I paid top dollar for a 645 and 659 today, you?

[josywales]

I decided to right some wrongs in October.

First, today was my last day of work, unless I decide to "semi"-retire and do something less stressful and more fulfilling.

Second, I paid top dollar for a 645 at auction and picked it up today. I took a chance that the scrape on the slide was just lint. Turns out...it was lint. This 645 is pretty darn clean, judging by its appearance, as well as the lightly used 3 mags it came with. I sold my 645 in the early 90s and always wanted to replaced it. Sure, I paid a premium, but I saved $10,000 by not buying the Bren Ten I really want. Of course, I'm not in the ground yet...

Lastly, I know it gets hate, but I always loved the 659 with the rear fin adjustable sight. Heck, I shoot best using front sight only, so what do I care about function. I don't have the 659 in hand, but it was $550 and appears to be super clean, though no box or spare mag. Then again, this type of ad screams (the box and tools didn't make the pics and description, but end up shipping with the gun. We'll see).

So, I started as a dishwasher and have never had less than one job for almost 50 years. Leaving corporate America now, I sometimes wish I'd stayed a dishwasher... I miss genuine people.

 

[Shark Bait]

Congratulations on your retirement and a nice 645. I retired for the last time in September and have the 645 I carried as a duty gun in the late 80s. It's big and bulky, but it will feed a whole magazine of empty casings.

 

[Brian Parrish]

I love that red ramp front sight.
Beautiful gun.
You have made us proud for seeing the value in this piece.
You made the seller happy I guess!
Well good for him. Glad for him.
Glad for you too!
Now go shoot it and come back here to tell us all about it.
With pictures!

Kind Regards,
BrianD

 

[josywales]

I love that red ramp front sight.
Beautiful gun.
You have made us proud for seeing the value in this piece.
You made the seller happy I guess!
Well good for him. Glad for him.
Glad for you too!
Now go shoot it and come back here to tell us all about it.
With pictures!

Kind Regards,
BrianD

Thanks. It was less than $1,000, so I'm not insane. plus, if you factor my sale price in 2000, invested and earning double digit return rate, I'm ahead right?

 

[murphydog]

Congratulations also on retiring. Instead of getting a gold watch from the company you bought two cool pistols. Enjoy!

 

[stansdds]

Congratulations on retirement and the acquisition of a very nice Model 645. 645/4506 magazines are not cheap these days, so really good that you got three magazines with the pistol. S&W Magazines for the 59/x59/59xx pistols are still plentiful and MecGar also makes magazines for them. Based on appearance, MecGar may have been the OEM magazine supplier.

 

[T44spl]

Congratulations on retirement, you owe it to yourself after many years of selfless sacrifice. As far as returning to a P/T job in "semi-retirement", I already decided that once I discontinue working I have No intention of returning to work for half the pay to do twice the amount of work & to take orders from some young kid who doesn't know the job.
Enjoy your new toys in good health, many years of happy shooting.

 

[824tsv]

Model 645, 659

Congratulations on your retirement! I retired 10 years ago and love retired life. I have both the Models 645 and the 659. Both with adjustable sights. I was fortunate to purchase both of mine new back in the day. My 659 in 1982 and my 645 in 1986. I dislike plastic grips so I put Model 745 walnut stocks on my 645 and I put Hogues on my 659. Of course I kept the originals and tucked them away in the boxes.

 

[bobsguns]

First, today was my last day of work, unless I decide to "semi"-retire and do something less stressful and more fulfilling.

Leaving corporate America now, I sometimes wish I'd stayed a dishwasher... I miss genuine people.

Where's the fun in doing something "less stressful"???

As for "genuine people", avoid liberals & you should be ok...........

 

[bobsguns]

Congratulations on retirement, you owe it to yourself after many years of selfless sacrifice. As far as returning to a P/T job in "semi-retirement", I already decided that once I discontinue working I have No intention of returning to work for half the pay to do twice the amount of work & to take orders from some young kid who doesn't know the job.
Enjoy your new toys in good health, many years of happy shooting.

+1

I do volunteer work for my local library. Sort donated books, help on the monthly book sale, that sort of thing.

Volunteer groups are hurting for help. Meals On Wheels, food pantries, yard work for seniors, etc all need good, smart people to help. I urge folks to find someplace they like & to lend a hand.

My .o2

 

[Yendor357]

JW, I can tell by post #4 that you know how money works, and you probably have a lot of it. I think like that as well; just not as much these days. You did your part working 50 years. Time to coast. You have more money than time left. Continue buying nice things. It’s satisfying. First class is never a mistake.

 

[Frank Black]

Almost as clean as mine, which was LNIB but came with only the original mag. Thinking I paid $800. I’ve picked up a few more mags since, the early style with orange follower and metal bottom.

Great gun, great shooter.

