Gun Price $$$$$ Madness!

[model65roundbutt]

All,

Well, I have FINALLY got a date with my beloved wife of 15.75 years to agree to go to the indoor firing range with me. This coming Tuesday as a matter of fact.

To that end, I started looking at a good, used revolver to teach her the safety, handling, and marksmanship aspects of a responsible firearms owner. As you might have guessed by my handle, I am a HUGE fan of the Model 65's, especially the 3" RB variations. So, I proceeded to let her handle my Model 65 and immediately, the first comment was "too heavy!" I then proceeded to tell her about recoil and that weight is sometimes an excellent thing. One of her teacher friends told her the same thing, so I don't think weight will be the issue, but I tell you what is: PRICES!!

I paid $479.00 for mine and it has the milled backstrap/grooves and was in flawless condition and spotlessly clean when it arrived? That was three (3) years ago and gunbooks at the time said $350.00 was about right for an "excellent" rated Model 65. I don't think I overpaid, because the one that I picked up was perfect: no nicks, scratches holster wear, and very minimal cylinder lines. What does a nicely used 65-3,4,5,6 Ladysmith in excellent conditon go for? It seems like EVERYTHING has or is going through the roof!! There is an almost new Ladysmith on Gunbroker that I have my eye on with all of the original paperwork, manual, case, hell even the Ladysmith purse! What would you all expect to pay for a really excellent condition Model 65 or other applicable K-frame for a woman's first revolver?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks all.

Regards,


Matt

 

[mc5aw]

Matt ... Good news: You are passionate about a great revolver. Bad news: It's currently the flavor of the month. 3" 65s are in great demand as of late, much as N frame snubs have been the past couple years +. There's going to be a big range price-wise from retail to high retail to get rich quick dreaming. From what I see in this area (NE PA) 3" 65s in the condition you described are $550 (low end) to $800 (high end). Nationally I have seen the range a bit narrower, but closer to $650-800 on average. Asking and getting are two different animals, but 3"ers are definitely bringing considerably more than 2 years ago.

J-frames on the other hand ...

 

[gunblade]

There's one 65-2 3 incher on Gunbroker at $449 I think it was...the rest are over $500. I bought a 65-3 a few months ago for $425, but I watched for a long time and got outbid on a couple that were priced right. Just gotta keep looking and leap when you see a good one. GREAT revolver.

 

[Rule 303]

Many business that sell used guns are always on the internet gun auction sites. The minute the internet sites go up on a gun, the gun sellers do. What they haven't figured out is the Florida price on Revolvers might not be the same as the West Texas price on revolvers and the Arizona price of semi auto pistols might not be the same price you can sell a semi auto for in Vermont.

Many of the gun sellers remind me of the Gasoline Sellers, the minute one goes up, they all go up.

Several stores in the West Texas Area area have some really nice, overpriced S&W Revolvers and other brands of Quality Pistols sitting on their shelves. And they can't figure out why they've just been sitting there so long.

I bought three S&W Model 65s with 3 inch barrels from a Dallas Dealer back in the late winter gun show here,
$325.00 for one, $350.00 for #2, and $375.00 for #3 in the box with the tools/papers, almost new.....

Rule 303

 

[stantheman86]

You could always go for a 4" 65....a timeless, classic duty gun and there are a lot more of them out there.