39-2 Value

[oilfieldhand39429]

First off I want to say thanks to all the contributors on here. I've read posts for reference on prices, as well as, technical answers for many years.
Now a question of my own.
There is a mint un-fired 39-2 that has come up for sale locally that has got me interested. The price is $950. I'm sure that may be high for a normal 39-2, but I'm wondering if there is a collector at the end of the rainbow that would pay more than that for it. My long term plans would be just to buy it and lock it up for years. I can't see it doing anything but going up over the years but realize nothing is a guarantee. I've been mainly a revolver buyer but this semi-auto has got my attention.
I'm from the Deep South and Smith prices seem to be a little higher than what I normally read on here...not sure why...

Any opinions would deeply appreciated.

Thanks

 

[t-bird]

I think there is buyers now and in the future, willing to pay above the end of the rainbow for LNIB smith semi auto's. Life is short buy the gun.

 

[racemi]

My first thought is; how does the current owner prove it is un-fired. Also, since you didn't mention it, I have to assume that the box and all paperwork is included, and the serial number matches the box, etc.
In other words, how can you really tell if this is an un-fired pristine pistol?
As the first answer-er said, there will always be someone somewhere that will pay too much for a collectible gun. The only problem I have with that statement is...is the 39-2 a "collectible gun"? There were many thousands of them made, and there seem to be many still "NIB" available. So how long can you hold on to the gun waiting for it to go up in price when you already have paid what in my opinion is about 3 times what a 39-2 is worth.
I own a really nice 39-2 as my only 9 mm. I love it. It fits my hand and I can shoot it better than all the other 9 mm's I have tried. However, it is not a rare gun or particularly collectible in my opinion. I'm sure othere will chime in on this.

 

[lhump1961]

I love the 39-2 and have 4...2 blue and 2 nickel. $950 is top end in my mind and think $200 less than that would be an OK face to face deal for LNIB blue with box and papers...I said OK not great but JMHO. I don't usually use GB as a price check because although there are guns there that a person might not find locally the prices are often quite surprising...it represents the most that will be paid by a very large pool of buyers and not what can be expected day to day. If a seller wants GB prices then he/she needs to list their gun there and not expect that a price achieved on GB is now magically the value of all similar guns everywhere. The right price for a blue LNIB 39-2 is as much as having that gun means to you. I would pay more for an unfired nickel 39-2 especially if the controls are nickel as well...most nickel 39-2's had blue controls.

A 39-2 that has been fired can usually be identified by the top of the tang where the hammer hits during slide operation. It leaves a mark that will only happen when fired and not hand cycling. You can also look at the barrel for contact marks.

Bad pics but see the mark on the blue tang? This gun has only about 50 rounds through it. It's a bit hard to tell on the nickel but there is no contact mark on the tang at all...unfired except factory. I guess I can't say this is true for all 39's but it's true for my 3 that have been fired.

 

[TONY123]

I just bought a blue 39-2 with no papers or org.box. I paid $450.00 for it and the bluing is near perfect.I know it is top dollar for the gun but it's about the best I seen for the money.

 

[Sevens]

$450 is NOT "top dollar" for a 39-2 in fantanstic & little used shape missing the box.

However, IMO, $950 for a mint 39-2 with every original bit and unfired -IS- pretty much top dollar.

Collectible? Sure. Not made since 1982. But in a Smith to Smith comparison, the 2nd Gen Model 745-- they made roughly 5,000 of those. The Model 39-2... they made over 400,000 of them.