Recent sales of Blued Triple Lock revolvers with 4" barrels

[mrcvs]

First, this is not meant to be a criticism of anybody. In fact, if anything, accolades to David Carroll (Woodlawn Boys) for his excellent photography and description to achieve what has got to be top dollar for this one, or perhaps I am wrong.

Full disclosure here. I own neither of the 4" Triple Locks referenced in this thread. The first one I did not locate until after the auction closed, as the auction house, oddly, described as a S&W Triplelock. My search was for "Smith & Wesson" and "Triple Lock", which yielded no results.

The first one sold a bit over a week ago for $2200, before commissions. The wear is more extensive than the one that David Carroll had for sale, and it is such that it causes this revolver to appear somewhat unattractive, if it's even possible to describe a Triple Lock with a 4" barrel as such. It has the less valuable medallion stocks. The lanyard ring is atypical of a .44 Special Triple Lock, so it might be a later addition.

S&W 1st Model Hand Ejector Double Action Revolver (Triplelock) |




Firearms & Military Artifacts

Firearms

Pistols

Revolvers

| Auctions Online | Proxibid

And, the one that sold last evening on Gunbroker. Does have wear to high points, has the more desirable non medallion stocks, and a neat serial number (1988), as that's the year I graduated high school. Went for $6,725 (plus $40 shipping), or $6765!!!!

I guess, all I can say is Kudos to David Carroll and his client. Well done!

Comments anyone? I had hoped I might have a shot at this one with a four digit number beginning with a 3, but I suspected it would likely sell in the $4000 to $5000 range, but being Gunbroker, I suspected that a bid in the $5000 range might clinch it. Nearly $7,000 seems steep, especially with the wear present, but all it takes is two individuals who really want it and...you just don't see these every day.

Lastly, before I post the link to the Gunbroker auction, I guess you have to look at these relative to each other. Is the Gunbroker sale Triple Lock worth nearly 3 times the gun sold at live auction last weekend. Or, was the live auction gun sale a real bargain these days? Or the Gunbroker auction beyond what the market generally will bear? My thoughts: The bidding on the Carol Watson auction firearm was a little light and the Gunbroker Triple Lock auction presented hearty bids, to say the least!

S&W .44 HAND EJECTOR 1st MODEL TRIPLE LOCK RARE 4" BARREL FACTORY LETTER - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 845210716

 

[Indynick]

Back when Ebay was new, I took a class on how to sell on the site. One thing the instructor told us was, many people misspell the items they are trying to sell. When they do sell, it is usually for much less than it should have, because buyers could not find it.

The instructor said when he runs across in item like that, he sometimes buys it, and relists it at a profit.

That could have been what happened with the low cost Triple Lock. The right buyers could not find it.

 

[Chukar60]

Welcome to the rarified air that top tier collectable Smith reside in.
When it comes to auctions there is some consistency but when hard to acquire models come available, it just takes two buyers with deep pockets and a lot of desire to drive a price out of the realm of reasonable.
Go through this site and you will see all kinds of threads about a GB auction that went nuts for no apparent logical reason.
I gave up on pre-model N frames about 3 years ago.
I love em! But prices have reached a point where they exceed my ability to fully appreciation those fine guns.
I ain't whining, and I have little time for those who whine about collector gun prices. They is what they is and I do not see them going lower anytime in the foreseeable future.

 

[jlemay69]

On GB auctions I take a look at the bidder's feedback history. If a questionable bidder's history is present, I place my highest bid and see what happens. Bidding contests are not beneficial to me reaching a reasonable end price purchase.

 

[quinn]

I bought a very nice 4" TL a few months back on Morphy auctions. It came with non-medallion grips which wer not correct as it was a later gun left in inventory and didn't ship unitl 1917. The gavel price with commissions put it between the 2 quoted in the OP. I psted these photos shortly after I received the gun, but in interest of contributing to this thread I've reposed themThe photo may bake the muzzle wear look a little worse than it is. Fortunately, I had a correct set of rips available.

 

[NavySCPO]

Just a comment or two on higher bidding, certainly nothing scientific, an observation only. But the trend of this conversation made me think of it again.

On some higher priced auctions ($4-5k or higher) I've followed, not a bidder, just a curious observer, I've seen something of a trend with non-paying bidders. I've only followed a few to re-listing and eventual sale, but IMHO it seems to happen more than I would have expected. I have to say at those prices, even one is more than I would expect. Okay, calling it a 'trend' is probably a stretch, maybe an odd happenstance?

The most recent I followed was a USAF Model 56, which I know was re-listed at least once for a non-paying bidder. A very rare revolver that most any of us would be proud to own, and I would have thought would have attracted only the most serious collectors.

Curious as to why anyone would do that, and for what purpose?

 

[series guy]

It makes you think that maybe all these non-paying bidders are shill bidders.

 

[crsides]

The pocket watch business has its share of shill bidders. We all knew when one sellers items would come up, that some one was gonna get hosed, or it would be relisted. Complain to ebay and see if they care.

 

[THEMULE]

Shill bidders......

......there is an active forum member here who actually asked (in the Lounge) if it was ok to run the bidding up on an item he/she was selling. I asked what their user name was on GB and never got a response . They are out there and in our own camp.

