Hello everyone:
I've been looking at a S&W model 18 K-22 revolver. I don't know if it's an 18-(anything), but he is implying that it's a mid-70's
vintage. The gun is in absolutely beautiful condition - barely any
drag ring - and the bluing looks mint. It also comes with the original box and papers. Asking $600. What do you think?

Welcome to the forum.

We have a number of Canadian members and they can tell you if the price is in line up there. Several similar guns (18-3 ANIB) have recently sold on GB for $750.

$600 would be top dollar here in Michigan.

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"I also cook."

A high-demand gun in beautiful shape with its box and papers at $600? Take it.

Whether you shoot it or save it, that's a good price for what it is today. If you only want a shooter, maybe you could find a rougher one with some loss of blue and without a box in the $450-500 range. But then again, maybe you couldn't.

$600 is a lot of money, but I think that's pretty much the price you will have to pay for either a four inch or six inch K-22 in decent shape.

Disclosure: I'm in California, and we are accustomed to higher prices here. What I would pay may seem inflated or unrealistic elsewhere.

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David Wilson

With box and papers, the gun as you describe would go for close to that around here. You may choose to wait for a better deal - but, you may find the prices that much higher by the time you finally find one. If you really want one, I say dicker a little with the seller - and buy it.

Good Luck,

Jerry

If that's $600.00 Canadian I would grab it. For $600.00 US that's about the upper end of the price range however, they often say around here, "you didn't pay too much, you just bought it too early". They are not coming down in price.

Here's my 18-3 (bottom) I bought from David Carroll a couple of years back. I paid $500.00 and I think that would be a really good price now. $600.00 with box/papers sounds OK.
Bob

Cost wise it does seem to be at the higher end but in terms of something to have, the Model 18 is one of the absolute best you can get.

The 4" K frame S&W .22's are almost impossible to find in the Seattle/Western Wa.area in ANY condition That has been the trend for all P&R .S&W .22's for years. It has just accelerated of late caused by ammo cost. It won't get better,as a quality .22 is probably the last to go from any collection. Again,it's the cost of ammo. VERY easy gun to sell and get your money back as well. I have been looking and have not seen a model 18 as you describe at any show or local shop in at least 10 years. Some 6" K22s and 17's,and a few 34's(35's? dream on) I would not think twice about buying it at that price. Just ask yourself how many like that have you seen.

Ischia

Buy the gun. It is not bargain priced. If one insist on trying to find such a gun at a bargain price, one may very well look forever without any success. Buy the gun. As described, it is a reasonable price. I have a 18 that I bought in 2004 for $350 from a friend. He is now dead. And I consider that the price I paid for his revolver was not only very good for him but now is very good for me. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.

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<><

At first glance it seems like a lot of money, but I already have one, shoot it often, use it to introduce new shooters to the sport, take pride in the ownership of it, and just generally have a lot of (cheap) fun with it. If I somehow lost mine, I'd pay $600 to get all that fun back.

I thank you gentlemen, I really appreciate your input. I'll let you know the outcome.
Thanks Rob

Well, I bought it. I hummed and hawed for a couple more days, then made an offer that was accepted. After all the shipping costs and what have you, the final price will come in at $596 NP's (Northern Peso).
Now comes the fun part: waiting for it to get here. Between the the bureaucracy and the postal service it may double in value before I ever touch it. I'll post pictures ASAP.

You got a good deal especially considering the box and papers. I paid about $500 a year ago for a very nice M18 without box and papers. It was a nice mate to my M17. Great gun and fun to shoot! You will enjoy for years.

I can't hardly believe that no one here warned you about how addictive those things are! We should all be ashamed of ourselves. -S2

PS: post photos of it when it finally arrives; some of us sorta live vicariously through posted photos of K22's.

x2. I'm lucky if I see a nice 18 every 3 years or so.

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Dave

Great choice! You will absolutely Love the Model 18! Welcome to the addiction, and welcome to the forum. Best of luck with your new gun. Pictures are mandatory don't forget.

Great gun and they aren't getting any less expensive. Enjoy it!

