Model 53 Value

bucks33

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My dad has a Smith and Wesson Model 53 no dash with the 8 3/8" barrel, it has both the cylinders, the 6 inserts, cleaning tools, paperwork, original coke bottle grips and 4 1/2 boxes of the jet ammo and he was wondering what it was worth. I will post some pictures tomorrow, but there is no wear marks anywhere the bluing looks great. The box is just a small blue box, and it doesn't have any markings. The serial number is K4395XX.
 
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The SCSW shows your Dad's model 53 as a 1961 production(first year of production). The original box should be rather large (16" x 7-1/2" x 1-3/4") and would have an insert with cutouts for the pistol, extra cylinder and 6 cutouts for the 22lr inserts. The original grips should be standard diamond target grips or smooth rosewood targets.
Pictures certainly would help, in our area (DFW) would probably be priced $1000-1300.
Regards,
George
 
You probably need to play down the coke bottle grips thing. They never made them on K frame guns.

As far as the value, I agree with the value north of $1000. The original factory ammo often sells for about $75 a box full. If you've got 4, then that's $300 of your value right there. I doubt that you'd get $1300 for the gun with a small blue box. Everyone whats the large box the gun came in. As far as the tools, look at the white cottom mops that came with it. They came with cylinder mops shaped the same as the cylinder inside. Tapered to fit. That one alone carries significant value, so find a tiny zip lock and store it there. The "tool", the sight adjuster from the first year should be knurled aluminum and also carries value. Separate, it brings $75 from someone who needs one.

Way back when I bought my first Jet, I paid $700 for the package. The same gun extra cylinder and inserts. the box but its not sporting good corners. And a full 10 boxes of ammo. Even 25 years ago, the ammo was at $75 a box. Its remained fairly constant over the years. My view back then was I bought the ammo, he gave me the gun for free.
 
Here are some pictures of the gun.
 

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Nice looking M53. Looks like it was well cared for. The sight adjustment screwdriver for 1961 could be either the knurled aluminum or the fluted aluminum with the long tapered blade. It looks like the one in your kit has the long taper so it could be original. I don't see the tapered cylinder mop in the kit so I would question whether the kit is original to the gun. I think that gun with accessories, without the original box would probably sell for $1100 to $1250 on a good day. I assume the SN on the 22LR cylinder matches the gun?
The 22 jet ammo goes for about a dollar/ round up to $1.25. Just looked at 22 jet ammo that has sold on GB. Most that actually sold, went in that range.
Regards
 
Ok thanks for the advice. my dad was thinking about selling the gun and 4 1/2 boxes of ammo for around 1200-1300.
 
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