629-3 classic 8 3/8. What say you?

[qballwill]

A friend is offering me a 629-3 8 3/8" barrel as a trade for my Rock River ar which I value at $900. Since it is a -3 it has been drilled and tapped after it left S&W. It has a Burris scope. He also has the original rear sight. Not sure about the box. Also has s&w hogue grips. As it sits, what would a fair value be. I don't need another 629, but I'm also not having any success selling the rifle.

 

[bluelund79]

May be just me, but drilling and tapping outside of the factory detracts alot. In fact, I wouldn't purchase one that way. However, it is a dash 3.....the Burris scope is worth 150-200 with the rings if you sold that. I'd say he is in the ballpark with $100 cash added. I'd say his set up is $800 on the high side, at best.

 

[qballwill]

Thank you. Any other opinions?

 

[OldChief]

I always look at it this way, if both parties are happy with the trade - do it! Forget monetary value, how much do you want the revolver. I've made trades that came out in my favor in monetary value and not so in my favor but if I'm satisfied with what I've received, it's OK. If I have something that's become a safe queen and I can trade it for something I will shoot more often, I do it.

 

[qballwill]

I always look at it this way, if both parties are happy with the trade - do it! Forget monetary value, how much do you want the revolver. I've made trades that came out in my favor in monetary value and not so in my favor but if I'm satisfied with what I've received, it's OK. If I have something that's become a safe queen and I can trade it for something I will shoot more often, I do it.

Usually i use that line of thinking. My problem this time is in the short term, i will more than likely try turning it i to cash. That was the original goal with the rifle, but im not getting any real cash offers. Lots of contacts about it. Ive even been open to offers. I love S&W revolvers, so i may get the gun and decide to keep it, but incase i dont, i want to know that the value is there to sell it. ARs are so plentiful and cheap now, im not sure i will get what im happy with dollar wise.

 

[cadmike]

I'd say 900 is steep for any ar these days so a strait up trade for the 629 isn't bad at all.

 

[0311INF]

Do you want that 629?
Value, I'd say $700 range max plus the scope/base/rings which in my experience, unless it's really high-end, never brings a lot of value.

 

[lscocoa]

I think if you want it and like long barrels and shooting long range and handgun hunting go for it . I don't think it's a collector gun but a purpose built gun for the shooter/hunter and those people will always buy the good gun set up the way they want . My 17-3 is drilled and tapped with an 8 3/8" barrel and a 1-4x scope that I've been offered 850.00 for that I keep saying no to .l guess I'm saying I'd do it.

 

[C J]

I wouldn't take $700 for my 629-2 with the same barrel length. And mine was drilled and tapped at the factory. I happened to take the rear sight off and found the holes. No screw has ever been in them either. That much was clear. It has no marks on the metal anywhere from where a screw would have been so there's little chance it's had any screws in it. I could be wrong but I don't think so.

And this is just my 2 cents but a Rock River AR probably hasn't held it's original value very well. There are several entry level AR's that IMO are better than the Rock River models that were in that market segment a while back. S&W is one. I know my experience with Rock River AR's wasn't great. I've shot several at the range and they all invariably ended up jamming. I'm not saying yours does but people probably worry it will. A new M&P Sport II is selling for $500 in many places so I wouldn't expect an older Rock River to bring a lot more money than that. Times have changed in the AR world. That's likely why you haven't seen cash offers for your rifle. But that's my opinion.

Just as an example of my thinking people see RR AR's selling like this:

Rock River LAR-15 Mid Length A4 Carbine 5.56 16" Barrel Optic Ready 30 Rd Mag - Impact Guns

I don't know anything about your rifle but people are going to know they can get a new RR rifle for less money than your used one and given the fact that some of them weren't real reliable and that S&W, Savage, Ruger and Springfield all now make entry level AR's I see the value of your rifle being impacted by all this. Plus with no real threat of gun control for now the prices have gone too.

