Model 56 usaf

[wayneb]

A friend took in a m56 at his shop this week.He estimates it to be 85%
finish.It has some light pitting in a couple of the cylinder flutes.It has the
correct features and serial no.as per the Standard Catalog.I was not able to provide any information beyond that of the catalog.Does anyone have an estimate of how many survived the govt.mandated destruction?Any sales or auction info?Merry Christmas.
Wayne Byram

 

[ordnanceguy]

Wayne:

There is no reliable information available on how many were not destroyed. Almost all were, but a few escaped that fate. Some S&WCA members maintain a listing of known survivors. They are considered to be pretty scarce.

 

[VM]

There is one that has not sold on Gunbroker (in Texas) last two auction attemps this month - $5800 and $5500 respectively.
Is this the gun?

 

[wayneb]

re;model 56

Charlie, maybe some of those folks will post.Thanks
VM,this gun was brought in by a local lady.
Wayne

 

[kwill1911]

I currently have 26 of them in my database, many of them from auctions or internet sales, although none within the last year. I think these all shipped originally to Robins AFB in the early 1960's. If you can provide the serial number of the one you are looking at I would like to add it to my data. Charlie (ordnanceguy), Eric Archer and I recently collaborated on an article for the S&WCA Journal about essentially all the 2" S&W revolvers used in U.S. military service including the Model 56.

Thanks,
Kevin Williams

 

[wayneb]

re;m56

Kevin
I will post the serial no. sat.The gun is at my friend's shop.
Wayne

 

[wayneb]

model 56

The serial for the 56 is K 502644.Any help on pricing?
Wayne

 

[mikepriwer]

These are $5000 guns, when in 98% or better condition. There are
not that many of them, and the ones I'm aware of, including mine, are
98%. Its as though they were not used !

An 85% gun obviously has seen some use, and so you have a relatively high-collectable gun, but showing lots of use.

Probably the relevant question is - how much did your friend pay for it?
Or, did he take it in on consignment ? If he is your friend, he ought to share with you what he paid. Its no skin off his back, and you are going to pay his markup anyway, minus whatever he discounts for being a friend.

What I'm getting at is that he may have paid way too much, given its
condition, or he may have stolen it, so to say.

For some of us, I would not buy a 85% model 56, because I know that there are 98% examples out there, that become available occasionally.
On the other hand, other collectors feel differently, and would step up to the gun if it were offered at a significant discount to a 98% example.

Having said all of that, and not knowing what he is asking for it, and you could have gotten that information for us, I would guess that $2500 is a fair price. Mind you - I would not buy one for that, but as a guess, maybe its a fair price.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[kwill1911]

I agree with Mike. A highly motivated buyer who is impatient and doesn't want to wait for a better one might pay more but this is a specialized gun and the market is thin for high-priced post war S&W revolvers. The one currently on GB is 85% - 90% in the box and it has rolled over a couple of times with no bids in the $5,000+ price range.

Thanks for the SN. Keep us posted on what happens.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

 

[wayneb]

model 56

Mike,Kevin
I have no interest in purchasing the gun.I often do casual appraisals for the shop on older stuff that shows up.On this piece,I had no basis for determining value.I did not ask Victor what he paid for the gun.He told the lady it was rare and worth more than he would pay.She did not care;she wanted to sell it now!
A local fellow wants the gun;we are trying to determine what price to ask.Thanks
Wayne

 

[AFPG]

Wayne, I am very pleased you started this thread since my collecting interest is USAF firearms and related material. I have some data on 30 of the Model 56 revolvers, but confirmed sales are seldom documented. Since 2001 I have noted six Model 56 sales reported by what I consider to be reliable sources. The prices ranged from $1,265 to $5,500. The average was $3,976.66 for the six, and the average for the two of the six that sold at auction with published results was $2,932.50.

Eric Archer #1404

 

[wayneb]

re model 56

Thanks Erich;
I will let you know what this one brings whenever it sells.
Wayne Byram