I recently picked up this Texas Ranger Commemorative set off of GB. I had wanted one for quite a while- more for the "coolness factor" and special limited edition Model 19 than as a true collectable because I'm not a commemorative guy. There were actually two sets on the auction block at the time- one was a perfect NIB set with all the original packaging, and one was more what I was looking for...gently used and a shooter. I knew that the NIB set would sell high (sold for more than $1150), whereas I won my auction for a little over $800 (Buy It Now was $975). I plan to refinish the TR presentation box, and have already contacted Joe C. for some advice. The rest of the set is very nice. I guess that I'm a little confused by the pricing that Jim S. talks about in the SCSW 4th Ed. He mentions that the NIB sets are valued at ~$750...not sure where he got that number because I haven't seen one for that price in a long time! He then goes on to state that the Bowie knives themselves (20,000 of them) are valued at $350-$400, and the Model 19-3 is valued the same as a standard NIB 19-3 ($600-$700). My math says that at those values a knife and a 19-3 together would be worth $950-$1100, and I would think the box would add at least another $75-$100. I find it interesting that a matched s/n set would be valued for much less than the individual pieces. I'm seeing just the TR Model 19-3s on GB with asking prices near $900, and set prices much higher. Don't get me wrong, I think the SCSW is "The Bible" when it comes to S&W, and I have the highest respect for Jim and Richard. I also realize that the used firearm market reacts quickly and that the SCSW prices are merely guidelines. I believe that these TR sets (all 8,000 of them) are somewhat undervalued, but I'm happy with my purchase. Just wondering what the Forum thinks of the current market pricing.

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Price like beauty is fleeting. What counts is you got the item you wanted at what you felt was a decent price. So, enjoy it..

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Always Stay Strong!

Commeratives have a narrow following and if they don’t mean “something” to the owner / buyer, then others will value them equal to a non commerative model or perhaps lower... you got what you wanted and paid what you thought was an acceptable price. I don’t think commeratives are a very good investment for a future high return based on lack of demand. They just make too many of them...

Ken158 really nailed it.

Books and price lists are a "guide" at best. Many factors determine price. How bad does a buyer want one?
How rare does a seller think it is?
What geographic region you live in.
The political climate.
.... and the list goes on ....

You got what you wanted so enjoy it!
I recently bought the 66 MSHP 50th Anniversary set just like that, with the knife and box.

Like yours, my gun had been shot so I shot it some more. So did some current MO State Troopers I know!

Not long ago, I bought a Model 66-1, Virginia State Police 50th anniversary model, in the presentation case, no papers, and no knife of course. Same type presentation case. It appeared to be unfired outside the factory.

I paid about $800.00 for it. Probably too much, but there was a really nice 19-5, I think it was, right beside it, tagged at $750. I figured the case was worth $50.00.

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John 3:16 .

Nice combo you got there. I'm not normally a commemorative person and passed on several of these sets when I was just starting into S&W's...now one is on my list to acquire too not only because my collection is filling out and I don't have one but for obvious Native Texan reasons. It's the one commemorative that I want to own. I look at SCSW as a guide, like all guides sometimes actual prices are higher or lower. I've never seen an ANIB Texas Ranger complete commemorative set that wasn't over $1k.

I had a lot of trouble selling a Buffalo Bill Winchester 1894 commemorative rifle from my dad's estate even for what a non-commemorative would go for. Commemorative firearms don't appeal to me at all. If it's your thing, knock your socks off, but don't expect anything near what it's worth to you if you decide to sell . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

About a month ago, a buddy of mine was traveling to Nebraska and saw this in a Cabela’s. I imagine the price would be a bit higher in their Fort Worth store. Like EarlB, I wouldn’t mind adding one to the collection. Personally, I’m not looking for one but would buy for the right price.

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I don't understand... you paid $800, the guide says $750, and you think the guide is way off?

Commeratives just don't float that many people's boats.

The Fort Worth store is the one I've seen at least one in before. I think they had $1200-1300 on the one they had. For some reason that store prices their S&W's way more than the Allen store...It probably would be $700-$800 or so if one were on the shelf in Allen. Hell, I bought an early 60 no dash there last week for $299...oh hell I just revealed a secret...damn...

So youre the one who bought all the good ones? I was in Allen last week and their gun library was full of new guns. I think Fort Worth just has so much more inventory and charge a premium for “where can you find another one this nice?”. I did find a boxed 624 in near new condition in Fort Worth for a good price. That’s the only gun library find I’ve boight from them.

I confess I do buy a lot of S&W's from the Allen store . Both because they tend to price them decently and I work not far from there so stop by after work a lot.

Earl

To me, the special edition TR Model 19-3 is almost worth the money by itself. I'm mostly an N-frame guy, but this is one sweet K-frame! The -3 is a P&R revolver (a preference of mine), and this particular model has some cool features aside from the Texas Ranger roll marks. It has the right side of the trigger guard shaved for easy reach, the trigger is smooth and polished, the smooth target stocks with TR medallions are very nicely matched and fitted, and it looks like S&W even did an extra nice, deep blue on these revolvers. The action is smooth as silk, and I plan to put some rounds downrange this weekend. I'm definitely not a commemorative collector, but I'm glad that I corralled this set and added it to my herd!

That is a good buy on a very nice 19. As stated above, commemoratives turn some folks off. Colt over did it long ago, cranking out "collector items". I was set up at a gunshow in Aug this yr and a guy had a new in the outer box etc etc he wanted $800 for. I offered $700 doing the math you did above. We did not trade. These typically trade $700 to $900 around here.

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Charlie

For those of us in CA the commemoratives are helpful because so many of them are C&R eligible and can be brought into CA via FFL under a "roster" exemption, while the plain old version cannot. I bought a Smith 25 anniversary commemorative and a Smith 544 commemorative using the exemption. Regarding the 544, commemorative or not, a 5" N frame in 44.40 is unusual enough that I think it bears interest.