Opinion: Am I asking too much?

[1 old 0311]

This is NOT for sale on here, I prefer FTF sales to keep everyone happy, and on the same page.
I took one of my 3 1/2" 27-2's to a gun show this weekend

It has numbered box, papers, and unopened cleaning kit and is in 95+% condition. I was stopped 10-12 times by people wanting to look at it but all thought $975 was a bit high. What's the verdict yes, or no?

 

[Dump1567]

I usually check GB under completed auctions to get an idea of what things are selling for.

You may have better luck on GB or here, as your gun will be national and hitting a specific interest group vs. your local show attendee looking for a deal.

As for price, I think your in the ballpark. But a lot of these seem to come with display cases.

 

[A10]

Not too high, but on the high end. Wait a few months and folks will be beating down your door!

 

[mod29]

For a 95% 27-2, $1,000 would be a bit too rich for me.
If it was 98-99%, I would think you're in the ballpark.

-Jim

 

[1 old 0311]

Not too high, but on the high end. Wait a few months and folks will be beating down your door!

Maybe you are right. With Christmas 13 days away not a lot of people with a extra 1K sitting around. Thanks.

 

[1 old 0311]

For a 95% 27-2, $1,000 would be a bit too rich for me.
If it was 98-99%, I would think you're in the ballpark.

-Jim

It may indeed be 98-99%. I ALWAYS estimate condition on the low side and with nickel even BRAND NEW IN BOX will have some 'marks.'

 

[Dump1567]

It may indeed be 98-99%. I ALWAYS estimate condition on the low side and with nickel even BRAND NEW IN BOX will have some 'marks.'

That could be. Someone just sold me a model 28 that stated 95%. Looked more like 98-99% when I got it.

 

[diamonback68]

No one else will say it, so I will. Almost $1,000.00 for a 27-2 as described is too high. That said, if it was a 100% unfired NIB with the presentaion case and all, it's maybe close to worth it. This is just me.

What bothers me is, when someone comes on and asked about about the selling price of a gun, invariably we all jump in and say it's worth that much and MORE, almost never less, then we moan about the current high prices of Smiths.
"We create our own inflation".

JMNSHO

 

[snubbiefan]

I buy-sell guns at gun shows and we have 8-tables and LOTS of guns. This past weekend we had one of the largest crowds I have ever seen come through the doors at this particular show and were extremely busy....TRYING to sell guns. I sold one AR15 receiver and one of my table-mates moved a few over the table and back on some trades, but did not actually sell one gun. The other buddy did not sell one gun. I think it's the Christmas thing. I just don't recall a show where we did not sell (as in new) several guns and other dealers reported similar slow sales. Tis the season to be buying other gifts for people who don't like guns. We had plenty of sellers, but they were just trying to make some Christmas money themselves.

 

[old bear]

What bothers me is, when someone comes on and asked about about the selling price of a gun, invariably we all jump in and say it's worth that much and MORE, almost never less, then we moan about the current high prices of Smiths.
"We create our own inflation".

Can we get an Amen here!!

 

[snubbiefan]

I don't know if this qualifies as an Amen or not....but I learned a long time ago that you never know what anything is worth until you actually sell it.....no matter what any book says.

On the flip-side, I have purchased guns at more that the Bible value, because I knew I could get a lot more than what the book says. It means the same thing both ways. It's always only worth what you can get for it.

 

[diamonback68]

It's always only worth what you can get for it.

You're so right, it doesn't matter what the book says or what people say. When people ask "what's it worth" with no intention of selling, the answers are totally worthless. Let's face it the answers are only good for what, six months or a year, then you'd have to ask the same question all over again ad infinitum.
To me, my guns are exactly worth what I paid for them and what I feel they are worth to me now, not what someone would be willing to buy them for now or in the future, which to me is a totally meaningless number.

 

[Dennis The B]

... But a lot of these seem to come with display cases.

I don't think display cases for Model 27's came until sometime later in 1974. I think "1 Old 3011" has the complete package, as is.

Last year, I picked up a very nice 27-2, ca. 1970, and thought I got a real deal at $725, and prices have inflated some in the last 20 months.

 

[SpectrePilot]

A 3 1/2" M27-2 is the next purchase I'm planning, although I prefer blue to nickle. I want as perfect as I can afford, and the box, papers, unopened cleaning kit all have value ot me. The fact this one isn't 100% and never fired also means it's good enough at 96+% to appreciate but not too good to shoot. IF I were ready to buy now, (March 2012 is my planned purchase time), and this was blue, I would love to get it for $850 but would pay $975 shipped to my FFL. The only way to know for sure is to mark it For Sale.

