I keep seeing threads that are basically asking us how much one should pay for a firearm. Here's my advise to all of you. First, consult the 4th ed. of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, Second, condition of the firearm, Third, what is the seller asking, and Fourth, what are you willing to pay or how badly do you want it? That's all you need to determine the value of a particular firearm!

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Ed

The best ones are "just bought Xx what's it worth?"

My advice is quit asking and make your own deals as cheap as possible..

As little as possible

Oh just pay for it. Shoot it a few times and it’s all better. Then pay for another one, a shiny one.

You'll learn real fast that when you pass on a gun you want because of a few hundred dollars it may take you years to find another one. By that time its worth what you should have paid and you've spent all that time not owning one.

A few years back I passed on a 629-4 Alaska Backpacker because I thought $900 was too much. Guess who hasn't seen a 3" 629-4 anything since?

All good valid points. I would add another one....

Five, The market place. What similar guns have sold for. If it's a current production gun, what does a place like Bud's charge?

We live in a capitalist society. The market place sets a range of prices and they shouldn't be ignored.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

You will also learn when you buy one...... then see 3 more just like it for $100 less.

Actually, I’ve learned the most from reading this forum. Many of the posters will post what they paid for a particular gun, others chime in whether it was a deal....or not so much.

Well, with me it was about FCC finding a gun I didn't know much about. By asking about it I learned a lot.

I don't mind those "what's it worth" posts. It is interesting to get the different points of view and some appreciation of the geographical market differences. Sure, GB actual sales provide current national market data but generally from a "high retail" perspective. Keep on asking. . . . .

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Helps me to search COMPLETED auctions on Gun Broker but even then it's just a guide.

Buy what you like, what you want and what you can afford. Yours is the only opinion that really matters. Have fun on the hunt.

I have bought several guns recently, all off of the forum, and more than one from the same person. In general, I have paid a reasonable price. I was actually surprised by a few i thought were somewhat low. I should have bought a NIB 25-5 4" at 1050. That might have been a hair high, but my loss. in general, I do not think I paid more than 100.00 too much for any piece. i got one the other day, and my FFL followed me out to the car offering me 250.00 more than I paid. In general, I have bought 1968 to 1982 pieces. I have a 1950 K38 masterpiece coming. I have no idea about older guns. Something real fine usually gets listed a little high, but after a reduction or 2, it is pretty safe to jump in. I guess I would say don't be afraid to ask, value, but don't worry about a little bit of a premium for something really nice. Remember....Pride of ownership counts for something IMO

What gets me is the price of grips. 300.00 for GA S&W N frame combats. Wow!

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

There's nothing wrong with trying to get the best price on anything you buy, especially if you don't have a lot of spare change. However, you won't have your present abilities and desires forever. If you handle your financial affairs well, you may arrive at a point where the money doesn't matter that much, and even the possessions aren't so important. What may matter more is whether you had what you wanted when you wanted it, or, better, whether you are leaving properly appreciated items to your heirs.

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Formerly Model520Fan

Sorry, but I still have a question about value.

What’s all this advice worth🤨

Exactly what you paid for it.

Guns is worth exactly what you are willing to pay for them. Yes there is a national market and then there is the market in your neck of the woods. Then there is what you are willing to endure to own a specific model.
Factor all that together and you have spaghetti economics.
Like others have said, get an idea of what a particular model is worth then figure what you are willing or able to pay.
Where I live, desireable Smiths do not come available often and are hard to find. If I find one locally that interests me enough, I have no issue with paying a premium for it.

Isn’t asking and answers my questions what his forum is about? Like others, I enjoy reading the comments of others; I filter out the superfluous and appreciate the interesting.

I think we tend to focus on buying a gun as an investment that we need to flip for a profit tomorrow.So you spend $100 extra for the pleasure of owning/shooting it.No big loss.
It's not like we tell the missus,eh? ;-)

+1 unless you’re buying from a widow, then I go to the high side.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I do like to hear responses to the "whats it worth question" if for no other reason that it amazes me sometimes what guns in different markets will sell for.

