Price check: Smith model 29 and 19

[68lemans462]

Hey guys,
I just unloaded one of my overpriced yet sexy Colt Pythons and I'm looking to reinvest. I was first thinking of buying another Python, but I also love S&W's and can get 2-3 of them for the price of a damn python!

Anyways, a local guy has:

Smith model 29-2 (4"). Made in '70. Seller says its in perfect shape.

Smith model 19-4 (2 1/2"). I didnt get the serial number off this yet, but I think its of the same vintage, obviously pinned. He says very light to non existent turn line on this one with no other flaws.

The guns are both described in very good condition, although god only knows what they really look like. Assuming that they are in very good shape I'll give it some hard thought. We talked price on the phone and I think I'll be somewhere in the 12-1300 range on BOTH guns. No boxes/papers, etc... What you see is what you get. From what I've seen on gunbroker, that seems like a pretty solid deal. Most of the nice .44's are bringing $8-900 all day from what I can tell, and the 19's are in the $4-700 range.

What are your thoughts on this?


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NRA LIFE MEMBER

 

[BigJimP]

Prices are all over the board ...and they vary a lot by region of the country...

29-2 4" blued..../ in my area is around $ 600 - $750 in excellent condition ...Nickel would demand at least $100 more. The 29-2 is a desireable engineering revision ...and while the 4" isn't easy to shoot in .44 mag...its easy to draw in and out of a holster...vs the 6" or 8 3/8" barrels. So a lot of guys are looking for good 4" guns.

The model 19-4 ...blued ...in my area is probably closer to $500 - $600 in a 2 1/2" ....( the dash 4 was made from 1977 thru 1981 ) ...so its in that area somewhere. The 19-5 in 1982, was when they eliminated the cyclinder counterbore and pinned barrels on the model 19's ...( so any of the model 19's up thru dash 4's are desireable).

but $ 1200 - $ 1300 for both guns combined is a fair deal in my opinion.

I have model 19's in 2 1/2" and 4" ....and they're some of my favorite .357 mags ( all of mine are Nickel, less holster wear, and I like the look better ) - but they're great guns. I also like the newer model 66's / basically the same gun in stainless ( all K frames).

Model 29's / and 27's etc..N frames...are all great guns...and in the model 29's ...I have 4", 6" and 8 3/8" ...all nickel, and one 6" blued. I'm always looking for a real clean 29-2 4" blued.../ I don't see many clean ones. I don't carry an N frame - its just too heavy / although I do have a 629 in 3" that is ported, its an RSR gun, Trail Boss...that I carry when I'm fly fishing in a shoulder holster to keep it up out of the water in big bear country. If I'm just plinking at the range...honestly, I like shooting the 8 3/8" barrels the most in the model 29's ..there is just something very "dirty harry" about their weight and feel.

To me the boxes and papers are irrelevent...I don't keep them / they have no value to me as a shooter/collector...I don't keep any of the boxes and papers on my guns ( and I have about 25 S&W revolvers these days ) - but I don't sell anything / shoot everything I own, even if I bought it new and unfired in a box...( but boxes and papers are often debated on all gun forums). If I buy a gun with a box ...I just give them away - or let the seller keep them, if he wants them / but I know it'll drive someone crazy that I said that.

But bottom line ...I think his price is fair / if they are in very good condition and the timing checks out, bores are in good shape, etc.

I'm going to a big gunshow in my area this weekend....I expect prices to be up / and the feeding frenzy to be kind of nuts. So my prices might be off ...maybe way off....

 

[68lemans462]

Thanks for the reply! I also have a model 28 highway patrolman and an 8 3/8" model 29. The long barrel 29 is also my all time favorite gun to shoot. I had it at the range the other day and the guys next to me couldnt believe there was one big hole in the paper at 10 yds. These guys couldnt hit ANYTHING! lol I shoot 240 grain cast Missouri bullets with Unique. Light loads, but extremely accurate and still pack plenty of punch. A great "plinking" load for that gun...

Any other opinions on the potential purchase?? I could always buy one and pass on the other. Sounds like the 29 is the one to get, although they both look appealing. Thanks for the input!!

 

[BigJimP]

For the .44 mag...I load a Montana Gold bullet 240gr JSP ...and I've been using Hodgdon TiteGroup in that case....but I've also tested some Hodgdon Universal ...and both have worked real well.

I'd have to check my reloading logs ...but with TiteGroup that bullet has a range of 9.0 - 10.0gr I think ...and I was loading it at about 9.5 up around 1230 fps...( but TiteGroup is a fast burning powder - and its a little snappy ! ).

Using Universal...the min and max were about 8.0 - 10.0gr ...and I was loading them to about 9.2 gr I think at around 1200 fps ...and it was giving more of a "thump" feel vs a "smack"....and I think I'm leaning towards moving that caliber to Universal - and a lot of my handgun calibers to Universal because its way easier for me to get locally.

