Over on the Colt Forum, someone started a thread about the best bargain on a Colt Revolver. So, how about for Smith & Wesson. And, post photos! I don't have a photo to post, but the two best bargains for me might be a .22 Hand Ejector First Model (Ladysmith) in 85-90% condition I purchased last year for $275 at a local auction, or a New Model No 3 that cost me $675, in 80% condition, and, I did not realize I had a Target Model until I received the factory letter from Roy Jinks. Yes, the rear sight snapped off a long time ago, and the front sight was filed to compensate, but still a good buy -- with a special order serrated trigger as well.
Your best bargain on a Smith & Wesson
- Thread starter mrcvs
- Start date
jmace57
SWCA Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2012
- Messages
- 2,340
- Reaction score
- 3,783
I've told the story here before, but mine was taking a flyer on a 1905 4th change, misidentified as a 1902 3 years ago. Crummy, blurry pictures. Won it for $175. When I received it, it was engraved as being presented to someone on the US Pistol Team at the Inter-Allied games in Paris in 1919. In really nice condition and provenance confirmed by Roy Jinks letter.
klausinak
US Veteran
Best bargain within the last few years has to be 3rd Model HE 44 Special 4 inch nickel which lettered as seen here (Wolf & Klar 1931) for $975 OTD tagged as a HE 2nd Model. Best bargain ever was a nickel Remington 31 caliber 1851 engraved revolver with ivory grips. A pawn shop had it on the bottom shelf with their Italian black powder replica revolvers; $60 OTD.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Attachments
TheHobbyist
SWCA Member
I knew I shouldn't have opened this thread--and only a few posts in. In good form, i'm happy for the those who get the good deals now and then.
...just be sure to tell the folks round here that the prices aren't through the roof, regardless of the condition.
...just be sure to tell the folks round here that the prices aren't through the roof, regardless of the condition.
Modified
SWCA Member
$150 on the sticker
I didn't even haggle
I was only vaguely aware of what a Registered magnum was, I just thought that any functional S&W .357 Magnum was worth at least $150.
The missing rear sight cost me slightly more then the gun did (and in retrospect I consider that just as lucky and as good a deal, especially considering what that RM hammer just went for).
05CarbonDRZ
SWCA Member
Mike McLellan
Member
I don't mean to sound philosophical, but I gotta say that all my Smith & Wessons were a GREAT bargain. The money I gave isn't worth that much anymore, and I have a nice pile of great guns.
beagleye
Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2010
- Messages
- 2,393
- Reaction score
- 2,583
Plane jane 38 special. Bidding started and ended at $325:
BRNO ZKW 465, at auction it was covered in some old red wax, it looked like rust but for $425 I liked it anyway. When I got it home and started cleaning it, the wax start rubbing off, I was pretty happy>
BRNO ZKW 465, at auction it was covered in some old red wax, it looked like rust but for $425 I liked it anyway. When I got it home and started cleaning it, the wax start rubbing off, I was pretty happy>
I have several, but the very best came from a sorry gun show I stopped going to years ago----because it was a waste of MY time!!
But, then again, I didn't have anything else to do (that I wanted to do); so what the heck! Off I go! It's August---in Knoxville---as in hotter than dammit! The air conditioning in the hall is busted----but they're "working on it". Right!! There are maybe 4-500 tables. I go through it in maybe 45 minutes-----never even slowed down. I'm on my way to my friend's table to retrieve my traveling library. Here's a sign: "MORE DEALERS UPSTAIRS" Screw it---it'll be way hotter upstairs than it is down here! I go up anyway.
There are 14 tables up there---arranged in a 'U' around the stair landing. You can see all the tables without moving from the landing. There's a S&W something on the far table to my left----and it's pretty----from a distance. Over I go. This looks suspiciously like a post-war/pre-war .32 Regulation Police Target----one of the 196 made. I pick it up. It still looks like that. The tag says it's a "22/32 Kit Gun----32 caliber". Right!! All these post-war/pre-war guns are in a specific serial number series, but I can't remember what it is. I know what book it's in ("History")----and the page number (156)------but I'm totally blank on the serial numbers (And I have one of these guns at home!!) These things are selling for around $2,000 at the time. This one is marked $425 (!!!!)----and it's absolutely like new!!!
What to do?!! There's no way I'm putting this thing down! There's no way this guy is going to let me take his gun down to my library. I figure it's worth $425 no matter what. I give him the money, and head for the book.
There IS a God!!
Ralph Tremaine
But, then again, I didn't have anything else to do (that I wanted to do); so what the heck! Off I go! It's August---in Knoxville---as in hotter than dammit! The air conditioning in the hall is busted----but they're "working on it". Right!! There are maybe 4-500 tables. I go through it in maybe 45 minutes-----never even slowed down. I'm on my way to my friend's table to retrieve my traveling library. Here's a sign: "MORE DEALERS UPSTAIRS" Screw it---it'll be way hotter upstairs than it is down here! I go up anyway.
There are 14 tables up there---arranged in a 'U' around the stair landing. You can see all the tables without moving from the landing. There's a S&W something on the far table to my left----and it's pretty----from a distance. Over I go. This looks suspiciously like a post-war/pre-war .32 Regulation Police Target----one of the 196 made. I pick it up. It still looks like that. The tag says it's a "22/32 Kit Gun----32 caliber". Right!! All these post-war/pre-war guns are in a specific serial number series, but I can't remember what it is. I know what book it's in ("History")----and the page number (156)------but I'm totally blank on the serial numbers (And I have one of these guns at home!!) These things are selling for around $2,000 at the time. This one is marked $425 (!!!!)----and it's absolutely like new!!!
