586s are now Pythons??

[BAM-BAM]

Too each his own on the topic of Python vs. 586/686

In my opinion, the Python has the better look and action. Colt went well beyond the call to polish them perfectly and design the action with the fewest components. It is like a fine a watch. Plus it has less failure points.

S&W over complicated their action design. Too many springs and pins and other parts. All of which make more failure possibilities. They didn't take the extra time to polish everything perfect. The only thing better is the non-stacking DA pull, and even that is terrible in some models that approach 15lbs+.

It is all who you ask. This is the S&W site, so I would assume everyone supports them.

I only own 2 Smiths. I bought a 17-4 P&R when I needed a 22 revolver because the 22 Diamondback I would have preferred was just too much. I really like it and it suits the need for a far better price. However, the polishing is sub-par. You can see machining lines under the blue and they jump out at you in the cylinder flutes. I couldn't believe it once I received the gun. Then I bought a 629-2E with the 3" barrel. I got that to be my mountain hiking gun due to the size coupled with bigger caliber. In fact, I sold my two Anacondas in favor of it.

However, I had to send it off to Frank Glenn in order to correct the canted barrel which is way too common in Smiths. The gun had barely been shot but was 'out of time' so he corrected that too. I declined an action job so I could do it myself. I can work on Colt actions all day. What I seen inside the Smith, I did not like. After getting my 12lb+ DA (Lyman doesn't go past 12lb) pull down to a reasonable 9lb, I decided that the Smith action is NOT for me.

I disliked the action so much, that I opted for a 2.5" Python over a 2.5" 686 as my snub nose 357mag revolver.

It was a 686-1 made in the first year to come out with the 2.5" barrel. It was in excellent condition but just the gun. The BIN price was $950. Very tempting, but I just didn't want another S&W action. A sole bidder got it for the $849 starting bid.

I ended up waiting for the right Python to come up and snagged a '72 complete package in good condition for 3x the BIN price of the 686. That is how much I wanted a Colt V spring action instead of a Smith action.

Again, it is all who you ask.

So what brings you here......"slumming?"



As you said to each their own.........My Father loved and carried his Colt New Service in .357 for 39 years on the job; after Kings added adjustable sights and did an action job... it also served as his center fire target pistol in the Pittsburgh Police Pistol League ..... his CC for 30 years was a 1950s Colt Detective Special.......both are heirloom guns now.........

Me; I had three Diamondbacks over the years..... the first a .38 I was lucky to only get 3 out of 6 FTF double action........ couldn't find a gunsmith to work on it......the next a .22 was OK Colt grips "s----"........ the last a safe Queen .38 I sold for 3X what I bought it for........................and truth be told except for the looks of the bluing and barrel the Python never did much for me.......... now a 1980s Smolt...... two thumbs up!!!!

 

[powrguy]

Fake Auction Bids

Explain how fake auctions benefit the seller again.

I don't like to "drift" a thread, but it's a similar technique used in Classified Ads.

In the 80's, I had a guy who would list motorcycles for sale at LOW prices, to get others to see, and list their's at similar prices. Then, he'd watch the ads daily and he'd buy them up for resale.

I'm sure the same technique is used on Armslist for guns, to snag unsuspecting buyers, or, as in the case on Gunbroker, have a "friend" buy extremely over-priced guns and then make another listing for guns at less-overpriced similar/same gun(s).

 

[Leonard]

Too each his own on the topic of Python vs. 586/686

In my opinion, the Python has the better look and action. Colt went well beyond the call to polish them perfectly and design the action with the fewest components. It is like a fine a watch. Plus it has less failure points.

S&W over complicated their action design. Too many springs and pins and other parts. All of which make more failure possibilities. They didn't take the extra time to polish everything perfect. The only thing better is the non-stacking DA pull, and even that is terrible in some models that approach 15lbs+.

It is all who you ask. This is the S&W site, so I would assume everyone supports them.

