Please offer a value estimate: 27-2, 3½", S282610

[ENNE-FRAME]

Between 700 to 1000.
Consider that lately I have seen Cokes grips reach 500/700 dollars on eBay.
If they are not his numbered ones you can consider selling them and replacing them with Magna ones.
I would keep them, but if you have to recover money for the purchase it could be a solution.
At that point you'll have paid the Model 27 from $200 to $500 or less

 

[raljr1]

If someone on this forum was selling that gun as it sits, the price would easily be $1500. If the finish is a bit rough, maybe you offer your pal $1200. People pay hefty premiums for these short barrel 27s.

 

[gmborkovic]

Rough, dented, cracked, chipped or poorly re-paired Cokes do not bring that much. I have seen perfect sets sell for $1000+. With nice sharp points on the checking.

 

[DETROIT]

Great deal for you 800-1000. Fair deal for both of you 1050-1200.

 

[dave1918a2]

I would offer a reasonable value. Cokes = $500. Gun W/O cokes = $700. So $1200 would be a fair offer.

 

[gmborkovic]

None of us have examined this gun personally. We are all working off of four cell phone pics. None of us know about the function or condition of the internals. What does it look like under those grips? We all know a slight tilt of the gun can hide a myriad of flaws. Leave yourself a little bit of room if anything needs to be corrected. All these prices reflect a perfectly functioning gun. Its nothing rare or scarce. It a revolver with some checkering on the top. Wow, big deal.

 

[mrussell]

I think it all depends on how much you want it. In 2014 I paid $1000 for a very early N serial numbered 27-2, 3 1/2" on Gunbroker with lousy pictures like this. I did it because I wanted one and they are hard to find. I ended up very satisfied with my purchase. If you have the ability to see this gun first, then that will make the decision easier. $1500 is very reasonable for both parties if the gun does not have bad freckling which is hard to tell from these pictures.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I thank everyone very much for their replies and opinions.

I gathered up all your thoughts in my mind and called the owner.
Well, I called the owner's husband. I made my offer, and he seemed
willing, but he called back to say, "It's my wife's gun, and she
doesn't want to sell it."

I guess the best we did here was document another one for the
S database.

ps: it was charged to the advertising account and shipped on
June 23, 1966, to Walter Lookabaugh, S&W's sales rep in Los
Angeles. It came from the estate of Ben Alexander later in the
'60s after he passed so it's easy to imagine it was yet another
gift to Mr. Alexander from the company. Ben played Officer
Frank Smith on the "DRAGNET" radio and tv shows till 1959.

 

[Oldengineer]

The results are always perfect for the choices we make!

 

[gmborkovic]

Please forgive me, I have a habit of viewing guns thru the logical eyes of an old dealer. No emotion at all. If it does not have freckling, my point.
Can not be detected by a few pics. What if it does have freckling?

 

[Bald1]

Great deal for you 800-1000. Fair deal for both of you 1050-1200.

This^^^^^
The fact that seller is asking buyer for an offer tells me he doesn't know how to sell it or doesn't want to be bothered. There is value in that for the seller. Buyer is making it easy and a discount should be extended. No different than trading in your car. You take less because it's easy.

 

[fleabus101]

Offer start at 850. You can go to 950 if you need to.
Let him make the call. You can both feel fine w that.
It's your money going out to the seller.

 

[Rusty parrot]

Bob,
Thanks for the backstory on the gun. Sure made it an interesting part of Smith & Wesson sales and history.
Now for the rest of the story. You collected a lot of opinions and valuations, what did you finally settle on offering?
Have a great day and good luck next time.
Jake

 

[Claymore33]

Saw Mod 27-2 3.5" on two gun auctions yesterday go for $1200-1500.
of course there is no mention of this gun's mechanics. Under $1,000 is a steal .

 

[boykinlp]

I know this is basically mute now, but I was going to ask the membership what they would offer for the revolver sans the grips. My answer would have been $650-700 if I wanted it.
Larry

 

[22hipower]

I know this is basically mute now, but I was going to ask the membership what they would offer for the revolver sans the grips. My answer would have been $650-700 if I wanted it.
Larry

It looks like a $1k gun to me even without the grips. I would want to handle it first but I see very few decent N frames, much less S sn 3.5 27-2s, for less than $1k. Eight years ago I bought one that appears comparable to the one under discussion (without cokes of course) but which did have a driver's license number engraved under the magna stocks, for $700. I later traded it even for a 4 inch 16-4. I would be very surprised to find either that 27-2 or a 16-4 today for less than $1k and would expect either to be tagged north of $1200.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Fessor]

When prompted by the seller to make an offer, I always tell seller that I'm not in a position to make an offer on his/her possession. However, to make an offer and then be told the seller does not have the authority to represent the gun is a major disappoint and borders on disrespect.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

You collected a lot of opinions and valuations, what did you finally settle on offering?
Jake

Howdy Jake,

I went the cheap route. $800. He seemed okay till he told his wife.

When prompted by the seller to make an offer, I always tell seller that I'm not in a position to make an offer on his/her possession. However, to make an offer and then be told the seller does not have the authority to represent the gun is a major disappoint and borders on disrespect.

Full disclosure and in all fairness to the gentleman.

I bought a S&W revolver he'd sold to a shop. The Chiefs Special
from 1954 was engraved BEN ALEXANDER. (photo)

I was curious about its past so I ask one of the guys at the shop
to ask the previous owner to call me.

Quite the gentleman -- 79 years old -- he did call, and he gave
the Chiefs' ownership history to me -- Ben's estate to this
gentleman's father in the '60s to him. Very nice to know.

After we'd finished discussing my Chiefs Special he asked if I'd
be interested in a S&W .357. He said it was his wife's and she
wasn't home but knew he was going to ask me. Her instruction
was, "You better get more than you did for the other one."

I guess she thought my offer was low, and according to many
here, they agree.

It's history, now. I have no regrets, and sure don't think ill of
the gentleman or his wife.

 

[DETROIT]

I thank everyone very much for their replies and opinions.

I gathered up all your thoughts in my mind and called the owner.
Well, I called the owner's husband. I made my offer, and he seemed
willing, but he called back to say, "It's my wife's gun, and she
doesn't want to sell it."

I guess the best we did here was document another one for the
S database.

ps: it was charged to the advertising account and shipped on
June 23, 1966, to Walter Lookabaugh, S&W's sales rep in Los
Angeles. It came from the estate of Ben Alexander later in the
'60s after he passed so it's easy to imagine it was yet another
gift to Mr. Alexander from the company. Ben played Officer
Frank Smith on the "DRAGNET" radio and tv shows till 1959.

How do you find all the background info

 

[two-bit cowboy]

How do you find all the background info

The key is the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association.

The key can open many doors.