Congratulations!
Well, I understand that you have the same problem as I do: waiting for all the paperwork...

And a really hard part it is!

Some days before Christmas I found "my" Model 18-2in Germany, my dealer who imported it for me, has been busy ever since to get it into the Netherlands.
Now it is finally in his safe, since last weekend, but I have to wait for the last details in my paperwork, before I can call it legally mine.
I delivered the documents to our local Policeoffice last Monday, now waiting for a call to transfer it to my permit...

But; I DO have a photo!

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anton

Slow Draw; is this the M18-3 you bought? The seller started out at $695 and lowered it to $595. If this is the one, I think you did real good, by all the pictures he posted, it looks in excellent condition.




Regards:
Rod

....

I bought a model 18-4 in about 95% cond about 3 month's ago without the box for $550 and the seller wouldn't budge. It was one of two that I have seen for sale at gun show's or in the local classified's. The other 18 I looked at was so rough and rusted I wouldn't even consider it and the seller wanted $425 for it firm. I think you did very well.

Hi Slow Draw
I'm in BC and just bought a Model 17-6 in excellent condition from a dealer in Ontario (see photo). I paid $599.00 Cdn, which works out to about $560.00 US. While shopping for mine, I saw similar guns for sale from $500 to $795 here in Canada. $600 for the Model 18 sounds like a good deal to me.
Islandguy

Attached Images

My_Model_17-6.jpg (63.8 KB, 72 views)

I went to a gun shop this morning "just to look" they had a Model 18-3 darn close to 100% but no box or papers, virtually no turn marks on the cylinder, really nice and grips number to gun.
They wanted $679

I have been looking for one around New England and right now they are very hard to find and all the ones I have seen at the gun shows are all in the $675 to $750 range, I don't want to buy a new one.
Anyhow I offered them $649 for it and they took it. I didn't get a bargain but I didn't get raped either, I am very happy it should be fun to shoot and looks fantastic!

I payed $450 CDN two years ago and I don't regret it a bit. I've attempted to shoot it loose but have been unsuccesful at this point.

Wraco:
What are you doing with a picture of my wife...I mean Girl Friend... I mean gun. Yes, that is the little darling that I just bought - thanks for stealing my thunder. LOL Actually, I was thinking of doing the same thing, since I probably won't see it for a least another two weeks and I do hate the wait. Are you the CGNer that bought a Model 18 form Woodwards? I thought so. Well I like my BLR's in 358 win. And yes I was admiring the pictures of your Model 18, although I am a little envious of the price you paid. You have to admit, "exseperatist" does have a good eye for taking photos, I don't think I could do any better.

Those M18's are nice. I have an early 18-2 and an 18-3. Here's a picture of my 18-3 that I paid $182 for. Included was the box, docs and tools. But that was brand new in 1975. Bought it at the Woodwards Department Store. Still in pristine condition after plenty of use.

Rod

Slow Draw: You won't have to wait that long. If everything is order, you'll have it in a week or less, delivered right to your door. No FFL charges to pay out, just the postage that's usually $20. The quickest delivery time was with Elwood Epps, in Ontario, they had it to me in 3 days from giving them my visa number over the phone.

You'll love the 18-3. Main thing is to keep the charge holes clean and it'll eject the empties just fine.

Rod

wraco:
Well, the nice lady at the CFC said it would take 15 days for the paper work to go through. I, for one, know better then to argue with a bureaucrat unless, of course, I want to see my paper work disappear into a Black Hole for a couple of months. So the best I can do, is keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. Who knows, maybe they'll surprise me, but I'm not counting on it.

Rob

Gentlemen,
Let us not diss the bureaucrats. After, they too are only trying to make a living, even if it is at our expense.

Slow Draw,
Have you not heard patience is a virtue? Just revel in the anticipation of the new arrival. And enjoy it's release upon taking possession of your Mod 18.

And don't forget pictures! We may already know what it looks like but we want to see it from you.

Hello mel023:
No disrespect intended, just the shiny new toy syndrome. So rather then make excuses, I will try to mellow out a bit, but lord help me it won't be easy. As for new photo's, I promise I will, but making her look prettier then she already does won't be easy either.
Rob

Wow! I can't believe these prices! $600 for a K22! I bought an 18-3 for $475 last month. Unfired, but no box. The only mark on the gun was a slight turn-line. There were no visible flash marks. I thought I might have paid a little too much at the time, but this thread makes me feel much better! Mine was shipped in 1971, #1K73xxx:

Nframe
Do the grips number to the gun? or are they "replacements"?

This is my opinion; In Massachusetts we have a law that in order to buy a used gun that was made before 1998 from a dealer it has to have been registered/owned in Massachusetts with proof of same, this seems to cause a lack of supply and higher prices.
Plus for new guns, most of them we cannot buy such as Colt's there are no Colt Handguns on the "approved roster" in Mass.

And I have a mint mod 18 to sell in MA so I must be siting on a gold mine ;-)

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Dave

Wow!!! on the recent prices for M18s. But that is par for recent nice P&R prices in general. Even common M19s are starting to rise. I bought my M18 with no box in very nice shape for $350 about 3 years ago. Your price is market fair IMHO, and it will likely out perform your 401K in the future. Mine certainly has so far!

Hi Very Nice 18-3 you bought there i also seen it up for sale on GunNutz.I bought one from Dante Sports out of Montreal a couple years ago it is also a 18-3 like new with box and manual but no tools pick it up for $475 delivered to my door.Mine dates to 1974 they seem to be holding their value not bad for a prohibited gun here in Canada. I love shooting it a well balance gun to shoot. Enjoy your new gun!!!...

Rick

Wee Hooker if I hadn't already gotten mine I would be contacting you!

I just the guns birthday from Roy, February 1971.

M18's have certainly gained interest in the last year. The high cost of ammo has undoubtly helped turn a lot of heads but folks have begun to realize the high quality revolver a M18 is. It's finished similar to a M27 without the checkered top rib. It fits good, feels good in the hand and has enough heft to let you know it's there. I bought my 18-3 in 1975 because ammo for my M19 was more than I could afford at the time.

Occassionly a good deal shows up and while scrolling the list on Elwood Epps' website, a few months ago, a M18-2 caught my attention. I called and spoke to their sales desk and figured I'd take him on his word. Gave him my visa and had it delivered to my door in 3 days. That was a lucky day . . $249 +tax + del.= $282

1962 . . M18-2



Regards;
Rod



..

Ben Cartwright SASS,
The factory target stocks pictured on my 18-3 do not number to the gun. Target stocks were almost never numbered to the gun. My 18-3 came to me with a pair of aftermarket wood Herrett's target stocks on it. I put those stocks on it. Since I took those pictures, I switched out the pictured pair of target stocks for an older pair. The pair pictured are a little too new as they have the speedloader cut and oil finish, as opposed to the older higher gloss finish. Model 18s were usually shipped with magnas, but I do not like to run magna grips on any of my Combat Masterpieces as they are a little too small for my hand.

Hi Rod awesome M-18. You bet Epps get some decent guns in once in awhile. I'm always on the lookout for deals on there site...

Rick

Howdy Rigmover:
I can believe you saw on GunNutz, since that's where I bought it. I kept looking at it on the Equipment Exchange until I couldn't stand it any more and bought it. It does seem that
the price for prohib's is going up, or maybe it's just the price of the prohib's I'm interested in. Whether I got a good deal on the Model 18, or not, only time will tell I guess. But she sure is pretty.

Thanks Rob

That's a beautiful 18-2 you got there, at a fantastic price. You know, if you're trying to cheer me up, you're really going about it
the wrong way. Prior to buying the 18-3, I hunted around the internet quite intensely trying to get a good idea of the prices in
both Canada and the U.S. In Canada I couldn't find any, period and down in the states they were few and far between and I think I've finally figured out why: Everybody on this forum owns
them all.
By the way, what is this "P&R" folks keep referring to?

Regards Rob

sometimes we pay for availability

Slow Draw: You did very well with your M18-3. The price was fair because it's not only in excellent condition but comes with the original box, docs and tools. The box is worth $25 - $30, docs another $12 - $15, and I saw the bidding for a bag of tools and screwdriver, on ebay, at $42 and still going. Factoring this in, you actually paid close to $100 less for the actual gun and being in the condition it is, rings a premium bell as well.

