My morning at the local gunshow

[RussellD]

Just a walk through at a small local gunshow. I am very interested in getting your feedback on how local prices in Jackson MS compare to where you live. I have been blessed to live in many states over the past ten years. Each location is unique.

A few random observations-Dealers will tell you there is small margin in new guns and they are making more on used guns. For a small show there was a fair number of used Smiths available. However most had a decent used specimen priced at a new in the box collector price..Model 17's were minimum of
$700. A like new Model 17-3 was listed at 1300. The only one that peeked my interest was a 17-1 with correct grips listed at 750. Nice but not pristine. maybe 85-90%.. Police trade in model 10's were 255-265. They were the deal of the day...Most were in excellent shape with minor holster wear.

Used model 15's with the box were 450-499. used Model 36 ranged from 389-499. Model 19-3 goodyear grips 600...29-2 1100..heavy barrel model 10's listed at 400. model 10-5 snub nose 500

and then there were the same over priced models by the same guys who have had them for the past 18 months..

Please give me a reality check based of your location. Seems like prices are indexing off the local gas prices. Is this pre-election jitters or am I getting old

and the worst part was I went looking for nice Model 49. Ready to pay in cash. There was not a single model 49 to be had. That hurt

 

[Flint Ridge]

I've seen the same trend unfortunately. Not sure what's truly up, but I'll step aside and let that train pass on by. We'll see if another one ever comes back by. Had better luck on GB, than wasting a day and $50 for gas and admission.

 

[410bore]

everything sounds high except for the 17-1....sounds like a decent buy depending on condition

 

[ramprat]

Here in rural central Wisconsin you would be hard pressed to find any used S&W revolvers, LE trade in or not, for less than $300.00. At a LGS last month I purchased a used Model 15-7, in a good 95% , no box for $470.00. The guy's original asking price was $485.00 but I was able to get him down $15.00 but no lower. The same guy had another Model 15, a 15-4, with the box for $595.00. Ever since WI. passed concealed carry, the prices of hand guns, new or used, has skyrocketed. Regards, Gary

 

[PH-2]

Russel,

I'm guessing your prices are on par with the Nashville area, 'ceptin' I don't recollect the last time I saw a 17 for sale!

Mike

 

[Willyboy]

Gun Show Prices

Those prices might be a little high compared to the Chicago area shows, but not by much. But the model 17's seem out of line for sure. Willyboy

 

[mbliss57]

I agree with 410 bore. I am not up at all on 17's But the other's are higher than I see around Ohio. In general.

 

[JCS&W]

I went to a small gunshow today. It was more like a flea market than gun show, but that is another story. The prices on the FEW S&W's were very high. A M36, flat latch, wrong grips, 85% at best, $475. One, repeat, ONE M28-2, goodyears, maybe 80%, $500. But, I bet there were less than 30 S&W revolvers at the show. Must be a supply and demand issue, or am I not in the loop. Wish I could get $500 for my M15-4, 4" nickel!

 

[chud333]

Russel,

I'm guessing your prices are on par with the Nashville area, 'ceptin' I don't recollect the last time I saw a 17 for sale!

Mike

Same here. The 17's don't get to the glass case before someone grabs them up. Can't remember last time i saw
one at a LGS either. Passed on going to a big gun show in
Indy today, just too darn nice outside to be stuck in the
crowd i guess.


chuck

 

[silentflyer]

Went to a LGS today, Roanoke, Va., found a like new Dan Wesson 15-2 Monson 8" 357 with box,tools, papers,manuals for 615$. I'm happy!
About the same spread of prices on 17's,66's and 29's,Pythons,Troupers etc. as everywhere else in the country

 

[10-shooter]

was at the gun show last week and those prices seem in line for what we were seeing. However, I was really surprised by the number of model 17's at the show... we counted atleast 6 being walked around. There were three pre 1950 model 17's there... just wish they would have been in better shape.

 

[RussellD]

so should I go back and buy the 17-1 or the model 36 with box for 350?

 

[ladder13]

so should I go back and buy the 17-1 or the model 36 with box for 350?

What do you want more?