In short I'd make that swap in a second. You may have a great AR but people wonder why others are selling a gun too. I do anyway. I wonder if I'm buying someone else's problems. IMO S&W revolvers have a much better reputation for quality than RR AR's. You could have the best RR rifle ever made but convincing people of that is another story. I once saw a RR at the range that two guys were trying to shoot. I say trying because they would shoot it maybe 3-4 times then they would work on it for 15 minutes trying to clear a jam of some sort. They were working hard to get that rifle running again. Then the same thing - 3 or 4 shots and another jam. They must have fought with that RR for 90 minutes before deciding to take it home and fix it. Again your RR may be nothing like that but I saw several RR's at the range and pretty much all of them had issues. I can't be the only one that saw such things.

 

[qballwill]

I wouldn't take $700 for my 629-2 with the same barrel length. And mine was drilled and tapped at the factory. I happened to take the rear sight off and found the holes. No screw has ever been in them either. That much was clear. It has no marks on the metal anywhere from where a screw would have been so there's little chance it's had any screws in it. I could be wrong but I don't think so.

And this is just my 2 cents but a Rock River AR probably hasn't held it's original value very well. There are several entry level AR's that IMO are better than the Rock River models that were in that market segment a while back. S&W is one. I know my experience with Rock River AR's wasn't great. I've shot several at the range and they all invariably ended up jamming. I'm not saying yours does but people probably worry it will. A new M&P Sport II is selling for $500 in many places so I wouldn't expect an older Rock River to bring a lot more money than that. Times have changed in the AR world. That's likely why you haven't seen cash offers for your rifle. But that's my opinion.

Just as an example of my thinking people see RR AR's selling like this:

Rock River LAR-15 Mid Length A4 Carbine 5.56 16" Barrel Optic Ready 30 Rd Mag - Impact Guns

I don't know anything about your rifle but people are going to know they can get a new RR rifle for less money than your used one and given the fact that some of them weren't real reliable and that S&W, Savage, Ruger and Springfield all now make entry level AR's I see the value of your rifle being impacted by all this. Plus with no real threat of gun control for now the prices have gone too.

In short I'd make that swap in a second. You may have a great AR but people wonder why others are selling a gun too. I do anyway. I wonder if I'm buying someone else's problems. IMO S&W revolvers have a much better reputation for quality than RR AR's. You could have the best RR rifle ever made but convincing people of that is another story. I once saw a RR at the range that two guys were trying to shoot. I say trying because they would shoot it maybe 3-4 times then they would work on it for 15 minutes trying to clear a jam of some sort. They were working hard to get that rifle running again. Then the same thing - 3 or 4 shots and another jam. They must have fought with that RR for 90 minutes before deciding to take it home and fix it. Again your RR may be nothing like that but I saw several RR's at the range and pretty much all of them had issues. I can't be the only one that saw such things.

I get when youre saying. I also understand the current situation with ARs and the flooded market. I know 900 is on the higher side. Mine isnt the base RR either. its the Elite Operator II. Still they sold new for $1000. I am willing to take less than $900. That was just my starting point. I have personally never had an issue with my rifle. But if people have it in their head that RR has issues, I see where it can give them caution.

 

[shinbone]

I am not a fan of S&W full lug barrels, and I don't know anything about Rock River ARs. I can say I would never buy used-anything if it only saved me 10% over new.

Meaning, a straight across trade is looking more and more like it makes sense in this situation.

JMHO

 

[qballwill]

Thanks all for the opinions. I guess i really just dont want one with such a long barrel. I think had it been shorter i would have been more interested. Or if i knew i could flip it and come out ahead. Doesnt look like that would happen and the barrel isnt going to shrink.

 

[C J]

I can say I would never buy used-anything if it only saved me 10% over new.

Wow I guess that's your standard but there are people willing to pay me far more for some of the guns I own than what I paid for them new or used. For example I have a CZ 453 .22. I could easily sell it for $700 even though I only paid $500 for it brand new. Prices go up when rifles go out of production for example. That's what happened here. And there's the pre-lock Smith's. Are you aware what they sold for when new? Because most of them sell for more now than they did new. Same goes for classic rifles like the 40X and a pre '64 Winchester. Even my Stevens 15B will bring more than it did new because it was sold new in the early 1950's and prices have just gone way up in comparison. The rifle works like new and almost certainly will for a very long time because it is a very simple design with few things that can go wrong. My Sig P220 will sell for more than I paid for it. I'm not sure about the new price but it's less than the current $1000 level and to be honest the one I have is made better than the new ones. It was made in W. Germany.

