General price check on S&W Revolvers.

[TNFrank]

It seems to me that folks are asking a lot more for the revolvers they have for sale the I remember them being worth.
Case in point, a local guy has a M67 in nice shape and he's asking $450 for it, same for another local guy that has a well used M28, he's wanting $450.
That just strikes me as high from what I remember I use to pay for these guns. Seems like a M28 would be worth around $325-$350 and a M67, even in perfect shape, would only be worth $300-$350.
I guess I've been out of touch as far as revolver prices have gone but dang, are these things getting to be really worth that much? Can someone list some of the more popular S&W Revolvers along with reasonable prices that they're going for now days. Thanks.

 

[dkizer22]

90% MODEL 10 = $300 I have seen Robertsons in Henderson TN list Model 64's from $279 to $319 These were department trade ins.
Model 67's were near $400. Buds still list some Model 10's for $269 +transfer and background.
Yes, they cost more now.

 

[CajunBass]

What something USED to cost, has absolutely nothing at all to do with what it costs today.

I remember when gas cost twenty-eight cents a gallon. You think that makes any difference at the pump today?

I haven't seen anything with Smith & Wesson on the side for less than $300.00 in a LONG time. I haven't seen an "N" frame for less than $500.00 for even longer. A really nice "N" will be in the $750-1000.00 range.

 

[NKJ nut]

CajunBass is right. The used to Be's don't count anymore.

 

[Sebago Son]

I smile inside when I hear fellas complaining about S&W prices "these days"... I can remember the "Great S&W Drought" of the early to mid 1970's when I paid MORE in hard-earned 1975 dollars than what we pay today... Example? How about $550 for a Nickle 59 and $750 for my first 29. At least these guns can be found today. Then you had to get on a list and wait... sometimes a year or more for the chance...

 

[A10]

It seems like any smith less that 400 is worth a good look and any at 350 or less is probably an investment you could recoup your money on if you want to look at them that way. Me, I shop for what I want and if the price seems affordable for it's condition I'll take it.

 

[TNFrank]

I understand inflation, I understand S&W quality but I just find it puzzling why someone would pay more for a used, 6 shot revolver then they'd pay for a new, semi-auto with more then double the capacity?
I still can't see paying more then about $350 for any used J, K or L frame S&W. Heck, the last two Beretta semis I bought I got for $400 and they're very high quality guns.

 

[sophie]

You know this subject is kinda hard to explain sometimes. Everybody's interest in guns is different. Quite frankly I would rather have a good S&W revolver to have and hold. I don't know what it is about it but that is the way I think. I have 1911's, Berettas, Walthers, Mausers, Taurus and Colts. Still like my S&W's better. Its all in what you like.

As far as price goes they all have escalated in the recent years and I sincerely believe you get what you pay for in most cases.Sure they are higher now than they used to be, but so is everything else. Just saying.

James

 

[m1gunner]

The pre MIM S&Ws were all hand fitted. Impossible to make that way and sell for anything close to the mass produced guns sold new today.

That craftsmanship is recognized and appreciated by enough buyers that the price is staying high and climbing. Others are willing to pay more to see S&W on the side, just like the Colt Cult.

Don't be fooled by the press, the dollar is losing almost 10% a year in buying power, that means today's used revolvers aren't costing that much, but your mass cast bottom feeders are getting cheaper by the day. If cost is your only concern, there are plenty of semi-autos on the market for cheap.

edit to add: I will make you the best deal around on a S&W. I will sell my M15 I bought new in 1977, just give me what I gave then for it, one gold Krugerrand.

 

[GKC]

What is even more strange to me is reading what others pay for guns in various parts of the country...the prices around here are usually higher, in some cases significantly higher. It isn't just one shop...I've been in various shops across the DFW area, and most if not all guns are higher than a lot of members report paying for the same model in other states.

I did just see some NIB 442s and 642s for $383...that seemed like a very good price. All other S&W revolvers, new or used, are usually more to much more than $500.

 

[blackdeuce]

The price of really nice S&W's has been really high. I was tracking a used 6" 27-2 in it's presentation box on Gunbroker. It sold for $975 a few days ago!

 

[NKJ nut]

apples & oranges

I understand inflation, I understand S&W quality but I just find it puzzling why someone would pay more for a used, 6 shot revolver then they'd pay for a new, semi-auto with more then double the capacity?
I still can't see paying more then about $350 for any used J, K or L frame S&W. Heck, the last two Beretta semis I bought I got for $400 and they're very high quality guns.

That's like comparing apples and oranges. The value of guns is not determined by whether they are revolvers or semi's or whether they are new; and the number of rounds they hold isn't a factor either.

Also once something isn't made anymore it may develop something called collector interest. The number of guns of a particular model is fixed but the number of people wanting them as collectibles increases. On top of that you have shooters discovering or rediscovering how good the firearm is. All of these people are competing for these older guns.