I have a tendacy to view my older guns just like my older cars and trucks that I own. One Caddy since 1985, One truck which is a 1972 GMC which I bought in 1981. Have done a total rebuild on it since and its a show truck the same as the Caddy also. They have both gone up in considerable value since. I prefer to buy only the better grade models as it does pay me back in the long run. I liked them when I bought and still do a lot.

The most knowledgeable experts on S&W, and many other, firearms are on this board. I don't see a durn thing wrong with a person asking experts that are willing to help with an expensive purchase that they admittedly aren't knowledgeable about.

I negotiate the lowest price I can, but how do I know that I'm passing up a jewel or paying way to much for a rhinestone? If you don't have a lot of money (like me) spending a few hundred dollars too much. There are many variations and fine points of models of guns that can affect the price drastically.

I believe that here, usually, if a person is willing to do their homework and provide proper and enough information, that people here are more than glad to help them out. They may be new to guns and are future enthusiasts. Why turn them off?

I didn't know squat about guns 40 years ago and after being on this forum for seven years, I now know about .05% of the squat that the experts do. I can do my own research, look on the internet and ask around people that may or may not know what they are talking about, but knowing that I'm in the ballpark with a purchase makes me feel a lot better.

I didn't make a great 'deal' on my 686, my most precous gun. But I didn't spend too much either and I would have paid more because I knew that it was what I wanted. So I come here and tell about my 686 no dash with a 6" barrel, post a picture and expound on what a beauty it is, and that I only paid $950 for it (Pre Sandy Hook prices) I'd be able to hear the laughter and razzes in my sleep. Why avoid getting free advice here?

I guess I should just say, "Stop discouraging people from asking the members of this forum what their opinion is on a certain gun.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I put zero stock in “I only paid $xxx” or “wouldn’t pay more than $xxx”.

There seems to be a lot of one-upsmanship about prices paid for guns, also a lot of unnecessary worry about the possibility of over-paying, as though real men come out ahead in every transaction.

Scientific studies have found no relationship between male testosterone levels and the prices they pay for guns.

If you want a gun and your gut says it’s a decent deal, don’t let some anonymous yahoos on a forum talk you out of it.

No matter what you pay for a gun, you’ll wake up the next day with exactly the same amount of chest hair (assuming you have an understanding wife.)

Questions That effect value

Have non original grips? minus $100-$200

Original coke grips? add $400

Non model marked 4 or 5 screw? add $100-$200

Diamond grips? add $50

More than 2% blue loss? Subtract $50-$100

More than 5%? minus $100-150

More than 10% minus? $150-$200

More than 50% or corrosion/pitting? minus $250 to worthless

4" or shorter barrel? add $50-$100

Pinned and recessed? add $100

Original box? add $50-$100

Tools included? add $50

Original wood box add $150-$200

Nickel finish? add $100

Triple lock? add $1500

Triple lock target? add another $1500

Registered magnum? add $3000

Sought after low production model? add $X

Lettered? add $75 interesting owner? add $X

Has the "lock"? Minus $100

Do you really want one? add $100

You already have one? Subtract $100

Birth year gun? add $100

Do the math, add some Kentucky windage, open wallet

Feel free to adjust these values to your own wants and needs!

Or the never ending "Did I pay too much "on an obviouse steal of a deal.

I don't worry about how much I paid. I always figure it's "too much."

Saves time and worry.

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John 3:16 .

Rule 7: Local markets vary

Rule 8: Someone will always post a better deal. Don't sweat it!

Rule 9: Ask yourself "When was the last time you saw one for sale locally?"

SCSW 4th, as all of the SCSW editions, are not particularly helpful in determining what one should pay. Firearms values are very heavily localized. A $500 gun here in the sand flats might be a $700 gun in the metroplex up north, and and $800 gun on Gunbroker. The only valid criteria as far as I'm concerned is your last one. How much are you willing to pay?

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Totally agree. I am short one pair, and don’t think I wanna pay that much (I bought a nice 1952 FN HP for 300).

LOL..... time for my old formula.

Take your age and subtract it from 70.