None of them are "soft" shooting in my 3" model 629 thats ported ( plus the 3" ported / will burn your eyebrows if you get too close !)....but they're all pretty soft in the model 29 8 3/8" ...and really easy to shoot in a 8 3/8" barrel on a model 629 DX that I have with the full length lug under the barrel.
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For the .357 mag...I load a Montana Gold 158 gr JHP...and I've been using Hodgdon Universal ...min and max on it are 5.8 - 6.3 gr and I've been loading 6.1 gr at about 1100 fps ...and its a pretty soft load...even in my K frame model 19's, 66's ...or the model 27's, 28's in 4" or 6" ...and then I have a really nice Freedom Arms single action 4 3/4" in .357 mag ...that's a 1" group gun at 25 yds ....
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That's funny about your range story....because I was at my local indoor range last weekend ....with the model 29 8 3/8" Nickel ....a model 27 4" nickel ..and the Freedom Arms ...and the noise and "shiny" was attracting some attention as well....( I put 3 boxes thru the .44 mag ...and about 6 boxes thru the other 2 guns ....and I was shooting a 3" dot at 50 Feet( which is the limit for my old eyes ) and doing pretty well with the 8 3/8" .44 ...acceptable / but not great with the model 27 4" ...but really well with the Freedom Arms....

It is fun ..../ and I think this appreciation for good revolvers - among the under 40 yr old shooters ...is starting to get some traction ( although I like 1911's and a lot of other guns as well ).
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Good luck on the aquisition of both guns....I think you should buy them both...or at least I would .....

 

[oldbear]

Price have been all over the map the last year or so, and the current situation is not helping.If you bought both guns it would be an an average price of $650.00 each, which is $50.00 - $100.00 high for a 2 1/2" M-19. As I don't follow the pricing on M-29's I cant help you there. Perhaps you could make a cash offer of $1,000.00 for both, and go from there.

P.s no box or papers on either $1,200.00 - $1,300.00 is somewhat over the top.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO a short barrel M19 is one of the best carry revolvers ever made. I'm cheap so $1200 - $1300 is way too much for me unless those revolvers are in almost unused condition. The lack of papers and boxes is also a minus if you're collecting. I wouldn't go over $1000 for both the way they are described.

 

[Oro]

I also think the 2 1/2" 19/66 is about the most perfect carry gun made. And I have a 4" 29-2 in nickel, also, and like it quite a bit. I'd like to pay $550/$650 19/29 in the current market, or $1,100 total if I were you.

 

[orionengnr]

I think you are getting some good advice here.

From what I've seen on gunbroker, that seems like a pretty solid deal. Most of the nice .44's are bringing $8-900 all day from what I can tell, and the 19's are in the $4-700 range.

Be careful about using Gunbroker prices, unless you are using completed auctions on items that actually sold. Asking prices on Gunbroker are often ridiculous in normal times...and these are anything but normal times.

On the other hand, I have read several threads where people are finding pleasant surprises on some desireable revolvers...everyone is focused on buying ARs and 33 round Glock mags, and some revolver buyers are finding nice S&Ws for good prices. Perhaps some people are selling revolvers to panic-buy ARs or ammo or who-knows-what?

 

[BigJimP]

Big gunshow in my area yesterday ....and S&W revolvers were up in price at least 25% ...over what I thought was the expected price range.

This "buying frenzy" is affecting everything....even revolvers and a variety of handgun ammo ( with 9mm 115gr - FMJ range ammo at $ 20 - $24 for a box of 50 / CCI small pistol primers at $ 65 - $ 70 per 1,000 ) which is nuts, and have nothing to do with any potential Assault weapons ban....but buyers are being irrational / and sellers are taking advantage...of the situation.

N frame S&W's ...excellent condition ...asking prices were $1,000 - $ 1,500 for the most part yesterday ...model 27's and 29's especially ...in most any barrel length ...with the Nickle models being at the higher end of the range above....

 

[Clark]

There are many prices for a gun:

$100 from your neighbor
$200 final dicker down price from a walk in at a gun show
$300 final dicker down price at a pawn shop
$375 listed in this year's book of gun prices
$400 final dicker down price from a carnival person table at a gun show
$500 winning bid that was not a shill on an on line gun auction
$600 winning bid that was a shill on an on line gun auction
$800 ask price for an on line gun listing a gunsamerica

http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search/Category/648/Guns/Pistols/Smith-Wesson-Revolvers/Model-629.htm

About buying Pythons or S&W 29s. Their prices are ahead of their functionality. It would be paying for collectibility.

 

[Jaymo]

My local pawn shop has said that there is no longer any wiggle room in the prices of their guns. Regardless of type.
Of course, pawnbrokers have earned their reputations.
Think I'll hold off until the stupidity subsides.