Where Do All These NIB LNIB Sweethearts Come From?

Those guys (the two brothers) have a BAD reputation on the S&W forum (check him out there if you're a member). They're WAY overpriced on GunBroker.com, IMO.

I've been aware of this dealer for a few years and have wondered myself where he buys these old Smiths still new in the box.
Yes, he's high priced, but people must be paying????

They're WAY overpriced on GunBroker.com, IMO.

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Agreed. Granted, they are very nice guns, but I can find similar guns in the same or nearly the same condition for much less.

A nickel 19-5 4" .357 for $750. Should be more like $500, absolute tops.

Model 649 (made in '85), .38 Special, for $800. I'd maybe pay half that.

10-9 2" .38 for $550. Probably worth more like $350.

13-4 3" .357 (quadraported) for $1500!!!! You can buy an older blued Python for less! Geez.

Model 66-5 2.5" .357 with MIM lockwork for $700. You can get a 2.5" pinned and recessed example for low to mid $500s if you look around, maybe just under $500 if you negotiate hard. Heck, a very rare 3" model could be found for less.

A pre-19 Combat Magnum, 4 screw, 4" Nickel .357 Mag for $2800. Gorgeous gun in perfect condition, but overpriced by about $2,000 or more IMO.

As someone else said, I guess someone must be buying them.

I suppose you don't have to sell many at those prices to stay in business. High volume low margins vs low volume and high margins.

I've drooled over their stuff for some time, but it never seems to move. Have they ever actually sold anything?

Poor economy, and older folks selling off what they have had for years. If you keep an eye out there are all sorts of good things popping up.........

I think that they've been around long enough to have created relationships with local estate auctioneers, small gunshops and pawn shops, etc. so they get the first call whenever something nice shows up.

LNIB guns aren't that much of an oddity since many gunowners are also collectors with unknown numbers of new firearms sitting in their safes.

Just curious...

How does one know for sure that a gun really is "new in box" or "unfired"? Most guns that have been well taken care of, particularly those in stainless steel, show very little wear and can be cleaned and polished to look like new. Do you just take the seller's word for it, or are there some telltale indications that you look for?

iirc the Fugate dudes are registered users of this forum, and people have previously opened threads complaining about how they were treated by Fugate firearms and how they operate, and their answers are there. If you search for them you might find them.

There has been no mention here on this thread of how Fugate treats customers, just that their prices are high.....but the guns they sell are hard to come by too.

The pride of ownership will long outlast the one time sting of a high price.

Not that hard to come by. Model 66s are a dime a dozen around here, especially with the 2.5 barrel.

Last year I saw one dealer selling a 3 inch Model 13 for $800 (just laughed) Three months later I found one in great shape for $375. The other day I saw a dealer selling a 2.5 Model 15 for $800 but know where there's another for $400. Look around, there's no reason to be paying those prices.

I once sold him 3 NIB Rugers for $375 each plus shipping and he listed them in his site for $625 each.

I guess it all depends on your local region. Those prices are high for my area, but then again I'm yet to see a used Single Six for less than $350 around here. And used pump shotguns are extremely rare for less than $250.

If you are willing to pay the price, then the price is fair, at least to you.

Hmmm.....learn something every day.

All this time I thought there was an "asking price" and a "selling price".

Dadams, want a nice Smith & Wesson Model 13 for $950 plus shipping? It was only used by a 80-year-old LE agency for qualifying on Sundays and never shot in the rain...