S&W K22 Prices?

It seems the prices of these things have gone way up since I was last looking for one last year. I could find them for $600-$800 regularly but right now the lowest priced one on Gunsinternational is from Cabela's (yuck) at like $875 without the original stocks. After taxes and transfer that's $1000. The rest of the listings on there are $1000+. Is there some kind of a run on a K22s I didn't hear about? I encouraged a few people to go out and get one as their first handgun and several reported back to me that they could only find them for $1000 plus so I looked into it and they're not wrong.

Well if you are encouraging "a few" people to buy them, maybe you are driving up the market.

I think if you look a bit you will find many guns in the $700-$900 range, depending on variation and condition of course. There are always several on Gunbroker. Simpson's has a few. Collector's Firearm's has one for $750 (it's on GI as well).

That said, I recently purchased my first K22 and I overpaid for it. My grandfather had one of these, I've no idea what happened to it, so when a pre-17 in great condition came up on another forum I bought it. No original box/accoutrements, non-original grips. I sort of wish I had held out for a more complete/original package, but the gun I purchased is very nice. I paid $1200.

So to answer to your question, while there are numerous shooter-grade guns available in your stated range, the "run" you speak of is folks discovering that the earlier/nicer/collectible examples have probably been underpriced. Just my .02, as someone who participated. Curious what others think.

Here's mine

They must have really jumped as I got a decent one from the '50s with non relieved targets for under $500 on GB last year.

I just bought one last night. It shipped in February, 1949, my birth year. Have been looking for a birth year K-22 for a long time. This one is probably 98%+. Just the gun, no box, papers or tools. Paid $655. Taxes, shipping, fees, etc., added another $125. I like the first number better, but the extra is the price you have to pay to play.

Patience, perseverance and a bit of luck. They're still out there.

Well, you don't say which K-22's; but here are the prices fetched by mine sold during the liquidation of my entire collection of S&W target guns during the last three years ending a year ago.

K-22 1st Model (with King Cockeyed Hammer)----------$2500

K-22 1st Model --------------------------------------------$1750

K-22 2nd Model (with attractive provenance)------------$9500

K-22 3rd Model (one liner)--------------------------------$1800

K-22 3rd Model (four liner)--------------------------------$1385

K-22 4th Model (Regular, everyday K-22 from the 50's)-$1120

(These are all high condition guns, collectibles----no "shooters".)

"You pays your money, and you takes your pick!"

Ralph Tremaine

1955 K-22 for $700 two years ago at auction. Factory stocks but from a later year. Fine shooter grade.

Were the mod. 17's used by USAF shooting team marked in a certain way? If not would the ser # tell that?

I have a 6 inch with target stocks . etc. Made in the early 80's I think . I wouldn't sell it for less than $1500 . Since I don't anticipate anybody offering that much I guess I'll just keep it .

This non-model marked 4 screw was pretty dirty when I got it Saturday, but this shooter grade gun cleaned up very well and the action rivals a 60's python. The Brauer Bros. holster is what it was carried in for years and came with the little 22. The $350 price tag is well below market but I (we) bought an entire estate (18 guns). After a lot of work, thorough cleaning it, I think it's worth double. As everyone knows these are great little shooters and I'm betting this one is very accurate.

Ralph, you have got to stop with those outrageous prices received for your collection. I am adding them up and will soon be trying to hack into your bank account!! I assume that most all your collection were very high finish guns. I think too many people are not taking condition into account when looking at prices. Those last few percentage points often result in big multipliers as far as value goes.

The typical K22 Masterpiece that was well cared for but show signs of wear are still selling for $650 and less and I firmly believe that prices have not risen much in the last year. GunsInternational prices are what the seller wants, as you will never know if the gun sells or if a lower price was accepted. On the whole, sellers on GI are seeing the stars as far as pricing goes.

Gunbroker has over 100 K22 Masterpiece revolvers listed in their completed auction section within the last 90 days. As always, I see some that did not sell for a half-dozen times in the listings as the seller has no interest in selling for a reasonable price. I quickly found 5 examples of closed auctions to show and there were many more to view.

