An area gun store has a Model 36 flat latch. I have put in an offer, but I have no idea how much would be TOO much. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Condition, barrel length, blue or nickel, factory stocks, etc.?

__________________
BCCI Life Member #2068

Search Gunbroker completed auctions and find the ones in the nearest condition and see what they went for. If you don't know how to find completeds, click on "advanced" on the search bar, search Smith Wesson 36 in firearms, and pick a time frame farther down the page. I usually start with the last 2 weeks. Don't search for flat latch, no dash, etc, because not every applicable listing will say that. Look at the auctions carefully, and find the ones most like the gun you're looking at. If you haven't seen the gun in person, call the store and ask if you can come in and see it. And ask if you can avoid the shipping cost by picking it up. They're within their rights to charge the stated shipping cost, although few would. Don't forget you'll have to pay tax, and out-of-staters won't.

Using my search-fu, if it's the one I think it is (showing ser #403xxx,) $400-$425 would be pretty good, $450 would be about the max FOR ME. If it's a gun YOU really want, don't be afraid to push it a bit. I already have a nice 36, so you would probably happily pay more than I would.

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

I usually follow anywhere from 10 to 20 Chiefs on the auction sites. Lately there have been quite a bunch with flat latches offered from $350 to $700. Not many moving recently it doesn't seem.

I believe you could be mighty picky and still end up with a nice plain-Jane model for between $400 and $500.

In addition to the list of considerations Richard Simmons mentioned, vintage makes a difference. If it's truly a Model 36 with a flat latch the era would be about 1958 - 1966. Some sellers don't really know what they have and call an earlier model (without a model number) a Model 36. Some of those might be a bit more valuable.

We'd need more specifics to offer a better idea.

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob