Model 13-3 3-inch - Why So High?

[bmcgilvray]

When the market bears prices like this, we can't be talking about real money, but rather some sort of inflated currency.

Just a garden variety Model 13 3-inch. Nice, but not pristine. Did y'all see this one?

Attention Required! | Cloudflare

 

[BAM-BAM]

Some guy .... some where...........

Elon Musk..... wants a 3" k-frame and money is no object! What's 5K ..... pocket change................

National online marketplace!!

 

[cmj8591]

Unless Whitey Bulger shot someone with it, if the LGS around me put one of those in their gun case at that price, it would still be there when his great grandchildren died of old age.

I edited this because I went back and looked a little closer. The gun is in Massachusetts so maybe Whitey did use it!

 

[Zarr]

Mental note to myself: NEVER show the wife threads like this again!!! She wants me to sell mine! (NEVER happening)

 

[Glashaus]

Wow, Kyle really wanted that 3" M13-3

I had my nickel 3" M13-3 out at the range the other day, I really like it but for $2500 Kyle must really love it!

 

[LPD256]

People sometimes have a budget that allows this. I saw a couple of 3 inch 66's go for slightly more than $2500 on the big auction site a couple days ago. Everyone seems to want a three inch k-frame. Glad I have mine.

 

[ImDrRich]

Lore, is one answer.

It was a designated carry revolver in the FBI at one time.

I have one and I consider it an awesome piece. It balances perfectly in my hand, it is very accurate, and it has the "look" of what a revolver should look like (YMMV). It's a K frame, too, and just feels right.

 

[Birdhunter6]

Mine is a 3" transitional '81 13-2, recessed but not pinned. I bought it at a local gun show in 2015.

I had been searching for years so when I finally found one I paid what I had to. I think it cost me $650. Seems pretty cheap now but at the time it seemed very high. I gritted my teeth and told myself that the 3" .357s always command a premium.

The auction sights are unpredictable. It only takes 2 guys with deep pockets to leave most of us rolling our eyes empty handed. On the other hand I won an 4" 19-3 last year, after bidding on at least 6. I paid $800. My max bid never changed and I believe mine is in better condition than several that sold higher.

The longer the old school Smiths are out of production the crazier prices become. Mine are not for sale. Maybe when I'm gone my boys will cash out.

 

[Chukar60]

I didn't bother looking up history for 3", 13's.
Doubt seriously the average sold price gets anywhere near that level.
My eyebrows ceased raising over GB anomalies several years ago, but they make good thread material on forums.

 

[CALREB]

I had this one for sale at several gun shows in this area for a year or 2. Last time was about 6-7 months ago. I upped the price to 850.00 so I could drop 50 but added 250 rds of Rem ammo, 2 speedloaders and a nylon Bianchi holster. This was at my gunclub so I wanted to give someone a deal. At least I thought it was. The gun is in nice shape.
Granted the holster was for a 4" and camo, but it was nice. Exactly as you see it with the boxes of ammo in the cat food box. Maybe there were no cat lovers. Several people looked at it but thought my price was too high. Was offered 6 without the other stuff. When I got home, I was relieved it hadn't sold. Wiped it down and in the safe it goes. I don't have many spare guns that I don't mind parting with, so I'm hanging on to it for now. I have some friends that might need a gun in the future or as a gift. I think I got it for 225 some 15 or 20 years ago. BUT for 2K I can dig out the camo holster again. HA!
Things on GB are always a mystery to me. But hey if I was rich I would drop 80k for a decent 1968 Bullitt Mustang. Why-----Why not...

 

[ironhead7544]

The 3 inch barreled revolvers are now making a comeback. Even the Python.

 

[Rodan]

The bidding history is interesting on this one...

Opened at $1425, and the winning bidder placed a $2500 bid. Then the second, and only other bidder placed four separate bids over two days, but only matched the original bid, so the first bidder won it.

Gotta be a record price for a no box, non P&R 3" 13. Crazy...

Seller also has a 3" 66 offered, will be watching that out of curiosity.

Seller also has lots of parts... makes one wonder a bit.

 

[Buzzzer]

...not to mention the location was in MA, but "no handgun sales in MA"...

 

[glenncal1]

Jeez I sold mine way too soon. IIRC I sold it for about $800 4 years ago. Glad I still have my 3" Aussie model 10 that I bought for $250.

 

[murphydog]

Was watching this one. Good on the winning bidder for getting what he wanted but this is well out of the "didn't pay too much, just too soon" value range, even with 9% inflation.

 

[Grayfox]

On various forums people have been posting GB auctions where guns have sold for ridiculously high prices. There seems to have been a lot of them lately.
One conspiracy theory is that unscrupulous people are using the site to launder dirty money. Who knows? Maybe?

 

[StakeOut]

Sold my very nice 3" 13-2 gun only with original stocks to a member here about 3 years ago for $750.
I saw a 3" 13-3 on Texas Gun Trader yesterday with $1000 asking price.I don't know if it sold.

 

[Rodan]

One conspiracy theory is that unscrupulous people are using the site to launder dirty money. Who knows? Maybe?

That has never made sense to me. Usually cash business are used to launder money, as the point is to turn illegitimate cash into clean funds.

I guess you can buy a USPS money order with cash and use it to buy a gun on GB, but there's still a paper trail on the purchase through GB (especially with them now collecting tax), and a paper trail on the gun through the delivery FFL. Doesn't seem like a smart laundering operation...



My money (pun intended ) is on buyers with plenty of money, but very little real knowledge of the subject matter.

 

[oddshooter]

Ten years ago I had a quadruple bypass. My son came and took care of mom and me. It was a huge imposition, but he kept a smile on his face at all times. It made a huge difference.

He is a 1911 fan boy and a great, successful man. Our friends once told us they were proud just to know Superman's parents. I've often said if I were to be judged by one thing, I hoped it would be my son.

On GB, there was a 1911 WWII unfired, mint condition; but it was a little high it seemed. But it was there, and it was for sale.
If you want to dance, ya gotta pay the piper.

I overpaid, but we couldn't have been happier when we gave him the gun and saw his grin.

So does a gift to your son qualify as a reason to overpay.


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[GT_80]

That's insane. The Revolver Market near me has gone up 30%-50% but that is way outside the realm of reality for what I would pay... I mean that's like SVT40 money...

Also, i live in Ma, and if he doesn't want to sell to Ma residents, he is an odd dealer- especially if he is an FFL, they could pick up at his shop, and fill the paperwork out right there. Doesn't make sense to me.

Almost all of his listings say no sale to Ma- it's weird for a Ma reseller. He has a website, NEballistic.com