a thread about the best bargain on a Colt Revolver. So, how about for Smith & Wesson. And, post photos! I don't have a photo to post, but the two best bargains for me might be a .22 Hand Ejector First Model (Ladysmith) in 85-90% condition I purchased last year for $275 at a local auction, or a New Model No 3 that cost me $675, in 80% condition, and, I did not realize I had a Target Model until I received the factory letter from Roy Jinks. Yes, the rear sight snapped off a long time ago, and the front sight was filed to compensate, but still a good buy -- with a special order serrated trigger as well.

1953 pre 18, in box with paperwork, no SAT but it was about 98% condition at an estate sale. Dad got it for $50, because I was 17. I bought it from him later for $100

I've told the story here before, but mine was taking a flyer on a 1905 4th change, misidentified as a 1902 3 years ago. Crummy, blurry pictures. Won it for $175. When I received it, it was engraved as being presented to someone on the US Pistol Team at the Inter-Allied games in Paris in 1919. In really nice condition and provenance confirmed by Roy Jinks letter.

Mine was in '04 or '05, a 586 no dash, nickel 4". Came w/ box, tools & a Bianchi holster, I don't think it saw much holster time & very little to no range time. $200 OTD. Sorry about the ****** photo.

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Best bargain within the last few years has to be 3rd Model HE 44 Special 4 inch nickel which lettered as seen here (Wolf & Klar 1931) for $975 OTD tagged as a HE 2nd Model. Best bargain ever was a nickel Remington 31 caliber 1851 engraved revolver with ivory grips. A pawn shop had it on the bottom shelf with their Italian black powder replica revolvers; $60 OTD.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

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I knew I shouldn't have opened this thread--and only a few posts in. In good form, i'm happy for the those who get the good deals now and then.

...just be sure to tell the folks round here that the prices aren't through the roof, regardless of the condition.

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Rather be outdoors

$150 on the sticker

I didn't even haggle

I was only vaguely aware of what a Registered magnum was, I just thought that any functional S&W .357 Magnum was worth at least $150.

The missing rear sight cost me slightly more then the gun did (and in retrospect I consider that just as lucky and as good a deal, especially considering what that RM hammer just went for).

Let me know if you want to make some serious dough on your .44spl....

I don't mean to sound philosophical, but I gotta say that all my Smith & Wessons were a GREAT bargain. The money I gave isn't worth that much anymore, and I have a nice pile of great guns.

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Why, I aughta.....

Plane jane 38 special. Bidding started and ended at $325:



BRNO ZKW 465, at auction it was covered in some old red wax, it looked like rust but for $425 I liked it anyway. When I got it home and started cleaning it, the wax start rubbing off, I was pretty happy>

I have several, but the very best came from a sorry gun show I stopped going to years ago----because it was a waste of MY time!!

But, then again, I didn't have anything else to do (that I wanted to do); so what the heck! Off I go! It's August---in Knoxville---as in hotter than dammit! The air conditioning in the hall is busted----but they're "working on it". Right!! There are maybe 4-500 tables. I go through it in maybe 45 minutes-----never even slowed down. I'm on my way to my friend's table to retrieve my traveling library. Here's a sign: "MORE DEALERS UPSTAIRS" Screw it---it'll be way hotter upstairs than it is down here! I go up anyway.

There are 14 tables up there---arranged in a 'U' around the stair landing. You can see all the tables without moving from the landing. There's a S&W something on the far table to my left----and it's pretty----from a distance. Over I go. This looks suspiciously like a post-war/pre-war .32 Regulation Police Target----one of the 196 made. I pick it up. It still looks like that. The tag says it's a "22/32 Kit Gun----32 caliber". Right!! All these post-war/pre-war guns are in a specific serial number series, but I can't remember what it is. I know what book it's in ("History")----and the page number (156)------but I'm totally blank on the serial numbers (And I have one of these guns at home!!) These things are selling for around $2,000 at the time. This one is marked $425 (!!!!)----and it's absolutely like new!!!

What to do?!! There's no way I'm putting this thing down! There's no way this guy is going to let me take his gun down to my library. I figure it's worth $425 no matter what. I give him the money, and head for the book.

There IS a God!!

Ralph Tremaine

I guess it's all relative, but in 1973 I bought a model 29-2 for $194.00, a 27-2 for $194.00 and a Python for $198.00. All were brand new and at list price. They weren't bargains back then, but they certainly turned out to be. Still have all three. In 1997 I bought a 1966 vintage 17-2 with the original diamond stocks and a set of Sanderson target stocks for $200.00. I recently sold the Sanderson's for way more than I paid for the revolver, making the gun better than free.

My......... 95%+ Registered Magnum.....$325.. in about 2005/7

Hello all:

My best buy on a Smith was just six weeks back. I was looking for a new 38 special snub nose new, possibly a Model 643 with a hammer. I have a Ruger lcr 357 and just wanted a Smith for old time's sake (my dad had a Chief Special when I was a kid).

So I am going from pawn shop to pawn shop just looking and there it was: a Smith and Wesson, Model 360PD, scandium, titanium, 5 shot, 357 mag., two inch barreled, used gun at a pawn shop that just weighs 12 oz. Now you must keep in mind that the little Smith I was searching to find was from $390 to $420 in our part of W. Tn.

So when I saw the little 357 snubbie priced for $355 gently used I was stunned. I came back to the board here and discussed what it was with my colleagues. They told me to run-not walk-back there and get it ASAP. And I did. It was $397 and some change out the door--at the same time it was $1019.00 on the Smith web page. They are selling for from $600 to $800 on some of the auctions on line.

I will probably never do this well again--ever!!

It is the most unheard of thing I have ever heard of; buying a gun that will appreciate rather than the opposite.

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"That is all!"

Retired co-worker called me about his 6" 28-2 he bought in 1972. After shooting 1/2 box of 357 mag. it went into his safe and wiped down once a year. I bought it for $250 with remaining ammo, never used Bianchi X15 shoulder holster and all papers. Begged him to take more $$$ but he would not.

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2B1ASK1

A 10$ raffle ticket on a model 14 with the 8 3/8" barrel....new in box no papers....not sure if you call it a bargain of plain old luck...and no I wont take 20$ to double my money..my buddies already tried that one.

I was at a SouCal gunshow in early 2011, right at opening time. A dealer had a Blue Book out and was pulling guns from under his table and pricing them. He priced this 1952 Baby Chief with matching red box according to the values given for a used Model 36 Chief's Special. The box alone is worth over $200. Needless to say I didn't hesitate.

The one on the bottom bought 3 years ago a model 49 in about 90%+ for $232

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Been posted and discussed many times.

A Navy contract Victory Model Shipped Sept. of 1942 to Springfield Armory. Saw it in a pawn shop 10 years ago tagged at $100 due to a bulged barrel. I looked at it, and told the shop owner a damaged gun was nearly impossible to sell. He agreed and asked me to make an offer if I thought I could do something with it. Before thinking about it I blurted out $60 and he said sold! I should have said 30.

It shot like hell. Had to replace the barrel.

So I looked on ebay and for $5 bought a 5" barrel from 1938-39 according to the serial and in 30 minutes using my bench vise I swapped the barrel.

Total investment $65. Shoots great, now.





PS: I have a 14-3 I bought for $100 but that would go in the other forum.

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No life story has happy end.

An adjustable sight 1006 that I bought from a pawn shop that had caught fire. Bought it for $65.00. Scrubbed and soaked all the soot off and replaced the grip. Was only cosmetic damage. Has run like a champ for years.

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S&W Accumulator

Picked up this year for $800.


20140723_111238 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20140723_111203 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

Not a steal, but about what it's worth to me.

The original numbered magnas are set aside.

20140701_084538 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

I would not pay what these are bringing at online auctions.

It is nearly immaculate. There is a scratch on the side plate, and what appears to be a factory defect. The edges of the trigger guard are unpolished.

Dad gave me his 6 1/2" Heavy Duty before he passed, along with his Washington State Patrol commemorative Model 28. I'd give them both for another day with him though.

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Even older, even crankier....

Well, if I'd been able to keep it over the years, the MK II .455 in NRA VG condition for $31.58 would be a bargain.

Bought in Gart Bros. in Denver about 1965. And the Colt Super .38 Match grade with fixed sights in NRA Ex. for some $350 many years ago would also have appreciated vastly. It was made in the mid 1930's and I bought it about 1969. Had the box, too. Instructions in English and Spanish in the lid.