It may be that you are not willing to pay more than $350 for an older S&W revolver but that's OK, because plenty of other people are willing to pay the price for these fine revolvers.

To each his own.

 

[rburg]

Lets see, in the mid 1960s, I could fill up my barely running VW for $3. The entire tank, just under 10 gallons. And I could go to the local drive in restaurant, get a double decker, fries, and a coke for a dollar. Now the coke is $2 by itself. And I had a job as a filling station attendant, make $1.25 an hour!

When I hear those complain about the asking prices, I think they should drag out their guns and sell them for the prices they think others should charge. K22s are making a price run. Time was, the old Outdoorsman's Revolvers from the 30s wouldn't even bring the $300 modern ones brought. Now they start at a thousand.

When I hear someone complaining about the outrageous prices, I just assume the complainer hasn't been out of the house recently. Prices are pretty much set by the open market. If your wares are overpriced at a gun show, you bring your stuff back home. If they're too cheap, you sell out in the first minutes, then see the other vendors re-selling them for a bunch more. Asking prices don't equate to selling prices, but stand around for a while and watch.

Inflation is here. Remember when you could buy a serviceable M&P for $100? And Victory's for $75? Seen any of them recently?

 

[TNFrank]

Well, I'm not a collector, I simply want to buy the best tool for the job at hand with the least amount of cash I can get by with.
I understand that a lot of these older revolvers were built by hand and are high quality, heck, I've owned quite a few of em' over the years. It's just that if I have $400 to spend on a tool to protect my home and family I'd like to get the most "bang" for the buck and 6 rounds of 38spl vs 12+1 rounds of 40S&W is kind of a simple choice to make. Now if there's an incentive to get the 6 round, 38spl revolver, like it costing less then that makes sense but if they're the same price then my money would be better spend on the tool that'll work the best.
That being said, if I can pick up a M64 for $300 I'd do it or if I can find a nice L-Frame for $375-$400 then I might do that as well but it's just hard to spend as much or more for something when I can get something else that's a better tool for the same amount or sometimes less.

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Just remember, one man's "trash" is another man's "treasure"... and you can sell anything for a good price as long as you're willing to wait for someone who wants it more than you do! When it comes to buying any kind of tool, l wait until l can afford the best and then get exactly what l want. Dollar for dollar, for home defense, IMHO, it's easy. Get a 12 gauge shotgun and load it with 000 buck. As for my collecting habit, I'm a firm believer in buying high and selling low!

 

[m1gunner]

J&G has S&W mod 64s for $269.

 

[blujax01]

m1gunner's got the idea, Frank. It seems that weekly someone posts a link to police trade 10's and 64's at $225 - $300.

I got my 4" 64 for $279 last month. No beauty queen but cleaned up quite well. A decent "tool" for the money.

They're out there if you look.

 

[Moonman]

The Market IS, What the Market IS.
The prices are not for give away.
Trade-ins can be Reasonable.

 

[NKJ nut]

Well, I'm not a collector, I simply want to buy the best tool for the job at hand with the least amount of cash I can get by with.
I understand that a lot of these older revolvers were built by hand and are high quality, heck, I've owned quite a few of em' over the years. It's just that if I have $400 to spend on a tool to protect my home and family I'd like to get the most "bang" for the buck and 6 rounds of 38spl vs 12+1 rounds of 40S&W is kind of a simple choice to make. Now if there's an incentive to get the 6 round, 38spl revolver, like it costing less then that makes sense but if they're the same price then my money would be better spend on the tool that'll work the best.
That being said, if I can pick up a M64 for $300 I'd do it or if I can find a nice L-Frame for $375-$400 then I might do that as well but it's just hard to spend as much or more for something when I can get something else that's a better tool for the same amount or sometimes less.

I understand where you are coming from. All of us have our tools but sometimes after that; some of us like to have something more than just a tool that will do the job.

You may never get there. If you don't develop a yearning for the guns of yesteryear you will save yourself a bunch of money but you will also spare yourself the satisfaction of owning some very good guns that will still serve their intended purpose as well as they ever would.

But like I said; to each his own. Don't force yourself to do something you don't want to.

 

[TNFrank]

m1gunner's got the idea, Frank. It seems that weekly someone posts a link to police trade 10's and 64's at $225 - $300.

I got my 4" 64 for $279 last month. No beauty queen but cleaned up quite well. A decent "tool" for the money.

They're out there if you look.

I think that may be a big reason why revolvers have gone up in price so much. All the LEO trade in stuff is starting to dry up so there's no deals anymore. Also, many have gotten into their guns for cheap back in the day and now they see S&W selling new revolvers for $700+ and figure that their gun is worth more because new ones are selling for more. I'll still have a hard time spending much more then $350 on a revolver unless it's something special like an M29, then I'd probably go $450,LOL. I know, I'm a cheap *** but hey, my wife will kill me if I spend too much,LOL