I hate this: Python found at Pawn shop

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OK, two things are now cast in stone:

1. I will NOT sell/trade the 29-2, end of story. I will instead sell my last two Tauruses.

2. I will, after confirming age of Python, try the Ben Franklin approach.

Stay tuned :)
 
rcmodel
Member


Join Date: September 17, 2007
Location: Eastern KS
Posts: 28,789

Quote:
They want $1200 for it
Then they have less then $600 in it on the pawn loan default.

Go back with a handful of $100 bills and lay 8 or 9 on the counter and see what develops.

rc







This is great advice IMO if you simply must have a Python but a S&W 19 is a better choice for me.
 
$1200 would be the going price for an excellent condition Python here. An acquaintance of mine got one like what you are describing for that much this year. Beautiful weapon, sweet shooting in .38 or .357.

Love it.

I got a nearly unfired S&W M13-3 a couple of months after he bought his Colt. Paid $500. The K-frame suits my hand better than an N-frame or a Python.
 
Saw one at the gunshow for $600 in WA recently. Usually this particular table sells pistols for just slightly over worth.

I have a 686+ 6", and to be honest, I like it better than the python. A lot better.
 
It's been my experience that if you actually have the cash in hand dealers will usually drop the price. You can try haggling and see what happens. In my past experience dealers will drop anywhere from $25 - $100.

But Pythons are known to be very popular and in great demand. Regardless of the folks who are saying that a Python isn't worth it there are many others who don't agree and will pay the inflated price. Dealers know this.

Good luck. Keep us updated.
 
I get a kick out of the "correct stocks" guys... Especially when it comes to the pythons. The originals that came with mine are miserable to shoot n sit in the safe. If I got a good deal on another without the " correct grips" I would just get a set that fits me and forget about the originals....
 
rcmodel said:
You take a gun, or watch, or diamond ring, or skill saw to a pawn shop and pawn it.

That means the pawn shop loans you some money and they keep your stuff as collateral for a set period of time.

Then when you come back with the money they loaned + Mafia rate interest?
You get your stuff back, and they get more money then they loaned you.

If you don't come back with the money + interest in the set amount of time agreed to?
They keep your stuff and sell it to get the money they loaned you, and a whole bunch more.
That is what a defaulted pawn loan is..

That basically is what a pawn shop does to stay in business.

As I said, if they want to sell an item for $1,200?
They probably only loaned the guy 1/4, 1/3, or at the very most, 1/2 of that.

rc
Click to expand...

Unless they sold it to the pawn shop



Sent from Droid Incredible on Verizon Wireless
 
Offer $750, cap it at $850, then walk. Today's Python prices are way over inflated. I can get a Smith worked to near Python-like smoothness (and it is more durable to boot) and still end up well under a grand. I have two mint Pythons that set me back $550 and $750 and both were bought within the past five years.
 
Personally, I would be happy with the Smith that I already own (you), and would do as several others mentioned. Think about reloading.

If your 44 Magnum is decent (which it should be, being a Smith), why try to get something that may not be so decent? If your 44 shoots well and you like it, I would forget the Python unless I could get it for a song, which sounds like THAT won't happen anytime soon!

You, being the "buyer" are at an advantage right now, as money is tight all over. If you have crisp, brand-new 100 dollar bills, like the others stated, figure your MAXIMUM and lay down one or two short of THAT and see what happens. The most you do is leave with the new, crisp bills in YOUR WALLET!
 
Speaking strictly as a Python aficionado of many years' standing: they're grossly overpriced today; there's also not much chance their prices will ever reflect their actual value as shooters. They've become collectors' items, and that's all there is to it.

$1,200 isn't at all an unreasonable price for that gun. I predict the seller not only will get it, but get it fairly quickly; in fact, if he wanted to push, he could probably get $1,500 for it. That's the way things are in the supply and demand market.

Yes, some Smith & Wesson revolvers can be smithed until they have triggers almost as good as a good Python's. Yes, it is possible to buy a Python with a mediocre trigger, although I've to admit I've never seen one with a bad barrel. Yes, you can find bargains on Pythons well below the currently prevailing prices: you can get lucky in no time, although it's more likely you'll have to do a lot of looking and waiting.

Pythons are worth the extra cost only to people who really, truly, deeply prefer them to all other .357 magnum revolvers. If you get bitten by the Python bug, you get used to writing checks for large numbers of dollars.

All that said™, I now have a bunch of Pythons my arthritis precludes shooting very often. They're as pretty as ever, but...
 
