Smith and Wesson New Model #3

[model3sw]

If someone asks for a honest evaluation, adding a candy coating is being dishonest. Sometimes there's a slight upside to a bad deal, but in this instance of the OP's post ... I see none. Also, as a Licensed Auction House I have a fiduciary responsibility to appraise accurately. In addition, I have a moral and ethical duty and responsibility to my fellow man (and myself) to be forthright, even if the news is not pretty.

I advised him (the OP) to contact the seller to ask to get out of the purchase as eloquently as possible by paying the sellers fees, etc ... and by suggesting this, I got ripped a new one in emails and notes from subscribers to this forum.

It infuriates me when people are targeted as "pigeons" but in this instance I cannot say whether this was the case or not other than it seems the OP got lured into a bidding war in waters that were above his head.

Honoring your bids, even if you were suckered into a bidding war is one thing, a thing any gent has to abide by. However, being sold a false bill of goods is something different. In this instance I have no proof one way or the other.

The only irrefutable fact is ... that NM3 is a junker, NRA poor-fair at best.

 

[mrcvs]

If someone asks for a honest evaluation, adding a candy coating is being dishonest. Sometimes there's a slight upside to a bad deal, but in this instance of the OP's post ... I see none...The only irrefutable fact is ... that NM3 is a junker, NRA poor-fair at best.

Amen to that!

How do I state this emphatically? There is little to no upside to grey guns, guns with patina, guns without condition, etc & etc, unless extremely rare or extraordinary provenance. And how can there be? You are lucky if the under 40 set even wants to pick up a gun, and when they do, it is unusual that the interest is anything other than "black guns". Very few younger folks show interest in this stuff--walk around an antique firearms show and note all the grey hair!

There is absolutely no upside to the OPs NM#3. Little more than a parts gun, no potential for appreciation, cost to OP several times actual value.

Some folks don't want to hear the truth. And that's a shame! I have been particularly candid regarding some guns, especially on the Colt and Winchester forums, and the responses are amusing sometimes. I've been called extremely rude, was told that my knowledge base suggests I need to "get some", been reamed a new one in PMs and been recommended in a thread to the forum administrator Bert (Winchester forum) that I be permanently be banned from the forum! This all actually makes me SMILE. A mark of a job well done--some folks just don't want to hear the truth! Of course, I pointed out all my negative feedback--others were most gracious to hear the truth no matter how bad.

And one should be open to the truth no matter how bad. For example, over on the Colt forum, an individual is convinced his fake Colt Paterson is the real deal. I, and others, have pointed out the numerous deficiencies. He refuses to believe any of us. We suggest he take it to an expert for their opinion, and he reapeatedly refuses to do so.

Do you want to go through life thinking you have a diamond when you don't? Someday, if you decide to cash in and need the funds, and they simply are not there, you will surely be much more disappointed.

 

[iby]

Good Grief, cut the guy some slack.

Yeah, he paid too much, but no use rubbing it in

So you show him a nice one you bought for $1k less?

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Mr. Killer. Welcome and I see you are a new guy.
Did any of the members that posted on your entry, personally
examine your S&W?

 

[mm93]

I think it's pie in the sky to say collectable firearms will go up every year, or go up a certain amount. In the last few years I've seen guns I thought I could never afford go for prices I could have afforded 10 years ago. High end guns and extremely valuable guns are off today, and have been dropping for several years now.
Collectable guns will return in value, and I still think they're a great investment. But there's simply no way to determine how much or if they'll go up each year.

 

[Göring's S&W]

Since we know the SN to be too high for the 44-40, there isn't a need to measure the cylinder. However, that is a clue for caliber when SN cannot disprove the chambering.

What does inflation have to do with gun values? Well its quite simple actually. If a gun goes up 5% a year in value, as an example, but inflation is 4% per year, as an example, then the gun actually only gained 1% in value because the dollar lost its own buying power. If the gun value increases don't beat inflation, then the net gain is basically zero for the investment.

Some people disregard the inflation but I disagree with that opinion. Most people who brush it off use it as a justification for over paying for a firearm in the moment, with the thought being that eventually it will be worth what they paid. Other times people brag about the increase in value of a particular firearm, without considering the decrease in buying power of their money, which results in the net aka white meat.

However, the real world market value equalling out to what was paid originally, will happen regardless of the sanctity of the firearm (assuming its righteous), because of the inflation. In other words, eventually, maybe after decades, or more in extreme cases, the gun will be worth (and then some, eventually) what one has paid, when one over pays at the beginning. This however does not actually qualify as a good investment, when compared to other options.

Also, FWIW, those grips on OP's NM3 are worth about $500 themselves, if ivory....if bone, much less.

 

[model3sw]

Also, FWIW, those grips on OP's NM3 are worth about $500 themselves, if ivory....if bone, much less.

I agree with you on everything except the Ivories (if Ivory) have to pretty sweet looking and nearly undamaged to reach the $500 mark but could go higher if perfect and how nice they were manufactured way back when.

When they'rs stained and ratty looking it's a matter of catch as catch can. If bone, worth seriously less, is true.

A nice old mellow aged (lightly yellowing) set of period Ivory stocks for a NM3 with mild age striations (but no cracks, chips, shrinkage, repairs or other damage, can bring a nice sum of money even higher than $500.00 but then you have to figure out if it's legal to transport interstate.

I saw and posted a video link about a year ago or less of an "ivory crush" that went on in Central Park NYC. The works of art being placed on the conveyor belt of the huge ivory pulverizer machine was enough to make you sick.

Here's one link. I cannot find the news video of the dealer that was set up and arrested for selling an item that only had ivory insets or ornamentation. It was not a solid ivory item.

See: About $8 Million of Elephant Ivory Destroyed in Central Park - The New York Times