28-2 pricing craze seen first hand

[gunny4053]

I visited a LGS I hadn't been in for quite some time today. They had a very nice 6" N serial numbered 28-2 in the case, and right there in plain sight was a price tag for $800 stating it was unfired. Light turn ring, no box, no papers, no tools, just the gun, and if it's unfired, I'm a banana. I wouldn't mind having a 6" to go with my 4", but a 6" at double what I paid for my 4" isn't going to happen right now.

What can I say.

 

[coleslaw]

The old saying is "You never pay to much for a gun, but sometimes you buy it too soon"

Seems that sometimes you wait too long to buy it, also.

 

[fyimo]

To me that price is at least for a 6 inch without the goodies is $200 to high.

 

[bovw]

I was in a LGS today to pick up some ammunition, he has a 19-5 with a good bit of holster wear for $549. No box, docs, and wearing goodyears.

 

[ma deuce]

I've seen M28 prices just about double around here in the last 2-3 years.

 

[gunny4053]

I've seen them climb steadily over the last couple years, here and elsewhere. I even saw a 4" in considerably poorer condition than mine go for more, but this is the highest price I've seen around here. What really got me was touting it as unfired, when it obviously had been, then popping up the price without the extras. I'm sure someone will buy it at that price, it just won't be me.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

ALL N-frames are going for crazy money and so is some K frames. I was at my LGS today and he had an 8" 586 silhouette for $975!! If people stop playing stupid bid wars on GunBroker, prices would not be so high. When it comes down to it, we are our own worse enemy.

James

 

[Cal44]

ALL N-frames are going for crazy money and so is some K frames. James

Time to collect j frames.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Time to collect j frames.

I'm not much of a J frame kind of guy. I only owned two and one of them I sold a few months back. But, I'm a Smith kind of guy so I will always check them out if the price is right.

James

 

[Watchdog]

I wouldn't mind having a 6" to go with my 4", but a 6" at double what I paid for my 4" isn't going to happen right now.

You might have a valid point, but for me, it hinges on what you paid for the 4-inch, and how long ago you paid it?

From what I've seen, this increase in value for a 28 has been building up in small increments, but the past year is when the values have really taken off...for whatever reasons. Or maybe I've just been paying more attention to 28 prices, I don't know.

The 28 has been overlooked by a whole lot of shooters and collectors for a good while. They sort of saw it as "not good enough" when compared to its fancy-dancy cousin, the 27. But maybe it's finally dawning on some folks that the 28 is the exact same revolver as the 27...just without the pretty boy looks. It's a working man's gun that isn't afraid to get dirty.

I can't even tell you the last time I saw a 28 in an LGS around here. I see them at gun shows, but not in any local shops. If they've been in an LGS, then they're gone before I can get to 'em.

 

[A10]

I see 6 inch guns more often than 4 inch. Average asking price seems to be 650 plus these days.

 

[gunny4053]

WATCHDOG, I hear you, prices are all over the map, and there's no rhyme or reason to it. As an example, here's my 4" S numbered 28-2, purchased about 2 years ago for $400.





This is the standard by which I judge everything locally.

 

[A10]

WATCHDOG, I hear you, prices are all over the map, and there's no rhyme or reason to it. As an example, here's my 4" S numbered 28-2, purchased about 2 years ago for $400.





This is the standard by which I judge everything locally.

Even two years ago that package would have been 650 plus around here. Now? I wouldn't be surprised to find people asking 850 to 1100.

 

[bigmoneylewis]

The days of the $ 400 model 28 are gone forever .
Average price around here without box or papers is $ 750.
The 28 is the new 27 , and the 27 is the new Python .

Lewis

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

The days of the $ 400 model 28 are gone forever .
Average price around here without box or papers is $ 750.
The 28 is the new 27 , and the 27 is the new Python .

Lewis

Pretty much sums it up. They are out there but are very hard to find. I lucked out myself. I really would like to have a 27 myself but the 28 came along first.

James

 

[Biginge]

Boys its all relative. My Daughter and Grandson were in town last weekend. Son, Daughter and Grandson and I went to Astros game(we beat Montreal). 4 field level tickets down right field line about at first base were $282. Hotdogs were $5, bottled water $4.50, coke $7, Beer $9. Parking $25. I spent over $500 for 3 hours at a baseball game. A great memory yes. I could have put a little with it and gotten a Model 28. The year I graduated from college 1967 I made $450/month. I spent a "months wages" at a baseball game.

Just my 3 cents factored for inflation. Believe me, you will wish you had bought the $800 Highway Patrolman before too much longer.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Boys its all relative. My Daughter and Grandson were in town last weekend. Son, Daughter and Grandson and I went to Astros game(we beat Montreal). 4 field level tickets down right field line about at first base were $282. Hotdogs were $5, bottled water $4.50, coke $7, Beer $9. Parking $25. I spent over $500 for 3 hours at a baseball game. A great memory yes. I could have put a little with it and gotten a Model 28. The year I graduated from college 1967 I made $450/month. I spent a "months wages" at a baseball game.

Just my 3 cents factored for inflation. Believe me, you will wish you had bought the $800 Highway Patrolman before too much longer.

Should've took them shooting instead

James

 

[Biginge]

Should've took them shooting instead

James

James,

I did. Gave him his first .22 rifle Friday.

 

[dmar]

WATCHDOG, I hear you, prices are all over the map, and there's no rhyme or reason to it. As an example, here's my 4" S numbered 28-2, purchased about 2 years ago for $400.





This is the standard by which I judge everything locally.

Remind me to shop for guns in Idaho! You stole that thing two years ago.

I agree with A-10, that was a $650 deal back then (on a good deal), and more like $850-$1,100 now. Of course, there are always steals to be had, but I would not expect to see them too often... Nice gun, BTW.

 

[Engineer1911]

Two and a half years ago, I started buying the S&W revolvers I wanted because I could. While reading this type of thread about prices, I was "told" that I was spending ~$200 too much for particular pieces. Today I have great bargains.

More importantly, I don't care. I bought the S&W revolvers I wanted at a price I was willing to pay and have enjoyed shooting them for the last 2 years. My last purchase was a shooter grade M27-2 that has cosmetic issues, but locks up tight, 5" barrel, and has a partidge front sight. I appreciate the "Forum wisdom" but remember it is your money -- kind of like all the 'investment advice' available on cable news shows.

Final thought: It is better to buy early (for too much), than regret not making the purchase (for a long time).

 

[Muss Muggins]

Boys its all relative. My Daughter and Grandson were in town last weekend. Son, Daughter and Grandson and I went to Astros game(we beat Montreal). 4 field level tickets down right field line about at first base were $282. Hotdogs were $5, bottled water $4.50, coke $7, Beer $9. Parking $25. I spent over $500 for 3 hours at a baseball game. A great memory yes. I could have put a little with it and gotten a Model 28. The year I graduated from college 1967 I made $450/month. I spent a "months wages" at a baseball game.

Just my 3 cents factored for inflation. Believe me, you will wish you had bought the $800 Highway Patrolman before too much longer.

You beat who?

 

[Biginge]

Maybe it was Toronto? Don't follow the game much anymore. I don't know if it was Expos or Blue Jays. I remember we had to suffer through "Oh Canada" before the National Anthem though. They were from Canada. I know that for sure. I really was thinking about a model 28 and not paying a whole lot of attention.

 

[Bill A]

I know some of us can remember when the 28 was considered sort of like a boat anchor.

Bill

 

[dmar]

I know some of us can remember when the 28 was considered sort of like a boat anchor.

Bill

True, they were kind of the low-brow, working guy's gun... That satin finish is now considered pretty stylish.

I've got a 6" 28-2, and it's in 'like new' condition. Because of the condition, I have never fired it...

 

[A10]

Yup. The 28 was the Rodney Dangerfield of the Smith line.

 

[aphelion]

If someone will freely pay it, then that's what it is worth. For instance people are buying gasoline for a buck or more a gallon now than it was a few years ago when oil prices were the same as now, without a whimper. So that is what the gas is worth. As for the 28 in question, what can you buy new for $800 that is in the same class?

 

[gunny4053]

All, I understand the current market for the 28s'. As I said, at $800, I just won't do it. If anyone is interested, I'll gladly tell you where it's at and you can have at it. Now, if it was a CS-1, that would be a different story, but Ive never been a fan of 6" guns and especially an $800 6" gun.

I love my big N frame 28, but we all have limits, and this one just exceeds what I'm willing to do.

aphelion, you're in Idaho, come get this bad boy.

 

[Watchdog]

I'm not sure I'd call this a "craze".

It's simply another slice of the S&W market that's been trending upward for about a year or so.

 

[gmborkovic]

My July 1971 retail brochure indicates $118 for the Mod 28. Mod 27, B or N, were $168. I use to work part time in a LGS and was a senior in college and sold them for retail and gave the buyer a box of wad cutters. I often now use a factor of 5X if LNIB. Sometimes it works sometimes not. Mike 2796

 

[fyimo]

The market is beyond crazy these and there is no telling where it will end as N frames S&W revolvers have gone through the roof the last few years and it seems really amped up the past 4 months. If it's collectors they want to get them while they can and they seem willing to pay just about anything to get what they want.

However, everything goes in cycles where collectible items are concerned and they rise dramatically and then fall dramatically. I say this because I follow Barrett Jackson car auctions and there are a bunch of super nice collector cars worth between 30 and 50 % less than they were 5 years ago. When they stop and auction and the president of Barrett Jackson gets up and trying to sell the cars and he's almost begging for more bids things are pretty bad.