$1200 is no steal of a deal, but if it's really nice it would bring that around here. By really nice I mean if it's been pampered, only shot at the range and never seen a holster. And it better have some kind of real Colt grips on it. The rubber ones shoot the best, but wooden ones are worth more.

I'll take a box if it comes with the gun, but my hall closet upstairs is cluttered with the dern things. I liked it better when everybody just used them for targets and then tossed them.


"...bitten by the Python bug, you get used to writing checks for large numbers of dollars."

Yes, and then I bought my first P210 this year. I'm doomed.

John
 
"I have two mint Pythons that set me back $550 and $750 and both were bought within the past five years."

Are you saying that's all a Python is worth these days? What would you ask for your two if you sold them right now? A grand? More?

John
 
Cyclopshooter, pawn shops are no better and usually worse than a gun store when buying outright. From what I've seen most pawn shops pay about ten cents on the dollar for what they purchase out right. They have catalogs of what various items are worth. Occasionally they screw up but not often.

I've seen a number of pawn shops selling Wallmart guns for more than Wallmart sells them for new. I'm right up front with them and bring cash, if they are willing to sell for a reasonable price I buy if not I wish them luck and walk out.

I've gotten a number of good deals at pawn shops, but I know the items value, what they probably have invested in it and what I'm willing to pay and have absolutely no regret from walking away from anything thats over priced. I paid $250 for a 3 1/2 inch model 27 with a worn finish. They were happy and so was I, sent it to S&W, had it refinished, enjoyed it for awhile and resold @ a profit. For you, the problem is many including pawn shops think the Python is the best 357 magnum (when in reality its the S&W Model 27) . Consequently, they will probably stay on the high side of this guns value.
 
I can't argue with the Smith 27-2 value proposition, in fact, it's on my list to acquire one.

One person's best though, is another's second best, and so it goes. I love them all frankly but, there's something special to me about a Colt snake revolver that's inexplicably intoxicating, both to behold, and to shoot.

That makes me a Colt-drunk I suppose, could be worse no?
 
you'll get no argument from me. A few weeks ago I sold one of my rifles so that I could purchase a couple Colt double action 38 revolvers. They're great revolvers.
 
Eight crisp $100 bills on the counter... if they don't bite... add one more... no bite... gather up your money, politely say thanks, and walk towards the door.
 
Guillermo said:
bikemutt,

As mentioned, 1200 is no steal so if you fail to procure this one, worry not.

Besides...the chase is fun!!!
Click to expand...
You know, that's good advice Guillermo, especially since I just grabbed a King Cobra, it's not like I have nothing to occupy my spare time.

It's the unlikleyhood of running into a good quality Python, at this particular gunstore, which gave me whiplash. I'm glad you all talked me off the ledge (metaphorically need I say). I'm back to earth now and will approach this objectively, unless I don't, but I mostly think I will.
 
The King Cobra is one of the finest revolvers made.

Perhaps not as slick as a Python.

If you are really wanting a python give me a PM. I am always looking for "snakes" and am glad to let you know when I see one.
 
I just realized something, it's unusual to price an item at what you need to sell it for. I've worked for 3 different companys and been in the pawn business 12 years, all the stores i've worked in priced to leave at least a little haggle room.

I think he knows you want it, and it is xmas time.
 
it's unusual to price an item at what you need to sell it for
Click to expand...

great point.

in the pawn business they ALWAYS leave room

ALWAYS

I would send in a buddy to negotiate it. (after the price is set you have to buy it, legally speaking)
 
Last time I looked at commercial ammo there wasn't a whole lot of difference between .357 & .44 Magnum.

And brass for either aren't all that easy to come by either...
 
Offer green cash in the last few days of the month. Don't negotiate, just put your money away and be like, "oh well, too bad we couldn't do business"...

You can make a better-sounding offer with "out the door" attached, and ensure he understands and sees that your cash is green.

But, timing. And it's a shame about the grips -- make sure he knows that, even if it's not true.
 
If the Python's price is inflated today, imagine how inflated it will be tomorrow. These discussions always decend into a contest between us where none will admit to paying too much for anything. I'll bet half the guys writing here would gladly go behind your back and pay MORE for that gun that they're willing to admit to you. But by all means, drive a hard bargain on a gun that will only go up in value. Teach the seller a lessen. wink. I say decide what it is worth to you. Then buy it or don't. I wouldn't listen to anyone else. You know what it is worth and you know what it will be worth. If you plan to keep it a long time, then that is a big factor in what you should be willing to pay. Money is going to be worthless pretty soon anyway. I lost $5k last month just from the money they stole from Corzine's company. I wish I had bought another Python and paid $1500.
 
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