Trade for a 4546?

cobra357 · Apr 22, 2015

There is a 4546 near me but the guy is asking 1K with 2 mags.
Thought I'd offer my older model Mini-14 Ranch and a few mags. Is the 4546 worth it? I know I can always get another Mini.

dswancutt · Apr 22, 2015

It's a pretty rare model, 600 to 1500 produced. Do a google search on it and it will bring up this info about the gun on this forum. I he will do the trade, I'd go for it. Like you said, a mini 14 can be replaced really easy.

kaveman · Apr 22, 2015

Sometimes a particular model is rare simply because nobody wanted one when it was being produced. I've always felt that the 4546 kinda fit that mold,..........and would prefer the much more common 4586 for probably the same reasons that everyone else seemed to prefer the shorter length. That said, a 4546 would have a hard time working its way into my collection at anything much over about $400,........but I don't collect rarities for rarity's sake. The thousand dollar price tag would tell me everything I need to know about that gun.

TTSH · Apr 23, 2015

kaveman said:
That said, a 4546 would have a hard time working its way into my collection at anything much over about $400,........but I don't collect rarities for rarity's sake.

Unless you really luck out, $400 doesn't buy you much in 3rd Gen terms these days.

I'm getting awfully frustrated lately as I continue to watch decent condition 3rd Gen asking prices march further and further upward.

The Model 4546 does carry an obvious collector premium. Might take a while to sell one around my neighborhood at $1K. It would be all about finding the right buyer (read: "collector"). Personally, I'd much rather have a really nice 4506-1 for something a bit less.

vigil617 · Apr 23, 2015

Seems high to me, too. Last one sold on GB went for $705 in good condition but didn't have a mag, from an estate sale.

I can't offhand think of any production S&W Third Gens that will bring $1,000, and it might be that your buddy just doesn't really want to let go of his. A full-size DAO all-stainless single-stack is an unusual critter, but still.....

Arik · Apr 23, 2015

Money wise I don't think the mini is worth the $1k trade. Maybe the mini and another $400 - $500.

cobra357 · Apr 23, 2015

Arik said:
Money wise I don't think the mini is worth the $1k trade. Maybe the mini and another $400 - $500.

I was thinking the Mini(scoped), half a dozen hi-cap mags and a little ammo straight up. IMHO the 4546 is only worth $700-$750. He asked for pics/details on it so we'll see if he responds.

Arik · Apr 23, 2015

That sounds a little different from "mini 14 and a few mags"

kaveman · Apr 23, 2015

TTSH said:
Unless you really luck out, $400 doesn't buy you much in 3rd Gen terms these days.

Maybe in MA. I pulled my 4586 off of GB for $300 in excellent condition w/extra magazine and I've seen several since go for well under $400. Anything more than that for a 4546 must be going to pay for that extra 1/2" of barrel that I don't want. The problem with something like a 4546 is that it's just uncommon enough that I'd feel like I need to waste my time trying to find someone who would care. In the end, it's just an unpopular variation of a good gun. Still a good gun, but not inherently special.

I've specialized lately in the DAO 3rd gens and have picked up about 30 in the last two years. I can count on one hand the number that have cost me over $400 and have fingers left over,.........but I haven't been buying anything with supposed 'collector' value to jack up the price. I think I may have paid $420 each for a 4053 and a 3953, but both came with several extra magazines.

I apologize if none of this is helpful to the OP. Just another viewpoint from someone who is admittedly not a dedicated collector. I think he should try to work the trade if the 4546 is something he really wants.

TTSH · Apr 23, 2015

kaveman said:
Maybe in MA. I pulled my 4586 off of GB for $300 in excellent condition w/extra magazine and I've seen several since go for well under $400.

That would be an outstanding buy here in MA.

Made an offer of $475 cash on the only one I'd seen in MA but it was rejected. Dealer said he would take no less than $520. It has since sold.

