A friend of mine has this gun left to him by his uncle who passed away about a year ago and now he wants to sell it. I told him I am interested but I have no idea what a conversion gun like this is worth. I looked at the auction sites but can't find anything like it. So I told him I would would ask the experts. It is a 1955 pre model 27 converted into a 45 Colt by David Clements in super nice condition.Sorry for the pics I was in a hurry and using a cell phone.

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STUNNING!! Sorry I have no knowledge on values for the piece. I'll be watching this thread as I'm interested as well.......Again, FINE handgun!!

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Go big or stay home

I think ballpark would be the cost of the work that was done. Usually the cost of the donor gun is lost and the price of the conversion and custom work can be recouped.

Sort of.

It's definitely not a hard rule but it's a good starting point for price.

JMO

Custom guns don't get that much respect in the market. Real money is saved for Factory Original. I would be surprised if that gun sold for the price of the original gun, or the price of the work, never mind combining the 2.

Crude Guess- 8 hundred plus or minus a hundred.

Well I see a $200-250 set of sambar stags and if that grip adapter is an original, another $350+(if it's a repro its still $100-150). It looks like the conversion was very well executed and the gun alone has to be $1000 minimum, probably more like $1500 to someone who loves 45 colt which is nearly everyone.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

I would agree with kris on value. I have seen some 38/44 conversions to 44 special bring a hefty buck.

Any paperwork for the work from Clements? Markings from Clements? That is part of the value in custom work. Lots of neat customized guns out there with no proof of who did the work. For example, a nice Griffin & Howe level quality of work on an unmarked rifle will not bring the same as an actual G&H. Dave Clement is a respected smith and his name lends value to the overall piece, but some proof of his work will certify that.
HTH!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder on this one. I always thought an N frame "should" be a big bore - but then again a
.357 has MUCH higher velocity.
What is unique about this combo is that you have a .45 Colt N frame with the Model 27 knurling on the top - that's the "cool" factor for me, not to mention it's in 3-1/2".
I would have preferred a set of Coke Grips on it rather than those stages because of my big hands, but you can't do that now; it would be converting the conversion and that would be "uncool"
If I were you, I would keep it. You may regret selling it some day when your love for Smith & Wessons grows. You will never get this one back and you'll never find another one like it!

The OP is looking to purchase from his friend, and is looking for a fair valuation.

Consult with Mr Clemments. he may or may not be able to confirm via s/n if his work, but at the least you can find the current rates for that rype of work.

I'm not much for conversions, but that is a really nice piece, it appears to have original blue and little used. As stated, that looks like a pre war grip adapter, which is pretty valuable. I think you would have to shoot it to see if everything works ok, and that it shoots to point of aim, to determine if you want it or not. If the barrel is original, that would help me decide if I wanted it or not. Thanks for posting.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

There are two schools of thought fighting against each other here. On one hand the "collector" in me says it's only worth about half a Pre 27 value, maybe $600 - $700. On the other hand there is the "cool" factor of a one of a kind custom handgun that you know would cost you probably $2000 (price of original handgun plus the custom work) and a year's wait for the work to be done. If I was in the market for it I would most likely offer in the $1200 range, a little less than half the average of the two values. Neat gun, if I had the opportunity to buy it I just might.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks every one! It has the CCG in a bullet stamp that MR. Clements marks his guns with. It is really a nice gun and the double action is just unbelievably smooth I will see him Tuesday show him this tread and go from there on a price. Thanks again for your help

As someone who has had guns like that built ,and point of fact currently have one being built by Hamilton Bowen, The one pictured would easily be worth a minimum of $2,000. to me . At that price it would be a steal as opposed to buying a revolver of good quality and sending it off to one of the better smith's for conversion. Though ,as my friend H Richard said, the collector would not think it a wise thing to do. That is the problem with those of us who are collectors and at the same time love too have "way cool" custom "using" guns and quite frankly H Richard and I, along with many others, have that affliction. Just my 2 cents and as always, All my very best, Joe.

Here is a pic of the markings on the gun

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Gotta chuckle at these $600-$800 evaluations, the price at which plain Jane Highway Patrolman are selling for today, when, as others have pointed out, the stags and grip adapter alone are worth that much. That gun is easily $1K+, and probably closer to Joe Kent's estimate, sold at the right venue.

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SWHF #448

If he sells it, suggest he offer it in the classifieds on this forum. It might last five minutes, I don't know.

If that gun were for sale at $1500 I bet it wouldn't last long, but at $2000 it would result in a lot of offers lower then that and sitting for a while.

Based on all the customized guns I poke at in my free time that $1500 mark seems to be the sweet spot for most things, and when the right set of guys decide they have to have it the price creeps up to that $2000 or maybe just over range.

In any case the sights are great, grips and adapter are great, the look is right, the cartridge would make it a fun as heck shooter. It's been converted "right" for desirability to be certain.

It's just one of those guns that a lot of guys would love to own, but not pay for.

