Help with a collection

[csm14thbn]

I have the Mahogany boxes with tools/cleaning rod for 1,2,4,5. 3,6,7 are in the SW blue box. I have the page out of the 01 log book showing when he purchased them. The issue with the boxes is that the felt has deteriorated in some and is flaking off

 

[Baxter6551]

I'm sorry I can't really help as I would keep them all.
But if I really, really, really had to, I would sell numbers 1, 2 and 5. As others have said - get rid of the Rugers first. The days of this kind of quality coming out of S&W are gone for good I'm afraid. There are lots of people out there who would relish owning any of these. Best of luck in your decision.

 

[rct269]

I would ditch the Rugers and keep the Smiths

On the other hand-------------------------

There came a time in the '90's when I couldn't find the S&W's I was after-------and I was getting damn tired of coming home empty handed-----so I started collecting Rugers---just for something to do, you understand-----3 screw single actions------finally got everyone of them---all models---all calibers-----all barrel lengths---all everything----34 guns-----34 very nice guns. I have no idea how much money I spent, but $20,000 has to cover it.

So now I have these Rugers, and they're taking up space I need for S&W's---a problem easily solved. I load everything up and take off for David Carroll's. He doesn't know very much about what he can get for these Ruger things, but he knows somebody who knows somebody, and the consensus is in the mid 40's---thereabouts----fine by me!!!!

He got in the mid 50's---also fine by me!!!!

Ditch the Rugers?!!

Time passes, and I start thinking about my S&W's. Do I leave my heirs a pile of guns---or a pile of money? Seems like a pile of money is easier to cope with, so I call on David again. He came to my place this time----set up shop, and started wrapping up guns----and then he was gone----and then he started sending checks to me. I didn't make out like a fat rat like I did with the Rugers, but I did alright----made some here and there---lost some here and there----but came out feeling good about the whole deal.

But ditch the Rugers?!!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Dave.357]

I would keep the blue half of collection and
Sell the stainless half.

 

[StakeOut]

They've been sitting all these years and not been used and enjoyed.
Are you mentally or emotionally attached to any of them?
I'd sell them all if they were not of too much interest and excitement to myself and use the proceeds to get something I truly want.
I don't look at inanimate object through someone else's eyes.
Some people get very attached to their accumulations.

 

[toddimusnimski]

7- 28-2 Hwy Patrol 4" .357 NIB N952xxx

That SN seems pretty late for a -2; is it possibly a -3? Especially with no pinned barrel. I can't quite tell if cylinder is recessed. FWIW the -3 is more rare, but not necessarily more desirable due to deletion of the pinned barrel/recessed cylinders in 1982.

 

[Bumpus13]

This'll seem like blasphemy to most here, but I'd sell the N-frames waaaaay before I'd let the K-frames go.

Then again, I only own one N (629-4) … I figure a big boy cartridge like the .44 Magnum deserves a big boy revolver. But, it's far from my favorite to shoot. Not all of us have large mitts. My K's feel a whole lot more comfortable in the hand.

YMMV

PS: I would LOVE that 6" P&R 66-1 to pair with my 6" P&R 19-4

 

[csm14thbn]

It is definitely a -2. His logbook says he purchased it new 23 Dec 1982

 

[csm14thbn]

What sites do you guys use for value estimates? Gunbroker? Truevaluegun? Etc? I have another model 38 airweight that is new in the box purchased in 83.

 

[hkcavalier]

I'd sell them all if there are other things you want to buy, 26 years of not shooting them is long enough.

People talk about them being good investments, but they generally aren't.

Agreed. They're great stores of value and are jolly good fun to collect and shoot. But a rental house financed at around 2% is a way better investment. I've never received a rent or dividend check from my gun safe.

 

[22hipower]

What sights do you guys use for value estimates? Gunbroker? Truevaluegun? Etc? I have another model 38 airweight that is new in the box purchased in 83.

GB is the easiest as you can look at closed auction prices and get a pretty good feel for what the "high retail" has been recently on most models. But those prices are not generally what I'd be willing to pay and can usually find the same items locally for 10-20%+/- less, sometimes a lot less. Which works both ways; buying and selling. If I'm selling something locally I assume the price that will move it is going to be about 10-20% less than whatever they've been selling for on GB. Then there's the "what would I be willing to pay issue regardless of what others have paid. . . .

In the case of your Model 38 a couple recently sold (used and without box/papers) on GB in the $500-$550 range. Yours ANIB would probably be priced at $700-$800 at local gun shows and I would expect to pay $600+ for it. In that condition it would likely bring $700-$800 on GB if the right couple of folks were interested in it. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Gunhacker]

No one has mentioned it yet, but #4 (the 25-2?) is wearing a set of diamond target grip without the extractor relief cut out.. those unto themselves are worth a pretty penny, as they were the initial introduction of the target grips and made less than a year, before they added the "football" extractor relief cut out. From what I've seen, on the secondary grip market they are second only to "Cokes" in value.



To me, that puts #4 higher up on the "keep list".

 

[GSP Fan]

Agreed. They're great stores of value and are jolly good fun to collect and shoot. But a rental house financed at around 2% is a way better investment. I've never received a rent or dividend check from my gun safe.

I never went to the range or hunting with a mutual fund statement either. The key is diversification Smith's, Parker's, Fox and pre64 Winchesters

 

[csm14thbn]

No one has mentioned it yet, but #4 (the 25-2?) is wearing a set of diamond target grip without the extractor relief cut out.. those unto themselves are worth a pretty penny, as they were the initial introduction of the target grips and made less than a year, before they added the "football" extractor relief cut out. From what I've seen, on the secondary grip market they are second only to "Cokes" in value.



To me, that puts #4 higher up on the "keep list".

Thats the 27 without the relief cut on the grips

 

[DR505]

This'll seem like blasphemy to most here, but I'd sell the N-frames waaaaay before I'd let the K-frames go.

Then again, I only own one N (629-4) … I figure a big boy cartridge like the .44 Magnum deserves a big boy revolver. But, it's far from my favorite to shoot. Not all of us have large mitts. My K's feel a whole lot more comfortable in the hand.

YMMV

PS: I would LOVE that 6" P&R 66-1 to pair with my 6" P&R 19-4

Somebody get a rope!

 

[RKmesa]

It's a no-brainer for me - keep everything in the .357 caliber!... But if you have to let any of the .357's go, let the K-frames go first (19-4, 66-1) and keep the 27s and the 28. My Ranking is as follows, with most desirable on top:

Model Barrel cal. condition SN
4- 27 6" .357 98% slight wear around mz S187xxx
5- 27-2 6" .357 like new N654xxx
7- 28-2 Hwy Patrol 4" .357 NIB N952xxx
6- 66-1 6" .357 NIB 57K7xxx
3- 19-4 4" .357 NIB 59K5xxx

The 28 is a late -2, with the recessed cylinder and no pinned barrel.

Good luck,

 

[Inusuit]

I hope the OP found it helpful that all the commenters were consistent in their advice.

 

[csm14thbn]

I hope the OP found it helpful that all the commenters were consistent in their advice.

Everyone has been extremely helpful. I appreciate it.

 

[toddimusnimski]

7- 28-2 Hwy Patrol 4" .357 NIB N952xxx

Found this other post here on a non-pinned 28-2 with identical first 3 digit SN to yours:

28-2 Not Pinned

As always, a great Forum! Lots of information and helpful members.

 

[spitdog]

I would get some Renaissance wax and wax them all then you wouldn't have to keep oiling them. It will make them look even more expensive.