Value of Smith & Wesson Model 18

[DCWilson]

I'm a little late for the most active part of the conversation, but I'd say the quoted price for the described gun is just fine. To put things in perspective I just bought a 98% 5-screw Pre-18 (K247xxx) with box, SAT and a couple of sets of custom stocks. The package obviously cost more than for a single gun, but backing out the extras I would put the price of the gun at about $650-700. I couldn't be happier.

In my experience, if you take a Pre-17 and a Pre-18 of the same era and of comparable condition, the Pre-18 will bring at least $50 more than the Pre-17. But then how often do you get to see a Pre-18 of any condition? Pre-17s and early 17s are all over the place by comparison.

I completely support the theory that if you desperately want a first-decade .22 CM and see one, you say, "I'll take it," and then check the price tag.

 

[cjw3]

That's about the last S&W I want and would have paid that in a heartbeat for the gun only. I've never seen one down here and that's not for lack of looking.

You did well.

 

[Dosgatos]

I think the price is fine, considering how much demand there is for this model, how much they have gone up in the past few years, and how rarely nice ones seem to become available. I don't see them as often as pre-M17s. I just traded a M27-2 in presentation box (which I valued at $895) for this K-22 with diamond targets from about 1954 and $200. Considering that I was into the M27-2 for about $750, I paid $550 for the K-22, which I thought was a deal. Besides, as someone pointed out to me: There are a lot fewer 4-screws than 5-screws.

 

[Retired W4]

A gentlman was wanting $650 for this CM (1953). That price was a little too steep for me. Luckily he preferred to trade so I gave him a LNIB 4" 28-2 for it.

Nice looking GA stocks. I think most of them were walnut.

 

[Retired W4]

Need your expertise opinion about this Model 18 that is called very good condition. Priced at $649.00. I realize a new made one today is that price, but this a 4 screw.The color reflection on the lower sides is only a reflextion.Thanks much.

That's a fine looking gun, RBrem. I'd put some Renaissance wax on the stocks. That would really bring them to life. I use a real soft tooth brush to get it down in the checkering.

 

[jughed440]

Nice looking GA stocks. I think most of them were walnut.

Thank you!!!

 

[Lobster Picnic]

Now I know why I can never find one for sale. YOU GUYS have them all!

 

[scotsman39]

Hello everyone. Just joined and have enjoyed reading your comments. I have a fairly prestine S & W Model 18 with Cert. Letter and holster. Left factory June 1959 and has been in my family over 50 years. Never shot until about 10 years ago when I heard the dog barking. Looked out and he thought he was a mongoose making circles around a ratterler. That was the first time the gun was shot and since then maybe a box of shells. I have reached an age of hand tremors and cataracts and really think it would spoil my day to shoot myself in the foot. It needs a good home but haven't any idea what tag to put on it. I have seen the comments and seems the range is $600 to over $895. Feel free to make any comments and thanks for your help.

 

[ma deuce]

My 6" k-22 is a 4-screw shipped the month of my birth, and I'd love to find a 4" 4-screw to go with it. I'm not expecting to find one for less than $800 in decent condition in this part of the country.

 

[JP@AK]

about 10 years ago when I heard the dog barking. Looked out and he thought he was a mongoose making circles around a rattler.

Welcome to the Forum!

Just one question. Where do you live? A mongoose? Saw lots of those in SE Asia during the war, but never saw one here in the World!

Just curious.

Jack

Added: Just reread your post. I see. The dog thought he was a mongoose. That makes a whole lot more sense! I'm embarrassed. Sorry.

I guess we can add my eyes to the shaky category, along with your hands, right?

 

[Andy59]

Welcome to the Forum!

If the gun and box label are marked Model 18, the gun is not from 1955. My guess is you got that date (April 15, 1955) from the inside bottom of the box. That date applies to the liability and warranty statements printed in the box. It does not apply to the gun. These statements and the date remained in S&W boxes well into the Bangor Punta era of the 1960s and 1970s. I have several boxes marked Bangor Punta that have this printing in them.

