Where are they?

[Old_Cop]

On Saturday I went out looking for third gen autos. I visited six gun shops east of I79 and north of I80. There were two pistols, a beat up 6904 Israeli reimport at $379 an a 4046 at $499. I purchased a 4046 with box at the same place some time ago, former police guns would be my guess. Disappointing result, one clerk didn't know that S&W made metal frame semi autos.

For the revolver guys there was a 19 with about 60% blue, out of time and with end shake for $399. Also found a late 64 with a lot of use, former prison gun, for $420.

NW PA is not a large population area and is really somewhat economically depressed, yet folks love guns and support several large gun shops. So where are those 3rd gens?

 

[KSDeputy]

I have a few of them. I agree good ones are very difficult to find, especially since we have very few gun shops in my area. They are mostly large box stores with a gun department. They only sell new guns, and there are no returns on them. The closest actual gun shop is about 20 miles from me, it is very small, and I have not ever seen a 3rd generation S&W in it. There are a couple in a city 30 miles from me, same thing. I could do better buying them online.

 

[lhump1961]

I'm going to guess that the current crop of young buyers represents most of the business and they (demonstrated by the clerk you mentioned) don't know about much about guns outside of the polymer stuff. There are still quite a few fans of the 3rd gens but the LGS's perhaps can find buyers faster and get a better price online. Plus the previous owners aren't likely to let them go for what the LGS will give them in trade. I rarely see the stuff I like in gun stores.

 

[bigwheelzip]

There's never any around here.

 

[Arik]

Saw maybe a dozen on Saturday. Make a trip out to SE Pa and I'll tell you where to go. And the prices are almost half of what you paid

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[TTSH]

Disappointing result, one clerk didn't know that S&W made metal frame semi autos.

Oh, I've run into that up here in MA. I always get a chuckle out of it when it happens. There is a whole new generation of mostly "tacticool" gun shop owners who do plastic wonder pistols, Sigs, 1911's and very little else in the way of handguns.

So where are those 3rd gens?

They are hiding in obscure, off-the-beaten-path shops that you'd never think to visit until one day you happen to stop and score one there... and then you know.

And the trick isn't just to find any old 3rd Gen. The trick is to find a 3rd Gen in top condition, with box and extra mag(s) if possible, for a decent (or better) price!

Of course, there are other places and ways to find them. But if you are talking about local shops only, it takes a lot of time, patience, gasoline... and a whole lot of luck!

++++++++

EDIT: Unless you live in Arik's neighborhood!

 

[Arik]

Oh, I've run into that up here in MA. I always get a chuckle out of it when it happens. There is a whole new generation of mostly "tacticool" gun shop owners who do plastic wonder pistols, Sigs, 1911's and very little else in the way of handguns.


They are hiding in obscure, off-the-beaten-path shops that you'd never think to visit until one day you happen to stop and score one there... and then you know.

And the trick isn't just to find any old 3rd Gen. The trick is to find a 3rd Gen in top condition, with box and extra mag(s) if possible, for a decent (or better) price!

Of course, there are other places and ways to find them. But if you are talking about local shops only, it takes a lot of time, patience, gasoline... and a whole lot of luck!

++++++++

EDIT: Unless you live in Arik's neighborhood!

Typically not with boxes tho

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[BAM-BAM]

Old Cop.... how you doing since the "Bunching"?????

Third Gen's have been few and far between around W Pa. in general since about 2000.......when Departments using them switched to"cheaper" Glock replacements.....

We have a place in the Laural Highlands SW/SC Pa......and I spent a lot of time roaming around rural western and Central Pa for work; from about 1990 to last week!!

What I've found is in the rural areas of PA. "older guys" bought and own revolvers; 1 or 2 ( a 4-6" .357 or .44 and maybe a .22) over their lifetime for home defense and carrying while hunting (can't hunt with a semi in Pa.).

I know/knew a lot of locals/farmers that owned 3 long guns their entire adult lives.... Deer Rifle, 12gage Shotgun and a .22 rifle.... some had/still use some or all of their Father's guns...........

Today younger guys say 35 and under have been buying hi-caps... but without a lot of disposable income.... they are looking at new/used Glocks...some of the M&Ps... even HiPoints......to carry( in their truck) and for home/farm defense...... and Ruger .22s are big due to price point and quality.

In my travels...... it was rare to see used 3rd Gen Smiths, Sigs, Czs or Beretta's in rural LGSs ...... except if the LGS was also a Police Supply House.

I get a lot of stares and questions when I show up with a CZ FS/mannlicher rifle or a Ruger International/full stock ; any 3G Smith, Beretta or Sig... even a 3" 66 gets a lot of "what is that?"


I've joked with Arik..... SE Pa...... Philadelphia....... is really another state!!!!!!!!

 

[Sevens]

I have a very large, extremely good gun show near me that happens every other month and even at that one, 3rd Gen pistols are very hit & miss. Mostly miss. PC pistols are almost entirely unheard of.

I believe the best source for all Smith & Wesson 1-2-3rd Gen pistols and PC pistols is Gunbroker.

 

[pharmer]

Whenever the cops "dump" a series of guns, the market gets flooded and then dries up. I first noticed this in the mid '80's when wholesalers had short barrel 27's in the box for $229. Of course I passed because the military just adopted the M9 and everybody needed a "crunchenticker" as Cooper called them. Ashland had 2500 3" 66's for $239 or $229 if you got 3 or more. After that 4" 66's, model 10/64's got cheap and then dried up. There was a guy at one of the local shows that toted Model 10's on pieces of tie wire; $99 as many as you could afford. The AWB of '94 changed the game for 10 years and afterward the 3rd gens got cheap, as low as $219 cheap. Even Shoot Straight had 5906's on their tables for $249 as late as last year. Seems like lately all things .40 are on closeout, again I'm passing because I have antipathy for all things "in between." Patience is key, when you're on the hunt nothing appears. As soon as you get an item, half a dozen more appear. The Universe has a sense of irony about "stuff." Joe