Gun 1 sold for $655
Gun 2 sold for $575
Gun 3 sold for $680
Gun 4 sold for $405
Gun 5 did not sell for their asking pcice of $895

glowe said:

Ralph, you have got to stop with those outrageous prices received for your collection. I am adding them up and will soon be trying to hack into your bank account!! I assume that most all your collection were very high finish guns. I think too many people are not taking condition into account when looking at prices. Those last few percentage points often result in big multipliers as far as value goes.

The typical K22 Masterpiece that was well cared for but show signs of wear are still selling for $650 and less and I firmly believe that prices have not risen much in the last year. GunsInternational prices are what the seller wants, as you will never know if the gun sells or if a lower price was accepted. On the whole, sellers on GI are seeing the stars as far as pricing goes.

Gunbroker has over 100 K22 Masterpiece revolvers listed in their completed auction section within the last 90 days. As always, I see some that did not sell for a half-dozen times in the listings as the seller has no interest in selling for a reasonable price. I quickly found 5 examples of closed auctions to show and there were many more to view.

Gun 1 sold for $655
Gun 2 sold for $575
Gun 3 sold for $680
Gun 4 sold for $405
Gun 5 did not sell for their asking pcice of $895

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I normally find that the best way to determine actual market value but when you factor in sales tax/gb fees/shipping that's usually another 10-12% on top of the GB hammer down price. You also have to realize there are such things as bad listings that can drive down the real price it sells for and isn't really representative of what the gun is worth had the seller put some effort into putting a lot of good pictures, no spelling mistakes etc. Even something like taking credit card can and will affect the amount of people interested/the amount people are willing to put up on a GB listing.

Gartenmeister said:

Well if you are encouraging "a few" people to buy them, maybe you are driving up the market.

I think if you look a bit you will find many guns in the $700-$900 range, depending on variation and condition of course. There are always several on Gunbroker. Simpson's has a few. Collector's Firearm's has one for $750 (it's on GI as well).

That said, I recently purchased my first K22 and I overpaid for it. My grandfather had one of these, I've no idea what happened to it, so when a pre-17 in great condition came up on another forum I bought it. No original box/accoutrements, non-original grips. I sort of wish I had held out for a more complete/original package, but the gun I purchased is very nice. I paid $1200.

So to answer to your question, while there are numerous shooter-grade guns available in your stated range, the "run" you speak of is folks discovering that the earlier/nicer/collectible examples have probably been underpriced. Just my .02, as someone who participated. Curious what others think.

Here's mine

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I don't think you overpaid, I think you paid a fair price. I honestly always see any old smith under around $800-$1000 to be a steal/deal, I was just kind of sad to see that the deals/steals might be going away!

There are no buyers fees on GB. Shipping and sales tax are all you pay, but nothing different from any other online purchase. I think you are reaching to try to justify higher and lower prices. If a buyer knows what they are looking at, they do not even need a description. Taking your time and not jumping on the first thing you see is the key to making good buying decisions.

jareds06 said:

I normally find that the best way to determine actual market value but when you factor in sales tax/gb fees/shipping that's usually another 10-12% on top of the GB hammer down price. You also have to realize there are such things as bad listings that can drive down the real price it sells for and isn't really representative of what the gun is worth had the seller put some effort into putting a lot of good pictures, no spelling mistakes etc. Even something like taking credit card can and will affect the amount of people interested/the amount people are willing to put up on a GB listing.

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His sample seemed like a realistic view of what's out there if you take the time to follow a variety of auctions and are willing to wait for a good deal. Sure a $600 gun can easily be a $700+ gun with a few better pictures and a better description. That's why you have to be patient and put the time in to find a good deal. If you don't want to spend a few hours reviewing auctions just pony up and buy the first one you find.

All but one were very high finish guns---a lesson learned from Ray Cheely, who's advice went like this: "CONDITION-CONDITION-CONDITION!!!"

The one lone beater in my collection (Nice enough looking, but refinished.) was a 5" M&P Target taken in lieu of cash from some folks who owed me. I took it partly because I'd never even seen 5" target, and mostly because I just wanted to be DONE with the whole deal.