 

[servmgr64]

I went to our local show today. 3 14-3 & -4 from 700 to 800. 3 17's all were 750. 1 19-3 nickel NIB 995. There were some various ones priced in the same range. I did not buy, but is was good to see some Smiths out.

 

[jimmyj]

Prices in Tennessee are VERY HIGH also, except that the seller also expects to be taken to dinner and meet your sister or daughter.

 

[bronco45]

Prices about the same in this region of Idaho. Went to LGS today and saw one 28-2 no box, wrong grips, but squeeky clean cosmetically a 4" and the owner wanted $650.00 no deals.

Saw a shooter grade 15-3 4" with a damaged rear sight and scuffed wooden grips. Owner asked $375.00 I countered with 340.00 and he refused to move from the original price.

Did buy a NIB never fired Model 67, no dash w/ all the accroutements for $550.00 owner started out at $675.00. Serial# on gun is 5K793XX. Figured I would never find another NIB 67 no dash. Doesn't even have a turn line on the cylinder. Old magna grips are perfect and gun truly is NIB. The card in the box says it was made in 1974 and it has stainless sights on both ends of the gun. My check book will just have to take the lumps.

 

[Mike Q.]

Greetings-

Most of the prices sound a little high for my area (Phoenix). In particular, the price of the 17-3 seems very high, IMHO. I recently purchased a high-condition 17-2,with box, from a prominent dealer for 900 (the dealer isn't local, however). On the other hand, I would be very interested in the 17-1 at 750. An attractive price for a variant that was made for only two years (1959-1961).

Respectfully,
Mike Q.

 

[silvercoin]

Went to a rather large show and saw a few mismatched and well used models. I look for higher quality collector guns. I saw a Model 40 ANIB, dated to 1973 for $789.00. I also was impressed by an early 66 with the stainless rear sight. It was in the box, but appeared to have been fired. The dealer was asking $599.00, offering to ship it to my dealer for $600.00. Not sure if the early model is worth the price.

 

[rags]

Prices about the same in this region of Idaho. Went to LGS today and saw one 28-2 no box, wrong grips, but squeeky clean cosmetically a 4" and the owner wanted $650.00 no deals.

Saw a shooter grade 15-3 4" with a damaged rear sight and scuffed wooden grips. Owner asked $375.00 I countered with 340.00 and he refused to move from the original price.

Did buy a NIB never fired Model 67, no dash w/ all the accroutements for $550.00 owner started out at $675.00. Serial# on gun is 5K793XX. Figured I would never find another NIB 67 no dash. Doesn't even have a turn line on the cylinder. Old magna grips are perfect and gun truly is NIB. The card in the box says it was made in 1974 and it has stainless sights on both ends of the gun. My check book will just have to take the lumps.

Uuuuuuhhhh, I'd have done that between heartbeats!!!!

 

[LOBO]

I have all but quit going to shows in Jackson. When I go to a gunshow I hit the ones in Laurel and Hattiesburg. Lately though, GB has had the best prices on what I have been looking for.

 

[Stu1205]

I agree with many of you. The prices on used guns are skyrocketing.
It is true that most licensed dealers work on a small mark up.
I am a gun show every weekend selling holsters, so I see what is out there and what they are selling for.
There are deals out there though.
In the past two months I have picked up the following:

13-1 4" barrel with diamond magna stocks from a guy who came to my table to see my holsters. $300.00 cash. 95%.

27-3 nickel 6" barrel with S&W target stocks. $350.00 cash from a private dealer. It had a few cloudy spots in the nickel, but locked up tightly and the timing was great.

15-4 4" barrel with checkered magna stocks. $260.00 plus tax and call in. 90 - 95%.

617-1 6 shot 6" barrel in original box with all papers. $525.00 cash from a private dealer. 98% 0r better condition.

The dealer who had the 617-1 also had a pristine 28-2 which he sold to an ffl dealer for $600.00. The ffl dealer took it to his table and put it out for $850.00.

The sad part is that someone will pay that much for the 28-2, and that is what is driving prices up.

I don't know of any ffl dealer that makes $250.00 on a brand new gun.