All of the 9mm and .40 3rd Gens in my collection/accumulation currently were also procured for $400+Tax or less... but that was mostly last year. My only .45 went for somewhat more, albeit with a few nice extras.

It's this year (2015) that asking prices seem to be up $50 to $100 or more and I am not happy about that at all.

I made an offer of $450+Tx on a very nice 4006 (asking price $499), but it was rejected. I made an offer of $400+Tx on the most beat up 4506-1 I have ever laid eyes on. It too was rejected. Went out to see a supposedly nice, newly-listed 5906 for $549 asking price. It sold for full price before I even got there. There is a used 3913 (filthy but probably okay underneath the grime) at one local LGS for $499. Didn't even bother to make an offer. A MA-legal 4506 (No Dash) just went for almost $800 on GB.

Needless to say, I was outbid.

Worst of all is the pricing trend at my favorite and highest volume MA dealer. That's the killer because that shop sets the market for the entire state. They are up $50+ over last year on 3rd Gens across the board.

And we won't even talk about show prices.

Perhaps it is just a Massachusetts thing.

Since we can't import in most cases, we are pretty much stuck with what's already here.

At times, I think we 3rd Gen'rs here in MA are victims of our own successes. If we weren't so damn quick to jump on every decent 3rd Gen that comes along, maybe prices would moderate a bit.

tim c · Apr 23, 2015

TTSH I just got my really nice 3913 here in Ma. for $400+tax here in Ma.
There are deals still to be found. As for the 4546 1K not for me

TTSH · Apr 23, 2015

tim c said:
TTSH I just got my really nice 3913 here in Ma. for $400+tax here in Ma.
There are deals still to be found. As for the 4546 1K not for me

Nor me either.

But that's great that you got such a good deal on that 3913.

Maybe there is hope for old, retired, dirt poor me after all.

4506517 · Apr 23, 2015

I'm wondering how many people have ever shot a 4546? Fabulous piece. I bought one NOS from a supply house in FL. An outstanding gun. Love it, wouldn't trade it for anything.

Remember......the purpose of a pistol is to fight your way to a rifle.

cobra357 · Apr 23, 2015

Well I figured the Mini ( a Ranch Rifle BTW) wouldn't be enough and I was correct. He did come down to $800 cash but I think I'll spend $500 on the CHP 4006TSW instead.

10ring · Apr 23, 2015

I too bought a number of 3rd gen S&Ws in the $350-450 price range over the past few years because I like the guns. But I also think they were a bargain at that price before and a steal at that price now. From what I can see, the prices are going up and availability is going down fairly quickly.

The major gun auction site used to be full of 3913, 3953, 5906 and 5946 pistols and now there are usually a just a few and sometimes none at all. This especially the case with really clean guns vs the typical police trade in that looks like it was used as a wheel chock from time to time.

That only makes sense...they are not made anymore, they are very good guns and everything else is going up as well. Just for the sake of comparison, a Glock 19 costs just over $500 now and an M&P 9 is just under $500.

I think we are looking at reasonable current prices on a common 39-59-40-45xx guns in nice shape of about $500 with another $50-$75 for extra nice specimens. Relatively clean police trade-ins are probably worth $50-$75 less on on average. I think the "rare" 3rd gen versions are probably worth a $100-$200 premium.

The 4546 is relatively rare. A clean shooter is probably reasonably priced about $600.00 and a really clean, like new gun is probably reasonable up to $800.00, depending on just how clean, box, etc. The fact it may not be worth that to one person because he doesn't value the rarity does not mean the value isn't there in the broader market. I would not pay the astronomical prices that factory engraved guns often bring but that doesn't mean they aren't "worth" what they sell for.

I know it is hard to swallow, but these guns are beginning to develop collector (or at least "accumulator") value now and will just keeping going up in price.