SixgunStrumpet, you very well are right in most instances, however, in this case, I would hit the "buy it now" button at once. I have priced that conversion on a 27-2 and at $2000,it is a heck of a good buy for the gun and work alone. It is an even better buy with the stocks and adaptor. All my best Joe.

Well, someone had to say it.

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You're shy a few manners.

The question is, would anyone else?

I think one of the things to remember about this forum is that we tend to, well, we tend to stir each other up a bit

Truth is this gun could go for higher then $2000, I just don't think it would go for less then $1500. I agree with you on the gun being a heck of a good buy at the 2k mark, but the problem with custom guns is that you have to have the right buyer. In this case you are clearly (one of?) the right buyers if you have already been pricing out doing such a conversion yourself.

We are a pretty small community in the grand scheme of things however, so there just isn't that much of a broader market for such guns (yet at least). Posting such a gun here is the best possible place for showing it to the exact right guys who would want to buy it.

For the record I would also easily hit buy it now at the 2k mark personally, if I had the money. Which is the other thing. I know I've bought guns in the past and had follow up messages from other guys here telling me; "If I hadn't just bought X, you would have had to pay a lot more."

Most of us are on some kind of budget

Heh. There's a solid market for conversions done by upper-tier gunsmiths like Dave Clements. $2000 is a minimum, I'd say, and maybe even $2500. Now, the real questions should be: is your friend a "good" friend that will sell it to you for less than it's worth (or what you have in your pocket right now) or do you have enough to give him full value or close to it? Either way, I hope you can make a deal. That's a real gem.

I would pay $2,000 in a split second...

He is the best friend I have I have known him for over 35 years but I want him to get the best deal he can from his gun.I don't know what he will want to do I have sent him a link to this thread so he can decide. I told him I can not pay over $2000 for it but I would list it on the forum for him if he wants or he can sell it somewhere else at least he will have an idea of what he can get for it.

I think him selling it to you for $2,000 would be a win for everyone.He gets a great price for the Gun and a easy face to face sale and You get an awesome Gun....Plus You can still be Friends

We will stay friend either way

I was just joking....sarcasm is hard over the Internet

Well,

I've built my share of em.......

If she'll shoot, two grand ain't too awful far off the mark.

If'n I were to build another like this pre-27 to .45 Long Colt....She'd be a bit north of two thousand.




.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

If you feel like building One or selling that One I am a Buyer.I love the .44spl Conversion that you built,I would not change one thing about it.

I've got all the accruements to build one....might be a good winter project......

Maybe even a 5 inch .45 Colt / ACP convertible, for shootin'

I'll keep ya in mind.

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I have that one and I don't believe I'll be sellin' any time soon! :-) I can tell you, though, that if it was on the market $1500 wouldn't get it.

Whatever the cost.....I would be one of the ones doing whatever it took to get it. That thing is like my perfect dream gun. I have thought about selling a kidney to get Hamilton Bowen to do one for me.

I am pretty shure he is going to put this one on gunbroker after reading this thread and talking to a gun dealer he thinks it will bring at least $2700 I guess we will see what he decides to do tomorrow

Thanks Riley. Sorry you did not get it. If possible let us know what it brings.

Best luck to you in getting that fine looking revolver. While I would LOVE to have that gun, $2700.00 will be some time before offered for it. I'd even drop $1750 for it as it is the right caliber on the right platform.........$2700?..........Naw...........Keep us droolers informed if you will. Thanks

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Go big or stay home

It only takes one.

Selling on GunBroker (or any other auction website) entails a certain amount of overhead, which the gun deal mentioned above may have glossed over. Tell your friend to be prepared for the total costs involved:
FFL to FFL transfer
Shipping charges (and hassles!)
Commission to the auction site (10% 20% ?? Better find out!)

The buyer will probably want a 3 day inspection period in which he can decline to buy and demand a refund. Better be clear who will pay the shipping charges for a return! The point is, there are issues and costs associated with selling on-line.

The friend may come out money ahead (not to mention avoiding a lot of headaches) just doing a "no muss, no fuss" transaction with you.

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You're shy a few manners.

Well it is now mine He brought it over this morning and said that he wanted me to have it. So the deal is done

You have a really fine and special custom Smith.

Many of us covet your new Revolver......

Enjoy
John

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I Love This Site

The only opinion that really counts Is the buyer counting out the Benjamin's.
Over the years I have been offered a number of conversion guns.
None of them were even close to the pieces shown in this thread!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Sweet! Can you post some better pictures when you get a chance? I would love to see it in better detail.

Great! Congratulations on a real prize of a firearm! Hope you enjoy it for many years to come!

I will try to get some pics posted maybe tonight or tomorrow

Very nice .45 C. Put my name on the list of offers at $2,000 should you decide to part with it.

I am happy for you, too. I have one Clements and prize it highly...

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

A Clements custom gun commands high prices. I agree with the greater than $2K responses. A custom work like this requires a lot of money and a lot of time to have your pistol customized by someone like Mr. Clements. In the right forum this would sell in a heartbeat, people want a Clement's gun are willing to pay more than the price of the firearm + the work just to get it now, rather than waiting a couple of years.