386 PD Limited

[EldFen]

Hello all, I'm hoping someone here can shed some light on my new revolver purchase because I'm coming up empty. I bought a 386 PD, SKU 150647, from a local gun forum. The box only says Model 386, but the frame says 386 PD under the crane. This one has a stainless 6 shot cylinder, stainless screws, and a stainless cylinder release. The finish is in near perfect shape and it looks to have been shot very little. It has a V notch adjustable rear with a HiViz front sight.
From the little I've been able to learn, this was a limited run of 386s. Does anybody know how many of these are in the wild? What would one of these be worth? I've wanted a 386 for a while and this one came up for what I hope is a decent price. All the info I can find is on regular 386PDs or 386 ScS or makes passing references to a limited run marching the description off my gun...

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Printrep]

I have one identical to yours. If I recall correctly it was a run of 6 shot stainless cylinders where most were 7. Mine was manufactured in 2009.

 

[EldFen]

I have one identical to yours. If I recall correctly it was a run of 6 shot stainless cylinders where most were 7. Mine was manufactured in 2009.

Mine is a 2009 as well...this seems to be how it goes. I just cant find any solid information on these. I figured this would be the place to ask...

 

[BLUEDOT37]

The SCSW#4 says they were made 2009-2010. They don't appear in any of the S&W catalogs I have.

.

 

[Breakaway500]

"What would one of these be worth?"

You just bought it. That's what it's worth.

 

[EldFen]

The SCSW#4 says they were made 2009-2010. They don't appear in any of the S&W catalogs I have.

.

That narrows it down somewhat...thank you. I cant find anything on these. I'd really like to know what I have, and whether it is something I can carry and shoot or if it's something I should put away.

 

[EldFen]

"What would one of these be worth?"

You just bought it. That's what it's worth.

That's exceedingly unhelpful, I thought this forum was better than that.

 

[Breakaway500]

??? I honestly don't understand why my answer was not helpful.

What an item sells for in todays market is it's "worth". If someone says an item is "worth" $5000..that does not make it worth that amount.

You can "ask" any amount you wish for an item..but until someone BUYS it
the market value is not established. There are many price guides that can give you a ballpark figure..but until a buyer forks over the cash..the market value is not established. It's like that with all commodities.

What do you THINK your new revolver is worth? More than you paid? Less than you paid? When you sell it is what it's value will be..at that time.

Rarity is only one of the forces that drive pricing. DEMAND is the number one!

The 4th edition Standard catalog of Smith and Wesson,on page 286, lists the Model 386 Personal Defense as having a value of $800 as new in box, $650 in excellent condition. This is just a guide,mind you. If you feel your 368PD is "worth" more than the guide book says, because it is a 6 shot....selling it would really be the only way you will truly find out. Just because S&W didn't make many of something does not make it a "collectible". Just look at all the Commemoratives made over the years. Most of them are "worth" less than their plain counterparts. Numbers alone do not tell the story.

There must be buyer demand. If there are more sellers than buyers...prices don't rise. Law of the land.

Everything else is conjecture...

Shoot it and enjoy it..!

 

[EldFen]

??? I honestly don't understand why my answer was not helpful.

What an item sells for in todays market is it's "worth". If someone says an item is "worth" $5000..that does not make it worth that amount.

You can "ask" any amount you wish for an item..but until someone BUYS it
the market value is not established. There are many price guides that can give you a ballpark figure..but until a buyer forks over the cash..the market value is not established. It's like that with all commodities.

What do you THINK your new revolver is worth? More than you paid? Less than you paid? When you sell it is what it's value will be..at that time.

Rarity is only one of the forces that drive pricing. DEMAND is the number one!

The 4th edition Standard catalog of Smith and Wesson,on page 286, lists the Model 386 Personal Defense as having a value of $800 as new in box, $650 in excellent condition. This is just a guide,mind you. If you feel your 368PD is "worth" more than the guide book says, because it is a 6 shot....selling it would really be the only way you will truly find out. Just because S&W didn't make many of something does not make it a "collectible". Just look at all the Commemoratives made over the years. Most of them are "worth" less than their plain counterparts. Numbers alone do not tell the story.

There must be buyer demand. If there are more sellers than buyers...prices don't rise. Law of the land.

Everything else is conjecture...

Shoot it and enjoy it..!

What I paid is rarely what the FMV of something is. Just because someone pays $1500 for a beat up M&P9 doesnt mean that the value of that gun is $1500, just that someone got swindled ...more than likely because of a lack of knowledge of what the FMV actually is. Telling me that tired old cliche doesnt really help me understand if this is something worth saving or just shooting until it falls apart. Unlike most,I domt plan to try and flip this. I got a very good deal by any standard, but that doesnt reflect what it's actually worth or if it is rare enough to shoot sparingly and save for posterity.

If these are worth $1000 because they only made 200 of them, I wont shoot it much.

With little exception, most items made by a manufacturer to be "collectible", like commemoratives, rarely ever end up being so. If something is rare because it was largely not noticed or purchased st the time and production numbers were very low, kind of like the nightguard models, that's a different story.

 

[kthom]

Shooting your revolver will not automatically diminish it's value. Shooting good factory ammo, taking good care while doing so, and keeping it clean and well maintained and not using it for a hammer is it's intended purpose! A nice looking example of any revolver that has not been abused is always of interest to most of us. Prices go up and down, and they are different in different parts of the country. Yours is not rare, but it was made in smaller numbers for it's type. That would mean there are not as many of them floating around on the market for sale, and that means you've got a dandy there, likely of interest to at least some others. I have a 386 ScS 7 shot revolver, which was made in larger quantity than yours, but mine is the only one I've ever seen in person. I do know that these revolvers are no longer being made, and most who have them tend to hang on to them.

My opinion is to shoot it while taking good care of it, and maintain it well. Perhaps you might choose not to carry it everyday since that always results in some noticeable wear and tear. That's up to you. Honest wear has never put me off of buying a model that I particulary like, whether anybody else likes it or not! And I have paid more for than "market value" for something I personally really like just because I've had very few opportunities to buy one in any condition. That's what makes the gun market go round! You have a nice and useful revolver there, IMO.