Amazing Price LAPD 68-2 $4,775.99

I do not understand this price.
Can anybody explain why it was so high.
(Besides - Two drunks bidding.)

LAPD Smith & Wesson S&W Model 68-2 .38 Spl 6" Double Action Only Revolver

Model: Los Angeles Police Department 68-2,

Not the original wood stocks.
Has Pachmayr Presentation grip.

LAPD Smith & Wesson S&W Model 68-2 .38 Spl 6" Double Action Only Revolver - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 911147306
Item has Ended
Ending Time
10/17/2021 8:52 PM

$4,775.99

I don't know. The regular bids dropped out at $1600 and then one bidder pushed the winning bidder's max all the way up to $4775.

I was watching an auction that had a pre 27 with a 3 1/2" barrel. The grips were 70's-80's target and the frame and barrel markings looked softened to the point I thought it was a re-blue. Photos weren't the best and I was not there, so I laid off. Auctioneer described the pistol as "excellent". No box or papers of course. It sold for $2,903 with the auction fees.

All I can say is that these are interesting times.

A recent major gun auction house listed a Chief's Special Target 3" HB model 36-1 in a RB configuration! I have never seen one of these 213 guns with a
RB! Their description claimed the gun as "very rare" ! I asked Mr Jinks if this gun was shipped in this configuration! His reply stated the gun was shipped as a 3" mod 36-1 RB with non adjustable sights! The hammer price was $2600+, for a fake CST!
jcelect

Maybe this business pushed it up... "The crane cut is marked with the serial number and "MOD. 66-2" with "8" stamped over the second "6" (Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition notes on page 272 under Variations: "Prototype Model 66-2 with overstamp serial number AES0001 with 'Los Angeles Police Department' on the right side of the barrel with maple stocks in 6" barrel configuration in .38 Special.")."

So it is a 68-2 prototype built on an overstamped 66-2 frame? Can anybody with the 4th ed. SCS&W take a look and see if it says how many of these "prototypes" were built? There are 15,338 serial numbers between AES0001 and AET5338. I realize they don't use serial numbered frames in order, but that seems like a pretty wide spread for two guns in the same batch of "prototypes".

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I've seen a couple of 68s and they both had frames that were originally 66s.

Now I feel dumb, I passed on a nice LAPD gun for less than a grand in 2019. Could have really scored with some, ah, creative Gunbroker writing.

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Psalm 27:2

Gosh. I have a CHP marked pair smuggled out by one of their armorers. A real 68 and a 67, with the correct frames and no OHB overstamp to obliterate CHP.

I bought this model 68 from a former L.A.P.D. officer at Las Vegas antique arms show in 2019. It came with Hurst grips and had been converted to DAO. I paid less that 25% of the one listed above.
Looks like the one listed above came with box paper work.
This gun has been shot but not abused and shoots very well.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

I certainly didn't get that much for my CHP 68-2 when I sold it.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

That is because you needed a couple more coats of wax

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I think that prototype stuff is just from the book. I have seen one of the prototypes for this gun, barrel is not marked , with a letter, for sale here in TX and it was less than half of that. LSB sells alot of retired and deceased LAPD and others in so Cal. Somehow they seem to get great prices. I know that gun was carried on duty, hence the D/A only modification,they did not come that way, and the Judge holster was very popular. I have the same set up with a triple speed loader pouch. Someone could certainly have mine for anything near that price. ANIB

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I recently bought a Model 68 with the CHP mark, and I didn't pay anywhere near that price. I have seen ridiculous prices, but that takes the prize.

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	S&W 68 - CHP-1.jpg (30.6 KB, 20 views)
	S&W 68 - CHP-2.jpg (47.1 KB, 23 views)

Where did the smuggling-out provenance come from? Did the armorer put that in writing?

Revolvers sold in batches as surplus by the department were overstamped. Generally, those that were sold to retiring officers, and the ones sold to the officers carrying them at the time new handguns were adopted, did not get the overstamp. So likely the majority are unstamped, although many of those are in family possession and less likely to be in the collector market than OHB stamped guns.

My new Model 68-2 LAPD
Model 68 LAPD

Two I have posted over the years with info..

Interesting two people really wanted this gun.