S&W 59 Found FS Pawn Shop

[BB57]

Doesn't always work, some firearms might be on consignment with a minimum price. I've run into that and sometimes the minimum is closer to what someone saw on GunBroker than what it is really worth.

I agree to a point. Times have changed and we need to recognize how fair market price is now set.

The same pricing strategy was used for the Model 39-2 I picked up at a gun and pawn shop last week.

When I asked for his best price, he stated that was it because it was a consignment gun. He went on to add that when they set the price with the consignee, they'd looked at prices for similar Model 39s for *completed* gunbroker auctions where the guns had actually sold and priced it accordingly. I can't fault that approach as it's the same method I use in setting the actual market value for firearms.

Like it or not, we live in an internet and online auction age and completed sales on sites like Gunbroker do indeed set the market price. The days when you could watch a collectible or less common firearm (with limited appeal to the local shooters/market) sit on a shelf for weeks, months or years until the dealer felt compelled to turn it back into money at a steep discount are pretty much over. Sites like Gunbroker make it very easy for a shop to connect that niche market gun to a buyer willing to pay what it is worth. They no longer have to sit on it for months or years and then sell it at a discount to a local looking/waiting for a "deal".

Some folks still look at blue book prices, but they are pretty well useless for anyone other than a dealer looking to price a firearm they are not familiar with. In that case, they are only going to offer about 50-60% of the blue book's retail price anyway. The fact those prices both lag the market, and don't reflect the realities on the wider online market, just benefits the shop doing the buying. A low blue book value just makes their offer even lower than it should be.

In truth the $670 OTD price for that Model 39-2 was a bit lower than what I'd seen on completed/sold GB auctions for similar 39-2s and was a fair price. I was just asking about a possible discount for the sake of asking (at my usual shop I normally get 10% just because I'm a well known, good customer). In any case, I paid the $670 and took it home.

 

[BB57]

It depends on how much you like the Model 59. They don't do much for me.

I own a couple Model 39s and love them. They fit my hand exceptionally well, the grip angle is perfect for me, they have great DA and SA trigger pulls and the SA trigger pull as a very short reset by DA/SA pistol standards. Both of mine also run like well oiled sewing machines with silky smooth, 100% reliability with my hollow point carry ammo.

In contrast, the Model 59 doesn't fit my hand all that well, and doesn't point nearly as well (for me). I'm also not as impressed with the trigger. To be fair much of that is probably due to the larger grip, the resulting longer trigger reach, and the reduced leverage on the trigger, rather than the mechanics.

In short, I'm not a fan and the increased magazine capacity isn't enough to sell me on it, given all the downsides and extra bulk involved. But that's just me.

----

The larger question is how well *you* like the Model 59. If you plan to just buy it to have it, it's a good price and you probably won't lose money on it if you keep it awhile

Someone commented it's a good price by last year's standards and a smoking deal by this year's standards.

That's a problem. Way too many people are overpaying in this year's market and that is indeed a great way to lose money on a gun that will probably be worth less a year from now post COVID 19 market shortage/panic.

On the other hand, if you plan to buy it and shoot it or carry it, whether it's a good price or not depends on how well it fits your hand, and how well you like the trigger on it. If it's a poor fit, it's a bad buy at 1/2 the price.

 

[diyj98]

Someone commented it's a good price by last year's standards and a smoking deal by this year's standards.

That's a problem. Way too many people are overpaying in this year's market and that is indeed a great way to lose money on a gun that will probably be worth less a year from now post COVID 19 market shortage/panic.

I'll go along with that one. Every time one of the gun scares passes, there are guys walking around gunshows trying to get rid of their $1,000 Bushmaster AR's or $500 used Glocks and wondering why dealers won't buy them.

I'll agree with most of the others that $500 seems a fair price for the the 59.

 

[Dave686]

I would say $500 for a 59 is a fair price. I don’t care for them, but would like to get a 39. A couple of years ago I decided to buy a 39 for old time sake. I was looking for a shooter, not a perfect collectable. I turned down a few at $500 that I didn’t think were worth that. Now, they all seem to think the 39 is a collectable worth $800. Not to me; but obviously to some. If I wanted a 59, and the one you are looking at is in good shape; I’d jump on it.

 

[retnavyshooter]

I have 2 M59's, both with box, paper etc. $500 would not buy either at this point. Buy it!
]
Mick

 

[824tsv]

Would the plastic grips from a Model 59 fit a 2nd Gen Model 659?

 

[JohnHL]

Would the plastic grips from a Model 59 fit a 2nd Gen Model 659?

Yes, although if the 659 has an ambi safety, the right side grip panel may need to be relieved for lever clearance.

John

 

[DCW]

The Price Is Right . . .

With all due respect to Drew Carey . . .

Anyway . . .

It just so happened that I purchased a wonderful S&W Model 59 last week for $500 more than the M59 of your recent dreams.

Did I correctly read the thread starter, Bruce, to state he's awaiting improved money flow later this new month (and year) so as to acquire that Model 59?

Unless you entered into a contract to purchase the gun it may walk with someone else. To mitigate the prospective loss of that Model 59, I'd pay something like $50 (10 percent) for it to be held (layaway) for you to fully purchase.

One more layaway thought: Usually a seller and buyer agree on a time period during which the buyer will exercise his promise to fully pay for layaway merchandise. Try to get the longest possible repayment period. Put another way: Should you feel certain - absolutely, positively - you can pay the remaining, full cost of the merchandise in 30 days, instead ask for 60 days. Life has a tendency to provide a 'Surprise!' when least expected.

Ol' DC here is a devoted collector of S&W self-loading handguns. When in my earliest days of collecting - indeed, at that time I rather doubt I'd still be collecting S&W semi-autos all these years later - I bought on layaway one of the neatest guns still in my collection. I knew - positively, certainly - that I would easily meet a timeframe condition I stipulated, to fully pay by the end of a second month. As it was, I paid up by the end of the first month.

The seller was happy and I was so happy that I quite possibly looked just as goofy as when I married.

Happy New Year to All!

Later.

DC