Model 53 question

[JP@AK]

Hello fellow S&W lovers
I have a chance to buy a Model 53. It is just the gun - no box, etc., but it does have the inserts for .22 LR. It also comes with a green Remington box of Jet ammo.
Blue is 98% but the original stocks are missing (it is wearing Pachs).
I can get it for $700 out the door.
What do you guys think?
Thanks.
JP

 

[Chuck Jones]

What barrel length and finish? 4 inch or nickel would be rare.

Otherwise it seems kinda high for no box and no grips, but it does have the inserts!

/c

 

[LEO918]

If you want one , now is the time. The inserts are worth $60. Grips should be Targets not numbered to the gun. Easy to find.
Leo

 

[rburg]

If its really in the condition you describe, its worth closer to a $1000 around here. The ammo is worth $75 a box, and has been for a couple of decades. If the box is all that's holding you back, just buy the gun and then spend another $100 or so and buy one. You don't see them often for the price you've quoted.

Its what I paid for my first one back in about 1990. It was one of the guns I'd always wanted and could never find. One of my friends couldn't believe I was blowing $700 for a 22 revolver. Then he saw the 10 boxes of ammo the seller tossed in the deal. It was worth what I paid!

Just be aware almost all Jet owners become handloaders. Its not a hard caliber to load for, but the price of factory ammo gets the best of most and they take the easy and cheap way out. You also need to be aware you'll spend a lot of time scrounging for ammo at gun shows. The little ones are the best, and the best bargain are the partial boxes of it sold by private sellers. You find the boxes toward the back of their tables. But you almost always get the half box of loaded rounds and the other half of once fired. Usual prices on the half box are about $25, much better than the $75 for full boxes.

Buy the gun.

 

[Chuck Jones]

Jeez, after reading those posts I'm thinkin' I'm one cheap bast***d (but then I've had my 53 with inserts, a box, and a .22LR cylinder for 20+ years)

/c

 

[JP@AK]

Just be aware almost all Jet owners become handloaders.
Buy the gun.

Thanks, Mr. Burg!
As a matter of fact, I've been handloading since I was about 13 - nearly 50 years. One more cartridge added to the mix won't be a great tragedy!
I guess I'll have to bring the gun with me to Boise next year and show it to you!
Jack

 

[austintexas]

Around 1974 I was working part time in a gunshop in Fort Worth and my boss had to special order M-53s and he was on a quota for Smiths and had to take a bunch of Smith ammo and holsters to buy any Smiths. So he told me I would have to pay a priemum to get one. He charged me $200.00 for my 4 inch. I bought two boxes of ammo, one box has been reloaded many times and the other is orginal. I did pick up a 6 inch about 5 years ago that the pawn shop thought was a M-48, I gave $450.00 and when I was about to leave he found the extra cylinder for it. Prices for 53s are never going to go down, if you pay a couple bucks too much the appreciation will make up for it.

SWCA 892

 

[perrazi]

once you start shooting these, you won't be able to stop. they are my favorite gun to play with. don't have to load to factory specs to have fun with them either. .222 or .223 diameter bullets when you load for them.
have been loading for these since 1974 when i got my first one.

 

[glenncal1]

look at it this way, you are getting a relatively rare k-22 that is in very good condition for about $625-650 after you factor out the ammo. The guns are great shooters. I have them in 4", 6" and 8 3/8" versions. The 6" and 8 3/8" have the .22lr cylinders. The 6" is very accurate with the LR cylinder and the 8 3/8 probably is too but I haven't shot it with the LR cylinder much. You won't regret buying the gun. Keep your eye out for a LR cyl, sometimes they pop up for not too much $$. But you have to be lucky.