RSR 640-1 Performance Center 357 Mag

[Ultradriver10000]

So I really love my Smith's just like you guys and ran across this little baby. Can anyone place a value on it? The gun is in really nice shape, they are asking $750 for it. I feel like this might be a bit high, but not positive. This is a performance center gun, RSR

Update: It is mine!!!

 

[Buttercup]

If it had box and papers I might go that high but without those I would want about 650.00 out the door. Doesn't mean I would get it though as the pre-lock non mim are not falling off trees anymore.

 

[kaaskop49]

To this J-frame user and enthusiast ( I call myself a "J-hound"), that price is EXTREMELY high. Also, it appears, from the porting/slits cut into the barrel, that a previous owner has Magna-Ported the gun for recoil control. I'm not an expert, but I do not believe this gun was ported at the S&W factory. Any feature like this, done at the behest of the owner for personal reasons/taste, IMO lowers the value of the gun. If I'm incorrect in this porting "call," another poster will correct me.

I have no experience with porting on such a short barrel, but I wonder whether that might make firing this weapon rather more unpleasant. Perhaps that is what caused the previous owner to sell it.

$750 is way out of line since the 640 is in production and usually available at a lower price.

I would stay away from this gun. Looks like someone else's mistake.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Ultradriver10000]

The shop is selling it on consignment. I asked about the box and paper work, but they are unsure and the shop does not have it. I'll have to stop by there again tomorrow and make an offer to them. I'd be very comfy at $650, but I also don't want to miss this because like you mentioned don't see these everyday.

I'm almost positive that you could get the port work on the gun from the performance center? Am I wrong?

I see nice 640-1's selling at $500 or so, I'd guess the performance center guns worth more?

 

[colt_saa]

That porting was done at Mag-Na-Port and I do not believe it is original to that revolver.

The Performance Center offered two (pre-lock) ported 357 Magnum 640s. No ported 640-1s were offered on the production side that I can recall

One of the PC offerings had a PowerPort forward of the front sight and the other was a quad port that was done in-house.

I have to agree that $750 is way high, at least for one of these in my area.

You never finished filling out your profile, so we have no idea where you are.

$750 in a severely restricted State like California, is probably a reasonable price.

 

[Ultradriver10000]

I'm in Houston but the gun is in a little town in the middle of no where Louisiana. I'll have to leave my name and number to see if I can get it cheaper.

 

[Texas Star]

I personally will not own a ported gun. The snub .38 or 357 doesn't generate a vast deal of velocity to begin with compared to longer barreled guns and venting the barrel presumably reduces that velocity. I also don't like the looks of ported barrels.

And vented barrels or muzzle brakes usually produce more noise (muzzle blast) when fired.

 

[kaaskop49]

attn vipermd

Another "Faberge egg," ya think?

 

[Texas Star]

Another "Faberge egg," ya think?

No, no, I've seen several of those, and they don't look anything like this gun. And they cost even more on E-bay. You can't even find them on Gunbroker. Gotta go to auctions like those at Sotheby's.

Seriously, I have seen several and they are astounding works of art.

 

[suckersrus]

I have a 640-1 PC that I purchased new. It came ported with an un-fluted cylinder. The S/N is RSR648X. It is a no-lock and the action is as smooth as Hillary Clinton's mustache.
My wife sent it back to S&W and had it laser engraved just for me.

This also appears to be the gun you found and as such I feel it is worth the asking price, maybe even a mite more. If you can talk the seller down a few bucks that is even better.

I have seen only a couple over the years and considered buying a second one so I could have a matched pair.

Remember, the information you get from the InterNet is just that, something you got off the net.

 

[KLYDE]

None of the posters mentioned the unfluted cylinder. Obvious indicator of a PC gun or Distributor Special. Suckersrus nailed it and the OP's gun is the same, right down to the identical grips. I believe the OP also mentioned in a later post, asking about a PC gun having higher value. I don't think $750 is out of line if the seller has the box and papers. I'd buy it quick.

 

[colt_saa]

I have a 640-1 PC that I purchased new. It came ported with an un-fluted cylinder. The S/N is RSR648X. It is a no-lock and the action is as smooth as Hillary Clinton's mustache.
My wife sent it back to S&W and had it laser engraved just for me.

This also appears to be the gun you found and as such I feel it is worth the asking price, maybe even a mite more. If you can talk the seller down a few bucks that is even better.

I have seen only a couple over the years and considered buying a second one so I could have a matched pair.

Remember, the information you get from the InterNet is just that, something you got off the net.

Very interesting.

Did yours come engraved? Or was it like the one in the original post?

Is your product code 170073?

These could still be different firearms.

I would agree if the revolver in the original post is a Performance Center revolver that changes things. However there is no mention of that in the post.

If it is a PC revolver it is absolutely worth the asking price.

 

[M3Stuart]

Welcome to the forum!

Check the other side for the PC logo.

IMHO; the trigger-pull-quality would make all the difference in the world. If has a good PC trigger pull with reliable ignition, well, that's not something you can regularly find at any price. With a really sweet trigger, I'd pay that much. That said; if the trigger bites, you can get a new, ordinary 640 for less than 600 beans shipped free.

 

[jack the toad]

Am not an expert, but based on personal preference, I'd say it's over priced unless there's something PC or otherwise special about it. Without the original box, grips, etc. (grips may be factory PC???), it's more of a shooter IMO (which you can buy for less). Plus I'm not a fan of unfluted cylinders or ported/comped handguns, whether factory or not.

 

[murphydog]

As others noted, it may be the factory PC special - the SN and logo would make it pretty certain, or a factory letter would tell you for sure:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

There are pluses and minuses for this one as a carry gun, but if it is the PC version it seems to be a neat collectible in any case.

 

[ken158]

After seeing that gun with dual ports I know now why it is on consignment... and the price is very high. Done the ported gun thing and got rid of all of mine. Loud and dirty and for a backup or CCW gun the last thing you need is blast coming out of 5 places.

 

[HarrishMasher]

Way too much. Kentucky Gun Co has them new in the box no porting for $529 on sale today. Used ones without porting can be had right now on GB for $475. I don't think porting and no flutes is worth almost $300.

 

[ridgewalker]

Ports on a 2 inch barrel and the unfluted cylinder spoil it for me.
You can buy a nice new, no lock 640 Pro with great 3 dot sights for less.

 

[Ultradriver10000]

Guys I thought the thread title "640-1 per cent 357 mag" would be a pretty solid clue that the gun is in fact a performance (per) center (cent) gun. LoL

I'm heading back to the shop to see what kind of deal I can make.

Does anyone read on here?!

Very interesting.

Did yours come engraved? Or was it like the one in the original post?

Is your product code 170073?

These could still be different firearms.

I would agree if the revolver in the original post is a Performance Center revolver that changes things. However there is no mention of that in the post.

If it is a PC revolver it is absolutely worth the asking price.

My wife sent it back to S&W and had it laser engraved just for me.

 

[HarrishMasher]

Guys I thought the thread title "640-1 per cent 357 mag" would be a pretty solid clue that the gun is in fact a performance (per) center (cent) gun

No, actually not at all. I read it a bunch of times and it made no sense. PC is the common abbreviation used. I originally thought you were wondering what per cent of the time you could shoot 357s out of it.

When trying to get a value, it's probably best to give all the info you have and not play word games.

Pretty sure the problem here was on your end. There are plenty of well-educated people on this forum who are more than competent readers.