Prices falling . . .

[Cardboard_killer]

I scored a 15-2 today for $280 OTD. Grips were in poor shape, and there is some bluing wear here and there, but nothing too extensive. Lock up was like fort knox though.

I stripped it down and it is now in parts over my table waiting for sonic cleaning and some trigger work. The target grips are an interesting thing. It looks like a previous owner had adjusted the left grip for speedloaders and/or to fit his/her hand. They also recut the checkering, I think. Then used some kind of shallac on them, which pooled in the checkering. And it all looks like it was done 40 years ago, with chips and wear. I am going to try to save them, but I don't want to spend too much time on them. At least the checkering is acceptable after getting the shellac out of the grooves, so no worries about recheckering.

Pictures to come in a week or so.

 

[S&W45Colt]

Prices falling? In general, no.

Try to find a nice model 19 snub for the $450-$500 they were going for last year. It'll tell you all you need to know.

Look forward to seeing your find, sounds like you got a deal!

 

[Snakeshift]

Prices falling? In general, no.

Try to find a nice model 19 snub for the $450-$500 they were going for last year. It'll tell you all you need to know.

Look forward to seeing your find, sounds like you got a deal!

I'm really glad I scored my 19 snub when I did. They're like unicorns around here now, rarely spotted and when you do find one they're priced out of this world.

 

[opaul]

CB Killer........looking forward to seeing your posts. You need to put up a before so we can determine what a good job you did!

 

[usm1rifle]

Given the condition you quoted, I would have thought about it but I would have passed. Too rough a "diamond in the rough" for me.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

All the higher end guns are going up in price quickly.

 

[fyimo]

Pricing is based on Condition and location with S&W revolvers in excellent condition still commanding top dollar.

 

[clevolver]

I passed on a 15-3 I looked at recently. The seller described the finish as "75%" and was asking $450... the left side (which was all that was pictured in the ad) looked fine, better than you'd expect for "75%" so I had hopes that he was being conservative in his condition rating...

but the right side (which I didn't see until I had it in my hand) was a mess... looked like it had been left sitting on its side for a long time in a metal drawer that had attracted condensation, or something. Just ugly.

He came down to $350 when I said I wasn't interested. I'm not sure what a fair value for it might have been, but personally I might have been willing to part with $150-200 for that one -- if I didn't have other things to spend it on. Which I did, so I passed.

If you don't care how it looks, or plan to turn it into a project, and it's mechanically in order, then I guess it doesn't matter so much how it looks. I don't mind a little wear on my shooters, but signs of neglect or abuse on a gun I'm thinking about purchasing, I will walk away from.

 

[jack the toad]

Pricing is based on Condition and location with S&W revolvers in excellent condition still commanding top dollar.

+1
And IMO for most models, still appreciating. They may not be selling but the advertised prices seem more. Even lower end models are higher due to the increase of high end (more desirable) models. Trickle up effect???

 

[Old TexMex]

Rising prices make trading a good option for us. I hate turning a good Smith & Wesson into cash. Hate it. Won't do it, not unless a dire emergency.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

Rising prices means buying is the best option--trading is only a good option if what you trade is worth less than what you get. Trading a revolver you spent $200 on but is worth $400 for a gun you could buy for $400 is not a good trade, it's an even trade.

If S&Ws are still appreciating putting all your spare money into buying now is the right thing to do.

 

[hotrod150]

I see lots of guns advertised locally online under "want to trade". When I ask if they have a cash price, it seems like at least half of them respond that they're only interested in trading. Since I don't have anything I want to trade away, I try to convince them that if I trade them some cash for their gun, they can then trade that cash for whatever they want. "Nope- trade only"!
I don't get it.

 

[arjay]

I don't get it either,that is the point of money lol.

 

[gm272gs]

I typically buy just about any older Smith & Wesson I can find, for less than $300.

 

[Jagrmaister]

I typically buy just about any older Smith & Wesson I can find, for less than $300.

Unless you were buying beat up and ugly, you wouldn't be buying anything around here for that price point.

 

[Old TexMex]

Rising prices means buying is the best option--trading is only a good option if what you trade is worth less than what you get. Trading a revolver you spent $200 on but is worth $400 for a gun you could buy for $400 is not a good trade, it's an even trade.

If S&Ws are still appreciating putting all your spare money into buying now is the right thing to do.

First off, if anyone has "spare money" I'd like to see it, that's not a problem I have. I can always find a job for cash.
What I mean is.....
If I trade one I don't want as much as one someone else has, and they want mine..... Trading is a good option. I don't have to make money to be happy, I have a job for that. What makes me happy is getting the gun I'm lookin' for at the time...and if another man gets the gun HE wants at the same time, it's a super deal.
Trading's a good option.I don't have to make money to be happy, (or call it a good deal).

I used to know a man who wasn't happy if he didn't screw someone on a trade. He was miserable....

