A 53 jet boxed with 22lr cylinder and inserts went for $3600 today
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Condition, condition, condition. That is about the best Model 53 I've seen. Great photography too. If the box had not been scuffed up a little it might have brought more. Somebody got a good one, but they paid dearly.
They've been bringing good money lately and that's the second highest price I've seen for one. Might have been even more for a 4 inch and if the 22LR cylinder was shown as numbered to the gun. A 4 inch 53-2 factory refinished in nickel with the extra cylinder, inserts and better condition box went for $3819 in a recent RIA auction.
Scarce Smith & Wesson Model 53-2 Magnum Jet Revolver with Box | Rock Island Auction
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Scarce Smith & Wesson Model 53-2 Magnum Jet Revolver with Box | Rock Island Auction
Jeff
SWCA #1457
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Two bidders wanted it pretty badly. It may take a while for the buyer to recoup the final price, but perhaps it was one of those "I want it and don't care how much I have to pay" purchases.
ColbyBruce
Member
That alphabet Sales place in AZ has a 53 listed if anybody wants one.
May have bought it too early, but. Looks unfired and if not it was only factory fired. I was interested in it, but I only buy guns to shoot. Darn it!!
OP
I got my 53 for $1k couple of months ago.
Haven’t shot 22 jet through it yet but I will say the 22lr don’t always fire with the inserts. About one every few cylinders won’t fire until you spin it and try again.
My pre 17 always fires. If I can find a 22 lr cylinder for a 53….
Haven’t shot 22 jet through it yet but I will say the 22lr don’t always fire with the inserts. About one every few cylinders won’t fire until you spin it and try again.
My pre 17 always fires. If I can find a 22 lr cylinder for a 53….
They show up rarely, very rarely, on eBay but be prepared to pay almost as much for one as you paid for the 53.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Walter Rego
Member
That's an outstanding example for sure. And, as others surmised the bid history shows two potential buyers slugging it out until one of them blinked.
No mention was made if the package included the cleaning tools and SAT. The correct SAT has the long tapered tip, not the hollow ground type and those are getting harder to find and more expensive. And the unique tapered chamber swab. Those are REALLY hard to find unused if you can find one at all. Here's my first year Model 53 with all accessories.
I did not get a Helpful Hints brochure with it and I question whether one is correct with the Model 53 in question. Didn't S&W stop including a Helpful Hints brochure around the time they started printing the tri-fold instructions ?
No mention was made if the package included the cleaning tools and SAT. The correct SAT has the long tapered tip, not the hollow ground type and those are getting harder to find and more expensive. And the unique tapered chamber swab. Those are REALLY hard to find unused if you can find one at all. Here's my first year Model 53 with all accessories.
I did not get a Helpful Hints brochure with it and I question whether one is correct with the Model 53 in question. Didn't S&W stop including a Helpful Hints brochure around the time they started printing the tri-fold instructions ?
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The results of that auction, quite frankly, torques my heinie.
I recently chose to reduce some of my inventory and sent two Model 53's to auction.
Both boxed in original boxes.
Both had the proper secondary cylinder.
Both had a complete set of inserts.
Blue one had the set of tools.
Both were in stellar condition.
My Blue gun realized about half of that.
My Nickel gun, a tad better than the Blue.
The Blue one was also a four screw.
I ain't crying, just doing some whining.
bdGreen
I recently chose to reduce some of my inventory and sent two Model 53's to auction.
Both boxed in original boxes.
Both had the proper secondary cylinder.
Both had a complete set of inserts.
Blue one had the set of tools.
Both were in stellar condition.
My Blue gun realized about half of that.
My Nickel gun, a tad better than the Blue.
The Blue one was also a four screw.
I ain't crying, just doing some whining.
bdGreen
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bd, you live in sane world and your model 53 sales prices reflect that.
Every auction is a little microcosm unto itself. We tend pay more attention to extremes in prices.
Every auction is a little microcosm unto itself. We tend pay more attention to extremes in prices.
Terry G
Member
a well off Friend of mine bought EVERY single model of S&W handguns he could find, revolvers, semi-autos, the works. The Jet was one gun he could not get to work. Even with the proper ammunition it was click, bang, click, click. With the .22 cylinder, forget it! He moved and I lost touch with him. I always wondered if S&W got that gun working for him.
That one is the nicest one I have seen but would have been way out of my price range, plus I could never bring myself to shoot it.
Instead, I now have this model 53 no dash that I bought from my old Lieutenant. He called me up in February and told me to come over and buy one of his S&Ws. So, I went, and we negotiated over a couple of cold ones. It, along with the Walnut grips were refinished about a decade ago in Nevada. Nice job. Comes with inserts, brushes, Target Hammer and Trigger and a super smooth action job. Goes bang every time.
Everyone should have a friend and ex-boss like mine. When it came time to pay, I offered this much, he says "too much, it's refinished" I offered a little less, still too much. Back and forth it went. Finally, he says $500 and that's it. So it is, and like I said, it goes bang every time. I have yet to try it with the inserts as I have a couple K-22s.
Note. Serial number is K443879 and was shipped November 1961.
Instead, I now have this model 53 no dash that I bought from my old Lieutenant. He called me up in February and told me to come over and buy one of his S&Ws. So, I went, and we negotiated over a couple of cold ones. It, along with the Walnut grips were refinished about a decade ago in Nevada. Nice job. Comes with inserts, brushes, Target Hammer and Trigger and a super smooth action job. Goes bang every time.
Everyone should have a friend and ex-boss like mine. When it came time to pay, I offered this much, he says "too much, it's refinished" I offered a little less, still too much. Back and forth it went. Finally, he says $500 and that's it. So it is, and like I said, it goes bang every time. I have yet to try it with the inserts as I have a couple K-22s.
Note. Serial number is K443879 and was shipped November 1961.
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OP
That is a deal!!
I paid $1k for mine. No box but have inserts.
If I saw another for $500 I’d buy it.
Rim fire cylinders for model 53s sell for $6-800 IF you can find one
Yes, some guy found one for way less when the owner had no clue
I made my own using this method. Get a model recessed model 19 cylinder, an old 22lr barrel and a K22 ejector star. Ream the cylinders chambers to 25/64 and turn the ID of the 22 barrel to that. Cut 6 pieces of the barrel to just over the length of the cylinder and fix a piece in each chamber with red Locktite. Turn the excess flush on both ends. Ream each new chamber with a 22lr reamer. Use a rifle reamer, not cylinder reamer because of the pilot.. Then machine the excess where star sits to the original center depth and fit the 22 lr ejector star. You now have a 22lr cylinder the proper length for a model 53.
But unless you can do it yourself or have a machinist buddy it would probably be cheaper to buy a K22 than having a cylinder made or buying a model 52 22lr cylinder
Yes, some guy found one for way less when the owner had no clue
I made my own using this method. Get a model recessed model 19 cylinder, an old 22lr barrel and a K22 ejector star. Ream the cylinders chambers to 25/64 and turn the ID of the 22 barrel to that. Cut 6 pieces of the barrel to just over the length of the cylinder and fix a piece in each chamber with red Locktite. Turn the excess flush on both ends. Ream each new chamber with a 22lr reamer. Use a rifle reamer, not cylinder reamer because of the pilot.. Then machine the excess where star sits to the original center depth and fit the 22 lr ejector star. You now have a 22lr cylinder the proper length for a model 53.
But unless you can do it yourself or have a machinist buddy it would probably be cheaper to buy a K22 than having a cylinder made or buying a model 52 22lr cylinder
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