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03-29-2017, 07:47 PM
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Recent Auction of a Model 459
Did anyone else watch, participate or win the Model 459 that ended last night for $706? The gun looked NOS in box with all accessories. The gun appeared to be a late release 459 with 3rd Generation factory wrap around grips. I watched the gun for a few days. Last night it was in low $300 range, I placed a few bids and then bam.
Last edited by TNZ71; 03-30-2017 at 11:47 AM.
Reason: Wrong model
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03-29-2017, 08:20 PM
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That wasn't a 469, it was a "459", but even then it was only kind of a 459!
What you saw was a dead-mint, NIB (and even the box looked flawless) 3rd Gen "pilot" gun. Box marked 4590, frame marked 459 but was otherwise built as a 3rd Gen pre-Novak 5904.
My buddy was one of the bidders. I don't think I'm wrong when I say it may have sold a bit lower than it otherwise could have.
The seller certainly had NO IDEA that it was a pilot gun.
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03-29-2017, 08:23 PM
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You sir are correct. But what is a "Pilot" gun?
Last edited by TNZ71; 03-29-2017 at 08:25 PM.
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03-29-2017, 08:29 PM
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Educated guess: only two bidders knew what it was. My buddy quit at $701 and the winning bidder may have been ready for a serious fight.
There's nothing super special about a pilot gun (to me) and I don't mean that in a bad way, it's merely an interesting collection of an original factory moment in time. Whereas a PC pistol was hand built to ridiculous standards, a pilot gun is simply an early production gun, and even one without the fantastic Novak rear sight. Very cool! But only "valuable" to a collector of such a neat and rare item.
If another fan of the pilot guns had seen that auction... might have been some fireworks!
If I hadn't seen it... the winner would have paid a good bit less money. Sorry bout that but my buddy really liked it!
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03-29-2017, 08:58 PM
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If you want some good reading search this forum with keyword of transitional or pilot and it will call up several threads with pics of my and other members examples
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03-29-2017, 09:03 PM
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^^^that's how I learned a couple months ago!
(Sorry Chief-wahoo, if my buddy cost you a few dollars last night... at least it was another Ohio guy! )
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03-29-2017, 11:58 PM
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Nope, already have aNIB example,,,, all good!
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03-30-2017, 12:49 AM
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Hi buddy! I am Sevens' friend, probably not the only one but definitely the one he mentioned here. I was the $701 bidder. That was an exciting hour last night. I follow and study Smith's homegrown 45s a little, so I knew the concept of a transition gun. But I am uninitiated in the in the 9mm family. After Sevens gave me the heads-up I was so immediately impressed with how pristine these auction items appeared (Honestly, I didn't think the boxes came from the factory that nice.) that I wanted to own them and gaze at them...maybe construct a shrine to them. This was going to be an auction I would put some money into. I was going to have one (near?) PERFECT item in my life! But it occurred to me Sevens is a discriminating conisseur of things that go boom. So I suspected I was missing something, and it wasn't until I Googled and found an article right here on the forum that I understood I was looking at something pristine AND rare. Well, Sevens can attest, I got a little excited. A lot excited!!! If it had been a 6450 I may have gone all in, but as this splendid piece may have felt out of place in my little collection, I pulled back and just spurred in deeply enough to make sure it found a good home. Wish it could have been mine. Glad for the opportunity to share the adventure with you guys. ::single tear drop:: ::sniffle::
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03-30-2017, 04:44 AM
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I am in the age group that grew up with the older Smith autos and like them . I jump on a good one when I run into it , never had a problem with them . I jumped on a mint ASP 39 at a gun show with cust shoulder rig 3 mags for 275 I walked past looked and thought tag was 2700 went back and it was 275 I knew what it was he did not . and the FBI matt finish that was on Gunbroke for like Year no box priced around 500 but not sure about it looked and looked and there was talk here about . I got it for like 400 some thing and its number is in the FBI gun range , matt finish ,grips matt also .
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03-30-2017, 07:09 PM
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Oh also search for interm
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12-10-2017, 12:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TNZ71
You sir are correct. But what is a "Pilot" gun?
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Pre production. Doesn't have all the correct parts that will be used in the production version, & uses some existing parts from earlier models. In the auto business, a pilot car is a very early car with a very low serial number that is used for testing by the car magazines, car show exhibitions, etc. Many of the parts are from existing inventory from the previous year's model, just to get the car running. But once the car is in production, the current year's parts will be used. Years ago, I found a 75 Chrysler Cordoba in a junk yard. But it was built in January 1974, way before production started on the 75 Cordoba. Many of the parts were from a 74 Dodge Charger that were never used in production Cordoba's. It too was a pilot car, & was on the MFR's car show circuit to show next year's new Cordoba. GARY
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12-10-2017, 11:30 PM
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There's another “pilot”being auctioned this week.
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12-11-2017, 12:32 AM
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Does this mean the 459 I bought at the fun show this weekend
Is worth more than the $335 I paid For it?
No box
It does have an awful trigger pull
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