I only own 2 Smiths. I bought a 17-4 P&R when I needed a 22 revolver because the 22 Diamondback I would have preferred was just too much. I really like it and it suits the need for a far better price. However, the polishing is sub-par. You can see machining lines under the blue and they jump out at you in the cylinder flutes. I couldn't believe it once I received the gun. Then I bought a 629-2E with the 3" barrel. I got that to be my mountain hiking gun due to the size coupled with bigger caliber. In fact, I sold my two Anacondas in favor of it.

However, I had to send it off to Frank Glenn in order to correct the canted barrel which is way too common in Smiths. The gun had barely been shot but was 'out of time' so he corrected that too. I declined an action job so I could do it myself. I can work on Colt actions all day. What I seen inside the Smith, I did not like. After getting my 12lb+ DA (Lyman doesn't go past 12lb) pull down to a reasonable 9lb, I decided that the Smith action is NOT for me.

I disliked the action so much, that I opted for a 2.5" Python over a 2.5" 686 as my snub nose 357mag revolver.

It was a 686-1 made in the first year to come out with the 2.5" barrel. It was in excellent condition but just the gun. The BIN price was $950. Very tempting, but I just didn't want another S&W action. A sole bidder got it for the $849 starting bid.

I ended up waiting for the right Python to come up and snagged a '72 complete package in good condition for 3x the BIN price of the 686. That is how much I wanted a Colt V spring action instead of a Smith action.

Again, it is all who you ask.

The action is less complicated? Its more complex, has a unique smooth feel but pull is longer, is prone to springs stacking making the pull uneven.
I cannot say I would not trade my 586 for a Python even up, but if I did I would sell the Python and buy two or more 586's

 

[Leonard]

I don't like to "drift" a thread, but it's a similar technique used in Classified Ads.

In the 80's, I had a guy who would list motorcycles for sale at LOW prices, to get others to see, and list their's at similar prices. Then, he'd watch the ads daily and he'd buy them up for resale.

I'm sure the same technique is used on Armslist for guns, to snag unsuspecting buyers, or, as in the case on Gunbroker, have a "friend" buy extremely over-priced guns and then make another listing for guns at less-overpriced similar/same gun(s).

Its hard to believe that this would be a successful tactic with auction sites that have multiple listings from all over the country?

 

[clang444]

Was the winning bidder Boaty McBoatface?

 

[shawn mccarver]

586s are now Pythons??

Finally, after all these years the 586 becomes what so many wanted in the first place!

 

[cmj8591]

A quick look at GB and I see a lot of Pythons for sale but not many bids. Except for the rare 2 and 3 inch ones everything else seems to be languishing. Some guy has one listed for $8000 and it looks like it was ridden hard and put away wet! So does that mean it's a steal if you can find one for $6000? Is he listing it at this price hoping that he gets an e mail after the auction with an offer for $7500? Maybe the trick is to make sure you are wearing a tin foil hat when you call up the GB site. I think we get caught up in these asking prices but how many actually sell? Around here if someone shows up at the range with a nice 6" Python asking $1500 he's probably going to be toting it home. Yes, everyone is going to drool on it and talk about how expensive Pythons have become but no one is going to be reaching for their wallet. My view about this GB stuff is that it's a bit like telemarketing. You call a thousand numbers hoping that you get just the right sap who is gullible or a little bit drunk to bite at your scam!

 

[BigBill]

I don't think there is a 357 magnum out there that could match my Python. I regret selling it. I like the n frames. Keep an eye on the pre model number k frames there sneaking up too.

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

People are paying HIGH prices for quality firearms. Do you know why? It's a solid investment. Deal with it. ��

 

[Mr.Harry]

Two bidders with a history of multiple purchases wanted it badly enough to pay 300% of its approximate current value. Obviously this was not a consideration in the bidding, nor was a potential resale or profit margin...they just wanted it badly. I suspect this is not a trend in the making.

