Probably shot myself in the foot

[Harkrader]

So I'm accompanying one of our sons to a gunshow. He's looking for a holster, I'm looking for ammo.

As his gun is being checked an older gentleman, clearly in his late 80s, steps up and hands over one of my Grail Guns: a S&W 25-7 in pristine condition. I asked him what he wanted for it and he said he wanted to talk to a dealer to find out what it's worth.

So, hoping against hope, I follow him in. I know, sounds creepy. He goes to a dealer who does a quick dance in a book and tells him $600 - $700, tops. In a galloping state of shock I tell him I'll give him $700 ON THE SPOT for it. I did that because in addition to the drooling dealer there was another interested person on the other side. Turned out he didn't want to spend that much. Heh.

The gentleman turned down my offer and as he stepped away I told him his gun was worth WAAAY more than $700 and I knew a collector who could tell him exactly what it was worth. I didn't think he'd go with me, but he did.

The collector knew immediately what it was and showed him that if it was NIB it would be worth some $2,800. With no box, and a SLIGHT turn ring, he said it was worth about $1,500 to $1,800, but that it was a niche gun and he'd likely have a hard time finding a buyer at the gun show.

It was my turn to drool. I HAD MY GUN! Well, didn't turn out that way. He decided not to sell. ARRRRGH!

Next time, No More Mr. Nice Guy! Nah, couldn't do it. Dag nab it!

 

[Chuck24]

That's a plus in the karma book for you!

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

Makes you wonder why ask what it's worth if he won't sell it. I have priceless gun that have no actual value but sentiment. To bad you couldn't get it.

 

[mauser9]

Wow amazing what some of these models are going for! Tryin to get more educated and this forum is a great place for it. Makes one wonder where prices for some models will be in another 10 years.

 

[Ashlander]

He just wanted to put a note on it so the kids didn't sell it for $200 once they slammed the lid.

 

[S&W Fan]

Wow, I had no idea the 25-7 brought such crazy prices in certain areas. Around my area that tops out at $1000-$1100 in the box, $700-$800 without.

 

[ralph7]

Wow, I had no idea the 25-7 brought such crazy prices in certain areas. Around my area that tops out at $1000-$1100 in the box, $700-$800 without.

That's kinda what I was thinking.

 

[buck460XVR]

Sounds like to me he never intended to sell it, but was only looking to find it's worth. Could be to insure his widow or other heir wouldn't get snookered or he was trying to be fair when writing out his will. Could be he was just curious as to what his gun was worth.

 

[amazingflapjack]

What goes around-comes around. You'll get your gun.

 

[Kho]

You did the right thing.

 

[Harkrader]

To answer a question in a PM, yes it was the model of 1989. After reading a couple of the posts, here, I have to say I did not hear the gentleman say he was intending to sell it, so perhaps he was just getting a value for his family to know.
A quick rummage of the internet does find them selling for well under $1,000. I can only say I saw the book that was referenced. *sigh*

That is the only one I have ever seen at a gunshow in SE WI.

 

[pittpa]

FWIW TodaY at a show I saw a 6" 25-5 in 45 Colt asking $2200. Not sure what was special about it.

 

[jmace57]

I had a friend ask me if I'd give him $600 for a NIB first gen Colt SAA from 1921 in 44 Special and 44 Russian. He knew NOTHING about guns. When I told him it was worth thousands, he ended up selling it at Rock Island Auctions for almost $25K!

 

[SeamasterSig]

I asked him what he wanted for it and he said he wanted to talk to a dealer to find out what it's worth.
[...]
It was my turn to drool. I HAD MY GUN! Well, didn't turn out that way. He decided not to sell. ARRRRGH!

It's unlikely that you would have left the show with that gun regardless of how helpful you were or how sincere and fair your offer was because it sounds as if he had no intention of selling at the time – in which case he should have been more forthright. Your eagerness to win him over is understandable, but after he turned down your original offer, I don't think I would have helped him conduct any further research – that's his responsibility. I would have simply given him my card and made sure he understood that I was seriously interested in buying if he were ever seriously interested in selling. Did he at least thank you for doing his legwork?

 

[bananaman]

Shoot yourself in the foot, was Barney Fife's old trick!
25-7's just look so cool to me! Wish I had 1! Do have a 25-15 though. It is fun to shoot. Someday maybe! Bob

 

[Grayfox]

Its interesting to know what they're going for these days. I have one that I bought from a guy walking around with it at a gun show probably 20 years ago. I think I gave the outrageous price of $450 for it. But I wanted it.
The 25-7 is the absolute best shooting and best handling .45 Colt S&W ever produced. I can understand why it would be a grail gun for some people.
Nope, mine ain't for sale.

 

[Ed Fowler]

So I'm accompanying one of our sons to a gunshow. He's looking for a holster, I'm looking for ammo.

As his gun is being checked an older gentleman, clearly in his late 80s, steps up and hands over one of my Grail Guns: a S&W 25-7 in pristine condition. I asked him what he wanted for it and he said he wanted to talk to a dealer to find out what it's worth.

So, hoping against hope, I follow him in. I know, sounds creepy. He goes to a dealer who does a quick dance in a book and tells him $600 - $700, tops. In a galloping state of shock I tell him I'll give him $700 ON THE SPOT for it. I did that because in addition to the drooling dealer there was another interested person on the other side. Turned out he didn't want to spend that much. Heh.

The gentleman turned down my offer and as he stepped away I told him his gun was worth WAAAY more than $700 and I knew a collector who could tell him exactly what it was worth. I didn't think he'd go with me, but he did.

The collector knew immediately what it was and showed him that if it was NIB it would be worth some $2,800. With no box, and a SLIGHT turn ring, he said it was worth about $1,500 to $1,800, but that it was a niche gun and he'd likely have a hard time finding a buyer at the gun show.

It was my turn to drool. I HAD MY GUN! Well, didn't turn out that way. He decided not to sell. ARRRRGH!

Next time, No More Mr. Nice Guy! Nah, couldn't do it. Dag nab it!

Proud of you, you played it straight - we have to live with ourselves!

 

[RV4driver]

The Karma-fu is strong with you!

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Makes you wonder why ask what it's worth if he won't sell it. I have priceless gun that have no actual value but sentiment. To bad you couldn't get it.

Might need the value for insurance purposes. I have guns with low intrinsic value that I won't part with, too, as well as guns that would bring a pretty penny that I won't sell.

 

[Geno44]

Several years ago on one of the gun forums, a poster was telling about being in a gas station when a little old lady came in to pay for her $25 gas purchase with 25 silver dollars. The young cashier didn't know what they were so the "generous poster" gave her $25 for her 25 silver dollars. At that time the 25 were worth about $500 if they were just common ones rather than rare ones. I've often thought about that and wondered if the little old lady had emptied out a piggy bank at home for the last money she had.