 

[Old TexMex]

Just mathematics here: say I buy a 29 for 200 dollars, and a buddy of mine bought a 19 for 150. We both had these for a few years, but he wanted a 44magnum and I wanted another snub 19.... So we trade. Now we all here know what either of those two guns would've cost us had we bought them for cash, but we didn't, we traded. We both got a bargain.
Now if someone wants to pay me the overpriced amount a 2 1/2" 19 for a 29 I don't want, that's ok too.
As far as "trade only" I'm not sure about that, unless profit for handgun transactions happen to be illegal for an unlicensed individual.

 

[BJoe]

Prices falling? In general, no.

Try to find a nice model 19 snub for the $450-$500 they were going for last year. It'll tell you all you need to know.

Look forward to seeing your find, sounds like you got a deal!

I recently found a 19-3 nickel for $575 and a 19-2 blue for $600 both 2 1/2" but in 60-70% condition on a GOOD day. Excellent P&R 2 1/2" 19's are pushing $1000 with box and papers.

I hit 4-5 gun shows a month in 3 different states. If you got them hang on to them, if not if you find an excellent example pay whatever it takes. I have my 'list' of always wanted guns and when I see them I buy them. Remember they ain't making any more. You never pay too much, just sometimes buy too early.

 

[Sgt 127]

I've considered trading off a few if mine. For silver and gold. But, that's all I would trade for.

If somebody bought thier gold at $450 an ounce, it will work out well for them if they get the 3 1/2" 27 I paid $350 for back when I got it.

 

[jack the toad]

I've considered trading off a few if mine. For silver and gold. But, that's all I would trade for.

If somebody bought thier gold at $450 an ounce, it will work out well for them if they get the 3 1/2" 27 I paid $350 for back when I got it.

Based on current gold prices (spot), I'll give you $350 worth of gold for your M27.
Yeah, I know I'm a smartazz sometimes but doesn't hurt to ask. If nothing more than for a chuckle.

 

[Frank46]

"Spare Money" I like that. Haven't had spare money in a long time. But to be honest had to buy a new tractor cause my crappy JD took a dump. And I totally lost faith in the dealer. All he sees is $$$$$. Frank

 

[Boogsawaste]

You never pay too much, just sometimes buy too early.

Excellent! Completely makes sense (within reason), because once they're gone, they're gone. As long as one hangs onto them and keeps them in good shape I believe value is only going to increase as time goes on.

 

[gm272gs]

Rising prices means buying is the best option--trading is only a good option if what you trade is worth less than what you get. Trading a revolver you spent $200 on but is worth $400 for a gun you could buy for $400 is not a good trade, it's an even trade...

If I buy a Glock 27 for $200 and trade it for a Smith & Wesson 586 that someone wants $450 for, then (at least the way I see it) I got the 586 for $200. No money changed hands. I got the gun I wanted for what I had in the other one. What it's worth has nothing to do with it, in this scenario. The difference (to me, at least) is that the Glock is a commodity to be traded, and the Smith is something that I want.

 

[bigtubby]

Prices ain't falling around here a guy is asking $700.00 for a nice model 15 no box,docs or extras. Well at least asking prices aren't falling.

 

[Sgt 127]

Based on current gold prices (spot), I'll give you $350 worth of gold for your M27.
Yeah, I know I'm a smartazz sometimes but doesn't hurt to ask. If nothing more than for a chuckle.

Yeah...Not so much. Nice try though!

 

[Retired W4]

This past weekend it seemed that every one wanted to trade! The problem is no one had anything that I wanted. Trading for a gun that I can only flip (hopefully) does not make sense to me, or for me. These traders all want to come out on top, of course, and don't care what gun the end up with as long as they can move up. I, on the other hand, only want what I want and stay away from the flipping aspect. There was a time I was only interested in having a different gun, but no longer.

WILL TRADE FOR CASH

To the original post, I also think you got a decent deal on the gun.

 

[hotrod150]

I go to a couple three gun shows a year. Haven't sen any good S&W deals at any of them in a long time. I do occasionally fnd a good deal on the local onlibe venues. In the past year, I've bought two different 442-2's and ended up with about $300 in each of them. I like Chief Specials and have five of them of various models, plus the 442, so unless I find something I "just have to have", I don't buy unless I can get a good deal. A nice half-moon front sight Terrier, Baby Chief, or M&P snubby might be the exception to that rule.

 

[gm272gs]

I bought a 637 earlier this year for $200, and sold it for $350. It was from 2012 in the original box with everything, but it wasn't new. You can get one new for $390. I was amazed - and happy - because that thing kicked like a mule.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I see lots of guns advertised locally online under "want to trade". When I ask if they have a cash price, it seems like at least half of them respond that they're only interested in trading. Since I don't have anything I want to trade away, I try to convince them that if I trade them some cash for their gun, they can then trade that cash for whatever they want. "Nope- trade only"!
I don't get it.

A big +1 to this,For trade only makes no sense to me.If I buy the gun from you for fair market price then you can "trade" my cash for whatever gun you want.It's a win win for both parties.Especially people looking to trade a very rare gun for another rare gun,What are the chances that it will work out? Maybe 1-2%

 

[shil]

A sighting of a Model 58 occurred last week! Visibly used. $850.00. Had it been better cosmetically, I may have parted with that kind of money.