 

[Smith &W]

I attended this weekends show and actually got to fondle this nice nickel 27-2. After a day and a half of not seeing anything of interest come through the door I was excited to see this one. I would have rated it at 97 to 98% and can say it actually looked much better than the photo. I tried not to drool but I couldnt strike a deal. I guess its our nature to at least try to do a little negotiating regardless of which side of the table your on. I personally thought a fair price to be 800.00 too 850. and was truly dissapointed I didn`t get to take it home. The shows here are overflowing with beautiful N frame Smiths ranging from 850.00 too 1100. and have been laying on the same venders tables for 7 to 8 months. Even though I really wanted it i guess I just couldn`t bring myself to give the asking price. 3 Years from now i will probably regret it.

 

[1 old 0311]

I attended this weekends show and actually got to fondle this nice nickel 27-2. After a day and a half of not seeing anything of interest come through the door I was excited to see this one. I would have rated it at 97 to 98% and can say it actually looked much better than the photo. I tried not to drool but I couldnt strike a deal. I guess its our nature to at least try to do a little negotiating regardless of which side of the table your on. I personally thought a fair price to be 800.00 too 850. and was truly dissapointed I didn`t get to take it home. The shows here are overflowing with beautiful N frame Smiths ranging from 850.00 too 1100. and have been laying on the same venders tables for 7 to 8 months. Even though I really wanted it i guess I just couldn`t bring myself to give the asking price. 3 Years from now i will probably regret it.

Was the gun show in Muncie? If it was Sunday, about 11:00 a.m. that was me.
There were a number of people who wanted to look at it and most said I was CLOSE to their spending price but nobody bought.
Are you in your 40's, about 6"1' with light brown hair? If so you are the most knowledgeable one who looked at it. Near a dealer named Valentine?

 

[Smith &W]

Yep , Muncie it was, and about 11:00. You was showing it to a vender near the front door who had a lot of Civil War items. I spoke to you there and offerd a little less and hoped we could come to an agreeable amount somewhere between both our numbers. I am 6 ft 1" and very litte brown hair left, but 59 years old. I did end up buying a little .32 kit gun though. Im glad you posted this .We are always glad to hear from a smith enthusiast.

 

[oldafsp]

I have been known to drop my asking price for someone I feel is going to appreciate the gun for what it is.

You can tell within the first couple of moments of them looking at it.

I always ask myself, (and being on a budget too) can we meet somewhere and make each other happy.

It's not always about the money. Take a chance sometime and make someones day....jeez did I really say that ????

 

[1 old 0311]

Yep , Muncie it was, and about 11:00. You was showing it to a vender near the front door who had a lot of Civil War items. I spoke to you there and offerd a little less and hoped we could come to an agreeable amount somewhere between both our numbers. I am 6 ft 1" and very litte brown hair left, but 59 years old. I did end up buying a little .32 kit gun though. Im glad you posted this .We are always glad to hear from a smith enthusiast.

It IS a small world isn't it? As I said I bought it at the Indy 1500 this summer and I do have another 3 1/2" Nickel 27-2 so I was trying to free up some up some cash, without hurting my collection.
As I said a LOT of people looked at it but you were the only one who seemed to know what he was doing. There is a show in Kokomo last weekend of the month. Usually a bit bigger/more tables than the Muncie show. Maybe I'll catch you there.

 

[ralph7]

over 10 people stopped you and wanted to look and none bought?

the price was good for 2015, but we're not there yet.

 

[Ga Johnny]

The shows here are overflowing with beautiful N frame Smiths ranging from 850.00 too 1100. and have been laying on the same venders tables for 7 to 8 months.

So we can assume if the asking prices were lower, then sales would increase.....correct?

Kinda like Pizza Hut now selling a large 5 topping pizza for $10, 3 years ago that was a $18~20 pie.

It's not inflation.......it's deflation.

It's supply and demand in reverse

More people with less money, the only way to shake 'em loose and move the product is to drop the price.

ETA......

I can understand wanting to keep it FTF, but high end collector piece may do better on the internet where you can get it in front of the right people

 

[diamonback68]

The shows here are overflowing with beautiful N frame Smiths ranging from 850.00 too 1100. and have been laying on the same venders tables for 7 to 8 months.

And what does that tell you? Tells me we have, or soon will, be pricing ourselves out of the market. Gun prices are only as good as the market will bear.
As snubbiefan said, "It's always only worth what you can get for it". And I think we are there and a lot of folks are going to be sorely disappointed in the very near future with their "investments" if this economy continues the way it's going.

