double-dipper
Member
I have won several commemorative rifles and shotguns at DU, Pheasants Forever and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquets through the years. I find the adorned guns shoot just as good as the unadorned versions.
Commemorative guns
- Thread starter lppd4
- Start date
I buy the gun not the glitter. If it happens to be a co-memorative..and not overly embellished..so be it.
Usually,the price will be less because of the "hate" for co-memoratives..which I don't really understand at all..
Usually,the price will be less because of the "hate" for co-memoratives..which I don't really understand at all..
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I have several shops try to pass a used commemorative off at premium prices. If it's a gun that been fired, I'd actually prefer the non commemorative version. A new in box gun bought just for collecting is different, but not in a used gun.
The only commemoratives I've owned are S&W 544s, Texas Sesquicentennial Commemoratives. I bought both to shoot - try to find a double action 44-40, then try to find one with a 5" barrel, and finally find one 35 years old and unfired. Both of those I've bought (sold the first one in '13 before working overseas) and my current one were cheaper than regular N-frames in comparative condition. For the 44-40 shooters these were and are good value, even if you're not enamored of the logos.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
I think it depends on the individual who buys one, and on the commemorative itself, whether they hold extra value. If the individual has some connection to what the gun commemorates, it will be worth more to him than someone without that connection.
As to the gun itself, I think it depends on several factors. Was the commemorative made available to the public from the start, or was it only available to a certain group initially? How many guns were made in the commemorative form? Seems like if only ten guns, each would have more value than if there were a thousand more like it; if a thousand, each would maybe have more value than 10, 000. Anything special about what was done to them? Nickel on a model where nickel was not otherwise available, or exceptionally rare? Plain, or highly engraved?
I own one commemorative; I bought it because it represents my state's largest law enforcement agency, The NC Highway Patrol. This commemorative has a couple of firsts; it was the first time a Model 29 was used as a commemorative. It was the first time (and so far, only) that the design on the gun was acid etched instead of engraved or roll stamped. This commemorative was issued for the 50th Anniversary of the NCHP, and that was 42 years ago (1979). Another eight years, they can add a 100th anniversary issue, maybe. The revolver used is a M29-2, a desirable pinned and recessed version, and is nickel plated, which brings a premium value to even a non-commemorative M29. There were less than 1200 made (each is individually numbered), and initially, they were only sold to currently serving State Troopers, or retirees of the NCHP. That adds a little provenance, I think, if you can discover who owned it first. (I haven't found out yet). Maybe I'm building mine up because I believe it does have a value greater than any other M29 you could have ordered back in that day. Maybe it doesn't, but I'll hang on to it and pass it along. So far as I know and can tell from close inspection, it has never been fired. There is an unsubstantiated belief among collectors of this commemorative that NCHP requested on the order for them that they not even be test fired by S&W, but that is apocryphal. I haven't decided yet whether I want to shoot it, so far I haven't.
As to the gun itself, I think it depends on several factors. Was the commemorative made available to the public from the start, or was it only available to a certain group initially? How many guns were made in the commemorative form? Seems like if only ten guns, each would have more value than if there were a thousand more like it; if a thousand, each would maybe have more value than 10, 000. Anything special about what was done to them? Nickel on a model where nickel was not otherwise available, or exceptionally rare? Plain, or highly engraved?
I own one commemorative; I bought it because it represents my state's largest law enforcement agency, The NC Highway Patrol. This commemorative has a couple of firsts; it was the first time a Model 29 was used as a commemorative. It was the first time (and so far, only) that the design on the gun was acid etched instead of engraved or roll stamped. This commemorative was issued for the 50th Anniversary of the NCHP, and that was 42 years ago (1979). Another eight years, they can add a 100th anniversary issue, maybe. The revolver used is a M29-2, a desirable pinned and recessed version, and is nickel plated, which brings a premium value to even a non-commemorative M29. There were less than 1200 made (each is individually numbered), and initially, they were only sold to currently serving State Troopers, or retirees of the NCHP. That adds a little provenance, I think, if you can discover who owned it first. (I haven't found out yet). Maybe I'm building mine up because I believe it does have a value greater than any other M29 you could have ordered back in that day. Maybe it doesn't, but I'll hang on to it and pass it along. So far as I know and can tell from close inspection, it has never been fired. There is an unsubstantiated belief among collectors of this commemorative that NCHP requested on the order for them that they not even be test fired by S&W, but that is apocryphal. I haven't decided yet whether I want to shoot it, so far I haven't.
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I think you made a good choice. Whether it was a knowledgeable choice or a lucky choice does not matter. The Texas Ranger 19-3 is one of a few of the commemorative guns that is also valued as a collectible. I have followed it some and think it increases in value each year. This is looking at sales, not asking price. And if you are lucky enough to get one of the engraved ones, they are very special. I may be wrong, but I think it was also the first commemorative gun S&W did.
Larry
Alton
Member
I have only owned one commemorative gun and that was the John Wayne Winchester. Beautifully checkered Walnut stock that was Grade AAA? Plus I bought the scabbard, gun rack along with a Winchester clock which I still have and it still keeps perfect time. A few years ago a good friend was retiring and his wife called me and asked if she could buy it for him as a retiring gift. I didn't have the strength to say no. I came up with a price for everything including a couple boxes of shells. The only stipulation if it is ever sold it has to be sold back to me. I was shocked when I started looking up online what all the extra stuff was worth. I did keep a couple boxes of shells and today what people want for them is unbelievable.
^^^^^^^
This, the engraving is pretty cheesy and they are hard to dump, especially if they've been shot. To my mind they are worth less than an identical non-commerative version.
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I only own one S&W commemorative, a Mod 66. The officer had shot it some and carried it a little. I bought it as a shooter. When I opened the sideplate I realized I had a job in front of me to tune it into a good shooter. It was rough. For example, it took around 8 trigger shims. I suspect S&W would take barely in spec frames and use some of them this way vs scrapping them.
S&WIowegan
US Veteran
Don't expect big profits
I do buy some commemoratives if they are S&Ws and I really like them. I have the Texas wagon train one because there's no other way to own a 5" N-frame in 44/40 caliber. I also have the Texas Ranger K frame and a few others but I never thought they'd be profit-makers. If they survive for say a hundred years in high condition somebody will make money.
I got a lesson in commemoratives at a local gun show. There was a grumpy sad sack dealer who seemed to have every Winchester commemorative ever made. He wanted extra money for them and rarely ever sold one. I think he gave up or passed on since I never see him.
I do buy some commemoratives if they are S&Ws and I really like them. I have the Texas wagon train one because there's no other way to own a 5" N-frame in 44/40 caliber. I also have the Texas Ranger K frame and a few others but I never thought they'd be profit-makers. If they survive for say a hundred years in high condition somebody will make money.
I got a lesson in commemoratives at a local gun show. There was a grumpy sad sack dealer who seemed to have every Winchester commemorative ever made. He wanted extra money for them and rarely ever sold one. I think he gave up or passed on since I never see him.
Not my cup of tea. Meaningful mostly to those that have some personal attachment.
To me they're just another firearm. I can't justify the price.
To me they're just another firearm. I can't justify the price.
CLASSIC12
Member
The most famous commemorative gun here in Switzerland is the Sig P210 celebrating the 700th birthday of the Swiss confederation (1291-1991). It typically sells for abt $ 5000.-; naturally 700 were made.
LGS told me he is maybe the only guy in the country who fired his. Thereafter he sold it for $ 3000. He also mentioned that whereas the finish (titanium blue) was very nice outside, the inside was very rough with machining marks. I guess Sig figured most customers would not play, shoot and / or field strip it.
LGS told me he is maybe the only guy in the country who fired his. Thereafter he sold it for $ 3000. He also mentioned that whereas the finish (titanium blue) was very nice outside, the inside was very rough with machining marks. I guess Sig figured most customers would not play, shoot and / or field strip it.
Wow! 700 years. That's a commemorative.
If our country and I make it to the U.S.A.'s 250th in 2026 I'd buy a S&W to honor that milestone.
If our country and I make it to the U.S.A.'s 250th in 2026 I'd buy a S&W to honor that milestone.
I bought my Texas Ranger 19-3 at a very good price and I didn't buy it for an investment. I bought it because I liked it, the price was right, and to shoot it. I only paid $1200 for the 19-3 and a very nice 17-4 with a 6" barrel. The action on the 19-3 is as smooth as any Smith revolver I have ever seen.
3rdgeargrndrr
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I like Henry 22 commemorative rifles, the revolvers not so much
Looks like everyone who posted here have the same thought as I do about commemorative guns. If they do not commemorate something near and dear to you and you are going to keep it, they they are worth less then a standard issue of the same model IMO. I would suggest you research the history and be sure the proper authority even sanctioned they gun because sometimes they are made up by others. Point is the VA State Police model 66 which was a sanctioned gun verses the VA State Police model 60 which was not sanctioned by the dept, but by their officer association. Guess they thought it would be a good money maker but few were ordered because of little interest.
Not necessarily. I made a little on my used 544 after I'd shot it quite a bit. A Texan who wanted both the caliber and the commemorative who also intended to shoot it bought mine.
Ackley1952
Member
Old man told me " never buy a gun with writing on it " . He was right.
Old Corp
Member
I've seen some commemoratives or 'special limited editions' that were quite puzzling - such as a pair offered to officers at my old department. (I don't recall the vendor, it was not S&W)
They were a pair of S&W revolvers in which the models had zero history with the department. IIRC, it was a blue M586 4" and a blued M36 2" - neither of which had EVER been an issue model associated with the department. Of course they had gold-filled engraving with department name and the badge engraved on the sideplates, and each in a nice display box.
Have seen a similar commemorative Colt SAA done for a neighboring county's sheriff's office. A Colt SAA .45, 7.5" nickeled.
Umm - this is NC, not exactly SAA lawman territory. Not sure why that was the selection for that purpose.
I'm glad some enjoy them - not my thing.
They were a pair of S&W revolvers in which the models had zero history with the department. IIRC, it was a blue M586 4" and a blued M36 2" - neither of which had EVER been an issue model associated with the department. Of course they had gold-filled engraving with department name and the badge engraved on the sideplates, and each in a nice display box.
Have seen a similar commemorative Colt SAA done for a neighboring county's sheriff's office. A Colt SAA .45, 7.5" nickeled.
Umm - this is NC, not exactly SAA lawman territory. Not sure why that was the selection for that purpose.
I'm glad some enjoy them - not my thing.
The Sheriff's Office did it because the NC State Bureau of Investigation did an SAA for their 50th anniversary commemorative.
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