S&W 357 value

[MStewart]

Looking to better understand the current value of my (original owner) S&W 357 mod 19-5 (2&1/2") nickel revolver that has less than 200 rounds shot. Thanks Mark
If this is the wrong section please redirect me.

 

[Rpg]

Although not as desirable as the M19-4 and earlier guns (P&R), a 2 1/2" 19-5 is a fine revolver worth about $100 less than a 19-4 in the same condition. Nickel is worth $50-100 more than blue (Smith doesn't do nickel any more).

Hard to give you a reliable estimate without photos to judge condition: always the most important factor determining value.

 

[MStewart]

Tried to attach pictures?? Don't know where they went

 

[sigp220.45]

If it is in decent shape, a nickel Model 19 snub, even not P&R, is probably an $800 gun. Most likely more. We are in the midst of a mass hysteria greater than the Salem Witch Trials, so it is hard to say.

 

[Jason Demond]

If it is in decent shape, a nickel Model 19 snub, even not P&R, is probably an $800 gun. Most likely more. We are in the midst of a mass hysteria greater than the Salem Witch Trials, so it is hard to say.

Pre covid perhaps.

I've been on the hunt for another decent .357 with a 4" barrel, and have seen a ton of model 19 snubs. Asking or sale price is always over a grand, with the nicest ones being between 13 and 1500 dollars.

Then again, people can ask whatever they want for a gun. If I wanted a good idea of what a gun is worth, I'd be looking at what they sold for on gun broker.

You can pretty much dispense with the dash numbers for a good lot of guns as being an indicator of worth. A few guns still count when it comes to dash numbers of course, but mostly it's pre and post lock now. Covid has driven prices on everything and the difference between a -4 or -5 model 19 is pretty small. P&R is not quite as important as it once was as a determining factor of desirability.

A pre lock no mim snub nosed model 19 in nice shape is a vary desirable gun.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

Smith prices are drastically increasing. I think shooters are leaving the tactical phase and looking to lever guns and revolvers now. The gun forums reflect this .

 

[BigBill]

Selling price $1,000 in nickel, 2.5". $1,200

Buyers price offers

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

You could get a quick $1,000 for it here. Retail.

 

[AveragEd]

Granted, these are asking prices but as I was once told, you'll never get a high price if you never ask for one. I was surfing GunBroker the other day for various models of S&W revolvers - 66, 686, 617, 627 and 629 - and all I can say is "Wow!" I paid $615 for a mint six-inch 629-1 a few years ago; one twin to it bore an asking price of $1,000 and another had a minimum bid of $800 and actually had some bids.

I guess those of us who bought a lot of those revolvers years back when prices began to escalate should be glad to see this but it has to end sometime. Then again, with Biden pounding his fists and stomping his feet for gun controls, who knows?

Ed

 

[CajunBass]

If you're selling it, start high. You can always come down, but you can't really go up. I'd probably put 1000-1200 on it at first. Give it a little time, and see what happens.

 

[Jason Demond]

Granted, these are asking prices but as I was once told, you'll never get a high price if you never ask for one. I was surfing GunBroker the other day for various models of S&W revolvers - 66, 686, 617, 627 and 629 - and all I can say is "Wow!" I paid $615 for a mint six-inch 629-1 a few years ago; one twin to it bore an asking price of $1,000 and another had a minimum bid of $800 and actually had some bids.

I guess those of us who bought a lot of those revolvers years back when prices began to escalate should be glad to see this but it has to end sometime. Then again, with Biden pounding his fists and stomping his feet for gun controls, who knows?

Ed

GunBroker is a funny place.

You can get a real good idea of what something is worth on there, and what someone is willing to pay.

I had been looking for a 4" L frame and had been watching prices. All L nice pre lock L frames were going extremely high, and were all hitting at 1200 or over with actual bids. Someone bid 1499 on a 8 3/8th" 686 with the silhouette sight.

Someone was asking 2400 for a LNIB 66... Zero bids.

I did note a 629 pre lock go for 850 or so, and I won an unfired 66-1 for 805. Guns.com would have priced both of those at 1000 to 1200 dollars.

 

[firefighterjohn]

Pre covid perhaps.

I've been on the hunt for another decent .357 with a 4" barrel, and have seen a ton of model 19 snubs. Asking or sale price is always over a grand, with the nicest ones being between 13 and 1500 dollars....

A pre lock no mim snub nosed model 19 in nice shape is a vary desirable gun.

The other day, I saw a really nice 19-6 2.5" no box or paperwork at a LGS for $850. It was clean, nice bluing, only had a faint turn line and had what looked like original wood stocks. Is that one that you would consider desirable? The store owner said the 19-6 had some nice refinements even though it wasn't P&R. Is that true? I probably should have bought it.

 

[Jason Demond]

The other day, I saw a really nice 19-6 2.5" no box or paperwork at a LGS for $850. It was clean, nice bluing, only had a faint turn line and had what looked like original wood stocks. Is that one that you would consider desirable? The store owner said the 19-6 had some nice refinements even though it wasn't P&R. Is that true? I probably should have bought it.

Any pre lock snub nosed revolver is desirable, especially one in a magnum caliber.