 

[snubbiefan]

The 686 is a good example of deflation. Not long ago the going rate was $700-$750 where I come from. You can generally buy just about whatever barrel length you want now for closer to $475-$500 from a passer-by and put it on the table at $600.....and it just sits there. I saw a 8-7/8 on a dealers table this weekend marked at $465 and I'd be betting he had less than that in it.

If a customer can be found that really wants a gun at a retail, or book price and is willing to pay that.....ALL you have to do is find him/her. A dealer has to try and buy the gun at a wholesale price to leave some room to make-a-buck. They don't give you those tables for free.

 

[GPJohn]

I recently purchased a blue and a nickel 3 1/2" M27 from the same seller in two auctions on GB. They are both unfired and in perfect condition. Neither had the matching box, paperwork or tools, although they both arrived in mint, unlabeled Bangor Punta boxes.

I paid an average of $840 for each and am thrilled to have won both auctions. I don't plan to sell these so I haven't spent a lot of time worrying if I overpaid. I'm to busy enjoying them.

 

[1 old 0311]

over 10 people stopped you and wanted to look and none bought?

the price was good for 2015, but we're not there yet.

A high end wheel gun is a WANT not a NEED. It is actually priced at low retail. MOST people at gun shows want to BUY at wholesale then RESELL at retail.
It doesn't eat much, and I don't HAVE to sell so I will bring it out occasionally. At $975 I am making $25 and compared to what they are doing on G-broker it is a very fair price.
It does have a twin that would miss it

 

[1 old 0311]

I recently purchased a blue and a nickel 3 1/2" M27 from the same seller in two auctions on GB. They are both unfired and in perfect condition. Neither had the matching box, paperwork or tools, although they both arrived in mint, unlabeled Bangor Punta boxes.

I paid an average of $840 for each and am thrilled to have won both auctions. I don't plan to sell these so I haven't spent a lot of time worrying if I overpaid. I'm to busy enjoying them.

You did REAL well on those. Don't know how I missed those. I check g-broker every few days but the site is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO slow I pack it in pretty quick.

 

[snubbiefan]

I agree....if I can turn a gun over for $25-$50 or take it and trade it for something that I can turn over....I feel like I "done good". Now....the ones I buy for me....I may pay more than I should, but those don't get put on the table. Yes....I have been called an idiot by my table-mates on occasion, but I was purchasing for me...not a turn-over.

I almost had a little lady climb over the table and claw my eyes out this past Saturday. She came in and started darn-near yelling about how high our prices were and how she knew she could buy guns off the internet for a lot less. She told me I would not be in business very long at these astronomical prices. I was going to try and explain to her that unless she had a FFL and received free shipping on one of those cheap internet deals...she would not get a better deal than what was on the tables. She pointed her little finger at me and told me to shut-up...twice. I held-on and simply told her...yes mam....yes mam. I was waiting for either a scream, or a gun-shot from some other "not so nice" dealer on down the line, but I guess she got out of there without being strangled. This woman had serious hormone problems.

Sorry to get off the subject OP...just had to tell that story.

 

[1 old 0311]

I agree....if I can turn a gun over for $25-$50 or take it and trade it for something that I can turn over....I feel like I "done good". Now....the ones I buy for me....I may pay more than I should, but those don't get put on the table. Yes....I have been called an idiot by my table-mates on occasion, but I was purchasing for me...not a turn-over.

I almost had a little lady climb over the table and claw my eyes out this past Saturday. She came in and started darn-near yelling about how high our prices were and how she knew she could buy guns off the internet for a lot less. She told me I would not be in business very long at these astronomical prices. I was going to try and explain to her that unless she had a FFL and received free shipping on one of those cheap internet deals...she would not get a better deal than what was on the tables. She pointed her little finger at me and told me to shut-up...twice. I held-on and simply told her...yes mam....yes mam. I was waiting for either a scream, or a gun-shot from some other "not so nice" dealer on down the line, but I guess she got out of there without being strangled. This woman had serious hormone problems.

Sorry to get off the subject OP...just had to tell that story.

In 30+ years of being a 'gun show rat' I have seen that happen more than a few times. It is better not to argue, just tell them to have a nice day.
The argue people and the 'I am a genius about EVERY make and model' sure get around.

 

[mkk41]

Might be the light , but I do see some fine lines in that plating. Some soft flannel and a little dab of Simichrome or Flitz will get that nickel shining and just might fetch that price.

 

[jimmyj]

$850.00 to $900.00