My bud would like to sell his,it's shooter grade from use and being holstered as a sidearm when he worked armored cars.The case and knife remain in new condition according to him.
For maximum return,I suggested that he sell the three items separately.
Forum thoughts on this course? Thanks.

I've seen a couple of those Ranger commemorative sets around - wouldn't they garner a higher return, assuming a collector is on the buying end, sold as a complete set rather than piecemeal?

Probably if the gun were as new as the other items.

Gotcha - shooter grade vs. new on the others, reading / replying too hastily here this Thanksgiving Eve.

I bought my shooter grade texas ranger 19-3 for $300 cash, no box or knife.

The gun itself is worth zero more than any other shooter grade 19-3. Someone who wants one with target hammer and trigger may pay more, but not much more.

Keep as a set....

I totally agree.

However since the knife is serial numbered to the revolver, it might bring a bit of a premium as a set.

10,000 of these were manufactured. 2,000 were cased revovler only. 8,000 were cased with matching serial numbed knife. 50 of the 8,000 were master engraved.

The TR as a shooter grade may even be worth less than a regular model 19... I would try to keep it together as a set in case one would want to refurbish it but no premium value there IMO.

Why would you think that?

Shooter grade is shooter grade, right? These mostly (all?) have smooth TT and TH, which is desirable to a number of folks. Everything else except the sideplate and extra stampings on the barrel is the same.

I'm inclined to agree with Ken.No matter what kind of gun that I would be looking for,collector quality or even just a shooter,I would prefer a regular model.Commemoratives do nothing for me,in fact,turn me off.
I see a small market for TRs,and the guys that want one,want it minty with case,etc.

+1 on what Camster said...

That's a personal opinion and choice. And you have not really quantified why you made the choice. Other than "just because".

If someone is looking for a shooter, I have to say that a commemorative is just as capable as a normal production gun. As a shooter, it's worth no more or less than a normal gun. Especially if one can be had for the same price as a typical shooter grade gun.

The fact that they turn you off for some reason does not really tell us why the gun is any less capable than any other model 19.

Like I said, at the end of the day, it's a model 19 with TH, TT and red ramp. Some sought after non-standard features of that era. As a shooter, chances are it does not have the smooth target grips it came with, maybe it does, but probably those were tossed for a pair of Pachs, Hogues or whatever rubber grip of choice long ago.

I am not generally big on commeratives, but as a native born Texan I think a Texas Rangers edition would be nice to have. I might pay a FEW bucks more for one, but not a lot.

He didn't say it was less capable.

"Just because" is a perfectly legitimate reason. It doesn't have to make sense, doesn't have to be quantified in any way. I like red shirts better than blue ones 'just because."

If I were in the market for a shooter grade 19 and there were two side by side, same features, same condition, equal price, I would take the plain, non commemorative gun. I would buy the TR model only if it was discounted. I believe there are a lot of people like me. Far as that goes, I would pay more for a non-commem pristine gun than for a pristine TR. Again, I just believe there is more demand for the non commem. Capability has nothing to do with it. Demand does.

__________________
Georgia On My Mind

I don't think, as a shooter, being a commemorative would add or detract from value. It would add value to sell as a set with the knife and display box, though. Even shooters are more desireable when sold with all the goodies!

__________________
Even older, even crankier....

I never understood why S&W didn't produce the "Texas Ranger Commemorative" in a handgun and caliber mostly associated with the Texas Rangers...an N Frame in .44 or .45 caliber.

__________________
Have guns...will shoot'em.

A couple I have seen at gun shows were priced quite high, around the $2000 range. But, they did not look like they had been fired since leaving the factory. I don't they sell well at those prices.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I sold one right here about 3 years ago. It was unfired and I had bought it new back in the 70`s. Dont recall how much I got for it. I think around $650s. They had a narrowed trigger guard too. I still have a 544 texas wagon train commerative. They are in 44-40.

The model 19 and the idea to commemorate the Texas Rangers was not a random idea on S&Ws part. It was so many years ago I can not recall the exact name, but it was the Texas Sesquicentennial Commission that approached S&W. Together the choices were made.

It is often the case, especially with LEO Commemoratives, that the agency commemorated or an affiliated organization is the party that initiates the commemorative, not S&W.

For our fortieth anniversary, our agency chose a model 66 which represented the 357 magnums we had carried through most of our existence. For our sixtieth anniversary, the choice of our agency was a 9MM Glock, a brand we had never used in a caliber we only had for about 8 years of our existance.

I am pretty sure the TR commemrative was smiths first commemrative and just might be one of the very first companys to even build a commerative. I dont think the idea was even out much before that.

colt_saa,

Thanks for the clarity and it makes sense now.

I also always wondered why the S&W "FBI Commemorative" was a 5 inch M27 and not the 3 1/2 which I have heard/seen was perhaps the most favorite FBI "gun" back in the day. But as you say "someone" made a "decision" and S&W made the gun.

And the same for feralmerril's "Texas Wagon Train". I remember thinking, why .44-40 and not .45 Colt?

But then nobody from S&W has ever called me and asked what I think and probably never will..........

__________________
Have guns...will shoot'em.

The FBI Commemerative was commissioned by the FBI's Agents Association. The FBIAA also controlled the sales of the commerative. The pistiol could only be purchased by active or retired agents from the FBIAA. You could not go into a gun shop and order one from S&W. The FBIAA made a few exceptions for LEOs that were working on task forces and such, but not many