|
|
05-21-2020, 11:31 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
Liked 25 Times in 14 Posts
|
|
Victory sold on Gunbroker for $2,500
Hello, sometimes I browse Gunbroker out of curiosity.
Smith & Wesson WW2 Victory Model Revolver .38 S&W Special 4” - Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com : 868088376
I saw this Victory, 4 inch Special, V107554, reparkerized, sold for $2,537.42.
I am aware sometimes people get into bidding wars and/or there are uninformed buyers. Is that the case here? Or is there something special about this particular Victory?
|
05-21-2020, 11:39 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,880
Likes: 980
Liked 18,995 Times in 9,295 Posts
|
|
I see in photo 11 of the listing that it appears to have an S stamp on the bottom of the grip frame and sideplate. If so it was converted to the new-style hammer block well before it was standard. Not sure if that brings a 4-500% premium over an unmodified one.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
05-21-2020, 11:40 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,608
Likes: 240
Liked 29,113 Times in 14,076 Posts
|
|
I can't see anything about it warranting a top bid anywhere near $2500, nor is there anything outstanding mentioned in the item description. I would think that if there was something extraordinary about it, the seller would have mentioned it.
Last edited by DWalt; 05-21-2020 at 11:52 AM.
|
05-21-2020, 11:41 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 772
Likes: 1,655
Liked 1,123 Times in 435 Posts
|
|
I just browsed Gun Broker for the first time today.I was looking for bargains.I was excited. Fire was running in my blood.But,no bargains were to be seen today.Prices were in the stratosphere. Tell me I just had picked the wrong day to view Gun Broker.....
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 11:43 AM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern Middle Tennessee
Posts: 2,915
Likes: 3,427
Liked 4,120 Times in 1,462 Posts
|
|
Wow I need to find Sawyer1965 and offer him mine. I gave $600 for it six years ago with the holster I picked up the Navy knife for $40 I think.
__________________
Randy
|
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 12:22 PM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,834
Likes: 10,103
Liked 27,996 Times in 8,452 Posts
|
|
Something very strange about this. Unless I’m missing something.
The S does not add much to the value, certainly not as much as the refinish detracts. The new finish isn’t even very authentic-looking, including covering the ejector rod.
For me this is maybe a $300 shooter. Actually, there are so many all-original examples of this run-of-the-mill Navy-shipped type out there that a collector shouldn’t look twice at a refinished gun, let alone pay a price that approaches 2” territory.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 12:34 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Flathead Valley, Montana
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 2,592
Liked 12,779 Times in 1,815 Posts
|
|
Could be that there was a shill bidder, someone realized it and got mad, and just drove the price up with the intention of forcing the seller to eat the cost of the auction when their shill (of course) doesn't pay for it.
|
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 01:20 PM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,834
Likes: 10,103
Liked 27,996 Times in 8,452 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by murphydog
.... it appears to have an S stamp on the bottom of the grip frame and sideplate. If so it was converted to the new-style hammer block well before it was standard.
|
Alan:
On a side note, the serial doesn’t matter regarding the added S. The Navy refurbishment contract from May 1945, when the hammer block was added, included 40,000 revolvers apparently from all across the serial range, 900-pre-V through the V-range.
|
05-21-2020, 03:12 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,880
Likes: 980
Liked 18,995 Times in 9,295 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Absalom
Alan:
On a side note, the serial doesn’t matter regarding the added S. The Navy refurbishment contract from May 1945, when the hammer block was added, included 40,000 revolvers apparently from all across the serial range, 900-pre-V through the V-range.
|
Right, I have seen the occasional pre-SV prefix gun with the S; just speculating that someone thought it was super rare and worth $2500+.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
05-21-2020, 03:45 PM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The kidney of Dixie.
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 49
Liked 13,410 Times in 3,290 Posts
|
|
Nutty things happen on GB auctions. Two guys got into a bidding war on my item years ago and went stupid. Bids topped $100,000. Of course nobody had any intention of actually paying it. They got booted from GB and the owner yelled at me like it was my fault the nonsense happened. Said I was banned for 30 days but it was lifted after a few hours.
Or maybe a couple guys were bidding on a gun just like the one dad carried in the war. People with money are not always wise with it.
__________________
No life story has happy end.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 03:49 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Southwest Iowa
Posts: 10,867
Likes: 2,688
Liked 18,970 Times in 5,589 Posts
|
|
I am thankful I didn't want that gun. Phew!