Take the $$$$s you think you over paid and divide it by the # you got above.

Example:
You are 45 so 70-45 is 25

Folks here have you convinced you over paid by $200 for you new gun.....

$200 divided by 25 = $8

So here's the deal;

For the next 25 years while you enjoy owning and shooting your new gun...... you have to give up buying a Starbucks coffee twice a year ........ or by the time you hit 70 probably only once a year!!!!

The thing about Gun Broker and the others is guns are sold to the highest bidder.
That means someone paid more than anyone else would pay for it, it may only be $1.00 or it could be several thousand depending on what gun it is.

I figured my original thread would bring some comments, boy, did you guys come through!
Thanks,
Ed

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Ed

Great input. As one who has purchased at least half a dozen guns over the past several years from local auctions you have to set a price you will pay and be willing to walk away if it exceeds it. At a live auction you might be surprised how one more small bid will get you a gun. Only twice have I said I want it regardless and am willing to "go to the mat" on the price. One was a 1958 Marlin Golden Model 39A and the other was a vintage Remington 572 that I had been looking for a number of years.

I like guns. I’ve made some unbelievable deals. Then some I would rather not talk about.
Remember all your friends telling you about the steal they got on the car they just bought. Then I remind myself . No car has ever left the dealership with the dealer losing money.

Also remember this when somebody tells you they got a great deal.

People always tell you about winning money, they seldom tell you about losing it.

The real question is how bad do you want it? I have knowingly over paid for a gun in the past. But it was right there and I wanted it!
So what if you pay a little too much now? When dealing with quality firearms, especially older S&Ws, they will only appreciate in value. In a few years you can at least break even if you sell. The longer you keep it, the more it'll be worth. I have guns that I bought 30-40 years ago that are now worth 4 to 5 times what I paid for them.

Better to pay too much for something of quality that you really wanted than to "get a deal" on something you'll never be thrilled with.

Can't tell you how many times I've seen a widow bring in her dead husbands gun collection to sell off only to find out it was all C class junk. End result, he lived not getting to enjoy quality and she still doesn't get any money when he's gone.
Enjoy it while your here!

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Dave

I used to use the no longer extant Gun List which was great. Mostly private sellers, you'd see five of something, throw out the high and low prices, and you had a range

I agree, here in Montana I check pawn shops and gun shops regularly and manage to visit quite a few cities in the state. I see plastic fantastics. Decent revolvers are rare here and the prices generally reflect that. But, I hear reports of lower prices and higher availability in other places.
I buy off the net quite a bit, but say $35 shipping and $20 for the paper work and the deal might not look so good and it is a real addition to the price. Lucky for me Montana has no sales tax and if I do 2 guns at once my FFL doesn't charge for the second.

I also agree with the how bad to you want it part. Walking away from a deal because of less than the "best price" when you have no idea when you will see another like it could come around to bite you harder than biting the bullet, having the gun you want and going out and enjoying it and forgetting the cash.

I personally mostly buy shooter guns and project guns. I enjoy the shooting, ownership and spending time in my shop making a finish challenge gun into something unique is part of my enjoyment. I try to get and make guns that will return the money spend when the are sold someday, but that isn't my bottom line. My shop time on my guns is something I want to do. Hard to put money value and the entertainment part of the deal.

My father always said, "It is not important what an item costs, What it is important is how long you must work to pay for it." He said a lawyer who makes $400.00 per hour, an $80,000 car is not a big deal. Someone who makes $10.00 per hour, a $10,000 car is outstanding big deal!"

That's the kind of evaluation that I get at the gun shop. Testosterone fueled tales. Here I get actual knowledge and actual experience from those that have been there. and done that

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I had only seen one (ONE) pound of BE-86 powder until I went to the gunshow a few weeks ago where a guy had a few pounds. People have been advising me to use it and I have to tell them, "I never see it here." And guns are the same way. People usually include the 'around here' in their gun pricing.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I know enough to know I don’t know enough. Especially about condition and stocks. I have no problem with putting up pictures for folks who know more than I do. I can’t think of a better way to learn.