Model 147-A sold tonight on Gunbroker

[Sevens]

Absolutely the definition of a "rare gun", 112 are known to exist. It ended right in a typical (for a 147-A) area at $3,035 but that is NOT why I wanted to open this conversation!

Auction number is 809514539, go look at it.

I find it ASTONISHING that it came with an old purchase receipt from 1980 and it was price at A THOUSAND DOLLARS!

It's my understanding that nobody bought, chased, or could be convinced of "instant collectible" guns circa 1980.

Think of where $1,000 would have put you in the gun market in 1980! You could probably have pulled a Registered Magnum for that kind of scratch in 1980.

I wasn't buying my first gun until 9 years after that receipt was filled out. Can anyone offer any thoughts or ideas on why a 147-A cost someone a GRAND way back in 1980? For what it's worth, a simple inflation calculator calls $1,000 in 1980 to be $3,085 in today's buying power. Going that route, if the Gunbroker seller was the original buyer, he LOST last night when he sold it for $3,035.

You could buy a new car in 1980 for $5,000-$12,000. A thousand bucks for a handgun in 1980 sounds ludicrous to me.

[model3sw]

Not unusual at all.

The 147-A, from the first day released, was an instant collectible and IIRC on the C&R list from inception with 112 produced from steel frames which were previously manufactured for another purpose, perhaps an attempted USN contract that did not go through to fruition. As a comparison there were only 87 model 52A's released and only 10 single action 9mm model 39s.

The 147A is essentially a steel frame 59. Compare that to the prices on the Steel Frame 39s and perhaps that would add a bit more perspective to it.

In around 1995, after my twin sons were born, I went on a consecutive number buying jag of more scarce S&Ws. I paid $3250 (IIRC) for a consecutive numbered set of 147A's, NIB, and glad to pay it. I also purchased a pair of 459 FBI over-runs at the 1998 S&W Annual Show in San Antonio from fellow member-dealer. IIRC I gladly paid $2200 for the pair.

IIRC over 5000 RMs were made, thus, not as scarce as the 147A, with Gary Garbrecht (RIP) and Ray Cheely (RIP) being the 2 of the biggest collectors of the RMs at that time. I know as a fact for Gary to have 300-400 of only the finer condition RMs at one time was not unusual. From what the scuttlebutt was in the Club, Ray Cheely had just as many or perhaps a few more.

Of the most coveted semi autos back in the 1980s were the single action model 39, the 52A and the 147A, just about in that exact order.
Thus, to me, not that unusual at all. There were also later discovered a handful of 459 FBI over-runs.

Read: American Rifleman | A History of FBI Handguns

Also remember those were the pre-internet days when flushing scarcer S&Ws out of the woodwork just didn't happen at the flick of a button. It was a full time collecting chore to find those scarce guns back then.

Also, supply and demand has much to do with it but much more of a consideration is "personal preference" of what model S&Ws someone likes to collect the best.

It is easy to state now, in 2019, the money spend in RMs would have been a better investment, however, at that time (and still now) doesn't logic out to the prices RMs now trade for with as many of them as were made, thus, even less predictable back then. With the RMs it is majorly supply and demand, same as the Schofield with similar quantities manufactured. In the early 1980s the nicest Schofield you could find ... perhaps .. traded for somewhere in between $1500 to $2000 with many decent shape for seriously less money.

[Sevens]

That's exactly the kind of insight I was hoping to find, from someone who actually collected guns (and not simply owned a few) way back in 1980.

That seems like a serious pile of money for 1980. A thousand bucks! This when the MSRP on a new pickup truck (NEW!) was about 6 grand, so says the search engine.

[model3sw]

Originally Posted by Sevens

That's exactly the kind of insight I was hoping to find, from someone who actually collected guns (and not simply owned a few) way back in 1980.

That seems like a serious pile of money for 1980. A thousand bucks! This when the MSRP on a new pickup truck (NEW!) was about 6 grand, so says the search engine.

Next time you're vacationing in my neck of the woods (sand), look me up and come visit. Just do it sooner than later. I'm getting old. Sal

[Sevens]

Sal, you must know that we have a large handful of terrific, active and knowledgeable Smith & Wesson forum junkies ALL in the State of Florida! Sure, we have 'em scattered all over the map, but we sure have a bunch of regulars in Florida.

[model3sw]

Originally Posted by Sevens

Sal, you must know that we have a large handful of terrific, active and knowledgeable Smith & Wesson forum junkies ALL in the State of Florida! Sure, we have 'em scattered all over the map, but we sure have a bunch of regulars in Florida.

Florida, home of the free, land of the brave, protector (by a vast majority) of the 2nd amendment.

Palm Beach County ... the place where Air Force One very often parks, and U.S. Air Force and Marine fighters protect our skies (and Mar-a-Lago, too).

[Krogen]

This forum is GREAT! I had never heard of a 147A before. Quite an interesting history. Back in the day, I bought a 559 brand new. Over the years it moved to the back of the safe and has been gathering dust. Reading this thread makes me want to get it out and shoot it again. Granted, it's not a 147A, but it's a steel 9mm. Time to wake it from its slumber.