The amount owed me was $600. That gun sold for $950, so I reckon there's at least one other poor soul who'd never seen a 5" Target either.

Speaking of Ray Cheely, the bulk of his collection was on Sales tables at an SWCA Annual Meeting---Orlando, I think. I couldn't even speak coherently for hours after seeing those guns!! For openers, more than a few were guns I'd heard about, but never seen. ALL the rest were AS NEW---most everything in original boxes----and then there were the price tags. The first one that REALLY caught my eye said $17,500. I was having trouble even breathing, much less speaking coherently after that!!

The all time highest price tag I've seen was at a Louisville show---sometime in the 90's. It was a pre-war .22 Outdoorsman-----FULL COVERAGE engraving by THE Rudolph Kornbrath---AND the complete set of his pencil drawings done before he picked up his hammer and chisel-----a mere $125,000!!

There's an applicable old saying to describe such as this: "This is serious business, bring money!"

Ralph Tremaine

As an aside, but worth knowing by anybody contemplating selling their collection so as to leave behind a pile of money rather than a pile of guns, here's what I did. I picked up the phone, and called David Carroll. It was a brief conversation: "Come get this stuff, and dump it."

He did, and he did. The entirety of my involvement after that was to deposit checks as they came rolling in.

The lesson to be learned here is he CLEARLY knows how to sell this stuff----and he knows who to sell it to.

glowe said:

There are no buyers fees on GB. Shipping and sales tax are all you pay, but nothing different from any other online purchase. ...

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No longer true. GunBroker now charges the buyer a 1% "compliance fee" (whatever that is). For my winning bid of $655, I had to add 3.5% credit card fee ($22.93), shipping ($45), taxes ($50.84) and aforementioned compliance fee ($6.55). So, I "bought" the gun for $655 but had to pay $780.32 to get it delivered.

You guys are forgetting the FFL transfer fee. Which, must also be included in the price, for those of us that do not have an FFL.

Another way to save money is to send a USPS MO or bank check. I am never in that big of a hurry to receive it and have never had to use a CC.

Let's see, a 1% fee on a $700 gun is $7. USPS MO costs $3.00. Sales tax is paid on any gun purchased today online or at a LGS. Shipping runs between $25 and $40 for a handgun. That is $35 - $50 plus tax.

LAWMAN662 said:

Were the mod. 17's used by USAF shooting team marked in a certain way? If not would the ser # tell that?

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Yes, the serial number would (almost certainly) tell that (or otherwise)-------AFTER you'd ordered a letter. The Air Force didn't buy those guns from a local dealer----they called S&W with the order----and received a nice discount.

Same goes for any/all guns purchased by pretty much any law enforcement agency.

I've owned only one such gun---a 5" nickel Registered Magnum---1 of 15 shipped to the Indianapolis P.D.

Ralph Tremaine

Apologies! A little brain fade there.

Any markings will be treated in a letter---if you told (and asked) them about the markings.

The bottom line with letters is they'll respond to your request. If there's nothing unusual about the gun, and you have no specific questions, you get a regular everyday letter. You'll get answers to any questions you asked.

Now, as was the case with one letter for me (where I hadn't asked about anything) they went nuts!! That's because the gun had been shipped gratis to a person who was very important in the history of S&W---last line of the letter said, "This is a very important revolver!" THAT will make you sit right up and take notice!!

Damn shame that doesn't happen every day!

The first model was picked up at a gun show for $825 which I thought to be top dollar. With the help of a forum member I was able to trace down the possible first owner so that helps.

The 1950 vintage which had been poorly reblued was $450 and maybe a bit more than what it is worth but it's an outstanding shooter.

I'm at the point in my life that if I like something enough I'll buy it.

K22 with the gold box

I looked at one at a gun show locally yesterday was k301XX in poor condition probably 40% bluing remaining and newer grips that were modified. They were asking $999.00. I would like another one but did not even make an
offer. There was another one at a different table cosmetically challenged with incorrect grips & mechanical issues they were asking $979.00 for that one. I guess that makes what I have worth more. Was at a gun store a couple of weeks ago with some K22's and the asking price on all of those was $1999.00. Crazy pricing times.
Scott