A look at original Prices of Third-Gen Autos

[Guevera]

Several recent threads about current values of S&W Third Generation autos had me wondering about their original cost, and I have a copy of the suggested retail prices for 1992 for comparison and reference.

The suggested prices really are surprisingly high (understanding that they are suggested retail) and it becomes easier to see why the "Value Line" was begun in order to compete at a lower price point. As an example, the highly desirable 3913 LS is listed at $603 - a fair amount of change for 1992. Using the Department of Labor's online inflation calculator, that amounts to $1005 in today's dollars.

The Model 6906 is the most expensive listed at $741, or $1235 in today's money.

In comparison, a stainless Model 60 Chief's Special revolver lists $413, although I would dearly love to buy an original Model 940 9mm revolver with a 3" barrel for $442. The most expensive handgun listed is the Model 629 stainless .44 magnum, which lists at $803 or $1338 in today's money.

So now I understand about the Value Line. It also seems easier to see how S&W wasn't able to compete with cheaper offerings from other manufacturers and how plastic pistols doomed the entire alloy-framed line of pistols.

Would you pay $1000 for a newly-manufactured 3913 Lady Smith?

 

[Lost Lake]

Remember that is list price...

I'd have a hard time paying $800 or $900 for a new 3913, but that's because there are still so many great ones to be had around $400 to $500.

.

 

[Guevera]

Yeah, I certainly understand they are list price, but still, it is an indication of what is going on.

Maybe somebody has a suggested retail price list for one of the first years the Value Line appeared. It would be interesting to see, even the list prices, of the difference between the regular models and the lower priced line.

 

[Silversmok3]

Yes, I would pay $1500 for a 4506/5906 or derivative thereof.Quality ain't cheap.

So would many others, if S&Ws marketing department had the chops.Glock is where they're at because of marketing,full stop. Contrary to modern dogma, there were reliable guns long before Gaston Glock entered the gun business.An entire generation of American law enforcement protected innocents with S&W semi autos.The failure of Smith to capitalize on that goodwill represents a sorely missed opportunity.Their blunder in colluding with Bill Clinton sealed their marketing fate in the mid 90s.Imagine where Glock would be if they agreed with Obama in outlawing private party sales?

Had S&W possessed domestic ownership between the mid 80s and today, Glock would be an Austrian value brand and we'd be reviewing the 5906 Gen Four.

 

[petepeterson]

I purchased a new 915 sometime around '92. I believe I paid $349 for it, but I can't be sure. I see to remember the 5906's and the like being in the low 400's.

 

[SMSgt]

I guess $329 for my 6906 and $389 for my 4566 were a steal.

 

[4506517]

Silver smoke,

I seldom agree with you when we discuss this topic, but your post above is 100% true. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Kudos.

 

[4506517]

I have paid over $1500 for a new 3 gennie.......the quality is unbelievable. I seriously mean UNREAL. Better than any SIG or Beretta I own. Not that any of my other 3rd gennies aren't on the same level.

We have beat this to death. Could/should they make a new line of metal framed autos? Yes. Will they? No. The current S&W is focused on profitability. Period. It is a publicly traded company. Maybe if it was taken private they would actually be concerned with what die hard customers want. Until then, they'll continue to pump out polymer frames that cost about $2.75 to produce and revolvers with locks and canted barrels.

That's the harsh truth whether you like it or not.

 

[Guevera]

I'm sure the above post is true, but I was really more interested in the historic angle of prices and certainly not trying to make a case for a return to production (because I know it isn't going to happen).

 

[Tennjed]

I purchased a new 915 sometime around '92. I believe I paid $349 for it, but I can't be sure. I see to remember the 5906's and the like being in the low 400's.

