Pennsylvania State Police 19-4

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gkitch

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Recently got this 19-4 from a friend. Pinned and recessed with TT,TH,RR, WO and good looking target grips. It shows light holster wear around the muzzle but otherwise seems to have stayed in the stable.

While a Pennsylvania State Police 75th Anniversary gun, the markings are quite minimal and with a tasteful presentation case. The cardboard blue box for the gun is here as well and all the period papers included.

While this is an excellent and usable Model 19 with all the desirable bells and whistles, I am wondering about a fair value when time to sell? The "book" says that there were 3000 of these made. What is a fair price for such a variant of the great Combat Magnum? Any real collector value?
 

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FWIW..........I collect LEO guns but do not consider Anniversary or special occasion guns for my collection. I want the revolvers that were issued, that were out on the streets and show the wear. Most definitely want them with department markings, like a logo or "SFPD" or a rack number on them. I think the way some agencies marked the backstrap was pretty cool too. Going in totally the other direction, I love the way the SWCA 25th Anniversary gun was done and do have a few of those. With those Anniversary PD guns, I would think a higher price would be paid by someone with an association to the agency. If i worked there or one of my parents worked there, I would want the gun.

Gil
 
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Beware of late 1970's Commemorative 66's, if buying to shoot instead of just let them reside in their pretty wooden box. S&W tended to put what I would consider "junk" frames in guns such as these, that they did not expect the buyer to shoot. The one I own (a Tulsa Police commemorative bought used and shot some) required 10+ Powers hammer and trigger washers to get it fit it shoot.
 
Commemorative guns are for those that were or are associated with what is being commemorated. More were made than purchased at market price and then there were fire sales on leftovers. They had their attractions but shoot one and the value drops like a rock. S&W made many LEO commemorative models and interesting enough, most were made with guns the agency never even carried.
 
I'll begin by saying that I am not a collector of commemoratives (S&W or otherwise), nor do I know a great deal about them. However I do know what I like and I am a pretty good judge of quality firearms. A few years ago I bought a Texas Ranger Commemorative set, one of 8,000 sets with the bowie knife and sheath. The reason I bought it was that the TR Model 19-3 (1973) is IMO one of the finest Model 19s ever made. The fit and finish is outstanding, it has a cut-away trigger guard and smooth trigger, and they wear some beautifully matched smooth target stocks that fit my hands perfectly. Even the presentation case is very well made and marked. I bought this 19-3 as a shooter, and it is smooth, accurate, and very fun to shoot. I have no idea what the original owner paid for the TR set, but I bought it for $840. This is probably in the current price range for a minty 4" blued 19-3 by itself, so I don't think that I'll take a beating if I ever decide to sell it. Just my 2 cents.
 

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The people that want the collector guns want N.I.B. once fired, I believe they just become like any other gun of that vintage, with a bit of a minus for engraving... unless you have a personal attachment to the organization it's just a gun...
 
I have one of these PSP commemoratives as well. My Dad was retired PSP and ordered it. He passed before it arrived. I've had it since the early'80s. Never been fired (outside of factory testing).
 
ken158 said:
Commemorative guns are for those that were or are associated with what is being commemorated. More were made than purchased at market price and then there were fire sales on leftovers. They had their attractions but shoot one and the value drops like a rock. S&W made many LEO commemorative models and interesting enough, most were made with guns the agency never even carried.
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I want to say the Commemorative my union guys had made back in the day was a 686, our last issue revolver was a 681. (all about six years before my time)

I had been offered over half a dozen of those commemoratives, sometimes as cheap as a stock gun and sometimes at "do you think I'm nutz" pricing. Never wanted one, didn't really want one of the officer purchased retired 681s either. Most were well worn and I way prefer adjustibles on my revolvers.


and yes it seems like half the dopes shot their commemoratives or their relatives did after they passed.

That's another big or even the main reason why I own no commemoratives, I want to shoot my guns not save them for posterity.
 
One of those just sold on the big auction site for $1225.

ETA: I thought it was a little too high. I would have went $800-900
 
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