Nickel 17-3 Sells for $11,005.00

I know where there is a brand new Model 18 with factory nickel in it's original box. It was bought from a Smith & Wesson employee. I wonder what that would sell for?
 
Club Gun Fan said:
I know where there is a brand new Model 18 with factory nickel in it's original box. It was bought from a Smith & Wesson employee. I wonder what that would sell for?
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I think right about now would be a good time to find out!
 
There are over 7.2 Billion people on the earth right now.
15 of these guns built. That translates into a 1-in-486 Million chance of owning this gun.

To put that into perspective, the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are said to be 1-in-175 Million.

You are 2.7 times more likely to win the Powerball jackpot than to own one of these guns.

I have no interest in shiny guns, but I can appreciate the rarity of it. :cool:
Plus, it's fun to think of the staggering odds of ever owning one.
 
bigl1911 said:
I keep commenting and should just watch and be quite.. Still..

To be clear I never purchase a gun for investment - then again I don't throw money away either always in a foolish manner.. I buy based on what I like and what resonates first and foremost. The cost factor comes next and my pain tolerance for price of ownership adjusts according to rarity and given opportunity. I'm not justifying simply explaining my logic since some are confused and can't figure it out. You are absolutely correct we have to compare apple and apples. A better comparison and I say again a Nickel RM and the Nickel 17-3 because they are both special order only guns. I am working off memory at the moment 177 Nickel RM using random numbers 10 percent or less with Certs and we will assume 1/2 in 90% plus condition. For argument sake let's say 9 guns total. There are 19 Nickel K22 17-3 made.. I am going to be generous 50% near perfect. We are talking about 9 guns. Would someone on the forum pay 11k for a 95% RM nickel? I say in a heartbeat. The only factor separating the two in value is supply versus demand relative to someone that would want a 17-3 nickel gun versus a RM Nickel. This is what defines value today. Yesterday it was somewhere between 7k and 11k at hammer. Today is another story but there are 2 bidders out there one (#3) threw the towel in at about 7k and would have gone higher if it didn't pass 10k in my opinion and the second bidder at 10,900 finally stopped at his tolerance point.. Anyway you look at it worst case an easy 10k value gun IMO.
On another note there was a comment earlier a nickel gun 17-3 can be made in a basement. Sure no problem. I will use a Shelby GT 350 R Mustang for an example, Take a blown 65 6 cylinder mustang give me about 50k (maybe a little more) and a little elbow grease and I will build you a fire breather replica in my garage like new off the showroom floor. You couldn't tell the difference.. You want the real thing? 800k plus today...
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I'm fairly new here but at the ripe old age of 67, I can tell when somebody is worth listening to and when it's time to run away. You Sir, have valuable advice to share. Thanks for coming forth. I was told many years ago,"If you see something that MIGHT make you happy or bring enjoyment , GET IT, you'll be dead a lot longer than you've been alive". If anyone is 50 or younger they can NOT pay too much for 1st Gen SAAs, Pythons, or RMs. Just pay the man and move on. Congratulations Sir!!
 
Bigl1911:

You just bought a great gun. You are happy with your purchase and, really, that is all that counts.

I hope that you will consider bringing the nickel M17-3 to the S&WCA Symposium this year at Spokane, WA. Lots of S&WCA members (including me) would like to see it up close.

Congrats!
 
Lee's Landing Billy said:
I'm fairly new here but at the ripe old age of 67, I can tell when somebody is worth listening to and when it's time to run away. You Sir, have valuable advice to share. Thanks for coming forth. I was told many years ago,"If you see something that MIGHT make you happy or bring enjoyment , GET IT, you'll be dead a lot longer than you've been alive". If anyone is 50 or younger they can NOT pay too much for 1st Gen SAAs, Pythons, or RMs. Just pay the man and move on. Congratulations Sir!!
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Thank you for the kind words... I am 56 next month....:)
 
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ordnanceguy said:
Bigl1911:

You just bought a great gun. You are happy with your purchase and, really, that is all that counts.

I hope that you will consider bringing the nickel M17-3 to the S&WCA Symposium this year at Spokane, WA. Lots of S&WCA members (including me) would like to see it up close.

Congrats!
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I will.. Plan on having (maybe) a k display including my K32 First Model I found earlier last year...
 
Great looking gun and I would have bought it too if I could have. I also appreciate you being able to share your thought process on this purchase and hope you will continue to share opinions with us on other rare pieces you come across. I consider it sage advice and will follow your future posts.

bwade
 
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Another nickel has surfaced...

Awesome gun, btw, and priceless to some folk out there.
 
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A few years back I watched a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar hammer north of $200K at an auction. It had the bridge replaced, had been re-fretted and was pretty well warn. The buyer was in Japan and the guitar was boxed (I assume, heavily insured) and shipped oversees.

I was dumbstruck at what I had witnessed. However, they aren't making '59 Les Pauls anymore and the price is what the market will bear.

The prices have come down a bit since, but I assume it will be a good investment in the long run. I'm told the buyer is a player and collector and based on condition, he can play it everyday without fear of lessening it's value (barring anything unforeseen).

In the case of this M 17-3 K22, it was bought for market price. It will most likely be a solid long term investment. It is staying in the US. Sadly however, I don't think it will be used everyday like the Gibson I referenced above. I'm sure the owner will get a great deal of enjoyment out of it just the same.


I say "cheers and enjoy"!

Fondly,

your long lost nephew koz.
 
Definitely a fine purchase,that being said after living here in CA
for the past 20 years,to my knowledge to get that gun legally
into the state the gun will have to be converted to SA.Not a
big deal,however, the gun will have to be opened up(remove the
sideplate),I hope the buyer has good people on BOTH ends
performing this task to mitigate any damage to an otherwise
fine finish. Pete
 
kozmic said:
A few years back I watched a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar hammer north of $200K at an auction. It had the bridge replaced, had been re-fretted and was pretty well warn. The buyer was in Japan and the guitar was boxed (I assume, heavily insured) and shipped oversees.

I was dumbstruck at what I had witnessed. However, they aren't making '59 Les Pauls anymore and the price is what the market will bear.

The prices have come down a bit since, but I assume it will be a good investment in the long run. I'm told the buyer is a player and collector and based on condition, he can play it everyday without fear of lessening it's value (barring anything unforeseen).

In the case of this M 17-3 K22, it was bought for market price. It will most likely be a solid long term investment. It is staying in the US. Sadly however, I don't think it will be used everyday like the Gibson I referenced above. I'm sure the owner will get a great deal of enjoyment out of it just the same.


I say "cheers and enjoy"!

Fondly,

your long lost nephew koz.
Click to expand...

What is my 64 tomato red matching headstock 64 Jazz Bass worth today.. I paid $175 for it in 1979... I think I overpaid!!
 
I had a music store for many years, and I remember when I started in the early 1990's, some Gibson F5 mandolins built during a brief period in the 1920's were going for around $75,000 if they had the right credentials, and I thought, well, that's outrageous. They won't get any higher than that.

Of course, I was wrong. They went a lot higher than that. That's the collector's market...I wasn't a collector, so I didn't understand the market. Even if you would never spend that kind of money, however, you can still appreciate what collectors are doing - when someone pays that much, they're always going to care for the piece more than someone who just keeps it in their closet. Best wishes to the person who got the great gun.
 
I hate to bring up such an old post, but has anyone ever come across a factory nickel pre17 k22 target?? I know this is in the 61-80 section, but as it pertains to the 17 k22's thought might ask here. Thanks
 
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