In terms of real value they should give you two Taurus's for the price of the 28-2.
Wow. Just... wow.
- Thread starter Art Doc
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stevieboy
Member
Last fall I purchased a 6" 28-2 in very good condition on Gunbroker for $500. I'd rate the blueing on the gun at about 80%, with wear at the end of the barrel and on the cylinder face. Mechanically, it's in perfect shape and, in fact, it locks up tighter than any other revolver that I own. I also found out after I got it, and to my delight, that the gun shoots like a laser. I'm not the world's best shot but with this gun I can get that "one big hole" effect easily at 10 yards. $500 was the gun's opening price and I was the only bidder. I did not feel as if I'd overpaid for the gun and I certainly don't feel that way now that I've put about 500 rounds through it.
Prior to winning that auction, I'd bid on two other 28s. Both guns were --like the one I bought -- 28-2 6" guns in very good condition, essentially, very well-maintained shooters. In each case I preset my maximum bid at $575 and, in each case, I was outbid. Both of those guns eventually sold for a little north of $600.
Prior to winning that auction, I'd bid on two other 28s. Both guns were --like the one I bought -- 28-2 6" guns in very good condition, essentially, very well-maintained shooters. In each case I preset my maximum bid at $575 and, in each case, I was outbid. Both of those guns eventually sold for a little north of $600.
Close to the same sad story here. One year ago I found a high end Shooter grade, M 27 -2 with 3 1/2'' barrel, at $600.00, offered by a very respected dealer. Made the mistake of asking an old time shooter/collector about the price. Was informed that was to much for the above, so I passed. Now I'm still looking for the right M 27 and it looks as if I will end up paying more than $600.00. It's becoming rather discouraging.
If there is any moral to any of our stories it is: see it, want it, can afford it, BUY IT NOW.
Saxon,
I challenge you to answer your own question thus: Pretend Mr. or Miss. burglar just cleaned out all of your guns and stuff and you have no hope of ever seeing any of it again. Now imagine you do not have $1 more than $500 to spend on a handgun and it will be years before you recover from your loss sufficiently to be able to afford a 2nd handgun. Go shopping and report back to us what you selected.
I'll keep an eye out for what you post.
Gil
charlie sherrill
Member
I guess I better keep my cheap 28's. The thing to invest in now is ammo. If the SHTF it will be worth more than gold or silver.
Frank46
US Veteran
When I got discharged from the navy back in '67 I was making about $1.95 an hour shoveling coal. Went into Kaufman's on Houston street NYC and they had a gatling gun in need of repair
that had a $5000 price tag on it. Today that same gun up and running would easily net close to $75,00 maybe more. What with what I was getting paid there was no way I could afford the gun. And if by some strange quirk of fate, had I actually had the money it would have been priceless to see the expression on Dad's face when he went into the basement and seen the gatling gun. He almost had a stroke when I showed him my Colt gold cup 45 that cost me $500 at the time. Now that was funny. Frank
that had a $5000 price tag on it. Today that same gun up and running would easily net close to $75,00 maybe more. What with what I was getting paid there was no way I could afford the gun. And if by some strange quirk of fate, had I actually had the money it would have been priceless to see the expression on Dad's face when he went into the basement and seen the gatling gun. He almost had a stroke when I showed him my Colt gold cup 45 that cost me $500 at the time. Now that was funny. Frank
earlier this year i traded my GSG-5SD for a good condition 4" 28-2... thought in the long run it would be a good trade and only go up in value rather than a german made copy of an HK 22lr. that was the beast that started it all...im still sort of young... so just last week i purchased a 586 4" no dash for $400...looking for the next one now lol thinking of a 19-2 4"..something about the 4" revolvers gets me excited... i do have a few Smiths... 422, 4006, 28-2, 586...they're still some really good deals to be had out there...just have to look and wait
take a look at the Coly Python... you can't buy one under a grand (1000) and the colt king cobra...usually not under 800... so smith's im sure are on the rise too... i am not buying the new S&W's... one there not made like they use to be...sort of like an old car... plus its going to be a piece of history... i have my G19 for everyday carry...
Smithhound
US Veteran
About five years ago I found a 4" M28-2 in a pawn shop asking price $275. The gun looked like it had been covered in a whitish chalk type material, stocks showed little handling but the gun was just awful looking. Bought it and upon cleaning I discovered that the whitish substance was apparently some kind of old grease or oil that had dried and turned that color. It cleaned up beautifully and turned out to be unfired as near as I could tell. No marks on the recoil shield, just a thin line of powder fouling where flame cutting should have been and zero blueing wear. Stocks numbered to the gun.
I sold it on the board a couple years ago for a little over $500 as I have two others to shoot.
I thinks TV shows like Pawn Stars are doing to older guns what the Barret-Jackson auto shows have done to old cars, everyone with something old now thinks it's worth a fortune and it's getting harder to find a reasonable person.
RD
I sold it on the board a couple years ago for a little over $500 as I have two others to shoot.
I thinks TV shows like Pawn Stars are doing to older guns what the Barret-Jackson auto shows have done to old cars, everyone with something old now thinks it's worth a fortune and it's getting harder to find a reasonable person.
RD
I remember when, too...it's just that it is never going back to that again. I really enjoy S&Ws, so much so that when I see something quality and can afford it, I will probably buy it. I try to focus on what I really like and not get swept up in trying to own everything (that is never going to happen!). I use the internet to follow what is going on price-wise. I always look for condition and rarity, if I can find both, it is a bonus. I am willing to pay for when I find it. A little prudence and objectivity helps keep emotion at bay. If I have to pay a little more for something I think warrants it and I have the means at that moment, I will "pull the trigger". And here is the clincher in my mind, I have never "gone backwards" on a deal where I paid attention. Yeah, S&W made a lot of Model 28's. But they aren't anymore and if you want one, then shop and find a good one. When you do, if it satisfies your good senses and YOU are pleased with it, then do it.
Smith & Wessons are what I do for fun. They are not a necessity, (though they have been earlier in my L.E. life). Hence, when I by one it is in the "discretionary" portion of the budget. There aren't many hobbies where I can find enjoyment and not regret the expenditure to some extent because there is usually no investment return. That is not the case here and I think that is how most of us "justify" our fun. It is hard to have fun playing with green-backs and precious metals.
Smith & Wessons are what I do for fun. They are not a necessity, (though they have been earlier in my L.E. life). Hence, when I by one it is in the "discretionary" portion of the budget. There aren't many hobbies where I can find enjoyment and not regret the expenditure to some extent because there is usually no investment return. That is not the case here and I think that is how most of us "justify" our fun. It is hard to have fun playing with green-backs and precious metals.
cmj8591
Member
I bought a 28 in 1975 and paid $135 new. The local gun shop ordered it for me. I still have the slip (but not the gun). I guess it's all relative.
Tunachaser
US Veteran
I remember as a kid saving $100 to buy a duck gun, now I save $1000 to buy a duck gun. They still cost the same. Gas cost .25, now it's 4.00, still the same.
Inflation gauge
In 1964 at my first job in a grocery store (with brown paper bags), I wa paid the incredible sum of $1.00 per hour, gas was 32¢ per gallon, and cigarettes were 35¢ per pack from a vending machine. Savings account interest was 4% and home mortgages were 5.5%.
Today, minimum wage is near $7 per hour (I think), gas is $4 per gallon, and I saw a vending machine that wanted $7 per pack of cigarettes (gas station price is about $4 per pack). I'd offer up that not new S&W revolvers are a bargain at the asking price.
In 1964 at my first job in a grocery store (with brown paper bags), I wa paid the incredible sum of $1.00 per hour, gas was 32¢ per gallon, and cigarettes were 35¢ per pack from a vending machine. Savings account interest was 4% and home mortgages were 5.5%.
Today, minimum wage is near $7 per hour (I think), gas is $4 per gallon, and I saw a vending machine that wanted $7 per pack of cigarettes (gas station price is about $4 per pack). I'd offer up that not new S&W revolvers are a bargain at the asking price.
I'm not so sure about that...
"User" demand need not increase--only remain steady--if the supply is relatively finite and few are selling.
Once profit-taking begins prices will plummet.
.357magger
Member
You should look further and do a search on GB for just the following, "Smith 28".
You'll find that perhaps $500 is not too bad these days in that there are similar guns to the one that started this thread fetching, or at least asking, in the $695 range.
WOW to that.
You'll find that perhaps $500 is not too bad these days in that there are similar guns to the one that started this thread fetching, or at least asking, in the $695 range.
WOW to that.
I think you're right. I reckon there are quite a few folks here that only own a dozen or so handguns, but not so many who will admit it.
Own a dozen or so handguns, in a particular caliber and they might like more than one caliber. Six M-19 (3 barrel lengths, blue and nickle) and eight M-586 / -686 (4 barrel lengths, blue and stainless) gets you a dozen+ .357 magnum revolvers. Just saying a particular caliber.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
prices up
What I see is the investment market pushing prices up if by no other means than by buying up what's available, thus creating a smaller supply and a resulting more vigerous market on old Smiths. The wall street journal publised an article not too long ago touting guns as a better place to put investment money than GOLD! Flapjack
What I see is the investment market pushing prices up if by no other means than by buying up what's available, thus creating a smaller supply and a resulting more vigerous market on old Smiths. The wall street journal publised an article not too long ago touting guns as a better place to put investment money than GOLD! Flapjack
I admit this made me chuckle.
My wife and I have an understanding: We both pretend that she doesn't know how many guns I own. ;-)
Not The Old Days
After reading through this thread and being a newbi to S&W revolvers I am sort of amused by some of the comments about the old days and buying these guns for the prices you guys are talking about. I used to think semiautos were cool and didnt think anything about paying 1300.00 for a nice Kimber 45 or even 2200.00 for a Wilson. These guns got shot a lot but thats what they were purchased for. The only problem with these guns was there wasnt any personal attachment to them. Now after stumbling into several nice S&W revolvers on a package deal and realising what I have been missing out on all these years I wish I would have got in 25 years ago. But at the same rate when you take into consideration inflation and economics and all that bs and also some of the comments from some forum members such as : they dont make em like that anymore: you guys are killing me: and a couple other amusing comments. And the fact that sat. night I took the wife out for a nice dinner, cost 147.00 with a fairly cheap bottle of wine thrown in. The problem with dinner was ya, it was a great time but you have nothing to show for it afterward except for the memory and a happy wife. You could also say hey dummy you could have spent that money on a gun. Or you could put it into perspective and say hey, these 500 to 800 dollar revolvers are a bargain and I want more. That seems to be where I am at. I just hope I dont wear em out just looking at and playing with em when I'm not shooting them. Thanks for all the great info and hope I didnt offend anyone with my comments........Randy........
After reading through this thread and being a newbi to S&W revolvers I am sort of amused by some of the comments about the old days and buying these guns for the prices you guys are talking about. I used to think semiautos were cool and didnt think anything about paying 1300.00 for a nice Kimber 45 or even 2200.00 for a Wilson. These guns got shot a lot but thats what they were purchased for. The only problem with these guns was there wasnt any personal attachment to them. Now after stumbling into several nice S&W revolvers on a package deal and realising what I have been missing out on all these years I wish I would have got in 25 years ago. But at the same rate when you take into consideration inflation and economics and all that bs and also some of the comments from some forum members such as : they dont make em like that anymore: you guys are killing me: and a couple other amusing comments. And the fact that sat. night I took the wife out for a nice dinner, cost 147.00 with a fairly cheap bottle of wine thrown in. The problem with dinner was ya, it was a great time but you have nothing to show for it afterward except for the memory and a happy wife. You could also say hey dummy you could have spent that money on a gun. Or you could put it into perspective and say hey, these 500 to 800 dollar revolvers are a bargain and I want more. That seems to be where I am at. I just hope I dont wear em out just looking at and playing with em when I'm not shooting them. Thanks for all the great info and hope I didnt offend anyone with my comments........Randy........
NFrameFred
Member
I think your attitude and comments are right on, Randy.
Some of these guys would complain if ya hung 'em with a new rope !
Some of these guys would complain if ya hung 'em with a new rope !
If you don't want an item because of the price, don't pay, pretty simple isn't it? 
Jack Flash
Member
Inflation is bs? In that case, get ready for a whole lot more bs in the next few years.
I had trouble understanding most of your post, so I'll leave it at that.
Dennis The B
US Veteran
There is also a "down-side" to...
...to the proliferation of the internet. Although prices have generally gone up, some prices have actually gone down.
Pre-internet, a lot of trade in goods was local (i.e. state, local, adjacent states, etc.). Your purchasing world, unless done by catalogue sales (think LL Bean, Lands End, Cabelas, etc.) limited your search area. With the expansion of the internet, everyone gets into the interstate fray. Now, anyone with a web site, can compete with even the largest volume retailers, and everyone has had to become more competitive. Hooray for the consumer. Notice now that state governments are scrambling for lost sales/use tax revenue?
On the other hand, that "rare" thingamajig that was in Auntie Em's closet, isn't really rare, the 9,999th one was just sold on eBay, or where ever.
Sure, prices are up in some areas; but overall the consumer has won big.
...to the proliferation of the internet. Although prices have generally gone up, some prices have actually gone down.
Pre-internet, a lot of trade in goods was local (i.e. state, local, adjacent states, etc.). Your purchasing world, unless done by catalogue sales (think LL Bean, Lands End, Cabelas, etc.) limited your search area. With the expansion of the internet, everyone gets into the interstate fray. Now, anyone with a web site, can compete with even the largest volume retailers, and everyone has had to become more competitive. Hooray for the consumer. Notice now that state governments are scrambling for lost sales/use tax revenue?
On the other hand, that "rare" thingamajig that was in Auntie Em's closet, isn't really rare, the 9,999th one was just sold on eBay, or where ever.
Sure, prices are up in some areas; but overall the consumer has won big.
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