Model 34 and Pre-34 Market Question

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PortTack

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Folks, I'm pretty new at this, so please excuse if this question is silly, but...
I have been looking for a Model 34, 4" bbl or a pre-model 34, and can't reconcile value guide pricing vs. on line gun exchanges (i.e. GunBroker.com) reserve or "buy now" pricing. The guides I have are the 3rd Edition, Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, plus the 2014 Standard Catalog of Firearms. Without fail, it seems the pricing set for these revolvers on BunBroker is at least 50% above, to twice, the values listed in these guides. Are these recently published books already so far behind market, or are prices on line unrealistically over the top?

By the way, I have also noticed few bids made, and/or many bids never reaching the reserves...

Any advice or comments for this new guy would be very much appreciated.
 
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Welcome! Looking at selling prices on completed auctions is the best judge of current pricing. Asking prices that are not realized will overestimate values.

You should be able to find a nice 4" .22 Kit Gun in the $450-500 range, especially if you see one with a Buy option and you act quickly; they are out there every so often.
 
You have to remember the 3rd edition is 8 or 9 years old. In these times gun prices are all over the place. What was the price of gas 8 years ago?
 
Thanks for your replies... And yes, I did forget the age of the S & W book - having confused it with, dare I say it, the new C__t edition recently out.

I'll try to control my impatience in wanting to obtain one before they are "all gone", while watching all those "reserve not met" banners.

I'm sure it will be worth the wait, and I do, in the mean time have a very nice M & P .38 Spl (4th change) and a Model 36 to keep me company...

Thanks again for your comments. Ken B.
 
tlay said:
You have to remember the 3rd edition is 8 or 9 years old. In these times gun prices are all over the place. What was the price of gas 8 years ago?
Click to expand...

Bad example!! Gas 8 years ago was higher than it is now. $3.25 vs $2.99;);)

However you are correct. The price "guides" are always years out of date and should only be used for "reference/comparison" .
 
I see the 34-1 guns (J frame)in the 400-500 range. But the earlier I improved guns in great shape seem to be 750+ most of the time.
 
The prices have slipped lower in the last month or so on model 34s. I watched for a long time and a 2" version could not be had mint for under 750 on GB. I recently won a 34-1, 2" LNIB for $600. I think peoples interest swings toward holiday gift purchases and that is why the slight relief right now. Might be the right time to buy, it was for me. I almost lost patience and hit BIN prices up to 775 just to get one. Im glad I waited a while. Good luck.
 
you can always make an offer on one that has been on there for awhile. seller may take it. I have bought guns that way on the auction sites in the past.
 
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