What to do?!! There's no way I'm putting this thing down! There's no way this guy is going to let me take his gun down to my library. I figure it's worth $425 no matter what. I give him the money, and head for the book.
There IS a God!!
Ralph Tremaine
Last edited:
I guess it's all relative, but in 1973 I bought a model 29-2 for $194.00, a 27-2 for $194.00 and a Python for $198.00. All were brand new and at list price. They weren't bargains back then, but they certainly turned out to be. Still have all three. In 1997 I bought a 1966 vintage 17-2 with the original diamond stocks and a set of Sanderson target stocks for $200.00. I recently sold the Sanderson's for way more than I paid for the revolver, making the gun better than free.
Last edited:
My......... 95%+ Registered Magnum.....$325.. in about 2005/7
Rhetorician
Member
Rhetorician Response
Hello all:
My best buy on a Smith was just six weeks back. I was looking for a new 38 special snub nose new, possibly a Model 643 with a hammer. I have a Ruger lcr 357 and just wanted a Smith for old time's sake (my dad had a Chief Special when I was a kid).
So I am going from pawn shop to pawn shop just looking and there it was: a Smith and Wesson, Model 360PD, scandium, titanium, 5 shot, 357 mag., two inch barreled, used gun at a pawn shop that just weighs 12 oz. Now you must keep in mind that the little Smith I was searching to find was from $390 to $420 in our part of W. Tn.
So when I saw the little 357 snubbie priced for $355 gently used I was stunned. I came back to the board here and discussed what it was with my colleagues. They told me to run-not walk-back there and get it ASAP. And I did. It was $397 and some change out the door--at the same time it was $1019.00 on the Smith web page. They are selling for from $600 to $800 on some of the auctions on line.
I will probably never do this well again--ever!!
It is the most unheard of thing I have ever heard of; buying a gun that will appreciate rather than the opposite.
Hello all:
My best buy on a Smith was just six weeks back. I was looking for a new 38 special snub nose new, possibly a Model 643 with a hammer. I have a Ruger lcr 357 and just wanted a Smith for old time's sake (my dad had a Chief Special when I was a kid).
So I am going from pawn shop to pawn shop just looking and there it was: a Smith and Wesson, Model 360PD, scandium, titanium, 5 shot, 357 mag., two inch barreled, used gun at a pawn shop that just weighs 12 oz. Now you must keep in mind that the little Smith I was searching to find was from $390 to $420 in our part of W. Tn.
So when I saw the little 357 snubbie priced for $355 gently used I was stunned. I came back to the board here and discussed what it was with my colleagues. They told me to run-not walk-back there and get it ASAP. And I did. It was $397 and some change out the door--at the same time it was $1019.00 on the Smith web page. They are selling for from $600 to $800 on some of the auctions on line.
I will probably never do this well again--ever!!
It is the most unheard of thing I have ever heard of; buying a gun that will appreciate rather than the opposite.
Last edited:
UNCLE PAULY
Member
Retired co-worker called me about his 6" 28-2 he bought in 1972. After shooting 1/2 box of 357 mag. it went into his safe and wiped down once a year. I bought it for $250 with remaining ammo, never used Bianchi X15 shoulder holster and all papers. Begged him to take more $$$ but he would not.
silentflyer
Member
A 10$ raffle ticket on a model 14 with the 8 3/8" barrel....new in box no papers....not sure if you call it a bargain of plain old luck...and no I wont take 20$ to double my money..my buddies already tried that one.
Walter Rego
Member
I was at a SouCal gunshow in early 2011, right at opening time. A dealer had a Blue Book out and was pulling guns from under his table and pricing them. He priced this 1952 Baby Chief with matching red box according to the values given for a used Model 36 Chief's Special. The box alone is worth over $200. Needless to say I didn't hesitate.
jrs70
US Veteran
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Been posted and discussed many times.
A Navy contract Victory Model Shipped Sept. of 1942 to Springfield Armory. Saw it in a pawn shop 10 years ago tagged at $100 due to a bulged barrel. I looked at it, and told the shop owner a damaged gun was nearly impossible to sell. He agreed and asked me to make an offer if I thought I could do something with it. Before thinking about it I blurted out $60 and he said sold! I should have said 30.
It shot like hell. Had to replace the barrel.
So I looked on ebay and for $5 bought a 5" barrel from 1938-39 according to the serial and in 30 minutes using my bench vise I swapped the barrel.
Total investment $65. Shoots great, now.
PS: I have a 14-3 I bought for $100 but that would go in the other forum.
A Navy contract Victory Model Shipped Sept. of 1942 to Springfield Armory. Saw it in a pawn shop 10 years ago tagged at $100 due to a bulged barrel. I looked at it, and told the shop owner a damaged gun was nearly impossible to sell. He agreed and asked me to make an offer if I thought I could do something with it. Before thinking about it I blurted out $60 and he said sold! I should have said 30.
It shot like hell. Had to replace the barrel.
So I looked on ebay and for $5 bought a 5" barrel from 1938-39 according to the serial and in 30 minutes using my bench vise I swapped the barrel.
Total investment $65. Shoots great, now.
PS: I have a 14-3 I bought for $100 but that would go in the other forum.
An adjustable sight 1006 that I bought from a pawn shop that had caught fire. Bought it for $65.00. Scrubbed and soaked all the soot off and replaced the grip. Was only cosmetic damage. Has run like a champ for years.
Similar threads
