Shorty 45 price check

[mbliss57]

One of my grail guns I never expected to run into...
at a gun show today was a very excellent condition Shorty 45 with box and 4 PC mags for $1095 firm. Since I couldn't afford it I left it there. The seller was a S&W guy... private seller just selling off his collection. He also had a 325 Nightguard, 63 3", ...some other really nice higher end guns.
Anyway.. I looked on GB and 1 sold for $900 no box and 1 for $955 with box. So that told me he was high...as GB is usually higher than FTF or Forum prices.

Bottom line: Would anyone but it at that price...? should I pursue it?
I can't buy it now but it is doubtful it will sell at a show where 99+% of people don't even now what it is.

[James&theGiant1911]

Originally Posted by mbliss57

One of my grail guns I never expected to run into...
at a gun show today was a very excellent condition Shorty 45 with box and 4 PC mags for $1095 firm. Since I couldn't afford it I left it there. The seller was a S&W guy... private seller just selling off his collection. He also had a 325 Nightguard, 63 3", ...some other really nice higher end guns.
Anyway.. I looked on GB and 1 sold for $900 no box and 1 for $955 with box. So that told me he was high...as GB is usually higher than FTF or Forum prices.

Bottom line: Would anyone but it at that price...? should I pursue it?
I can't buy it now but it is doubtful it will sell at a show where 99+% of people don't even now what it is.

They only made 500 of them in limited runs, I would imagine it could be only 1 or 2 of them for sale at any one time. I have seen them sell for 1200-1500 in great condition. I paid 800ish for mine but also had to send it to Smith and Wesson to have a little work done to it. New front site and what not so I have maybe a grand in it. That price as long as the gun is in good to great condition, then it is a good price. The market dictates the price and the demand for that gun far out weighs its supply.

[timn8er]

It does sound a little high, but if I had the cash, I would grab it. That's one of my grail guns, too, & I'm not known for my willpower!

[TexasG]

I would grab it if I had the cash too.

[Laddy Smith]

It's high but there are lots of variables to consider....
what kind of shape was it in?

If it didn't have 4 mags and you had to buy 2 extra mags for it, that would cost you another $70--90.

Is this guy the original owner? Has he changed the springs regularly?

Round count?

How bad do you want it and how long have you been looking?

They aren't making them anymore......

Lad

[Nframecollector]

What is a shorty 45?

[mbliss57]

A Lew horton Performance center 3.5" barrel. 4513 on steroids is the best way to explain it. The only made 500 of them. They are a precision machined.
hand fitted Ti barrel bushing, match grade barrel, oversize frame...etc...produced 1996, 7 shot single stack PC mags.

[SW CQB 45]

I would offer him 950 cash.

they pop up every now and then.

too high.

[mbliss57]

I asked if he had any room in his price and he adamantly said no.
$1075 firm. that's when I went to GB on my phone. $950 was the answer it gave me on completed auctions.

[James&theGiant1911]

Originally Posted by mbliss57

I asked if he had any room in his price and he adamantly said no.
$1075 firm. that's when I went to GB on my phone. $950 was the answer it gave me on completed auctions.

I have seen some sell in the 900 ish range but usually they are worn examples with the Shorty 40 emblems rubbed off. 1075 is a good price for it, one LNIB example is on GA right now for 1500 and I have seen some sell for that. They pop up from time to time but you are limited to what might be out there when you are looking.

[joesmith357]

Originally Posted by mbliss57

I asked if he had any room in his price and he adamantly said no.
$1075 firm. that's when I went to GB on my phone. $950 was the answer it gave me on completed auctions.

Go back and offer him $950 on late Sunday afternoon, he'll take it.

[rbert0005]

If you really want it Buy it. What the hell is a hundred bucks in the long run?

You will always be able to get your money back, if you were so inclined. The prices are not going down on them.

Bob

[vigil617]

Just my .02, bliss, but if an excellent condition PC semi-auto in .45 is something you want or need, I don't think the price is out of line. If GB says $950 on completed auctions, so be it, but I think your seller has priced it fairly (if at the higher end of the market).

I agree with the previous posts that say these will increase in value. I also hope to own a "shooter" version someday, and figure I'll have to pay at least $800 to get one of those if one is ever advertised at a time I have the cash.

[ladder13]

950 GB + shipping + transfer fee= the gap to 1095 is closing. Plus, you see the condition of the gun, not pictures.

[James&theGiant1911]

I thought this thread was for a Shorty 40 not a 45 so if it is a 45 then 800-900 bucks should be its price, I have never seen a 45 sell for much over a grand the 40s are different though.

[K-9]

Originally Posted by rbert0005

If you really want it Buy it. What the hell is a hundred bucks in the long run?

You will always be able to get your money back, if you were so inclined. The prices are not going down on them.

Bob

I agree. How long are you willing to look to save that c-note?

And,like ladder13 said,you can personally evaluate it's condition. Also the transfer fee and shipping make it almost a wash.

Good luck. IMO,that era semi-autos are some of the best guns the PC has ever made.

[Catshooter]

The Shorty 45s have 3.75 inch barrels, not 3.5. Small point.

They have always been on the expensive side, retailing for over $1000 in what, '95?

Smith hasn't made them in many years.

The first one I bought put eight rounds into a group that would completely hide behind a US quarter. The whole group, and that was at twenty yards. Pity I can't shoot like that anymore.

NO, mine aren't for sale, sorry.


Cat

[vigil617]

C, I didn't know that about the slightly longer barrel on the Shorty 45s. Thanks for that.

MBliss, what did you ever decide about the pistol? Just curious...

There's been one for sale on one of the national sites for $1,050 for awhile now, and I'm surprised nobody has scooped it up, but then again, a grand is a grand, after all...

[colt_saa]

I own one of the Shorty 45 MK-IIs and I can tell you thatif you offered me $1000 for it there is no way I would sell.



You think it is about $100 high. If you find one in a year or two years what will the price be? How much more will it be shot? How much was the last one selling for that you saw in person?

Buy it now and keep it for a few decades. Enjoy it.

[SpecRacer]

I wouldn't sell mine in 98% condition for less than $1,450. It is the finest .45 ever made.

[mbliss57]

Originally Posted by vigil617

C, I didn't know that about the slightly longer barrel on the Shorty 45s. Thanks for that.

MBliss, what did you ever decide about the pistol? Just curious...

There's been one for sale on one of the national sites for $1,050 for awhile now, and I'm surprised nobody has scooped it up, but then again, a grand is a grand, after all...

I lost contact with seller..moot point now... unless I find another. Right now I am trying to sell off some stuff.

[vigil617]

Know what ya mean. I've been in and out of two Shorty 45's since your post.

You've been selling some nice stuff, by the way....

[timn8er]

I'm a proud Shorty 45 MKII owner, thanks to another Forumite, Shorty45MKII! Definitely one of my favorite 45's, And is also on my never sell list.

[18DAI]

I paid $795 for my Shorty 45 MKII several years ago. Last year my dealer had a LNIB Shorty 45 for sale with an asking price of $1200. In return for helping him price some very rare s&w handguns he offered it to me for $950.

I considered that a very good price and if I had not been pondering retirement at the time, Id have bought it. It sold for the $1200 asking price BTW. Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI