Wow. Just... wow.

[USSR]

In my part of the country I've only seen one N-frame revolver for less than $500 in the past year...and I bought that one.

Dave

So, I guess I did OK for a like new, with the box M25-5 for $500?

Don

 

[Jack Flash]

I think that another factor that drives prices up is that there are a lot more collectors and accumulators nowdays than there used to be.

Sure, there were collectors back in the day, but just not so many. In the fifties and sixties, it was common for the average person to own a gun, but often that was all he owned, one gun, and usually a long gun at that. From reading this Forum, it sounds like it is not uncommon for members here to own a dozen handguns or more. That trend is bound to drive supply down and prices up.

 

[Reddog]

Thanks, Guys!
It's going into the safe! I have another 28 with wear that I'm using for a shooter. And will soon have a cut off 5" barrel 27 that was a 6.5" originally, to shoot too! I'm pleased!
Dick

 

[stantheman86]

The problem is yesterdays's "used guns" became today's "collectibles".......a working guy can't even get a Model 10 from the 80's to shoot for less than $300 anymore. It wasn't too long ago you could get PD and security trade-in S&W's for actual USED prices, not collectible prices. A holster worn Model 10-7 was a $150 gun, because it was just used. Now people decided to become "investors".

It makes me take a step back and decide what I really NEED anymore........I would have a lot more in the bank if I wasn't an "accumulator", a lot more for ammo, gas, etc. Lots of folks got by just fine for life back in the day with a shotgun, a 30-06 bolt rifle and an M&P wrapped in a handkerchief stuck up in the closet.

This whole business with the N frames shooting up in price shows that shooters are better off buying the new stuff.......

 

[CajunBass]

I looked around at what I could buy for $650.00 NIB not long ago.

Suddenly, $650.00 didn't seem too high for a 28-2.

 

[drewjh]

More than possible, absolutely the case. The world has shrunk dramatically with the advent of the internet. Before the net, dedicated collectors had to advertise locally or in print media such as "Shotgun News" and that reached a mere pittance of the folks who now view online gun trade/sales sites hourly. You had to snail-mail photos back and forth if you were serious about dealing in used guns or just take the seller's word for it. And prices stayed low or depressed in certain areas depending on the saturation of certain models geographically and by how isolated a population of shooters in a particular area was. In the '70's my gun trading area (sans "Shotgun News") was within driving distance of my house, and we used to go on 'road trips' on a Saturday morning and hit every known shop within 2 or 3 hours driving distance. Many times a lot of these places chose not to even deal in used guns.

Thanks to the DOJ list, it is still this way in California. Here, any used S&W regardless of price is a deal just because it is available. I visited all 6 local gunshops regularly for 14 months looking for a 29, and never found one, so I bought a beautiful 57 no dash for $700. The following week I found a pristine early 29-2 at a gun show for $750. I would have been extremely lucky to find either of them, with both I'm over the moon. I have never even seen a 27 for sale around here...

 

[Gunhacker]

I don't think there is much of a mystery behind the rising cost of older/used S&W's. One only has to look at the number of members on this forum, add in all of the people from other gun forums, and those that don't do the Internet, and you have a lot of potential buyers looking for the same things.

How many time have you read or heard people say "I've always wanted a fill-in-the-blank but couldn't afford it when I was young" or "I used to have one like that and got rid of it, and now I want another one".

There's a pot load of 50 somethings (myself included) that now have the financial means and the spare time to indulge in pursuing those "wants", and I don't think demand is in danger of slacking off anytime soon, so sometimes you just have to strike while the iron is hot.

Here's the way I look at it.

If I take a pass just because something has a higher than average price tag on it, I can't count on another one like it popping up for sale period, let alone that it might at a lower price. So if the price is not completely outrageous, I'd rather have the "bird in hand".

Whenever I end up buying something that I really want and pay a higher than "average" price in the process, I'm secure in the knowledge that although I overpaid this time, I've also or will underpay on other occasions, so in the long run when I calculate what my dollar cost average is per gun that I have now, it comes out being pretty darn reasonable.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't think there is much of a mystery behind the rising cost of older/used S&W's. One only has to look at the number of members on this forum, add in all of the people from other gun forums, and those that don't do the Internet, and you have a lot of potential buyers looking for the same things.

How many time have you read or heard people say "I've always wanted a fill-in-the-blank but couldn't afford it when I was young" or "I used to have one like that and got rid of it, and now I want another one".

There's a pot load of 50 somethings (myself included) that now have the financial means and the spare time to indulge in pursuing those "wants", and I don't think demand is in danger of slacking off anytime soon, so sometimes you just have to strike while the iron is hot.

Here's the way I look at it.

If I take a pass just because something has a higher than average price tag on it, I can't count on another one like it popping up for sale period, let alone that it might at a lower price. So if the price is not completely outrageous, I'd rather have the "bird in hand".

Whenever I end up buying something that I really want and pay a higher than "average" price in the process, I'm secure in the knowledge that although I overpaid this time, I've also or will underpay on other occasions, so in the long run when I calculate what my dollar cost average is per gun that I have now, it comes out being pretty darn reasonable.

Thank you Gunhacker!! That sums up my feelings exactly! Since I saw my first Model 28 when I was about 20 years old I've wanted one. A Model 19 was my first handgun. I traded it off. I used to spend hours wearing out a Shooters Bible. I can't tell you how many Smith & Wessons I wanted out of that book.

Your description fit me to a "T". I'm retired now, but took a job again so I could afford to buy those guns now. Pay too much? Maybe so, but I don't see a lot of 28's or 19's. I'll try to work the best price I can, but I also know if I don't want it, the guy right behind me does.

And it's not just us old coots we have to worry about. I've noticed lately when I'm looking at a nice revolver, a lot of times, I'll find a young person standing right there beside me asking questions about them. "What are you looking for?" "How can you tell?" "Which is better?"

I guess one of these days if nothing else, my kids will wonder "Where did all these old guns come from?" I believe they will appreciate them.

 

[Art Doc]

The 58s go for $1,200 (I've seen it) the 28s bring $700 and 10s are priced at $600.

It's a brave new world. I'm glad I have all the guns I need as I can't bring myself to pay the prices being asked today.

 

[NFrameFred]

The 58s go for $1,200 (I've seen it) the 28s bring $700 and 10s are priced at $600.

It's a brave new world. I'm glad I have all the guns I need as I can't bring myself to pay the prices being asked today.

I'm just about with ya on that one. My trading has slowed to a trickle. In fact, I can only think of one piece I stubbornly want for the collection and the only reason it's not already in the safe is a nagging feeling that every one I find is at least $200 over-priced . . . .

 

[stantheman86]

You can still get an old M&P 4" that looks like it spent 30 years in a cop's holster for $200 if you look around a little......I saw one 4" M&P at a gun show, a "large extractor head" model with the hammer spur ground off, but otherwise it looked good, priced at $150.....probably should have snapped that one up.....also an early 15 with original diamond grips for $275.....

The "shooter grade" common stuff like M&P's, 10's, 64's etc. will always go for the same flat prices. Everyone is scrambling for those 29's, 27's, 57's, etc. It seems K frames stay the most reasonable, because they are the most numerous. Of those the fixed sight stuff go for less..... J's and N's are skyrocketing, esp. the older ones. I have seen early Chiefs' Specials sell for $700 on GB. These days a nice early pinned Model 60 is a $5-600 gun.

 

[CO_Kid]

All the pre-lock revolvers seem to have had a price jump in the past year.

This is part two of my theory for the prices. Part one is that sellers are simply seeing what they can get away with.

But I personally know many people who "boycott" the S&W lock guns and will only buy older ones. And if I know that many, Im sure there are many many more, thus sapping the used gun market faster than it would normally go.

 

[stantheman86]

I'm lucky, I guess, that I like the MIM and IL revolvers....I'm enjoying the drop in prices for used IL guns. I found a 10-14 in great shape for $350 and a 64-7 for $300, in carried but hardly fired condition. Keep bringin' on those used 10-14's and 64-8's!

The rarer stuff will continue to skyrocket, but there's no way holster buffed 10-8's and stuff like that will ever be $1,000 guns.

 

[Tom K]

The 58s go for $1,200 (I've seen it) the 28s bring $700 and 10s are priced at $600.

It's a brave new world. I'm glad I have all the guns I need as I can't bring myself to pay the prices being asked today.

[emphasis added]

What in the heck has need got to do with it? Do I have all the guns I need? Sure, and then some. Do I have all the guns I want? Not hardly!

Agreed that it's tough to pay current prices when remembering the past. That's one of the things that makes it that much more delicious when you come across a real deal - the thrill of the hunt.

 

[ElToro]

in my part of california a 28 offered at $500 or say $495 to make you feel better is not lasting on the shelf more than a day or 2 if that.

especially in PRK, if you see a (used) gun you're mildly warm on in a shop thats priced correctly or even a pinch high, you better whip out your credit card for a down payment to hold it as you may be shopping a LONG time before you see another one. can you say 4 inch 29 ? havnt seen one offered for sale in many many moons.

in case you missed the memo the .gov has been printing dollars non stop the last few years and hard assets liek gold adn silver ( and guns) have really gone up in the number of pieces of paper it takes to acquire said items

 

[beagleye]

This forum ain't helping either

The disease can be transmitted over the internet. This is where I caught it. And all those threads of those perfect specimens, come on, you guys ...

 

[Orsogato]

They prices on quality made firearms - and the model 28 of course is albeit w/ a matte finish - are only going to keep going up.

Wait until the dollar is removed as the world's reserve currency and removed as the trading standard currency for oil! It's heading that way too as the dollar gets weaker and weaker.


We could see inflation like we've never seen. Get your long term stuff now.

 

[1-1917]

Darn, I have one that is still in the box with it's wrapper, papers, etc. No indication it has ever been fired. Maybe I need to get it on the auction block. I'd gladely trade it for a good compact diesel car that gets 50mpg.. )-:}

 

[NFrameFred]

Darn, I have one that is still in the box with it's wrapper, papers, etc. No indication it has ever been fired. Maybe I need to get it on the auction block. I'd gladely trade it for a good compact diesel car that gets 50mpg.. )-:}

I bid an '82 Yugo with a missing rear bumper . . . . .

 

[roaddog28]

Here is my recent experience. About a year and a half ago I was in my local gun store and saw a unfired 27-2 3.5 inch with box papers cleaning tool for $695. At that time I thought no way I would pay that kind of money for a N frame. Two weeks ago I was in the same gun store and saw a 28-2 6 inch with box for $750. The revolver did not have the original grips. I asked the salesman if the gun came with the original grips and he said no.

I guess this comes down to the supply and demand which results in what a person pays for a item.

Howard

 

[Dave T]

One of the problems with the "I will not pay that much" approach is that it guarantees you won't own that particular make and model with those features. People say "be patient" but good deals don't come along that often and certainly not in the barrel length, finish or wearing the stocks you want.

The guy who is willing to pay a little more than he may think the gun is worth (not an un-reasonable amount) will have the gun to shoot and enjoy. The guy who won't fork over the extra $100 or what ever it may be won't have a gun to shoot and enjoy. It's as simple as that.

Dave

 

[old bear]

Heck an 1980s vintage M19 that have very deep pitting on the cylinder and one side of the barrel (like it was stored on a wet cloth or something very ugly gun, I called the river bottom edition) had rubber grips, it sold for $200plus tax in less than one week...

$200.00 is $75.00 more than I paid for my first, NIB, M-19 in 1973.

Last month I paid a little more than $250.00 for an M 19-3 equipped with ugly Goodyear's, in need of a refinish, and tune-up, and I was pleased to pick up a project gun for that price. Now all I have to do is locate and pay for a set of Ivory or stag grips, and then decide on what type of finish, thinking black chrome, then pay for that. Then order a Tom Threepersons style holster and ranger belt to match. I guess by the time I'm done I will have between $550.00 - $650.00 to have a revolver that sold for $125.00 when new. And I always prided myself on my good sense, what was I thinking?

 

[stantheman86]

When you consider that a new IL and MIM Model 27 "Classic" is over $800, paying $6-700 for a used 27 or $500 for a 28 seems like a deal.

 

[keith44spl]

Well,

When you look at the returns on CDs...
and Gold at 1400+ with Silver at 35,
28s are gonna climb too

Dave

 

[Reddog]

That's caused me to buy a few Smiths lately, Dave!
Dick

 

[rromeo]

Well,

When you look at the returns on CDs...
and Gold at 1400+ with Silver at 35,
28s are gonna climb too

Dave

At least a 28 has value that I can understand.

 

[smithscott]

Two weeks later, gold is over $1500 and silver is over $46. The intrinsic value of neither metal changed nor did end user demand increase that much in two weeks. The paper dollar just is worth that much less. A silver dime will still buy as much gasoline as it did in 1964.

Less than two years ago, I bought silver American Eagles for $20; today, they are $50. Gasoline is up over $1.00 a gallon. Food prices are up double digits. So S&W revolvers that were selling at $300 SHOULD now sell for $600.

Well,

When you look at the returns on CDs...
and Gold at 1400+ with Silver at 35,
28s are gonna climb too

Dave

 

[stantheman86]

If you adjusted backwards for inflation, wouldn't a new Model 28 have costed you the equivalanet of $600 back in the 1960's anyway?

As a shooter I don't pay attention to these artificially inflated prices. If people have deep enough pockets to start paying $700 for used Model 28's, more power to them! They're making some sellers pretty happy.

I expanded my horizons a few years ago, I just got another used Ruger GP100 for $320 and it will last 10 times longer than any Model 28......people act like the sky is falling and locusts are coming in swarms because used S&W prices are rising. Maybe we can all stand to go a few months without buying another used S&W, and maybe prices will start to come back to Earth....don't worry, the guns will be there.......save the money for ammo to shoot the ones you already have

Looks like the factory reblued and rebuilt to like new 28-2 I got for $400 was a screamin' deal

 

[fyimo]

I missed a S&W 28-2 with 6 inch barrel in 98% condition last week for $425 but that's the cheapest I've seen one in a while and probably why I missed it by a few minutes.

 

[CajunBass]

I put a 6", 28-2 on layaway last weekend for $425.00. It's got a couple of scratches, but when you consider that they have three or four used Taurus .357's for about the same price, it seems silly to pass this one up.