Price check on Model 19 2 1/2"

[MTKTM]

A local shop has taken in on consignment a gorgeous nickel Model 19 2 1/2". Pinned and recessed. They claim it was born in 1980. The gun is NIB, supposedly never fired, looks pristine, box, tools, paperwork. The asking price is $680. My gut was saying that is a fair price, but not exactly a steal. What say you?

Thanks.

 

[rbmac52]

I agree with you. That price is in the ballpark.

 

[bamabiker]

Certainly not a steal but I can see one selling for that.

 

[usm1rifle]

I think it is worth the asking price, offer them less and see what happens.

 

[Stu454]

As noted above, that's fair but by no means great.

 

[Sportsterguy]

For the condition plus the goodies I think its a very good price. A snub K frame doesn't get any better IMO and you have a definate collectors piece there.

 

[murphydog]

I think it is high by $100-125, so I agree with a lower offer.

 

[Dump1567]

I recently sold one in like condition but blued for $675. It too was from 1980.

 

[bettis1]

If your barber just gave you a hot tip on a stock that is "guaranteed" to double and it only cost $680/share and you have $1360 to invest, buy both the gun and the stock and put them in your safe deposit box.

I will put money on the fact that the gun will appreciate faster than the "guaranteed" stock.

If you only want a shooter, keep looking and buy one of lesser condition without the goodies. If you are interested in a collectible piece that is a good investment then, try for a lower price, but Buy the Gun!

Bob

 

[rags]

I would feel better at a solid $600, "even" in the condition you describe. But...if it "IS" TRULY NIB, supposedly never fired, looks pristine, box, tools, paperwork, offer him $600 and if he says NO, fold like a wet paper towel and give him what he wants, and don't look back...

 

[gunlovingirl]

I agree with Bob. Offer $600. If they won't haggle, buy it anyway. Even if it's not quite worth the $680 today, it will be tomorrow!

 

[ltxi]

x2...don't remember what I paid for mine roughly 15 years ago. Much less, but if I had to buy it today for $600 I wouldn't hesitate for a second.

 

[WFR]

I would feel better at a solid $600, "even" in the condition you describe. But...if it "IS" TRULY NIB, supposedly never fired, looks pristine, box, tools, paperwork, offer him $600 and if he says NO, fold like a wet paper towel and give him what he wants, and don't look back...

THIS!

Because the odds of seeing another one in similar condition are slim to darn near none!
Even the P&R 19 snubs are creeping up on $600 these days.

 

[1 old 0311]

Check Gunbroker. NIB Nickel P&R 2 1/2" 19 ARE way over $700 some hitting the $800+ range.

 

[MTKTM]

I went back into the shop and offered $625, but they held firm at $680, so I sucked it up and bought it. The gun is truly pristine, in fact it's the nicest 19 I think I've ever seen. I seriously doubt it's ever been fired aside from the factory test, and the nickel surfaces are virtually blemish free and mirror-like. Likewise, the stocks are shiny and show no indication that they've ever been used.

I'll try to get some pics taken and post them here. Much as I hate to simply put it away as a "safe queen", I'm afraid that may be almost mandatory with this gun.

 

[rags]

Great news! You did what you had to do. You did realize that they don't make those anymore? Box doc's a goodies? Now, The pics will be worth waiting for!

 

[PH-2]

MT,

I'll hold your place 'til you can get back with pics of your new treasure!

Mike

 

[Rogue686]

I went back into the shop and offered $625, but they held firm at $680, so I sucked it up and bought it. The gun is truly pristine, in fact it's the nicest 19 I think I've ever seen. I seriously doubt it's ever been fired aside from the factory test, and the nickel surfaces are virtually blemish free and mirror-like. Likewise, the stocks are shiny and show no indication that they've ever been used.

I'll try to get some pics taken and post them here. Much as I hate to simply put it away as a "safe queen", I'm afraid that may be almost mandatory with this gun.

Good investment.

 

[gkitch]

Frequent flyer miles

I hope you paid with an American Express. That's what I do when someone sticks to their price after a fair cash offer. They pay a higher % than for other cards and I get miles to fly. It aint much but it make me feel better.

 

[MTKTM]

I hope you paid with an American Express. That's what I do when someone sticks to their price after a fair cash offer. They pay a higher % than for other cards and I get miles to fly. It aint much but it make me feel better.

