Nickel 17-3 Sells for $11,005.00

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I assume you have to be a member signed in to see the final price but if it sold for that it is proof of 3 things to me.

1) Really nice photos help convince folks to bid in gun auctions.
2) I am really glad I never was infected by the "collector bug."
3) Some people must have a whole lot of disposable income and I ain't one of them...leading back to #2.

Wow. :eek:

And from what I have seen in past posts, at least a couple of forum members should be very happy. Perhaps this was one of theirs.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-model-17-3-some-interesting-information.html
 
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It's a beautiful gun and very few nickel K22s ever made. It's lettered so the risk is low. The seller's photos are impeccable as is his reputation. Then it all depends on how bad you want it and how much money you have. The winner posts here and I have met him. He got started late in life and he's catching up!
 
I think there were 15 made. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the nicest and most complete in existence. Bruce, if you're reading and want a refund for the one I sold you, I bring the cash right over. :)
 
I was awe-struck by the gun's beauty, until… The fit of the yoke to the frame is sub-standard in my know-it-all opinion. That one photo killed the value as far as I'm concerned. Otherwise, a beautiful gun.
 
As the winning bidder better talk about it given the curiosity. As collectors we find areas of specific interest where we focus attention. For me K series guns seem to be one vertical and for the record I also purchased a 29-2 5" sold by HH Harris from the same seller this afternoon.
As my collection grows and my knowledge about firearms grow, I try to focus on building a "fine firearms" collection as a primary goal. As Bob (thanks for the plug :)) mentioned I am very late in the game in high gear and extremely motivated when it comes to making smart moves.
Purchasing this nickel K22 at 11k is a very smart move from the standpoint of rarity and taking into account short and long term solid investment. You shouldn't spent this kind of money and throw cash away at least I do not without thinking. Most of you think the gun is worth maybe 4500... Crazy 7k gotta have... You more refined collectors know this is a 10 to 12k gun at today's numbers and only going up IF another one comes up for sale. 1974 - guys get over it and think when you last saw one in the flesh. This is a very rare gun... I knew this going in and the gun hammered exactly where I figured it would. This was not an impulse buy or a cock fight. Three bidders down to two that were very serious and speaking for the 2nd and 3rd runners up - smart collectors. Those of you that cannot believe it - believe it and know I just added a very rare gun to my collection in addition to adding a seriously valuable gun that will only go up and up in value over time.
I suppose my last comment is a gun The Dog sold today I will use as a comparison - a Colt 1924 transition model not great condition that sold today for $9655. A few months ago I was deep in the hunt for one of these 1924 M1911A1. I found one a few months ago in 98/99% paid 8k for it and some thought I was crazy. Crazy like a fox..
Boys those of you that think fool you need to rethink values and jump into the 21st century. Smiths even this one is affordable as a rare piece. Guns like these are going to get harder and more expensive over time... And let's get real in comparison look for a moment.. I have a nickel RM complete with a cert I bought last year - a beautiful gun another expensive gun I overpaid for at the time and made money on today if sold.. Which of the two guns is the more uncommon and rare?
 
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Shiney K-22.

lowriderfxr said:
I think there were 15 made. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the nicest and most complete in existence. Bruce, if you're reading and want a refund for the one I sold you, I bring the cash right over. :)
Click to expand...

Many, I remember that gun... I should never have been a gentleman about that one and let it go to someone else...
 
There must be a bit more to the story than we know - for someone to spend that kind of money on a K22. Never thought someone would go THAT high!
 
First of all, VERY nice and extremely scarce Nickel K22 :)

As far as value is concerned, you may very well be correct that the gun is a good long term investment but we don't know the future so no one can say for certain. That's why when we collectors converse between one-another about whether or not someone overpaid or underpaid, we are talking today's prices, not in the future.

I've never heard anyone say, "Boy, you stole that gun!!!! 20 years from now you'll double your money or better!!!!"

Or "you should feel ashamed of yourself for what you paid, you know that gun will be worth 3x times that when you sell it down the road."


Is the Nickel K22 worth $11,000 today, that's debatable but I guess it was worth that to you and one other guy ;)

I do know you are now a member of the small group of factory nickel K22 owners and you have made every single one of them VERY happy :)
 
There's a saying in real estate investing "you don't make money in real estate when you sell it, you make it when you buy it." I think that applies to other hard assets too. The trick is being smart, or lucky, enough to know the true value of assets. . . .and I usually have to depend on luck. Is this nickel 17 way over priced or a great bargain? I don't know, but that's what makes a market. The buyer has something special that I'd love to have I know that for sure.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
I thought that was nuts for about 5 seconds, then realized that's the first nickel 17 I've ever seen. The hammer price isn't too crazy when I consider early pythons are regularly getting done at over $5000.
 
Without a crystal ball, none of us can say for certain where the market will go. But just how many of us has ever personally seen a factory nickel 17? I am of the opinion that when a very rare object sells, that price sets the new benchmark.

Condition, provenance and completeness of the package ensure that this particular gun is always going to be at the top of the heap in desirability.

Collecting guns for me is a long term effort. I don't particularly buy with the expectation that I am going to make money on my guns long term, I buy what I personally like and if it goes up in value, fine. So far I have been lucky and just about everything I have acquired as appreciated in value, but there is a few guns that I own that will certainly need to mature in my safe for a few more years before they are worth significantly more than I paid for them.
 
lowriderfxr said:
I think there were 15 made. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the nicest and most complete in existence. Bruce, if you're reading and want a refund for the one I sold you, I bring the cash right over. :)
Click to expand...

There are now 19 total documented 16 with the target options
and 3 with standard trigger and hammer and Magna stocks.

Allen Frame
 
410bore said:
First of all, VERY nice and extremely scarce Nickel K22 :)

As far as value is concerned, you may very well be correct that the gun is a good long term investment but we don't know the future so no one can say for certain. That's why when we collectors converse between one-another about whether or not someone overpaid or underpaid, we are talking today's prices, not in the future.

I've never heard anyone say, "Boy, you stole that gun!!!! 20 years from now you'll double your money or better!!!!"

Or "you should feel ashamed of yourself for what you paid, you know that gun will be worth 3x times that when you sell it down the road."


Is the Nickel K22 worth $11,000 today, that's debatable but I guess it was worth that to you and one other guy ;)

I do know you are now a member of the small group of factory nickel K22 owners and you have made every single one of them VERY happy :)
Click to expand...
Exactly... Well said.. Thank you..
 
I collected hand blown soda bottles from Hawaii back in the
80's & 90's, and even dug up a couple of very rare ones while
I lived there. I learned as a collector that you need to grab
the really rare stuff when it becomes available, because you
may not see one for a very long time. Rarity plus condition
plus demand drives prices. That nickel 17-3 should hold it's
value for the near future. Just my .02 cents. :)
 
True Value

The true value of something is what someone is willing to pay for it. That is what makes collecting fun. I am happy for the person who outbid the over than 180 bidders that wanted that gun. Life is too short. If one can afford to buy whatever pleases them GOD bless them.
 
Model39 said:
The true value of something is what someone is willing to pay for it. That is what makes collecting fun. I am happy for the person who outbid the over than 180 bidders that wanted that gun. Life is too short. If one can afford to buy whatever pleases them GOD bless them.
Click to expand...
Thank you Sir! Back at ya!
 
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