If you post the serial number, someone can give you an estimated shipping year for your revolver.

The .22 Combat Masterpiece is a wonderful little gun. I'm sure you will get lots of affirmation of this from other posters.

Congratulations on owning a wonderful revolver.

Jack

This is a model 18-3 serial#1k94038 can anyone help me to determine year made and ball park value Thanks

 

[Retired W4]

This is a model 18-3 serial#1k94038 can anyone help me to determine year made and ball park value Thanks

New thread !!! Circular thinking.

 

[brucev]

Over the last 30 years I've bought and sold and bought again six M-18's. They have all been wonderful. The last one I bought (2002) ran $325 OTD. At that time, the price was I thought high. But, I swapped off a Yugoslavian M-98/47 and some ammo and put $100 with it to get the 18-3. Nowadays, if I want a nice M-98 for shooting, etc., I can find one in the rack at the local gun shop. M-18's are more difficult to find. If I found a M-18 that was in the condition shown in your photograph, I'd buy it. As to price, you'll not notice $25/50/100 later down the road. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[someone]

What do you find better about these guns than the earlier ones?

My 1955 with TT & TH... $300 back in February, part of a multi-gun deal.

Only other one than mine that I have seen with RR. Mine is 3T, RR, WO, 18-2, only the slightest thinning blue on left muzzle keeping it from being 99%. Haven't brought myself to shoot it yet.

 

[Recoil Rob]

The stocks on my gun above were not original to the gun so I didn't feel too bad about having Keith Brown make me some exhibition grade Ropers for it. They were more than the gun but sure look great and feel great in the hand. Promise to get a better picture up soon.

 

[tango-papa]

ALWAYS inspect a K-22 thoroughly for any mechanical defects.

"A gun that don't shoot aint' nothin but a fancy paperweight."

The one thing to look for when inspecting a K-22 is on the
face of the cylinder between the chambers,,
if the gun has been fired rapidly, or, dry fired you may observe
some dimples in the face of the cylinder where the firing pin
has struck out of time.
This observed , to me, removes about $100. from the value.
And seems to be more common the older the K-22 is.

Hope this helps.
Allen Frame

I have the opportunity to purchase a Pre-Model 18 5-screw that would make a very nice shooter.
All the numbers match including the original stocks.
It's priced too high, but I'll address that if I pursue the gun.
My concern is what is referenced in the quote above regarding dimples in the face of the cylinder where the firing pin has struck out of time.

The gun I looked has this damage and it's not pretty.
Will this type of damage cause any issues with shooting the gun? I am ignorant when it comes to these .22's.

I'm going to get some photos sometime in the near future if the gun doesn't sell first and will post them here for opinions/feedback/guidance.

Regards,
tp

 

[BlackAgnes]

These are probably never going to be for sale--I hope my kids like them as much as I do!

The middle one is a very early example, shipped in 1950--most of these have the flat-topped front sight.

 

[Engine49guy]

My concern is what is referenced in the quote above regarding dimples in the face of the cylinder where the firing pin has struck out of time.
Will this type of damage cause any issues with shooting the gun? Regards,
tp

I guess old threads like old soldiers never die,

TP the firing pin is denting the cylinder face as a rsult of the gun being out of "Time",
That is to say the cylinder stop notch did not engage which results in the cylinder bore to be out of alignment with the barrel ,
If the cylinder and barrel are not in alignment at the time the trigger is pulled the firing pin will strike the cylinder face instead of the cartridge leaving a dent in the cylinder instead of the case head.

What you would experience while shooting is a "click" instead of a Bang.

Once the revolver is fixed the dimples are cosmetic .

 

[Recoil Rob]

I had wanted a birth year K-22 (1955) and found one described as 99%+ from a reputable dealer. Got the the gun and it looked great, as though it had never been used, until I dropped the cylinder out. He apologized and sent me back my full payment including shipping.

 

[Retired W4]

Just shows you what a couple years will do. I would not let my 18-2 go for what the OP posted.