This shop won't take a credit card on consignment items, otherwise I would have. But I guess the price was fair. Here are a couple of pics, the lighting wasn't great, but gives an idea. PH 2, yours looks great!

 

[RobC2]

These threads are tricky, because when someone asks if something is a good price, to me, there are really two good prices. If it is something you really don't care much about, and you could take it or leave it, that is one price, and it is going to be lower. There is another price, the "I have the money, and it is something I really want, and it is convenient" price. That is going to be a little higher. Based on what I recently paid for my blued 19-3 2.5", that is a good price, but I really wanted the gun too.

The gun looks great!

 

[Sportsterguy]

Congrats and good decision on your new 19! Beautiful specimen and a good investment in the long run IMO. I'm not a safe queen kinda guy BUT IF it's NIB I'd have a hard time shooting it.

Nah, I would at least shoot some light .38's just for a test drive, but thats just me. Keep your maintenance up on it and it will retain most of it's value and you'll have fun at the same time.

 

[gkitch]

perfect!

Looking at the pics, everything is just right. I think the snub Combat Magnum looks best in nickle. The color case hardening looks good on the hammer and the grips are stunning.

There may be a problem with the box. S&W used a gray box for their nickle guns and you are showing a blue box. Perhaps they dropped the gray boxes in 1980?

 

[gkitch]

1966-1985

I checked Supica's SCSW and the gray box was standard for nickle guns until 1985.

I HATE to spoil this for you but it is highly likely they sold you a LNIB gun at a LNIB price but substituted a fake box. You should show us some pics of the box and markings?

 

[MTKTM]

Looking at the pics, everything is just right. I think the snub Combat Magnum looks best in nickle. The color case hardening looks good on the hammer and the grips are stunning.

There may be a problem with the box. S&W used a gray box for their nickle guns and you are showing a blue box. Perhaps they dropped the gray boxes in 1980?

Where guns are concerned I've always bought shooters, not collectibles. I suppose that this might be the very first that I've bought with a primary intention being more "investment" than as a shooter.

Thank you for the heads up on the box. I looked at it and the label on the end is upside down, hand written, and shows a "N" in the Finish box. All the other info matches the gun, SN & such. But I suppose it's possible someone substituted a box. Hopefully not, but if they did it's still a nice gun. If anyone knows whether S&W went to blue boxes for nickel guns at some point, or not, that'd be interesting information.

 

[Simmy952]

That wasn't a steal but not bad. Old model 19 is always a good investment. Mine also came with the tools and a blue box. The blue box for mine matches all the way.

 

[dogdoc]

If it is something you really want, is $100.00 or so going to stop you from buying it? It sure would not stop me if I had to have it. You did fine and got something not so easy to find that you really wanted. This is a hobby, forget all this investment stuff. If a gun appreciates then great, if not and I enjoy what I have so what? Now go shoot it and see if makes you smile. Remember we all die in the long run and you cannot take these toys with you!

dogdoc

 

[MTKTM]

That wasn't a steal but not bad. Old model 19 is always a good investment. Mine also came with the tools and a blue box. The blue box for mine matches all the way.

Is yours a nickel gun? What approximate vintage? Now I'm curious about these, wondering if S&W started using blue boxes when they ran out of grey ones, etc.

 

[MTKTM]

If it is something you really want, is $100.00 or so going to stop you from buying it? It sure would not stop me if I had to have it. You did fine and got something not so easy to find that you really wanted. This is a hobby, forget all this investment stuff. If a gun appreciates then great, if not and I enjoy what I have so what? Now go shoot it and see if makes you smile. Remember we all die in the long run and you cannot take these toys with you!

dogdoc

You're right, and I do not regret buying the gun......and that's what I was doing, buying the gun, not buying a box! But I do think that if I conclude that this box was substituted and essentially a forgery, I'll have a little chat with the shop people as I think they ought to be aware. The gun would have been worth some $ even without a box, but for someone to scam in order to make a few extra $ is poor.

I bought the gun because I had a blue 2 1/2" 19 which I sold years ago, and a 2 1/2" 66 which I also sold, and I just wanted this gun, it is beautiful and as close to perfect as I have seen and I'm happy to have it. They aren't all that easy to find and when a nice one turns up it doesn't last long.

 

[diamonback68]

C'mon guys, where's your thinking? K-frame Model 19s aren't almost $700 guns. Never was and never should be. Problem is, the current craze is the 2/1/2" snubbies, but trust me, it too shall pass. It always does.
"And we continue to create our own inflation in our gun community."