Out of the four guns above, the only one I was actually looking for was the 617-1, but when great deals just fall into your lap, you have to take them.

Be patient and vigilent. There are still many reasonable dealers and deals out there.

Stu

 

[beemerrider]

I went to the "every other month" gun show in Portland, OR yesterday and I'll bet I saw less than 75 "non-current" models of S&W revolvers. One I looked at pretty hard was a 90% model 37 no dash, flat latch that the dealer wanted $400 or $425 for. I passed because the Oregon State Police, who handle all the background checks, had their system shut down for most of the show, so dealers couldn't process transactions. Just what you need in the middle of a gun show. I looked at an about 95-98% 6" Mod. 57 no dash, with no box, tools or any extras; dealer wanted $795 for it, which might be ok, given you hardly see any model 57's at dealers shops in the area. A lot of the other pre-80's S&W revolvers I saw, were less than 75-80% and they still wanted pretty high prices, by my standards.
I would always look to our S&W Forum first, because there is a large part of the membership who really know what they are talking about, and are up on what prices should be. when a revolver blows out in the first 15 minutes, I figure either that was a "great deal" or the buyer was in too much of a hurry. when I see guns that linger on the Forum, I conclude they are either are "low demand" models or are over priced. If I can't find what I'm looking for on the Forum, in what I consider a reasonable amount of time, then I check Gun Broker to get baseline pricing, before going to a show to look, or driving all over town in the hopes of finding something I really wanted. I also look to the Forum and Gun Broker prior to going to a show, to get an idea of what the model I want is going for in other areas. Used guns I've bought from dealers have been mostly "targets of opportunity" meaning, I really bought it on impulse. A lot of factors go into the seller's pricing; what they are selling for in their market, if there is an active market, and with less older revolvers in the pool, this could drive prices higher. How their sales are in general, How rare the piece is, how strong their market for the particular gun is, their competition, are all factors that go into a dealer's pricing. Caveat emptor, would suggest we do our own research in order to buy at a "fair" price, and that fair price is quite likely different for each of us. I hope this helps.

 

[Timber Wolf]

The OPs prices are about what I am seeing in North Florida. I bought a honest shooter grade (80-85%ish) 19-3 last month for $450 OTD w/holster off a dealer with an asking price of $475 (plus tax and call). There was another one with incorrect (square butt) grips on another table with $450 asked and I could not get him below $425. Last week at another smaller show I snuck up on a 90% 14-3 with aftermarket Sile stocks (actually feel really nice) for $325 OTD off the asking private sale price of $335. He through in a box of ammo and a holster. I think several people were overlooking the 14 as it was amonst a bunch of bayonets and stuff on a cluttered table. Two times ago at this same show I passed on a snub 10 for $350 but saw one this month for $450. Deals are out there but you have to look.

 

[bullmack]

Typical over-pricing I see here in Western Washington. Also ditto on the same guns sitting on tables for months/years. I guess it's a social event more than a sales opportunity for some of the table holders. There are always a few guns worth discussing and the occasional score.

 

[model70hunter]

I went to a 500 table show over the weekend. I know most of the dealers, most of their good stuff like Colt SAA, snubbies, pythons, S&W K-22, any -2, any Winchester rifle (is a rough post 64 worth $800 !!!?) were all priced high. Not many were being sold.

What I did see was CCW type plastic guns in 380, 9mm selling quickly, most of these were in the $3-400 dollar range. I bought a 24-3, a 629 4" and a 1911. I don't recall seeing other folks buying revolvers. Dealers that did not have the plastic guns were not showing many guns.

This is the 1st gun show I've been to in a year but was not suprised at the prices because I've seen the same price hikes at gun shops. It's sort of like $4 gasoline, not much we can do and the dealers sit on the good stuff until they get what they are asking.

 

[crsides]

Should bought that 17-1


Charlie

 

[Homechicken]

I can find better prices on used and sometimes even new guns at my local pawn shop than I've seen at gunshows recently. I honestly haven't found a deal on anything other than mil-surp commie rifles in years. And who knows how much of a deal those are. Just because they're selling for $99 it may sound good, but the dealer probably only paid $50 or $60 for them.