__________________
Mike
S&WCA #3065
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 04:34 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 6,713
Likes: 27,045
Liked 37,131 Times in 4,576 Posts
|
|
Not sure what the attraction is there. Well as PT Barnum said, there is a sucker born every minute. I prefer , For every seat there is an *****
__________________
Pete
I ain't no fortunate son
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 07:05 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sunny Florida, USA
Posts: 1,831
Likes: 126
Liked 4,147 Times in 818 Posts
|
|
Gents:
I don't have any comment on the price achieved at the end of the auction. The clearly disclosed refinish job would have dissuaded me from any interest in buying this gun.
As to why the gun seemed to be valued so highly, I would say that it probably has to do with this. It is an example of a 1942 Victory that went through the 1945 factory rebuild program. That was more than just the installation of the new safety hammer block. In this case the gun was rebuilt to new standard. You can tell that because the original left top strap marking of U.S. NAVY was scrubbed and the new roll mark of the then-current 1945 marking ð U.S. PROPERTY GHD was applied, along with the addition of the P-proof marks and the S marks to signify the presence of the new safety feature. To me, that makes it an interesting gun. Not many of them around with those features and I am guessing that the top bidders knew that.
One last observation. This gun has actually been refinished not just once but twice.
__________________
Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
05-21-2020, 07:24 PM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,834
Likes: 10,103
Liked 27,996 Times in 8,452 Posts
|
|
The bidding history shows it clearly was two people.
The winner apparently went to 650 on 5/14. Then second-place decided he just had to have that gun and set the autobid to 2500 on 5/15. Over the next two days the winner worked his way up in a few big jumps until he topped that and won.
I know I can be an incurable snoop. But another interesting tidbit I discovered is that the last gun the winner bought on GB, a few weeks ago, was also a refinished Victory, this one V 427974, renickeled with Pachs, for ..... $315 !!!
PS: Just saw Charlie's comments. That would indeed be a rational explanation. I think collectors with that level of expertise should really hang out here on the forum; TWO of them clashing over a refinished Victory has the odds of these bullets that supposedly collided at Gallipoli
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-22-2020, 05:59 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
Liked 25 Times in 14 Posts
|
|
Thank for the replies! It sounds like it could be a couple of reasons for the high selling price, none of which are the revolver having anything special about it (that we know of).
I have seen some original finished Victories in like new / unfired condition go for high amounts, but this one being refinished and selling for that amount is perplexing.
|
05-22-2020, 06:26 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: VA & SoFL
Posts: 8,686
Likes: 472
Liked 5,735 Times in 3,206 Posts
|
|
Is this the same revolver us kids use to buy out of the adds in True Magazine and Sunny Surplus for $20 ? As a kid, you could send in a Postal MO, and have it sent right to the house.
__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member
|
05-22-2020, 07:45 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,608
Likes: 240
Liked 29,113 Times in 14,076 Posts
|
|
Guess we won't know the reason why unless the winning bidder makes a posting here.
|
05-22-2020, 07:51 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Coastal virginia
Posts: 5,110
Likes: 2,136
Liked 10,471 Times in 3,279 Posts
|
|
Is there any way to tell if the winning bidder actually pays?
|
05-22-2020, 10:37 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 616
Likes: 578
Liked 802 Times in 287 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SixgunStrumpet
Could be that there was a shill bidder, someone realized it and got mad, and just drove the price up with the intention of forcing the seller to eat the cost of the auction when their shill (of course) doesn't pay for it.
|
This would be my guess. The term for this maneuver is "nuclear" bid. The shill bidder's hand is forced and the complicit seller is hit with the fee.
Watch for the relist.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
05-22-2020, 10:41 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 616
Likes: 578
Liked 802 Times in 287 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck24
Is there any way to tell if the winning bidder actually pays?
|
Yes. It will be relisted.
|
05-22-2020, 10:42 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,723
Likes: 986
Liked 1,966 Times in 837 Posts
|
|
Forcing a shill bidder sounds like fun - but also extremely risky. A shill bidder will go just so far ; if the person who is forcing the shill makes a mistake , he gets stuck winning an inflated auction.
Too rich for my blood.
|
05-23-2020, 09:20 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Flathead Valley, Montana
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 2,592
Liked 12,779 Times in 1,815 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Waveski
Forcing a shill bidder sounds like fun - but also extremely risky. A shill bidder will go just so far ; if the person who is forcing the shill makes a mistake , he gets stuck winning an inflated auction.
Too rich for my blood.
|
To which they can just say; I made a mistake, I thought I was bidding 250 not 2500.
And just not pay.
One bad feedback isn't the end of the world.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|