When will it end? part 2

[1blindref]

I watched this RM from start to finish. I can't believe that it went over 9K.

Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum 357 FactoryLetter : Curios and Relics at GunBroker.com

I'm trying to learn all I can about RM's and would like to add one to my collection one day.

Those of you in the know: What made this RM sell for over 9K?

There is no box or original docs, and IMHO it's not even close to being a 99% finish gun.

 

[DCWilson]

I don't claim to be as informed about RMs as others here, but it's my understanding that RMs with five-inch barrels are hen's-teeth guns. If a collector has other RMs with more common barrel lengths and needs to fill the five-inch gap, I can see him digging pretty deep for a specimen like this one; despite some obvious finish wear, it is in pretty good shape.

EDITED TO ADD: As I interpret the bidding record, there were only two guys wrestling for it through the last $3000. One buyer placed a high bid early and sat back. The eventual winner chased him through a bunch of automatic increases and finally beat out the first guy -- who may not have been paying attention -- by a few bucks. Two guys with deep pockets and great enthusiasm -- that's all it takes to make a high auction win.

I saw a prewar Kit Gun go for more than $7000 a few months back. They lost me at the $2500 level. I thought it was a $3000 gun at the outside. Two guys disagreed with my assessment, and the seller got lucky.

 

[Timb1]

I am waiting on more opinions also. I think this sold for more than double of its value. Sights have been changed and I wonder if the hammer is correct.

Tim

 

[JSR III]

If money is no object, say you just won Powerball or sold your dot.com for 10 million, then foolish bids like this are understandable. If you want something bad enough and you get into an auction, (always a cause for foolish bidding) and your checkbook has more zeros than Washington DC, then 9K is no problem.

Great for those that all ready own one, not so good for those of us that still want one.

 

[DHENRY]

It is what it is, and ***really good*** RM's haven't been south of $ 4,500 in several years.
A price is 'silly' when the gun doesn't sell.
It's a specialized subset for serious collectors, and like anything else exotic it may not make much sense to most.
Anybody ever watch Barrett-Jackson classic car auctions?
Don

 

[CajunBass]

Was it worth it? It was to the person who wrote the check. I'll bet he/she was tickled pink to get it.

 

[pumpgun]

just when i start to get interested in collecting the prices go through the roof. oh well, i guess i better buy some stocks so the market can tank again.

 

[rburg]

I agree with Tim, the hammer is a replacement. The gun went to National Target, so you'd expect the sight they installed. I'm not sure the sight changes the value all that much. The hammer surely does. No concentric rings, which makes it a "ringer". Yes, $9 grand is a bit high, but if you want one....Well, you could come visit me! For $9 grand I'd sell you a consecutive set (reg #s, not serials!)

 

[RKmesa]

Stumper

I too followed this auction and was surprised that it went for more than $4,500, with all of the non original parts. Unless the shipment going to Mexico that was cancelled was an important factor, I can see nothing unique about the gun's provenance. The two final bidders have substantial history on GB, so I assume that they just wanted it REAL REAL BAD.

 

[mikepriwer]

That sight replacement is curious. It now has a King gold bead front
sight, but was shipped with a Call gold bead. The rear sight blade is
a King square notch, but it should be a U-notch, to match the front
sight.

Mike Priwer

 

[hsguy]

That sight replacement is curious. It now has a King gold bead front
sight, but was shipped with a Call gold bead. The rear sight blade is
a King square notch, but it should be a U-notch, to match the front
sight.

Mike Priwer

Mike, it is curious but does letter as a gold bead front sight and square notch rear sight. The RM's advertised as many sight options being available to the customer so perhaps this is what was specified. The rear sight does not appear original but it is a type that was available in 1940? If so, might it have been supplied by S&W?

 

[mikepriwer]

John

Here is the letter - it says Call Gold Bead for the gun for the first
order, which was cancelled. The ultimate shipment has the same
barrel length. That front sight blade has definitely been removed, and
not by the factory. They would not have left the pin that way.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[RogerA]

Maybe the two bidders owned the guns just before or after this one. I would like to have a numbered pair, not that much, but who knows?

 

[old bear]

To state the obvious, prices on collector grade S&W’s have kept going up and decent guns are getting harder to find, so my guess is a new and frustrated collector with more money than patience bought the gun. $9,000.00 is not chump change but its’ not that much money anymore. I really hope that whoever got this is thrilled to death with it.

 

[handejector]

Read the letter closely and you see the gun NEVER matched the original order unless they replaced the sideplate, which I seriously DOUBT.

The orig order sheet says the gun was marked "Marcas Registradas", and clearly it is NOT.
Last two sentences of the letter says it is simply invoiced to National Target as "five inch". Then Roy says "no way to know if changes were made".
So, maybe National ordered it with the King rear and the McGivern bead. I have to wonder if that hammer IS original- being cool doesn't mean everybody liked grooved hammers! Remember, the Army did not like them in 1917's. Finish and grips original, so why/how did the hammer get gone?

Why did it bring 9G?
I dunno, but I have to suspect the buyer knows.

 

[Bullet Bob]

It may never end. RM #15, shipped to John Olin of Winchester is being offered for sale for $25,000.00

Now, what it will actually bring, I don't have a clue. But S&W's have always been undervalued (in my amateur opinion) compared to Colt items, but that inequity seems to be rapidly closing.

 

[keith44spl]

I watched this RM from start to finish. I can't believe that it went over 9K.QUOTE]

Yeah,
How about that, I saw that as well...Uh, just goes to show ya, you can't never tell.


Lee,
An ol' grey headed feller walks in to a bar...Sportin a 5 1/2" Registered Magnum,
with Ivory Stocks in a fancy rig...Bartender says,"You must know somebody in Gawgaa, don't ya."

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[handejector]

Lee,
An ol' grey headed feller walks in to a bar...Sportin a 5 1/2" Registered Magnum,
with Ivory Stocks in a fancy rig...Bartender says,"You must know somebody in Gawgaa, don't ya."

Su Amigo,
Dave

What about the priest and the rabbi? Do they need a good packin' gun?