So there you go; you're a lucky guy with a nice gun. "P&R" stands for pinned and recessed. The barrel is threaded onto the receiver and held in clock with a "pin". . . Recessed is the charge holes at the rear of the cylinder , are "recessed" for the cartridge rims, so they're held secure and flush with the cylinder eliminating the wide gap between the rear of the cylinder and the recoil shield.

Enjoy your M18 and good luck on your next S&W, because once you get this one in your hands, you'll need more.

Regards:
Rod

Wow, I sure hope they've got their server problems sorted out now, because that wasn't much fun.

wraco:
Thanks, "Pinned & Recessed", makes sense now. Those acronyms are hard on a newbie such as myself.
As for the price I paid, I'm not really worried about it, I did my part the best I could and if I'd waited for
another price drop we might never be having this conversation. The Model 18 isn't even on my "wish list",
but that one was so darned pretty I had to break with disipline and treat myself. And I'm very glad I did.

Regards Rob

A little high, but you don't see many nice 18's around. I bought an 18-3, when they came out in '75.Still have it.

Wow, now I can really touch this beauty!

My Model 18-2:



The photo does no justice to the blueing, it is near-immaculate, just a hint of blue missing at the muzzle and a few very small scratches, almost no ringing on the cilinder but the stocks have 'handling-marks on the checkering, otherwise the gun looks hardly used.
It will be a hard wait before I can actually shoot it, Thursday at the earliest...

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anton

It sure would be nice if you could still find them at 1975 prices. I know, I know, dream on.

Howdy Anton:
Very, very nice. I'll bet you're still grinning like this . I know I would be. You'll have to give us a range report when you get the
opportunity. As for your photograph, it's pretty good. What I've been doing is analyzing some of the photographs on this forum
and taking note of what's being done by some of the other members - there are some really talented photographers on this site.
Hopefully, by the time my 18-3 shows up, I'll be ready to take some nice photos.
Sorry I didn't respond to your earlier post, my problem is that I'm really long winded and a very very slow typist . Not a very
good combination in this environment I'm afraid. Starting fewer threads is definitely in my best interests.

Regards, Rob

Yes Rob, the Model 18-2 is fondled like a baby whenever I find time!
Making photos with the digital cam is still a skill that needs to be mastered by me. This photo was a hurried one, as I wanted to post about it as soon as possible.

Hopefully your Model 18 shows up quick!
The 18 and 17 were the first rimfire revolvers I fired, years ago, at the first gunclub I joined.
Back then I preferred the 18 for balance. I always took that one to practice with. But I never really searched for one, and bought a 6" 617 a couple of years ago. Although it was a great shooter, it is too heavy for me to shoot in a comfortable way.
Just handling the 18 makes me realise that I should have started my quest a lot earlier!
Now that I have my very own Model 18-2, the circle is round again.

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anton

Well, if it's pictures you want, it's pictures you get.
An interesting note: this little sweetheart has two different serial numbers 8K81XXX on the frame butt and 8K18XXX on the frame
under the yoke. So I figure it from the Highly Collectible, Highly Sought After "1975 hot August, Friday afternoon, Girlfriend is waiting at the beach" production series. Easily worth millions.
Any takers?

I'm working on improving my photography skills, so feel free to critique what I've done - just don't feel too free.











I will make an honest effort to respond to your posts, but go easy on me. The "Slow" part of my user ID is a very optimistic
appraisal of my typing skills.

Good pictures Slowdraw, not great, but neither are mine. Like the compass & knife, well, 'cuz that's my gig as well.
You have a lovely gun there: of all of my current firearms (about 34 or so) my 4 inch K-frame 18-4 is my favorite to shoot. Like yours, it has a target hammer & trigger. I paid $495 US dollars last summer. I get about 2 inch groups when I am "plinking" at 25 yards - standing, two hand grip single-action. I can do better on a bench but I like to stand and make the soda can hop, so to speak.