Model 53 Purchase advice

[Fredo Batali]

I have an opportunity to purchase a 1974-75 Model 53-2. Gun is complete with box, docs, tools, and vapor paper. All six inserts are present plus the spare .22 Magnum cylinder and two and a half boxes of factory .22 Jet ammunition. Asking price is $1999.00. What do you all think, buy or not? Thanks for the help.

De Oppresso Liber

 

[s&wchad]

If you're looking to add it to your collection, I think you'd be hard pressed to find one as nice and complete for less. I have no idea where values will go over the next 10-20 years, so I can't help with the investment potential.

The auxiliary cylinder is probably chambered in .22 LR, not .22 WMR. I saw one bring about $800 at auction a few years ago. The tapered swab alone is worth $30-$40 and the box, inserts and tool kit have value.

I owned this 4-screw with all the goodies, but sold it to a local forum member a year or so ago for close to that price. It was too nice to shoot and I didn't want to split up the package.

If you want one to shoot, I'd look for one without all the accessories for under a grand. There's no need to shoot LR's out of a 53, when you can get a decent K-22 for less than $800.

 

[H Richard]

I will assume this is a "3" screw. The "book" shows this worth: ANIB 1450, Exc 1250, VG 1050, Good 750 and the 22 LR cylinder ad's another 250 to that price. So the actual condition will be a determining factor. I think is priced a little high by maybe $300, unless it has been actually used a bit. It may be just how much you may want it.

 

[s&wchad]

22 LR cylinder ad's another 250 to that price.

I'd buy all the LR Jet cylinders I could find for $250. Not sure where they came up with that value, but the one I've seen sell in past few years brought about $800. They're longer than a K-22 cylinder and are extremely hard to find.

 

[dave1918a2]

Look at it this way. Box=$500, Cylinder=$700, Inserts= $30 each, tool kit=$100, Ammo= $100 per box, Gun= $ 1200. Thats what it would part at here. The cylinder should serial to the gun and would be 22LR. If not, make sure alignment is ok before shooting. There is a Co. making Jet ammo and it is cheap( for Jet ammo) and some members here have shot it. I would jump on that one so fast I'd probably break a leg.

 

[ColbyBruce]

PPU makes Jet ammo.

 

[steelslaver]

I see prices of around $200 for regular K22 cylinder quite a bit. Don't know how many of them sell for that. I have found some at $100-150. But, a model 53 cylinder is way way harder to find. I don't know about $800, but should be way over $250

 

[SRT]

I have an opportunity to purchase a 1974-75 Model 53-2. Gun is complete with box, docs, tools, and vapor paper. All six inserts are present plus the spare .22 Magnum cylinder and two and a half boxes of factory .22 Jet ammunition. Asking price is $1999.00. What do you all think, buy or not? Thanks for the help.

De Oppresso Liber

I just sold a NIB w/all Model 53-2 at the S&WCA Symposium last week for $1625. Mine had neither the extra cylinder nor the 125 rounds of factory Jet ammunition. I'd say that $2K is a very fair price for the package.

 

[Hondo44]

That's a totally complete package, they didn't all have those options when sold new. I've never seen a complete package like that for sale in that condition. The box should have the matching serial to the gun on bottom or on the side of the box top.

That's a once in a lifetime opportunity, I would not pass it up.

 

[gmborkovic]

Fredo, its a handsome group. Naturally try for some wiggle.
If you have the spare cash and you want it, just spring. I have had a few in the past and they are neat and loud. Looks complete.

 

[colt_saa]

Based on the one I saw for sale this weekend, that is a fair deal

This one had a box, but no 2nd cylinder or ammunition. It had no inserts but the seller said he would include a set and the asking price was $1800

 

[Walter Rego]

$2000 for that complete package is not out of line. If you bought it for $1500 everyone would be saying you got a great deal but probably a fluke.
If you get it, try hosing that tapered swab really well with some Gunscrubber and blotting it with clean patches and try to get some of that residue off it. Those little swabs are hard to find and pricey !
I have a first year production 4 screw Model 53 and it is a lot of fun to shoot. The availability of ammo from PPU at reasonable prices has put lot of those guns back on the firing line. The biggest hurdle is finding correct .222" 40 grain bullets or even the .223" Sierra Hornet bullets. Most production has been going to bullets for the .223 AR shooters.

 

[diecidecimi]

I herited my M53 "four screws" from grandpa, with box (recently purchased by me, not matching of course), his factory .22 lr extra cylinder, inserts.
Very nice gun. If you want it, this is the correct value, even if it is an high price.....

 

[SuperMan]

The biggest hurdle is finding correct .222" 40 grain bullets or even the .223" Sierra Hornet bullets. Most production has been going to bullets for the .223 AR shooters.

Check with Reed's Ammo...they have both loaded ammo and the correct .222 bullets for reloading...

Bob

 

[Jersey Doug]

Barrel damage

Model 53's and Model 19's particularly need to be inspected where the bullet enters the barrel. On the M-53 the extreme blast eats that area of the barrel then condition is obviously dished out and damaged. Critical to the guns value but last thing owners/ sellers/ collectors want known or often reveal voluntarily.
With the .22 LR cylinder outstanding accuracy.

 

[rubiranch]

Mines not as nice and I would love t sell it.

 

[Fredo Batali]

This particular Model 53 is at a friends shop in southwest Washington. I've gotten some very desirable Smith & Wessons's from him. I called him yesterday and told him I would take it. It will be a couple of weeks before I can get down there and pick it up. Washington institutes a ten day waiting period for handguns on 01 Jul 19, so I'm stuck with that delay as well. Thanks for all the responses and good advice.

De Oppresso Liber

 

[gmborkovic]

Fredo, glad you sprung. Its a neat, limited prod. S&W rev.

 

[tjpopkin]

I have an unfired one NIB with red tag. Unfired because I have 2 others, a 4" & 8", but my new one is 6". I have been asking $1650. I have sold .22lr cylinders for $450 (years ago), but I have one for the 4". I think your $2000 is very fair....I still have 15 boxes of Jet ammo (I reload) and have sold boxes for $75 and $100, depending on age.

 

[A10]

This particular Model 53 is at a friends shop in southwest Washington. I've gotten some very desirable Smith & Wessons's from him. I called him yesterday and told him I would take it. It will be a couple of weeks before I can get down there and pick it up. Washington institutes a ten day waiting period for handguns on 01 Jul 19, so I'm stuck with that delay as well. Thanks for all the responses and good advice.

De Oppresso Liber

Say Hey to Gator for me when you see him