Can't speak for this particular gun auction or even others, but I have definitely been in the bidding position described for an altogether different item (out-of-production fishing/trolling spoons) with another bidder, both of us with clear & documented history of bidding 'outrageous' sums in 'wars' for items we wanted/'needed' badly. For whatever reason. These things can happen completely legitimately and.... 'Organically'. Just saying. One man's 'stupid' is another man's 'must-have'. And at prices that cannot be reckoned by other's judgement. You could go on all day; baseball cards, whatever. Value is in the wallet of the beholder.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

When I see this I think third-party buyer, buying for someone else, being paid on commission. Spending some else's money. Inflates the auction to make a higher commission. But, it's only a theory.

 

[BigBill]

People are paying HIGH prices for quality firearms. Do you know why? It's a solid investment. Deal with it. ��

The other week I seen a m27-2 unfired new in the s&w wooden case that sold for $1,700. I have one in 99.99% condition in the wooden case. I would never part with it but it's a nice feeling I can double my money.

The s&w prices are catching up to the colts but some of the collectable rugers are too. It's funny we still see the older H&R revolvers still cheap.

 

[edge357]

You know, I just found out about the Manurhin MR 73 .357 magnum revolver yesterday.
It's made in France and is suppose to be possibly the strongest, best built, and most expensive revolver in the world.
New they sell for 4,5, maybe $6000 new.
They are supposed to be much better than Colt, Ruger, and Smith-Wesson.

 

[Kifaru]

I'm not convinced anything nefarious is going on. Any unfired, out of production gun is a finite commodity. It's not as if a collector who is interested in that particular model in pristine condition can say, "Oh well. I'll just bid on the next unfired, out of production example that might be offered in a week or so to complete my collection." Sometimes a rivalry develops, and people outbid their rival just so that he can't have it. Or it's like a game of chicken: drive up the price to screw the other guy hoping not to get stuck with it. Ego-driven decisions rarely make sense in the cold light of day.

 

[rosefarm]

I am going to put this thread to bed. I was the runner up on this auction. The bids were absolutely real and the gun sold for real money unless the guy who outbid me doesn't pay. I liked the gun and was willing to pay for it. I personally think everyone who admires and collects Smiths should prepare for an upward price trajectory. There is so much "hot money" chasing returns all around the world, why not finite firearms. It happened to Colt, it will happen to Smith's.

 

[Irn-Bru]

Watched this auction along with the 625-7 that ended also. That finished a hair over $2000 too. Seems people are willing to pay big bucks for nice guns.

 

[H Richard]

When you have "Collectors" that have the money and want to complete a collection of "every" single variation of some certain model, and possibly two such people, the bid can get nuts. I just sit back and watch and think how much more some of the ones in my vault may someday be worth.

 

[aphelion]

Pythons are ugly guns. That hideous vent rib.....
Not to mention the cylinder turns the wrong way.

An excellent case can be made that it is the S&W cylinder that turns the wrong way. The Python is a distrinctive, good looking revolver, it all boils down to taste. I suppose there are guys out there who think Sandra Bullock (another example of distrinctive good looks) is hideous.

 

[boykinlp]

I am going to put this thread to bed. I was the runner up on this auction.......I liked the gun and was willing to pay for it.

I did not see the auction, so I am curious. Was there anything out of the ordinary about this gun? I am just surprised that a -3 model would be so prized.

I realize each of us decide what "floats our boat" and what I crave might not be of any interest to you or others.

I also saw where a 29-3 sold recently for what I considered a lot of money. I can't find the listing now.

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

Early Smith & Wesson Model 586 NIB, 357 Mag : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

I did not see the auction, so I am curious. Was there anything out of the ordinary about this gun? I am just surprised that a -3 model would be so prized.

I realize each of us decide what "floats our boat" and what I crave might not be of any interest to you or others.

I also saw where a 29-3 sold recently for what I considered a lot of money. I can't find the listing now.