I am no historian on 3rd gen S&W but I love them. This is an interesting topic

 

[BLUEBELLYYANKEE]

This thread got me to pull out my receipts from the 1990 and 1991 to see what I paid for some guns. (I keep all receipts for my guns) All of these guns were purchased new in Georgia at a popular firearms store that is known to heavily discount their guns:

All adjustable sights except the 4046,

5906--$499
1006--$710
4006--$545
5946--$569
1076--$790

Some other notable guns from the same years:

matt finish HI Power------$549
ruger mark ii pistol--------$149
ruger bull barrel mk ii-----$199
ruger sup redhawk 9 inch barrel----$470

And this one kills me now since I sold it 20 years ago for $350:

A Ruger mini 14 stainless with laminate wood stock .308 cal.--$419

 

[loeman]

1996 S&W 4516-2

Like Bluebellyyankee, I pulled out my receipt for my 4516-2. I was very surprised to learn that I paid a whopping $528.00 for it on Aug. 14, 1996. I would have guessed about $100.00 less. True, this was in the middle of the 4516 run (1990-1999), but still, that was 17 years ago! OK, no more whining about the current price of 3rd Gens. today. I can already see the title of a new thread.

CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW CHEAP THE 3rd GENS ARE???

 

[JRWnTN]

I was cleaning out some stuff last night and found a May 1998 Shotgun News. Ky Imports had NIB 6906 for $430 and a 5906 (fixed sights) for $450. These are wholesale prices, shipping and transfer would have been extra.

Despite being almost four years into the "high cap" magazine ban, the 5906's were sold with 15 rd mags. The 6906's had 10 rounders.

I won't mention Model 28's for $210 to avoid the gnashing of teeth.

 

[BAM-BAM]

To add to the thread........ I pulled my book to look at some receipts

First a lot of my gun were bought used; but I was always buying ANIB when I saw them...... in the period 1992- about 2007 I spent a lot of time in small towns in Western and Central PA....... lots of LGS and not a lot of internet interference in the 90s. (I always tried to leave the house with 4-5 hundred dollar bills in my pocket)

I was buying very nice used or anib S&W in the $250-400 range (915s,3913/14s,5906s,6906s)...the bulk of the guns were in the $300-350 range,.......... all were selling about $150 to $200 less than new........ to me they were steals.

One receipt showed that I bought a PC 5906 PDA in 2000 for $609. WOW

This gun was built in 1997 and I believe had set on the shelf in a rural Police Supply house for 3-4years.

This was one of 3 PC guns I bought there in the mid 90s; 2 were "used", one of which had never been shot; a Shorty-9.....they were a regional S&W stocking dealer..... but the PC guns they got/stocked just didn't sell in their local market....... "very rural Pa".

Glock was giving Depts. new guns for next to nothing and the public was buying Glocks $100 to 150 cheaper than any new Smith in the case.........

 

[Badkarma 1]

Yes, I would pay $1500 for a 4506/5906 or derivative thereof.Quality ain't cheap.

So would many others, if S&Ws marketing department had the chops.Glock is where they're at because of marketing,full stop. Contrary to modern dogma, there were reliable guns long before Gaston Glock entered the gun business.An entire generation of American law enforcement protected innocents with S&W semi autos.The failure of Smith to capitalize on that goodwill represents a sorely missed opportunity.Their blunder in colluding with Bill Clinton sealed their marketing fate in the mid 90s.Imagine where Glock would be if they agreed with Obama in outlawing private party sales?

Had S&W possessed domestic ownership between the mid 80s and today, Glock would be an Austrian value brand and we'd be reviewing the 5906 Gen Four.

I couldn't agree more Silversmok3!
Dale

 

[JohnHL]

This thread got me to pull out my receipts from the 1990 and 1991 to see what I paid for some guns. (I keep all receipts for my guns) All of these guns were purchased new in Georgia at a popular firearms store that is known to heavily discount their guns:

All adjustable sights except the 4046,

5906--$499
1006--$710
4006--$545
5946--$569
1076--$790

Some other notable guns from the same years:

matt finish HI Power------$549
ruger mark ii pistol--------$149
ruger bull barrel mk ii-----$199
ruger sup redhawk 9 inch barrel----$470

And this one kills me now since I sold it 20 years ago for $350:

A Ruger mini 14 stainless with laminate wood stock .308 cal.--$419

Mini 14, .308?

The illusive XGI?

John?

 

[ericlw]

i remember when i bought my 4513tsw brand new in about 2002 it was around 800 dollars.that was my very first gun so i might have overpaid for it. I have seen some used 4513tsw going for 900 though at a overpriced gun store i visit.