Where to find older S&W's?

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MikePGS

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Aside from online that is. Whenever I go to a gunshow all I see are new pistols/revolvers, or Mosin Nagant's/PA-64's. I never see any say model 27's or 19's or anything like that. As far as I know you can't sell handguns at pawn shops in Michigan (at the very least I've never seen one at a pawn shop) so that option isn't there either. Where do all of you find your new (to you) prelock Smith's? :D
 
I've found most of mine in the used cases of chain stores or local gun shops. Pawn shops don't even typically carry handguns, or any guns at all for that matter, in my area.
 
Really online is the place to find them immediately. Gun shows are hit and miss around here. My advice on that is to start paying attention to who the promoters are. Here in OK we have some real joke gun shows that are put on by the same idiot, and its best to just avoid them. On the other hand, we have a couple of decent to good ones as well.

If you are patient, check your local gun stores in the used section. I'm always amazed at what people trade in for the newest and bestest wondergun. And then I'm amazed with the price the gun store demands for the old gun demands for the trade in... I've ran across a couple of good deals on older smiths doing that. If you find one reasonable, you better jump on it because it won't last long.
 
I've found all of mine at one semi-local gunstore. I stop by every week or so to just look to see what they have. The "run of the mill" stuff is hanging on the wall behind the counter. The "good stuff" is in one display case. That's where I've started to look.
 
Older revolvers are definitely best to find online or a local shop. I found my 1980 Model 19-4 snubbie at a local shop.

Gun shows lately have definitely swung to newer guns - used to be I could walk around and see some seriously old/well used/cheaper guns. Now most of those seem to be gone and there are new guns everywhere.

I used to go to gun shows to see what I might be able to find.

Now i go to handle some of the recent new guns and see which ones feel best in my hands. Rarely do I consider buying at the show because prices have just been so unrealistic.
 
Local gun shops have them pretty regularly around here. Too many nice ones to buy, not enough money to buy them....:(
 
I've bought two hand eject and two K-frame Smiths at the same pawn shop in Lanett, Alabama, in the course of a year. But pawn shops sell a lot of handguns around here.
 
Small (mom and pop) gun shops. It seems the gun shows are getting to be a joke when it comes to finding nice material. When you do find an item the price is thru the roof and the seller won't budge on the price.
 
I would start visiting local gunshops so you know what kind of stuff they carry and maybe visit another gunshow or three. They are around.
 
IMO: "All of the above"

If you spread a broader net you will catch more fish.

I check the internet (forums, Gunbroker etc), non-gun forums are a good source for the occasional gun as well. I have a group of shops I check on a regular basis, one by my office I stop in 1-3 times a week just to see what they've had come in. The key is getting there before the other guys like me do so you can catch the cream of the crop.

Also, get in with a few of the non-dealer table holders at gun shows. Tell them what you like and to keep you in the loop when they get stuff. You'd be amazed at the old-guy-network that runs behind the scenes in the non-FFL market. I have gotten to be quite good friends with a couple to boot. Some are snakes but some are just good people.

Here's a good discussion about why not more Pawn shops sell guns anymore. More 90's era anti-gun BS: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=190315

I know of at least 5 in the area that dumped guns all together in the late 90's.
 
Put a Want to Buy ad in your local paper - around here, a lot of the older seniors are passing away and their older guns of all types get disposed of by family members. If someone knows you're looking, you might get lucky
 
If you are willing to drive to the other end of the state, try here:

http://www.ontargetgunstore.com/

They are located in Kalamazoo, and do a substantial business. A phone call at most any time will let you know what's in stock, but used guns change often.

Oh, and they come "Fuff Recommended." ;)
 
S&W Forum.
Not cheap, but a lot of nice revolvers available. I have bought and sold a number of nice guns there.
You may find something on the For Sale sub-forum here, or on other forums.
If you have a state CHL forum like the TXCHLforum.com, you may have a resource that is more local to you.
 
If you have a state CHL forum like the TXCHLforum.com, you may have a resource that is more local to you.
Click to expand...
There is a MI gun forum but I don't see too many S&W revolver's on there unfortunately. What is the URL of the S&W forum you mean, or do you just mean any in general?
 
Where I live it's locally owned gunstores and pawnshops. The Cabelas in Boise has many older revolvers for sale in it's Gun Library, but they're expensive.
 
Best thing to do is the have cash on hand, go shopping at

small regional shops frequently. There used to be lots of them out there, not so many left for sale now. If you are looking for a shooter rather than a collectable, you might have an easier search-Last year I founs a Highway Patrolman 4" that had been re-blued, but was in great mechanical condition for around $360...I bought it immediately.

I had 3 of them years ago, thought I'd never be able to afford another-they are great to shoot.

mark
 
Dogngun makes a good point:

Collectors are driving up prices on many of the post-World War Two, Smith & Wesson (as well as other top brand) revolvers; and now some are buying for investment purposes. But what these buyers want - and will pay big bucks to get - is examples that are new or like new, and when possible come with the original box with papers and accessories.

On the other hand those that plan to use what they purchase can sometimes literally save hundreds of dollars by buying a gun that is in perfect mechanical condition with a bright bore and chambers, but has some cosmetic wear. Same thing for one that's been refinished and lost most of its interest to a collector.

In and of itself, what condition the finish is in makes no difference in the way a gun shoots, and the wear often simply means it was carried-much-but-used-little. Law inforcement trade-ins often meet this description and represent a great value. Personally I am always on the lookout for these. :evil: ;)
 
I love pawn shops although it is important to remember that they are often not run by the most scrupulous people so ALWAYS go in with your own knowledge. (good advice anywhere)

The deals that I have found are in the less prosperous areas of town.

It also helps that revolvers are not popular with "gangster" types.

Go in the morning...pimps and drug dealers have late hours.

When travelling to small towns the local gun shops and pawn shops are also better places to look than big towns. (although the internet has changed that to some degree)
 
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