Third Gen Prices

[hammy5150]

Think you have it rough? In Commiefornia, these would be priced 30% to 50% higher if you could find them.

It's so bad out here that I had agreed to purchase a 1911 with a case of .45 ammo and the seller stopped answering my emails & text's when it got close to the transfer day. I guess he figured he could get more from someone else even thou I agreed to his asking price and other terms for transfer. People are asking triple the going rate for 9mm ammo and some fools are paying it! A 500 round case of Winchester White box
sold for $85 in January and now is going for $200 to $300.
I'm not trying to hijack your thread (just got carried away).

It's really frustrating in CA, I'd actually managed to track down someone interested in trading a CHP 4006TSW earlier this year and they ghosted on me as I was trying to set up a meeting date. 750+ for any 3rd Gen here is pretty normal, I just sold a 1066 for $1500 and picked up a 1076 for about as much.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

There are various reasons for a marked price increase in any S&W automatic pistols that ended with the 3rd Gens.

First, there was another US President who scared the beejeebers out of gun owners.

Next, owners of these earlier S&W autoloaders know what they have and don't readily part with them so that has a direct, positive impact on demand and pricing. Supply is a key factor.

So, that's just two generalities. Then we have the Wuhan flu and Civil unrest coupled with the obvious fear that there could be a new US President worse than the other one I semi-identified.

And then new gun buyers are faced with the obvious question - can I get a strong, all metal gun like grandpa liked in a serious caliber that's relatively safe to use and easier to manipulate than a gun made of polymer with a tricky trigger? VOILA! 3rd generation S&W automatic pistols and the supply is limited.

If it wasn't for police surplus or re-imports there are two guns I wouldn't have, a 6906 and a 5906. They're definitely not for sale!

 

[Miami_JBT]

Okay.... now that I have the time I can put in my worthless wooden nickel of an opinion in.

1. 2020 has been the craziest panic year ever. Between the fears of social breakdown first due to the pandemic followed by race issues and topped off like a cherry on a sunday, the election. Folks are buying up everything that isn't nailed down. And if it is nailed down, they're paying premium for the crowbar to pry it off the base.

2. The supply of police surplus S&W autos is drying up. There were only so many made and only so many were purchased by government agencies. Only so many are surplused and sold versus sent to captain crunch. With an ever increasing demand for guns, both on the collector market and the general market and a ever decreasing supply. Prices only go one way and that's up.

3. People are starting to wise up and see them for what they are. For a very long time, people listened to gun writers like Jeff Cooper calling DA/SA guns "crunchenticker", bad mouthing S&W due to the higher price associated with the gun due to production costs, etc... S&W Autos have become popular because they were cheap surplus guns and when they're cheap surplus, people that are cheap buy them and then start to realize and go ssy things like "damn, this is a good gun. If this were made today it'd be easily over a grand."

 

[quikdraw67]

I just purchased a 3913NL. Very good condition, in the original box with an extra mag and all the original paperwork.

I paid $479. I think that I did pretty well.

 

[Frank Black]

Okay.... now that I have the time I can put in my worthless wooden nickel of an opinion in.

1. 2020 has been the craziest panic year ever. Between the fears of social breakdown first due to the pandemic followed by race issues and topped off like a cherry on a sunday, the election. Folks are buying up everything that isn't nailed down. And if it is nailed down, they're paying premium for the crowbar to pry it off the base.

2. The supply of police surplus S&W autos is drying up. There were only so many made and only so many were purchased by government agencies. Only so many are surplused and sold versus sent to captain crunch. With an ever increasing demand for guns, both on the collector market and the general market and a ever decreasing supply. Prices only go one way and that's up.

3. People are starting to wise up and see them for what they are. For a very long time, people listened to gun writers like Jeff Cooper calling DA/SA guns "crunchenticker", bad mouthing S&W due to the higher price associated with the gun due to production costs, etc... S&W Autos have become popular because they were cheap surplus guns and when they're cheap surplus, people that are cheap buy them and then start to realize and go ssy things like "damn, this is a good gun. If this were made today it'd be easily over a grand."

What he said ... Good post.

I especially agree on the 3-part confluence that's been driving certain markets stupid (e.g., guns & ammo): (1) Corona-zombie panic; (2) riots/civil unrest/burning cities; and (3) election-year jitters.

So I'm glad that back in January I was able to steal a worn-but-still-serviceable 411 (along with three 11-rd mags, box and papers) from the favorite LGS, before the 2020 sh!tshow cranked into high gear.

$275 OTD ... Probably could've flipped it for 3x that in July.

But why?

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I just picked up a CS40 NIB , off the big board for less than $450 . I paid the same for another one , no box , one mag a couple of years ago . There's still deals out there , you just have to bide your time .

 

[ChiefTJS]

Maybe if the trend continues my 4596 may end up worth close to what I paid for it. I knowingly over paid as it'll be with me for life but it'd be nice if it was worth what I paid.

 

[nocents]

Maybe if the trend continues my 4596 may end up worth close to what I paid for it. I knowingly over paid as it'll be with me for life but it'd be nice if it was worth what I paid.

When you opened up your wallet and willingly paid YOUR money for that 4596....and you are happy with it...it's already worth whatever you paid

 

[18DAI]

Amen brother nocents!

Something else I consider when paying what I consider to be a high price on an out of print 3rd gen is - what else would that amount buy me in a current production gun?

After seeing what it buys, these days, I happily fork over the scalpers price for an accurate, reliable firearm with a metal frame and a hammer. Regards 18DAI

 

[Miami_JBT]

I paid more than I "wanted" for my 745 that's enroute to me as we speak and honestly. I'm comfortable with it. It was similar to what I paid for my WVSP 4566TSW.

Honestly, I'm still getting these guns cheaper than what they were brand new.