M34-2 One I Didn't Steal

[DocB]

Just to make everybody feel better about overpaying for a gun. I too paid too much for a gun back in the Summer of 2014. I could not find a Smith 22 revolver to save my life and I really wanted one. . .especially a Kit Gun. The lesson here is don't "want" anything since it will remove your valuable objectivity if/when you find it. This little 34-2 popped up in a LGS. It was shipped in 1989, and the -2 is an uncommon model that had only a brief window of availability. I didn't really care about that. I just wanted one. So, I paid $800 plus sales tax. Yeah, wow! It is stone mint, It has the original matching box with all the paperwork and sales receipts and other stuff. Since this purchase, I have found better/older kit guns in the $450-$500 price range including one from 1954. But, I "wanted one" in 2014! Patience always pays off. I didn't have any of that when I bought this gun. So, sometimes we pay too much. Just don't do it often.

[thadheth]

I wonder what would happen if you put that one up for sale at $450-500? I can see it selling in nanoseconds on this forum. As for "paying too much," I always rationalize that kind of purchase by amortizing it over its expected life with me. So, if I expect it to last 15 years with me and I paid $300 too much, it's only $20 a year. I call that a "reasonable lease and good value." Nice gun, by the way.

[loeman]

I love confessions! And you are right, it does make me feel better about a few of my impulse buys. Thanks for sharing.

[Camster]

I had two 34-2s that I found as NOS in a LGS about 15 years ago.(Sold both of them as few years ago,still NIB)..A 2 inch RB,and a 4 inch SB.
I seldom hear of the -2s.

[DocB]

If it had been a 4 inch, I would have been happier. Also, a shooter would have been good. I do have a couple I can shoot now. . .even an M17 which is way too heavy for what it is, but it does shoot good.

[elkhunter77]

One thing for certain, it is going to grow in value. Eventually, the value will catch up with what you paid. I remember paying 300 bucks for a nickel 19 snubby. It was a hundred more than they were going for back then. I still have it and I am sure they are way more than 300 bucks. Nice gun, enjoy it.

[kthom]

I don't happen to think you overpaid for that nice example. Of course, I'm kind of foolish about .22LR revolvers, and yours sounds especially nice. That kind are not often found anywhere, in my experience. My method of justifying the price of something like this, especially if I particularly like it, is that #1, if the model is seldom found for sale and I want one, I'd better get it IF I can scare up the funds, and #2, IF and when I decide to sell it (not likely!), what ever it brings minus the value of my pleasure of ownership probably means I made money on the deal! And if you keep this one long, you will likely get most, all, or even more for it than you paid (if you maintain it well and care for it well). If that happens, then the value you place on your pleasure of ownership will just be icing on the cake. I think you did well, under the circumstances, to make that kind of an investment! Congratulations!!!

PS: FWIW, in January of this year, I saw a used one basically like yours in pretty good condition, revolver only and nothing else, under glass at a pretty big gun show in Lubbock, TX for sale. An older gentleman in line in front of me asked the vendor the price of this revolver, same model, barrel length, with adjustable sights and decent grips but not as nice as yours overall, and the guy replied (without blinking an eye), $950.00. The old fellow and I looked at each other with wide round eyes. He said, "That's nice" and walked on. So did I, without examining the gun. Now I have no clue if anyone bought that gun during the two day show. The vendor indicated the price was firm so he may have it yet. But he sure wasn't bashful about asking that price for it. If the going realistic price for your gun happens to be somewhat less than you paid, I seriously doubt that situation will last for long, considering how prices have been going up these days. Few of us own any older S&W revolvers these days that are not now selling for much more money than they did a few years ago, shooters or otherwise.

[DocB]

I've had a request for a photo of the end label on this box. Here it is. I think they only made the -2 for a couple of years. The prices that have surprised me lately are on the little 22 magnum stainless guns from the 1980's. . .same one-piece box as this M34. Pretty much like new guns. Two of them about a month ago at my LGS. $1500 each!!! They both sold locally and quickly. I did get to see them, but that's a lot of money.

[Kernel Crittenden]

Originally Posted by DocB

I've had a request for a photo of the end label on this box. ....

Is that the box with the eagle and red stripes on the front flap? The only other 2-inch -2 I've seen had a BCA s/n prefix. It was made in March of 1989. Product code 101402, just like yours. Based on the date code, your gun has a ship date of .......

December 27, 1989

Looks like they were making them all through 1989. There were even a few 2-inch nickel guns.

[ol' geeser]

I have a 2inch no dash that has digested thousands of rounds and has given me innumerable hours of fun....won a little money with it a time or two...amazing single action trigger...45 years ago I could most days keep 3 or 4 of the six on a paper plate at a hundred yards....but back then I shot at least a box of cartridges EVERY day AND I could see....several years ago I obtained a dash 1 two inch that my bride immediately declared was hers....if she is outside, it is on her hip or in a pocket....still looks NIB, it too has dispatched several snakes, one coyote, and a couple of feral dogs.... I have had at least one in the inventory since 1969 +/- ....both will be passed to the kids when the time is right

[DocB]

Yes, it has the Eagle and Stripes on the front flap. I never though about that. . .maybe a box style with short production. Thanks for the ship date. I will include a note with that in the box.

[H Richard]

You didn't pay to much but maybe bought a little too early! I now see these bring more than the $800 you paid, so you have already caught up to the game.

[samwood]

I've probably overpaid for at least half the older S&W revolvers that I own.

I'm not a collector, and have justified my actions by telling myself my time shopping around for a good deal had a $value. Funny what we tell ourselves.

I have a collector (Colts) acquaintance who refuses to pay anything above blue book value. He enjoys the shopping process; me, not so much.