I guess my best recent deal was paying $350 for a M-60-4 sans box about 2005. As new, but no box. It's worth more now, but not for sale. One of my grail guns.

My M-66-3 new was probably about $300 in 1990. Still have the box, grips, and acc. The gun wears Pachmayrs. Please don't ask to buy it. You'd waste my time and yours. Maybe someday if I can no longer operate it or am starving... my son especially wants it when I die. He's mainly into autos but associates that .357 more with me than any other gun.

I haven't bought any new S&W's since 1990. My last new gun that was a real deal was a NIB Ruger SP-101 for $419 at a gun show in 2011. Mine has the barrel a fraction over three inches. That was a good retail price then and they're more now, if one can be found. Again, not for sale.

Has to be my five-inch Model 10-5. Picked it up for $239 plus tax at a local gun show.

De Oppresso Liber

That could be the deal of the century!

Wasn't interested in a 6 inch N-frame at the time; in fact had just gotten rid of a 6 inch 28 for a 4 inch K or L frame....

If it wasn't for this forum and you guys...... never would have recognized it for what it was........it pays to look and check out any and all nice old guns in the "used gun case"!!!

A couple of years ago at an estate sale, before I became very interested in S&W's, I ran into the below revolvers.

Following my dad's more recent motto that "any old, nice, blued Smith & Wesson is always worth $500", I thought the below model 25 LNIB was reasonably priced at $325.

The speed loader marked "25" was a neat accessory to the package.


The below 547 was an impulse buy. I wasn't really sure what it was but I remember, as a kid, my dad talking about a 9 mm S&W revolver in a less-than-flattering way but then I remembered his other advice - "any old, nice, blued Smith & Wesson is always worth $500." Since it was LNIB and had these neat "547" marked speed loaders I thought what the heck. I was a little conflicted when I bought this but now that I know what it is I'm glad I did.




John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

I have to say that I was looking for a way to post my last 3 purchases without sounding like I was bragging, and here is my opportunity! In my mind the best bargains are always your most recent purchases.

A 4 digit First Model 32 Safety at a local gunshow last week for $100, a Model 1899 for $150, and a cut snub-nosed Third Model 38 Safety for $150. Both the 1899 and 38 Safety were online auctions 2 weeks ago. The great thing about them are that are all shooters and will be heading to the range as soon as I get the 1899 re-checkering and refinish done.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Online auction two years ago. Labelled as an M&P, but decent photo and serial number included in description. Missouri State Patrol 5" for $375.

Bob

$100



f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Here is guaranteed me best deal-
38/44 Outdoorsman SCORE!Factory Letter Post 32

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

In 1993 I was traveling and stopped in a very small town not too far from where I live at a gun shop I had never been to before. I found out he was also the owner of a small gun shop in the city where I live and spent tome at both shops. As I looked around I spotted this pretty well kept revolver lurking down in the case and asked to see it. It was bigger than I thought and I wasn't real sure I liked how heavy it was. He told me he could transfer anything from one shop to another. I wasn't real into collecting then, I was mainly a target shooter. A couple days later I got to thinking about it and stopped by his shop where I lived and mentioned the S&W and he told me he would bring it in in 2 days. When he brought it in he said he could part with it for $325, but that there was an old holster that went with it. So I bought it.



A pretty clean Pre 27, 3 1/2" with non-relieved walnut targets.

And this is the old holster he included in the deal.



I subsequently sold the holster for about $225 (in a weak moment), so I have $100 in this rather nice Pre-27.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

my best deal yet,1st year production reg police in 38s&w,sn 1922, $ 350

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About four years ago I stopped by a rather large gun shop, nested in the used handgun case was a like new 1905 4th target (1927 vintage.) misidentified as a K-38. No box but the tag price of #345.00 said buy me now! No Pic's at the moment, they went down with my last computer. This is a bit of a tie, same shop about a year later, with the six inch non model marked four screw Highway Patrolman for $359.00. Pic's of it also went down with the last computer as well. I got a few more great deals at that shop and they should have known what they had but I'm not complaining!

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Stay safe people!

Back when I was looking at a Model 52 they were retailing at $650. At the time, I was not in a position to pay quite that much. I later stumbled on a "like new" used one for sale and managed to get it for $400. I've owned it ever since and it does get used almost weekly. BUT, i consider all my guns to be good buy since they were what I wanted and now, years later, are worth much more than I originally paid. Would I sell them now? No way!!!! But, if I find more that I like I'll add to my collection. BTW, even though these guns look as good as they do, none of them are safe queens. They all get used on a regular basis.

I've told this before but am happy to do so again. Found a RM (No. 1070) in a pawnshop in 1997 priced at $250 (the owner didn't care for large frame .357's). He knows I always dicker and I knew he'd be suspicious if I didn't try, so I offered him $225 and he said "sold." The gun is about 85-90%, all original with matching grips but no box or papers. Factory letter indicates it shipped in May 1936 to the Jackson Hole Hardware Co. in Jackson, WY. I've since acquired a lot of biographical material on the original owner who was quite a character. Anyway, knowing it never happened if there are no pics, here's one:

My best S&W bargains? Yeah, I have a few:
Most of these happened about 14 or 15 years ago.
Bought a real nice Pre M15 4" for just over $200. Worth at least $500 now.
Got a REAL nice 5" Heavy Duty that dates to about 1952 for $250. Worth almost a Grand now.
Got a Transitional Outdoorsman that GLL, the Outdoorsman Accumulator says has the lowest number in his files for one with a Registered Magnum barrel rib, for $400. Worth about 3 times that now.
Bought a 4" M57 no dash for just a bit over $200. Worth at least $800 now.
Bought a 3" M13-2 for $200. In today's market I could get at least $800.
And then there is my favorite carry revolver. A 2/12" M66-1. Paid $225 for it. Has the box and docs. I could get over $800 today easy.

No. None of 'em are for sale until I take the Dirt Nap. Then you can deal with Missus Fan.
Jim

Hello all:

For any who might want to read the entire thread about my acquisition of 12 oz. Scandium Model 360PD 357 here it is:

357 Question for you experts?

Enjoy!

rd

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"That is all!"

ISP gun on GB a few years back. Was listed as a six inch model 14. $350. Drives my friend Drew crazy.
DW

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"NUTS"

I am the original buy high, sell low guy. Always needing money for something new. My worst buys have been Bangor Punta (sp) Model 24 and Model 624 .44 Special revolvers. I now have a Ruger Bisley Flattop 7.5" and a Ruger 50th Anniversary .357 S&W Mag converted to .44 Spl. I guess a good S&W .44 Spl will elude me. My best buy? A nickle plated Model 57 penned and recessed, bought in 1979 for $275 ($869.08 in today's money), about $30 under new "classic" prices. Just saw a blued model for $1295 on gunbroker.com so at least I'm holding my own. If S&W ever makes another quality .44 Special, I might just spend the kid's inheritance on yet another N frame .44 Spl.

I have been the recipient of many "good" deals and some "great" deals but my stories simply cannot hold a candle to some of the "exceptional" or "monumental" deals I have just read above.


I would LOVE to find a 95% RM for less than $500, a 3.5" Nickel Pre 27 for less than a grand, or a 3.5" blued Pre 27 with Heiser for less than $400!!!!

I'm in shock!

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

How about a Pinto for under a Grand ?

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

YOU WIN!

I was able to purchase my 66-2 for $175 due to an agency transition from revolver to semi-auto.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Not my best deal but a very recent one.
GB..buy it now. $550.00 IIRC.
Had regular target stocks and I strapped on the stags.

I think it's a toss up, a Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 with a 4-inch barrel I got about 6 years back for $450, or my Smith & Wesson K-22 6 inch barrel that was made in late 1956 in like new condition for $300. I regretted selling the 29-2 but I did good selling the K-22, I think I got $550 for it.

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Vaya con Dios

My best deal would have been this 686-1.Picked it up used about 5 years ago with about 800 rounds of commercially reloaded .38 spec.all for 350.00

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I'm just here for the guns.

Probably this one for $250 plus tax.

Follow up:

I had a problem with the Model 360PD. The front of the cylinder was rubbing the forcing cone. It was causing both to scar. Sent it back to SW and received an email response today saying it was received, sent to the revolver repair, and would probably be "repair under warranty." Not bad for a gun bought used from a pawn shop!!

I will keep in touch.

That is all!

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"That is all!"

You got "took." I paid $150 for mine when we transitioned to the Model 13.