Sounds to me like you will regret it quite a lot if you do not buy it. As said before, what with shipping and transfer fees it really is not that far off for a high end example.
Mint 18-4 pricing
- Thread starter Oldengineer
- Start date
Another way to look at it - so you don't buy it and 6 months from now you find a similar one for $900.
So a $100 divided by 180 days = 55 cents a day.
So what's more important to you at this point in your life, owning a handgun you really want, or saving 55 cents a day?
Buy it.
Mint with no box $1,000 is probably at least $100 too high. But....in time you will forget the extra hundred if you absolutely have to pay it to get the gun.
Inland7-45
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Model 18
The model 18 is a jewel. I only have one. I got new 18-3 in 1972. While I also have a 17-3 , a pre model number K-22 and a model 34 the 18 is my favorite. The 4” barrel balances and points well and for me is just as accurate as the longer barreled version.
I do not know how many 18s vs 17s were made, but the 18 is seen less often. To put things in perspective I bought my pre model number K-22 in 2007 from a local gun store. The price was $475. Very nice shape, no holster wear , numbered to gun magna’s. Nice 1950 production gun, but no box. Priced about $100 - $125 more than I expected to spend. For awhile I did regret paying $475. That faded away after a few trips to the range. l know now that I would be regretting it today if I had passed up that gun because the price was higher than I expected.
If the model 18 is really in nice condition and especially if it is an earlier -4 with a pinned barrel $1,000 is not out of line.
Good Luck
The model 18 is a jewel. I only have one. I got new 18-3 in 1972. While I also have a 17-3 , a pre model number K-22 and a model 34 the 18 is my favorite. The 4” barrel balances and points well and for me is just as accurate as the longer barreled version.
I do not know how many 18s vs 17s were made, but the 18 is seen less often. To put things in perspective I bought my pre model number K-22 in 2007 from a local gun store. The price was $475. Very nice shape, no holster wear , numbered to gun magna’s. Nice 1950 production gun, but no box. Priced about $100 - $125 more than I expected to spend. For awhile I did regret paying $475. That faded away after a few trips to the range. l know now that I would be regretting it today if I had passed up that gun because the price was higher than I expected.
If the model 18 is really in nice condition and especially if it is an earlier -4 with a pinned barrel $1,000 is not out of line.
Good Luck
For me they’re an $800 to $900 gun - that’s the range I see them. $1000 is at the bottom end of the, “I can’t live without it” price.
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Really nice ones don't come up for sale that often. I wanted one for shooting, not collecting, and found what appeared to be lightly fired, if not never fired one (outside of the factory) at a local gun show. It had a blue cardboard box, but not for the gun although someone tried to make it look like it was. The asking price was $950, which would probably be an average price for one with the original box and accessories, if one was a collector. I talked the seller down. Like CH4 says, $800-$900 for a pristine one without any original accessories seems about right.
18-4
This one is a dash 3 version out of 1974. Extremely accurate
and a lot or fun to shoot. Never had a problem ejecting empties
like some Model 18's are prone to do.
You'll never regret buying a Model 18.
The asking price of the one you are looking at might be a
touch high, but considering the condition and the fact they
ain't making them any more.......go for it.
This one is a dash 3 version out of 1974. Extremely accurate
and a lot or fun to shoot. Never had a problem ejecting empties
like some Model 18's are prone to do.
You'll never regret buying a Model 18.
The asking price of the one you are looking at might be a
touch high, but considering the condition and the fact they
ain't making them any more.......go for it.
Attachments
Engine49guy
Member
I'm also a fan of the Combat Masterpiece and Combat Magnum including their little brother the Model 18.
Nice old Smiths are going up in value probably exacerbated by the rapid drop in the value of the USD caused by so many economic blunders.
Btw, The 18-4 was the last of its kind after SW introduced a 4" Model 17-5 HB and dropped the 18 line.
The 18 was reintroduced years later in their classic series but with a new frame and barrel profile plus the new IL and mim parts, rb grip frame etc.
My collection ends with the 4" 17-6 and 617 no dash,
did a pictorial essay a few years ago, if interested in seeing their evolutionary changes here's a link:
Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy
Nice old Smiths are going up in value probably exacerbated by the rapid drop in the value of the USD caused by so many economic blunders.
Btw, The 18-4 was the last of its kind after SW introduced a 4" Model 17-5 HB and dropped the 18 line.
The 18 was reintroduced years later in their classic series but with a new frame and barrel profile plus the new IL and mim parts, rb grip frame etc.
My collection ends with the 4" 17-6 and 617 no dash,
did a pictorial essay a few years ago, if interested in seeing their evolutionary changes here's a link:
Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy
This 18-4 is probably my most-often-shot .22 revolver, as a stand-in for the center-fire K-frame guns. Fun to shoot!
John
(Click for larger image)
John
(Click for larger image)
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charlie sherrill
Member
Somewhere around 2010 I was at the Louisville,Ky gun show and I ran across at least five 18's or pre 18's for sale by "walk arounds". All of them were between $400-500. It was very unusual that many of this type revolver were for sale at the same time. They didn't last long. A couple of forum members got one.
OP
Oldengineer
Member
Over the weekend the owner decided to raise the price by another $100.00. I politely walked away.
Lobster Picnic
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A mint Model 18 doesn't come around often. I guess the price of poker just went up if you can no longer get one for $1k.
Good for you! I don't deal with people who do that sort of thing. You'll run across another for a decent price. Patience will pay off.
Oldengineer, seller sounds like a jerk. You did the right thing, walking. Keep your eyes peeled and another will pop up.
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You guys are making me feel..., well, ... reasonable .. re what I paid for an 18-2 this morning in the classifieds.
Thanks!
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You guys are making me feel..., well, ... reasonable .. re what I paid for an 18-2 this morning in the classifieds.
Thanks!
I see them in the Tucson from time to time usually $750-$850, I almost pulled the trigger on a beautiful pre 18 that someone had put diamond targets on, no box just the gun, it was $875. Good deal I just don’t shoot 22 so couldn’t justify it.
I can’t believe the guy raised the price $100 on the gun after telling you earlier he would take a thousand for the gun. He’s not an honorable man anyway. What a putz. Just be patient and you will find a Model 18.
