Who said gunshows are not worthwhile? Update.

WCCPHD

WCCPHD

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Went to the local Raleigh NC gun show today. (Actually went yesterday but the line was about 500 deep to get in). Typical of the times. Insane prices, plastic guns, ammo for $1 a round plus.

Then I spied one of the few S&W revolvers at the show. It was on the table of a gun dealer who is a member here and a very knowledgeable S&W collector. It is a four inch Model 686 CS-1.

He had the gun priced at $1150. I'm no expert on these, but it was only the second one I have ever seen. (I walked away from one at the Greensboro, NC show last year at $850 and I've regretted it since). We talked about a trade and I went home and got two third gens that I never warmed up to and we worked a trade that we were both happy with.

And now without further ado:








I've already got the gun but I would like to know what the knowledgeable folks here think the guns is valued at and its collectibility.

Thanks.

Bill
 
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Hate to say but more than I would have paid..... but I've had a 4" round butt 686 no dash since 1986. But nice gun you can enjoy for the next 20-30 years. Like you i'd be kicking myself for passing on one for $850

IIRC they came with Pachmayr Professional grips not Uncle Mikes.....could be wrong ..... happened once in 1994. :D

Now a 3" CS-1 ........ maybe... but I had a 3" 586 that always took a back seat to 3" 66s.


All that said nice gun ..... enjoy.
 
Up until 4 months ago I had 2 four inch CS 1's. I sold one then for I believe $650. That is about what I paid for it. I found both of mine at local gun shows. I knew of a third one I have seen several times in the last 6 months.

The key is that the sellers have no idea what they have. I have explained to them what a CS1 is. They don't really seem to care and keep them at the same price. I'm tempted to sell my remining one at these prices. But I have not seen but really want a three inch CS-1. It would go nicely with my 2-66's, 2-65's, 64 and 13 all in three inch.
 
It always depends on the gunshow. The Raleigh show was always a good one when I lived in NC.

But then, even if it is mostly beef jerky and cheap knives, if you find a gun you want it it is a good show.
 
I think you should have bought the other one. I don't care what the GB prices are, they're the Mecum auction for guns and just drive the prices up. 4th Ed. Catalog places ANIB value at $750, although that is 4 years ago. Exc. condition value is listed as $550, so the price of the first one you saw is probably about right. But, if you like it, what does it matter how much you gave. I've paid over market for guns I really wanted.
 
Hair Trigger said:
I think you should have bought the other one. I don't care what the GB prices are, they're the Mecum auction for guns and just drive the prices up. 4th Ed. Catalog places ANIB value at $750, although that is 4 years ago. Exc. condition value is listed as $550, so the price of the first one you saw is probably about right. But, if you like it, what does it matter how much you gave. I've paid over market for guns I really wanted.
Click to expand...

You are right that I should have bought the one for $850. His ask was $1150, with trade I have much less than that invested in it. It was a deal that we both were happy with.

I was just curious as to what the current dollar value and collectibility is.

Have you shot the Model 29?

Bill
 
WCCPHD said:
Have you shot the Model 29?
Bill
Click to expand...

No, as far as I can tell it hasn't been fired at all, not even S&W test firing. No evidence at all on the cylinder face or the breech that it's been shot. There is a small turn line, but I imagine it's been "played with" a lot over the years. As grimy as the gun was, I figured it would have the telltale burn rings, but if it ever did, someone did a helluva job cleaning them off. If I had proof it has been fired, I'd take it out tomorrow, but until then I'm assuming it hasn't and I'll keep it that way. I have a M57 I shoot a lot, it's close enough for me when I want to drag out the heavy artillery.

I managed to get in contact with the NCHP Academy Armory Supervisor last Fall, he was going to search records to see if he could discover the original owner or any other information on these guns in general. I haven't heard back yet, I suppose another email is in order.

I want to get back down to Wagram soon, see what else they migh have there. I'd love to pick up a M25 in .45 Colt. I just bought a M48-4 .22 Magnum this past week, so I have at least one magnum revolver from the P&R era in each caliber offered.
 

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Hair Trigger said:
No, as far as I can tell it hasn't been fired at all, not even S&W test firing. No evidence at all on the cylinder face or the breech that it's been shot. There is a small turn line, but I imagine it's been "played with" a lot over the years. As grimy as the gun was, I figured it would have the telltale burn rings, but if it ever did, someone did a helluva job cleaning them off. If I had proof it has been fired, I'd take it out tomorrow, but until then I'm assuming it hasn't and I'll keep it that way. I have a M57 I shoot a lot, it's close enough for me when I want to drag out the heavy artillery.

I managed to get in contact with the NCHP Academy Armory Supervisor last Fall, he was going to search records to see if he could discover the original owner or any other information on these guns in general. I haven't heard back yet, I suppose another email is in order.

I want to get back down to Wagram soon, see what else they migh have there. I'd love to pick up a M25 in .45 Colt. I just bought a M48-4 .22 Magnum this past week, so I have at least one magnum revolver from the P&R era in each caliber offered.
Click to expand...


I was at the Wagram shop several weeks ago. They have less handguns than I've ever seen. Their revolver stock was very low.

A friend talked to someone in the armory about the guns and was told the records were on paper and he thought they had been purged years ago.

There is a "legend" that the guns were specified to be shipped without being test fired. There have been many arguments about that and most say S&W's lawyers would not have let them leave unfired???

There was a problem with the sideplates "ghosting" and all were sent back to be checked. Many had to have the sideplates replaced so they could have cleaned them up when they were put back together. Just speculation.

Mine looks exactly like yours in that there is zero fouling on the gun.
 
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WCCPHD said:
I was at the Wagram shop several weeks ago. They have less handguns than I've ever seen. Their revolver stock was very low.
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Doesn't surprise me. I was in 3 different gun shops on Saturday, looking for .22 magnum ammo, and all 3 had lines to the counter, with multiple people filling out the forms to buy, and the countertops covered in firearms boxes. it looked like Macey's on Christmas Eve. I actually found one box of 200 rounds of CCI, priced at $80. I bought it.
Mine looks exactly like yours in that there is zero fouling on the gun.
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I suppose that the burn rings might be cleaned off nickel plating with enough effort; Flitz sure worked wonders on all the oxidation and grime on mine when I got it. Stainless is another matter. You get a black halo around the chamber throat that nothing will take off completely. i sure would love to know more about these guns than what is already known. A M29 back in those days was quite something, and to have them offered in a commemorative would have been very special. I once worked with a guy who had been a NC Trooper during those days of 428 Ford and 440 MOPAR patrol cars. He had some great stories to tell. Haven't seen him in close to 40 years, hope he's still around and maybe I should look him up.
 
I would say that it was a bit high for a 4" 686 CS-1 from what I have seen over the years but at todays prices who is to know. I have a 3" CS-1 with box etc and I know that they are going for a lot more than that. I had never seen one and obtained two of them within a few weeks of each other at gun shows. I sold one to a forum member to off set the cost of keeping the other. Should have kept both in retrospect.
 
Very nice find. I saw one sell lately for $1,000 + locally. I started to go to the Dixie show, but I heard the line was ridiculous. There is a show this coming weekend here in Wilmington. Hopefully there will be something to look at.
 
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