Fair price for Model 31-1

[press-1-for-english]

My friend has a this revolver for sale. It is in a Smith box but it isn't the correctly numbered box for this revolver. He doesn't know if he has the correct box but he does have 3 more model 31's so maybe. He is asking $600 for it. I looked it over and it is in excellent condition and locks up bank vault tight. Does $600 seem like a fair market value price for this revolver? He won't budge from $600. I know .32 ammo is pricey and I don't reload. I can get a used model 60 at the LGS for under $500 and that I would have no problem shooting.
Help!

 

[zwartepiet]

.32's are pretty popular right now for good reason. It's a great little revolver and round. If he's got the accessories I would think $600 would be a bargain. FWIW

 

[gmborkovic]

Sir, I dont think this m-31 really makes your knees knock. Price or caliber.
Buy the m-60.

 

[raljr1]

Sir, I dont think this m-31 really makes your knees knock. Price or caliber.
Buy the m-60.

sound advice. 32s are for those who "get" them

 

[CH4]

sound advice. 32s are for those who "get" them

Yeah, the cool kids. Every Tom, Dick and Harry has a M60. Works, but mundane.

 

[glider1]

The model 31 holds 6 rounds to the model 60s 5. That's not really a big deal but the 32 is just a cool little revolver and fun to shoot. 500 for a model 60 is a steal if it's a decent gun.

 

[press-1-for-english]

The model 31 holds 6 rounds to the model 60s 5. That's not really a big deal but the 32 is just a cool little revolver and fun to shoot. 500 for a model 60 is a steal if it's a decent gun.

It is in very nice condition. Locks up tight. The salesman told me it was an off duty weapon for a retired LEO.
It does look like it was carried but fired q-6-months.
I buy the steak, not the sizzle.

 

[cmansguns]

$600 sounds right to me

I have my estate find M31-1 complete package valued for insurance purposes right now at $700. I think $600 is a good price, especially for New Jersey, which I left in 1988. Buying (or selling) anything firearms related in NJ was a big hassle, even way back when. Maybe the times have changed but if you can find the capital....go for BOTH, the M60 and the M31-1.

There is 32 Long ammo available here locally, a bit pricey, but available in quantity, so that's not an issue.

Let us know how you make-out.

 

[teletech]

$600 for the 31 is a better deal than $500 for a 60 in similar condition, I'd buy both but if it has to be just one then decide which will fill a use-case for you.
The 31 will be more fun to shoot and the 60 will be much easier to feed if you don't reload.
I'd take the 31 in a hot second, but I like the .32s and I reload.

 

[Retired W4]

I recently reamed the chambers on my 31-1 for 32 H&R Magnum. 6 shots of 32 H&R...and it still uses 32 S&WL.

And I'm a Tom, and I too have a couple 60's. Ashford Shooter's Supply and one of those 174 60's that S&W put together. Don't shoot those though.

$600 sounds fair for a real nice one.

 

[Hondo44]

The .32 in that condition is much more collectible and will keep it's value.

Everybody I know that had one and sold it, now regrets it.

 

[Walter Rego]

I wouldn't sell mine for $600. Model 60's are great guns and iconic. But as others have said, if the ammunition for a Model 31-1 isn't an issue for you, $600 is a very good price.

 

[H Richard]

I wish 600 would have been the price about 4 years ago when I sold a couple of them.

 

[mtgianni]

I passed on a really nice 32-1 with box and tools two years ago for $799. I still kick myself even though I might have gotten $50 off it.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

If you are looking for something to practice with on a regular basis, buy the 60. Ammo is cheaper and much easier to find.
I think $700 is $200 too much, especially with a mismatched box. In either case, just member... they made more than one!

John

 

[Model19man]

Both prices sound like a good deal.

 

[CH4]

As with 99% of my gun purchases, they're impulse buys, my cherry 3" 30-1 is a perfect example. Since I already load for 32 cal and since I don't have a M30, I easily talked myself into bringing home this nice 30-1. I paid $525 OTD in 11/23

 

[TJm15.38]

I would think $600 is a fair price for a 31-1 in good condition. I just found the receipt for mine from 2008 purchased for $325 plus tax. I thought that was high back then.

 

[Gunsquirrel]

New Jersey is WORSE now Charlie B All permits are thru a central computer after you apply with your local PD and only one gun every 30 days!!

 

[press-1-for-english]

Well, I got off the pot and committed to buying the .32 for $600. I will be able to complete the transaction after April 11th. Pictures and range report to follow.

 

[CajunBass]

I never thought I'd buy a 32 at all, and have no knowledge of what they're worth, so I'll just say enjoy the one you got. I do want to warn you that they are addictive.

My LGS had a Third Model Hand Ejector (I think that's what it's called) not long long ago that my wife thought was "cute" and urged me to get. That's a little "I" frame, six shot 32 with a 3" ish barrel. I gotta admit that she was right, and it was "cute." It was made in the early 20's, and had been refinished, and had a set of grips that were from a more recent era, but locked up tight is just as smooth as silk. I got it for $325.00 a month or so ago. I fiigured I'd never shoot it, but the gun shop had some Fiocchi wadcutters, so I got a box just so I could say I shot it. It wasn't cheap I promise you.

Fired that one box, and liked it. Cute little gun that had almost no recoil. So I went back to get more ammo. All they had was some Fiocchi 97 grain FMJ with a velocity of 947 FPS listed on the box. I bought a box of that. Then I got to wondering if this little 100 year old I frame was up shooting this ammo (It would be) but I did what any of us would do. I bought another gun. A Taurus 327 Magnum. That should handle this ammo. It did. So now I've got two 32's.

And reloading dies. And more brass...both 327 Federal Magnum, and 32 Smith and Wesson Long. And bullets. And speed loaders (work with both guns). I found a holster in a box O holsters that fit both guns. Even dummy round/snap caps. Mag Tech makes a nice 85 grain 32 S&W Long HP load which doesn't help you New Jersey I know, but were "only" about $30.00 a box. That's pretty cheap for 32 ammo. I don't think you can buy ammo online in Jersey can you?

You see where this is going? You're doomed. I'm already thinking I "need" one of the new Lipsey's 32 Smith and Wesson's if I ever see one.

 

[press-1-for-english]

New Jersey is WORSE now Charlie B All permits are thru a central computer after you apply with your local PD and only one gun every 30 days!!

And I heard the other day at the local gun shop that handgun permits will be going from $25 per to $50 per.

 

[Model19man]

You should be planning to move from NJ to a free state. Life is too short to subject yourself to tyranny.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

Just grabbed a 4" 31-1 with some speckling on the right hand side, no box, for a 575 trade value and it was the first remotely decent .32 S&W I've seen for under $750 in my area in about three years (central Idaho here) - I don't go searching for .32s, but at 600 I'd say you did well.

 

[Grayfox]

I've told the story of my wife's 30-1 many times. I liked to so much that I have since gotten two 31-1s. A 3" and a 4". Great little guns.
I love threads like this as they tell me how much my guns that I bought for much less years ago are now worth.

 

[45NUTT]

32 Long ammo here with reasonable shipping costs.

32 S&W Ammunition for Sale | Ventura Munitions

I bought my first HE in 32 Long because I wanted a pre war S&W revolver. It was nickel w/ MOP grips. LOVED IT! I have a blued 30-1 on the way for my wife because she shot the HE well and no recoil. I'm currently bidding on a nickel Reg Police HE in 32 Long that I will eventually pass on to my niece. They're fun to shoot and ammo is affordable.