Value of Silver Plated Engraved Astra .357

[proreo]

They have this Astra at my local gun store. It's supposed to be brand new.

I only have this pic (attached).

Would anyone be able to tell how much it is worth?

Thanx

 

[silicosys4]

That depends on a lot.
Silver plated? Are you sure its not just nickeled?
Who engraved it?

Unless both of those questions can be answered with certainty, the value is likely not increased much, if at all, over a standard model.

Even if the gun was silver plated, it would have had to be done by a master engraver (doesn't look like it to me) to really add any value, and being an Astra, it wouldn't add much value..probably not even the cost of the engraving.

I would value that particular Astra at right around $400-$500 as it sits with no provenance. I like Astra's, but unfortunately they aren't collectible and money spent prettying one up is money wasted, imo.

 

[proreo]

They say it's a factory gun and they say it's silver plated. I believe it was manufactured in the Astra factory then shipped to the store now sitting there for quite some time...

 

[silicosys4]

Well, if it was shipped directly to the store from the Astra factory and hasn't left since, there should be a box sitting around somewhere that says whether the finish is nickel or silver.
I wouldn't think the engraving would add any value...maybe $50-$100 if it is indeed factory engraving, but it's not of the quality or artistry, or done by someone with a reputation, that would add any serious value....IMO.

 

[proreo]

Say it's silver... what is the value?

 

[silicosys4]

say its silver plated and factory engraved?
$450-$550 tops is all I'd consider paying, and thats on condition alone and because I have an Astra and am confident of their quality. Silver wears much easier than nickel and the engraving isn't my thing. Its decently done though, and is genuine engraving...not lasered.
Its a nice gun...Astra's are well made. They seem to have a poor reputation as a cheap import revolver like Rohm, but from my experiences they are almost as good, if not equal to a S&W in build quality, and have a really neat innovation with the adjustable mainspring that I wish more manufacturers would have emulated.
If you can get it for under $500, I'd look into it. Its in really good shape.
Just that the shine and engraving don't add anything for me, and there is no market that I'm aware of for collectible commercial astra revolvers, engraved or not.

 

[bannockburn]

I think silicosys4 is right in the ballpark with a $400 to $500 price range. Astra revolvers, along with their line of semi-auto pistols, were well designed and well made handguns. It's just that they were not of the same level of quality as you would find like in a S&W revolver or a Walther pistol made during the same time period. The engraving and silver plating do add to the value somewhat but again not as much as if they were done on a comparable (or higher quality), American or European manufactured gun.

 

[19-3Ben]

The box really says silver plated on it? are you sure the box has not been tampered with?

A nickel or chrome plating would be one thing, and totally believable. But silver.....?

 

[P5 Guy]

I had a dealer tell me that a P'08 Original Parabellum Pistol was platinum plated, according to his jeweler friend. Yeah, right, Mauser did a run of hard chromed P'08s in the 1970s. It was a rather rare pistol but not that rare.

 

[rcmodel]

I believe it was manufactured in the Astra factory then shipped to the store now sitting there for quite some time...

Yea!
Sitting there Quite some time all right.

Astra closed the factory and went out of business 37 years ago!

rc

 

[Monac]

37 years ago would be 1977, rcmodel. Astra was certainly in business in the 1980's, and I think into the early 1990's (Wikipedia does not give an exact date). But I agree, any engraved revolver would be over 20 years old.

 

[gunlaw]

If I recall correctly Astra went out about the same time as Llama and Star. About 1993 or so. Not sure if they were still making revolvers when they closed.

 

[rcmodel]

From Wackypeedia:

Augusto Unceta-Barrenechea, the last successful manager and owner of Astra, was killed by ETA in 1977. After Astra went out of business, it was merged with STAR. This company began making weapons as ASTAR (Astra/Star = ASTAR). Astra went out of business at the same time as STAR.

rc

 

[gunlaw]

Thanks RC. I guess that explains why I remember Star and Astra going out at the same time.same company at the end.

 

[gunlaw]

ASTAR out of business 1997