Heck, look at the price of a common 4" S&W Model 66 revolver from the same time period...

kaveman · Apr 23, 2015

I can't disagree with anything you say but will note that your price range for a 4546 of $600-$800 is well below the thousand dollar level originally posted. I can see a couple hundred dollar premium for the rarity of the 4546(maybe even more if truly NIB),......I just have a hard time accepting a valuation of 2.5x that of a 4586.

Pure function and mechanics,.........would a 5" Colt Gov't 1911 be worth 2.5x that of an identical Combat Commander? Of course not. Does the 4546 have enough collector pull to command that $1000 price tag? Evidently even the seller doesn't think so if he drops his price 20% just for the asking. $1000 was his 'fishing' price.

Jay521 · Apr 23, 2015

I'll also confirm the pricing trend here in mass with the statements posted above. I used to see 3rd gens sitting on shelves for what seemed like forever at about $400 albeit some with heavier carry wear than others and always passed. The couple of 3rd gens that I own/have owned were always bought for well below that.

Prices on these have been on the steady rise in the past year or so. My last pick up was a 5943 with a good amount of carry wear, that I got for short money. I couldn't get used to the way heavy doa leo trigger (heaviest out of everything I had ever shot for sure). I made a trade for something else that I was quite happy with.

Now I am seeing 3rd gens with tags at or above $500 regularly. At the same time the original post price of $1k would be well above what I would consider spending even if nib. Seems like the seller may have thrown out a crazy $ figuring op would turn it down, but now may be willing to play ball with substantial price drop, and for fairly rare gun not an unheard of buy at the current price.

k22fan · Apr 23, 2015

vigil617 said:
Seems high to me, too. Last one sold on GB went for $705 in good condition but didn't have a mag, from an estate sale.

I can't offhand think of any production S&W Third Gens that will bring $1,000, and it might be that your buddy just doesn't really want to let go of his. A full-size DAO all-stainless single-stack is an unusual critter, but still.....

There were 146 Model 1046s made. A year or two or three ago they were selling for $1,000 to $1,200. $800 seems reasonable for one of 600 if it is in excellent condition with its box, etc. I know a practical person would just buy a police surplus 4586. Not to many years ago the 3rd generation talk of this forum was police surplus 4586s for $259 or $279. That's why they are a bargain compared to 4546s.

10ring · Apr 23, 2015

I agree. $1000.00 is high in today's market, but I don't think the Gov't model vs Commander comparison is quite right. It isn't the size of the 4546 that makes it "worth" more, it is the relative rarity. If Colt had only made the Government model for one year and had only produced about 500 of them, think what they would cost now.

The 4586 is a great gun but it is not uncommon. If you want to collect 3rd gen pistols, 3rd gen .45s or 3rd gen DAO guns, you are probably going to find a mint 4586 more easily than mint 4546. Supply and demand.

It is always the same, right? The guns that don't sell well this year and get discontinued will be sought-after collector's items in the future.

kaveman · Apr 23, 2015

The relative rarity of the 4546 is exactly why I used the Gov't 1911 vs Combat Commander comparison,.............it compares two pistols identical in every way other than slide length while completely discounting the 'rarity' factor. I thought it was a pretty clean method of showcasing the 'possible' premium afforded the 4546.

Using the numbers originally as posted($1000 4546 vs $400 4586), I still contend that the collector premium of the 4546 is not 250%. If we use the $600 'shooter' 4546 value(150%), I have no problem seeing that. Even with the newly arrived $800 4546(if really very nice), 200% might be reached if it finds the right buyer. Throw in the apparent Massassachusetts factor and $800 might not be bad at all,...........but the OP is in FL. Pricing can be very regional. I shop GB almost exclusively and really feel for you guys who don't have that option.

FWIW, I spent 15yrs as a small hobby dealer and another few years getting all my personal transfers free through a good friend, and I'm an inveterate bargain hunter with LOTS of free time,............so I'm pretty stingy with my valuations.

Trade for a 4546?

Member

Member

Member

Guest

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Guest

Member

Guest

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads