Hi all,

Can anyone tell me a fair retail value for a S&W M544 44-40 Texas Wagon Train Commemorative? This one is blued, unfired in its wood presentation box. The SCSW values it at $550, which seems a little low.

Thanks for your help,

Pook

Many of the S&W commemoratives do not seem to bring much more than their non commemorative brothers or sisters in like caliber. With many collectors, unless you have some connection to the commemorative ie: you were a Texas ranger, you drove a wagon train or you served in the CT State Police, there is no added value.

Look on GunBroker.com or AuctionArms.com and see if there are any for sale or recently sold. This should give you a rough idea as to current market value.

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James Redfield
LM #497

My guess is that $ 550 ain't all that far off.

Brian~

Hello Pook. I have my own take on this particular Smith.

Here we have a 5 inch N frame in a great old caliber.
When i found a fellow forum member looking to trade off a
model 544, we came to terms at about $700. for the 544.

Some may say that is too much.
Okay ,if you can get one for less ,go for it.
I've had mine for some time now, and have accumulated a
fair amount of ammunition for it.
I shoot it occasionally ,and it never surprises me.
It shoots pretty much like every other Smith I own. Fantastic.

It is a specialty area you are delving into. A commemmorative
chambered in a hundred year old cartridge.

Good luck ,,and p.m. me for any additional assistance.

Allen-Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

I think the SCSW price is in the ballpark, or at least was at the time of publication, although I have never understood why. Here is a new gun, in the wood presentation box with accessories, in a caliber very rare in S&W's, selling for less than a standard production N-frame 357, 41 or 44 spl/mag. Most S&W commemoratives are dressed-up versions of catalogued guns and, after the 544 was released I expected to see a production 44/40 offered. Never happened!
Years ago I traded one, which nobody wanted at the time, for a Schofield, which nobody wanted at the time either. I wish I could have both of them back.

Bob Hart #946

Commeratives have always confused me a little from the dollar standpoint. Both in S&W winchester and colts.
Usualy (probley always), they are a production gun dolled up with high polish, better wood, and some gold filled engraveing. They cost more when purchased than the standard model. Yet usualy when you go to sell them they go for less than a standard model. God help you if you fire it just once, when you go to sell it!
I just sold a texas ranger to a member of this board. I had bought it brand new in the early 70s. It had the matching knife. Now if you were to buy a nice wood box for one of your smiths, what would that go for? Again, what would a similar beautifull S&W bowie knife go for with a shieth? Finaly, what would a old/NIB model 19 go for? Well, the entire package went for possibly half to 2/3rds of all that sepperatly.
Had I not owned many other .357s I belive I would have shot and carried that texas ranger!
I still own a 544 with the wood case. I did buy it used from a guy at work many years ago. I cant swear to it, but I dont belive he ever fired it. I know I havent. The 544 has the much sought after 5" barrel. I have a model 29-2 with a probley added 5" barrel. Both guns are beautifull handling and I can hardly tell them apart. The 544 does have some gold filled engraveing. It could be fitted up with the slightly longer 29 clyinder, I belive fairly easy. Lets see. $550 for a brand new gun with a fitted fancy wood case?
I have seen various commemerative colt single action armys go for LESS than the standard fixed sighted blue models with the gutta percha black grips. In all cases these guns have far more work done on them at the factory than the plain model. Always comes with a fancy wood case too! The same for winchesters. The winchesters always come with far better graded wood!
If I was a kid starting out with no guns and wanted nice classic good looking proven guns to SHOOT and keep, I belive I would be looking for a texas ranger, a NRA colt and one of those chief crazy horse winchesters and be shooting in style AND less invested!

Hi Pook! I just recently sold one of these...it was NIB in the wood presentation box with all papers...it brought $650 which I feel was a fair price both to me and to the buyer...hope this helps you!

I just bought one today. $649.99 plus tax. I think N frame S&Ws in 44-40 are fairly scarce.

Well, sounds low from what Cabela's is asking, it's $1100 or $1200, as I recall, in Wheeling, WV

As you might guess they sell here in Texas for about $1000.00. The neat thing about the 544, it is 5 inch barrel and it is the only modern Smith made in 44-40. I bought mine used in a pawn shop ($275.00) and found the correct presentation box ($20.00) at a gunshop. I had a new one in the box but wanted one to shoot and I like shooting it.

SWCA 892

Mine was about $500 several years ago ANIB, but of course I have shot it quite a bit. Had all the goodies, but who cares. An old calaber that has killed more game, Good & bad guys in the USA back when. Coup De Grace a deer a few years ago with it.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears