[Dave1]

I am looking for a new or very nice used S&W 686 4". What can I expect to pay for this piece in the 6 or 7 shot versions?

Thanks, Dave
Winter Springs, Fla.

[treebeard]

I paid $400 for 686 4" up here in the Northeast. It is easily in 90% condition.

[gunzrfunz]

There is a 686-2 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=65101818) with a reserve of $500.
There is also this (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=65004159) one that has NO reserve with a starting price of $465.
And there are a cpl others that go up from there. Good choice, btw.;)

[115grfmj]

The cheapest place I found was in lakewood. I paid 530 OTD for a 686-6
4" seven shooter. That was about a year ago.

[jad0110]

I have seen 3 6 shot 4" 686s in the same gun shop locally, all for $399, so $400 sounds like a good price to me.

[Dave1]

I have never bought/sold anything on the Gunbroker.com site. What is a "Reserve"? The bidding on a gun started at $300 but I noticed the gun has a reserve of $500. What does that mean?

Thanks, Dave

[hexidismal]

Dave1: The reserve price on an auction is the lowest price that the gun will actually be sold for. It's a way for sellers to protect themselves from a situation wherein the final bid on an item is lower than their minimum asking price. Of course, I never really did understand why a seller doesn't just start the bidding at their minimum. Apparently though, completely meaningless lower bids are thought to attract attention.

Oh as far as the 686 price.. just to add my reference to the list there. I paid $475 for a 686-5 6" somewhat recently. The was a excellent condition 4" in the same shop, for the same price. They were marked $500 , but the real price was $475.

[Dave1]

Thanks for all of the information. I have surfed the net for a couple of hours and found a NIB 686 4" for $550, that seems to be the best deal I have seen this morning, but it is in Calif so shipping and transfer fees will apply.

I am somewhat hesitant to buy online and thru the mail order. When shipping and transfer fees are added in, the mail order prices are comparable to my local gun shop prices. I would rather buy locally if possible where I can see/touch before buying and not have to put a credit card number out on the internet.

The best price I have found on a new gun within driving distance of my home is $582 (from a mail order dealer). The local gun shops around here are priced at about $580 plus the tax and BGC which puts it over $600. Not sure I am going to do. May wait and hope to find a nice used piece here locally.

Dave

[gunzrfunz]

I have bought several handguns and a shotgun(Remington 870 for $180) from gunbroker.com and auctionarms.com , and haven't had a problem yet. The best thing is you don't pay state sales tax if seller is outside your home state.:neener: Shipping is usually around $25 +/- then add another $25 for transfer fees , so figure about $50-$60 on top of buying price, and that's usually better then your local gun shop, at least better then around me. I bought a slightly used 6" 686 for $370 + 30shipping +25 xtransfer fees totalling $425! Try and beat that out the door price at any of your local gun shops. I normally will check out a sellers rating and feedback to make sure he is someone with a good record, then after passing that test will wait till last minute of auction to put in bid, usually winning it. I just bought a NIB Springfield XD-40 for $365 so it is well worth it to use online auction sites. You can also try here (http://www.whittakerguns.com/).

[gaucho1]

Guns America item#976829221
$419+ $15sh

Bill Thomson seller Smith&Wesson--.357