Step lightly......
Bob

PS- I really like the wear patterns on the "cheaper" 4" TL in th OP. It's been there and done that

 

[mrcvs]

I did review the bid history on the recent sale on Gunbroker. At $3400, the same two bidders bid against each other, one having 14 precious transactions and the other having none. Not sure how much that means, as I really dislike Gunbroker for obvious reasons, so my Gunbroker history is simply one lone transaction. The one having had 14 transactions won the gun. It seems these two bidders, legitimately or illegitimately, lost all common sense once this Triple Lock reached $3400, which, it seems to me weighing condition and comparable sales, is actually about what that one is worth, in my opinion. I set limits, and these were far exceeded. I was hoping to get it for $3250 (or less), and would have considered going as high as $3600, maybe, but hoped I didn't have to try and win it that high. About the middle of what I thought was a sensible bid, realistic price, and a bit of a stretch, but not out of the ballpark, is where things just started to get really zany.

Obviously, Gunbroker can work well for some sellers, which is why I can see that some like that selling venue, but it generally, but not always, doesn't work so well for buyers.

 

[tenntex32]

I did review the bid history on the recent sale on Gunbroker. At $3400, the same two bidders bid against each other, one having 14 precious transactions and the other having none. Not sure how much that means, as I really dislike Gunbroker for obvious reasons, so my Gunbroker history is simply one lone transaction. The one having had 14 transactions won the gun. It seems these two bidders, legitimately or illegitimately, lost all common sense once this Triple Lock reached $3400, which, it seems to me weighing condition and comparable sales, is actually about what that one is worth, in my opinion. I set limits, and these were far exceeded. I was hoping to get it for $3250 (or less), and would have considered going as high as $3600, maybe, but hoped I didn't have to try and win it that high. About the middle of what I thought was a sensible bid, realistic price, and a bit of a stretch, but not out of the ballpark, is where things just started to get really zany.

Obviously, Gunbroker can work well for some sellers, which is why I can see that some like that selling venue, but it generally, but not always, doesn't work so well for buyers.

When I look at the bidder history I basically see a bidder with a NR (no rating whatsoever) jumping in at $3800 and running the price up to $6700 before bowing out.

When I see something like this it sets my spider senses tingling...….even with the lower cost items I am typically bidding on. When it happens to me I set a bid value I can feel good about and then go completely hands off when it exceeds that point. I can't tell you how many times the bidding went completely cold right after an NR or very low count-rating bidder outbid me for the umpteenth time.

Oh well...………...it could be legit that someone who had never purchased anything on GunBroker simply wanted to break the seal with a $6700+ Triple Lock.

Seems very unusual but not necessarily impossible I guess.

Dale

 

[delcrossv]

"Incompetent" smacks of some sort of spoiler. He's appeared on other Woodlawn auctions and has bought nothing.

 

[mrcvs]

As stated previously, I have only bought one firearm off of Gunbroker before, and this is because it was overlooked.

The only seller I follow on Gunbroker, and this very irregularly, is Woodlawn Boys. It seems that if a true shill bidder is involved, he or she runs the danger of, and would occasionally win, an auction. He or she would occasionally win, not pay, and be banished from bidding again, and, presumably, the item would be relisted. I follow Woodlawn Boys irregularly enough that perhaps there are occasional to many reposted items, and I just had not noticed.

While watching this Triple Lock, I noted a 2nd Model Perfected Single Shot Model pistol offered by Woodlawn Boys. A few condition issues, but still very nice, and at $781. I guess having decided this shouldn't sell for less than $800, I was a shill bidder of sorts, and placed my $795 bid, causing it to sell at $800. Unless a screaming bargain, count me out on Gunbroker, except Woodlawn Boys, but I am always outbid. He attracts very deep pockets for some reason or another.

 

[delta-419]

GB Triple Locks

For the last 7-8 years GB has been my primary source for S&W Triple Lock revolvers. Of the eight TLs in my humble collection of shooters all have been refinished in nickel and all are S&W 44 Special. Two of the eight are 4" and letter as such, all the rest are 6.5" barrels and all letter as nickel except one. Only one was a gun show find and all were acquired for less than $800. GB does not always bring top dollar as does Woodlawn Boys or maybe Rock Island Auction. Buying on-line is for risk takers and part of my hobby is rebuilding those that need such work. Three did! All shoot to point of aim. Say what you will but GB has enabled me to own a great collection of shooters be they 1894/92 Winchesters or old pre-war S&Ws. My day starts with a brief survey of GB in search of forgotten arms. I wish everyone good hunting for your treasure.

 

[Narragansett]

""" Comments anyone? """

Yes, just one. The air is a bit thin for me up there in that price range. Although there was a time when I would not think twice about spending that kind of money on a trap shotgun. Now retirement and fixed income has set in.

They sure are nice looking though

 

[tenntex32]

GunBroker, AuctionArms, GunsAmerica, TexasGuntrader.....I use and peruse them all.

I have even purchased several items by doing google image searches and finding current listed examples on smaller more obscure auction/sale sites. Now I am giving away my hunting secrets.....

Dale

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

I've had good luck on GB but I've never bid on anything super collectible. But you do have to do your homework, study the photos and ask questions, if it looks sketchy it probably is. My grail gun was a Webley Fosbury that I bought from Simpsons.