Antique or Modern?

[Exmilcop]

Up here in the soon to be frozen great white north there's a set of S&W pistols for sale. They are absolutely pristine in appearance and the ad raises some red flags for me. I've never seen antique status pistols in that condition. Anyone out there familiar with these? On entirely another note, there was an auction recently and a lovely Frontier mod. was on the block. I wonder if any of you gentlemen ended up with it.

 

[s&wchad]

They look refinished and recently engraved to me and I'm not impressed with the quality of the engraving.

Dished out screw holes are an obvious sign of a poor restoration.

Also note the horizontal polishing marks on the backstrap.

If mechanically sound and the price is right, they'd be dandy for a cowboy action shooter!

 

[Exmilcop]

The seller is asking $13500. (cdn) so around $10,000. USD. Bear in mind that good shootable antique pistols are insanely priced up here.

 

[s&wchad]

"Insanely priced" sums it up pretty well to me.

Is that because of the Canadian ban on buying, selling or transferring modern handguns?

 

[444 Magnum]

Yeah, we really can't understand your pistol market/prices from down here. I couple of years ago, I posted how I went out Thanksgiving afternoon (U.S holiday-most all business's are closed) and purchased a Model 19 in an empty parking lot for cash and a hand shake. Perfectly legal in my state, but it blew some minds here on the forum.

I agree with S&WChad. Definitely a refinish with mediocre engraving. To me, the cosmetics would stop me from buying them; but if you're looking for a shooter and can overlook that, then price them as shooters in your market and go from there.

 

[kamloops67]

Part of the reason antique handguns are so pricey in Canada is , the carry laws are applied differently .
One can carry an antique handgun anywhere a long gun is permitted to be used .
I’d like to own one myself , but I’m looking at 3500-4500 minimum to get something decent of quality

 

[glowe]

Isn't that a Japanese mark on the barrel? If so, it might suggest the engraving was done in Japan?

Condition has nothing to do with antique status, plus I cannot believe anyone would ever try to build two Model 3 Russian, 2nd Model revolvers today. Lastly, the end of the barrel marking is clean and visible, indicating that the barrel was stamped with the REISSUE JULY 25, 1871 indicating it is an original barrel. I think the refinish is exceptional and the engraver must have started out with two extraordinarily clean guns, no rounding of edges, no wear, no pits, no wavy buff lines. My first thoughts are what a shame to adorn these two guns with the style and execution of the engraving, or to have engraved them at all!

 

[merl67]

While I am far from a expert the engraving looks machine done to me almost cartoonish to me, but as I said I am no expert I've just drooled over a bunch of nice ones on here lol....

 

[Exmilcop]

Part of the reason antique handguns are so pricey in Canada is , the carry laws are applied differently .
One can carry an antique handgun anywhere a long gun is permitted to be used .
I’d like to own one myself , but I’m looking at 3500-4500 minimum to get something decent of quality

To my fellow canuck, maybe you could consider this. If you see something you really want in a U.S. venue like this site or an auction, purchase it and have it shipped to Borderview in Abbotsford. They'll do all the paperwork and customs clearances but you're still on the hook for tax and duty. They charge $199. + 5% of the appraised value (I believe). Even when you factor in the exchange rate, Borderview fees, and tax and duty, depending on what you bought you could come out well ahead. The excellent S&W I purchased off a member here cost me about $1000-$1400. less than the same pistol in Canada, even when you factor in the exchange rate and duty & tax. Mind you, I had it shipped to me direct but did I get the runaround from CBSA (that's another story).

 

[mrcvs]

I’ve looked at this thread a few times today, just to see if it looks as bad the second and third and fourth times around as the first. It does.

The revolvers have been refinished. Count me out.

BUT, if refinished and tastefully engraved, they can have aesthetic value. I don’t see anything aesthetically pleasing about this pair of revolvers. The engraving is dizzying, doubly so when you add in the carving on the stocks.

 

[Inusuit]

Isn't that a Japanese mark on the barrel? If so, it might suggest the engraving was done in Japan?

Condition has nothing to do with antique status, plus I cannot believe anyone would ever try to build two Model 3 Russian, 2nd Model revolvers today.

Uberti apparently tried.

RUSSIAN 3^0 MOD. | Uberti Replicas | Top quality firearms replicas from 1959

 

[iby]

Exmilcop

If you had any doubt about the originality of these guns you need to read.read.read.Look at pics.Look at pics.Look at pics of originals before you even say $13,500

 

[BMur]

Poor quality modern

The engraving is modern and of poor quality. I don’t know how to be positive regarding this pair except to say they are not a good investment. The restoration destroyed value in my opinion both now and no future value increase.

Murph

 

[kamloops67]

To my fellow canuck, maybe you could consider this. If you see something you really want in a U.S. venue like this site or an auction, purchase it and have it shipped to Borderview in Abbotsford. They'll do all the paperwork and customs clearances but you're still on the hook for tax and duty. They charge $199. + 5% of the appraised value (I believe). Even when you factor in the exchange rate, Borderview fees, and tax and duty, depending on what you bought you could come out well ahead. The excellent S&W I purchased off a member here cost me about $1000-$1400. less than the same pistol in Canada, even when you factor in the exchange rate and duty & tax. Mind you, I had it shipped to me direct but did I get the runaround from CBSA (that's another story).

That’s a great idea
I will look into this for sure ,thank you !
I’ll have to do some shopping to familiarize myself with us prices