 

[josywales]

Congratulations on your retirement! I retired 10 years ago and love retired life. I have both the Models 645 and the 659. Both with adjustable sights. I was fortunate to purchase both of mine new back in the day. My 659 in 1982 and my 645 in 1986. I dislike plastic grips so I put Model 745 walnut stocks on my 645 and I put Hogues on my 659. Of course I kept the originals and tucked them away in the boxes.

Very nice. I debated on the fin site for the 645, but seem to prefer the look of standard for now. Those are beautiful though. I might hunt down the wooden grips, at least for the 659

 

[josywales]

Congratulations on retirement, you owe it to yourself after many years of selfless sacrifice. As far as returning to a P/T job in "semi-retirement", I already decided that once I discontinue working I have No intention of returning to work for half the pay to do twice the amount of work & to take orders from some young kid who doesn't know the job.
Enjoy your new toys in good health, many years of happy shooting.

Well, if I work, it would be more of a consultant, so not putting in near as many hours, but not earning $15 working at Cabela's.

Or, I'll volunteer at a hospital. Lots of walking during all seasons, so it would keep me moving

 

[AlHunt]

Congrats on the 645. Definitely on my low priority "wanna buy" list.

You're right about the dumbo ears on the 659, they make it not everyone's cup of tea, which just keeps the price down for you guys who don't mind them. I think a belt sander would make quick work of them...

 

[mm93]

Both the 645 and the 659 are great semiautos and you should really enjoy owning and shooting them!
I have a 745 and 59 and love both of them. Similar, but also very different since the 745 is a SA semiauto like a 1911. I wouldn't let either ever go as they still make me smile when I shoot them.

 

[Brian Parrish]

You are absolutely right!

Thanks. It was less than $1,000, so I'm not insane. plus, if you factor my sale price in 2000, invested and earning double digit return rate, I'm ahead right?

Boomers are usually not able to process inflation into our price expectations. This is a phenomenon seen depressing prices all across the used gun market. In your case, nostalgia was possibly a contributing factor coupled with funds available since you are not buying other life essentials.

The 645 had a listed MSRP of $622 in 1988 which inflates to $1650 today. Nobody but a fool paid MSRP at a gun store in 1988 unless there was significant fad demand for the pistol as we experienced with the "Dirty Harry" pistol over the course of five movies between 1971 and 1988. There was some degree of fad pressure for the 645 during seasons three, four and five of the "Miami Vice" TV series. Mid fifth season, this was transferred to the Model 4506, which some 20 million people saw in Don Johnson's hands in the spring of 1989. Friday nights, 10:00, NBC, ...I remember it well, but to this day, I have never watched even one episode of "Dallas". Pardon my boast

As Boomers die, our gun collections are coming into the used market. Supply up, price down. On the other hand, as Boomers retire, more of us are making some deferred purchases. Wifey and I are in the middle of fixing the house and yard, deferred for far too long, but we didn't have the greenbacks. Demand up slightly, price up but not as much as a seller would like. Going into the future expect demand to crater because Millennials are still holding to their "minimalist" "decluttering" fad. and Gen Z is worse because they ain't got no money! Dave Ramsey has six million followers. Who is going to be the future market for our gun investment?

But like I told Wifey,
"A gun is never worth nothing,
...which is more than I can say about the US dollar!"

 

[ogso]

Congrats on the retirement! Pulled the trigger myself 4 years ago after working for 40 years at my last employer. Spending more time with adult children and grandchildren (2 and 5). Crazy how much busier I am in retirement! Don't have one but love the look of the Sonny Crockett pistol!

 

[bgrone]

Enjoy your retirement. I almost picked up another 645 a week ago at gun show another guy beat me to it, $700 was a fair price I felt as it was pristine. I love the one I already have but sometimes it’s nice to have more. I consoled myself with a nice 10-5 stubby.

 

[jrog100]

I decided to right some wrongs in October.

First, today was my last day of work, unless I decide to "semi"-retire and do something less stressful and more fulfilling.

Second, I paid top dollar for a 645 at auction and picked it up today. I took a chance that the scrape on the slide was just lint. Turns out...it was lint. This 645 is pretty darn clean, judging by its appearance, as well as the lightly used 3 mags it came with. I sold my 645 in the early 90s and always wanted to replaced it. Sure, I paid a premium, but I saved $10,000 by not buying the Bren Ten I really want. Of course, I'm not in the ground yet...

Lastly, I know it gets hate, but I always loved the 659 with the rear fin adjustable sight. Heck, I shoot best using front sight only, so what do I care about function. I don't have the 659 in hand, but it was $550 and appears to be super clean, though no box or spare mag. Then again, this type of ad screams (the box and tools didn't make the pics and description, but end up shipping with the gun. We'll see).

So, I started as a dishwasher and have never had less than one job for almost 50 years. Leaving corporate America now, I sometimes wish I'd stayed a dishwasher... I miss genuine people.

congrats dude, im right behind ya. I love your 645! MIne will cycle fired brass which ive always thought was amazing! Enjoy yours.