Lots of guns sell for more used than they did new.

 

[sw282]

Will...Your -3 was drilled and tapped at the factory...

All 629-3s were

 

[qballwill]

Will...Your -3 was drilled and tapped at the factory...

All 629-3s were

Im having this discussion with another forum member right now. The SCSW says that the 629 was not drilled and tapped until the -4. But might give different information for the classic line which could be drilled and tapped with the introduction of that line at the -3

 

[grip frame]

All 629-3 and 29-5 Classic models came from the factory drilled and tapped. The standard versions (partial ejector rod shroud) did not. This was a standard feature on all Classic models starting in 1990.

All versions or the 629-4 and 29-6 and newer were factory drilled and tapped.

Also the classic Hunter models from the same time (full lug,non fluted cylinder) period did not come drilled and tapped.

The trade would be fair IMO.

 

[toad67]

IMO it's a no brainer. Look at the S&W market, even for longer barreled versions, and it is doing pretty darn good compared to the AR market. You don't shoot your AR, so get this 629, take it out and have some fun with it. You might find that you really like it. I think that it is pretty close to an even value trade, but the AR market is just so saturated that a person would have a tough time selling one. Offer him his 629 plus $100 and see what he says. If you don't like it after you get it, split it up, and make $250 or more on the deal....Good luck!

T67

edit: after looking at it a little closer, the Burris is a variable scope, and IMO that puts it even more
in your favor...

 

[C J]

Also the classic Hunter models from the same time (full lug,non fluted cylinder) period did not come drilled and tapped.

My 629-2 was drilled and tapped at the factory. I can tell a few things about guns like whether screws were ever removed or ever put in. Neither has happened with my 629. Why drill and tap it then never use it? It almost certainly came that way. I know they weren't supposed to be but mine was.

 

[jaymoore]

All 629-3 and 29-5 Classic models came from the factory drilled and tapped. The standard versions (partial ejector rod shroud) did not. This was a standard feature on all Classic models starting in 1990.

All versions or the 629-4 and 29-6 and newer were factory drilled and tapped.

Also the classic Hunter models from the same time (full lug,non fluted cylinder) period did not come drilled and tapped....

Those "too early for their dash" revolvers seem to have had four holes rather than the usual three that I've seen. (Including an early 629 DX of mine). And the rear sight from the newer dashes won't fit. Seems like S&W was cutting down old style sights as a stop-gap.

Could be the lack of sleep, though! Delusional and all....

 

[shinbone]

"I can say I would never buy used-anything if it only saved me 10% over new."

Wow I guess that's your standard but there are people willing to pay me far more for some of the guns I own than what I paid for them new or used. For example I have a CZ 453 .22. I could easily sell it for $700 even though I only paid $500 for it brand new. Prices go up when rifles go out of production for example. That's what happened here. And there's the pre-lock Smith's. Are you aware what they sold for when new? Because most of them sell for more now than they did new. Same goes for classic rifles like the 40X and a pre '64 Winchester. Even my Stevens 15B will bring more than it did new because it was sold new in the early 1950's and prices have just gone way up in comparison. The rifle works like new and almost certainly will for a very long time because it is a very simple design with few things that can go wrong. My Sig P220 will sell for more than I paid for it. I'm not sure about the new price but it's less than the current $1000 level and to be honest the one I have is made better than the new ones. It was made in W. Germany.

Lots of guns sell for more used than they did new.

Oops . . my bad for not being clearer:

I can say I would never buy used-anything if it only saved me 10% over new for the same thing.

For example, if quality has degraded of new vs old, then new is not the same thing as old.

Or, if new models have lost desirable features, then new is not the same thing as old.

Or, if new models have picked-up undesirable features, then new is not the same thing as old.

Etc.

In all of these examples, used is more desirable than new and thus may be worth more, but, then, it is not the "same thing."

And, of course, if a gun is out of production, then the same thing is no longer generally available new. In that case, the price difference between a used shooter-grade version versus a perfectly preserved new-in-box collector's gem is more than 10%.

JMHO



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