Where are all the Revolvers?

[wanderinwalker]

Oro
Also, look in your local penny saver classifieds. Last summer I bought a 99% S&W 27-2, in 3.5", for $450. Not as cheap as some deals, but for that gun, a real steal.

It just takes hitting the shops, cruising the ads, and checking the papers.

Holy smokes!! If I ever found a 27 in that kind of shape for that price, I think the money would be smoking from moving so fast from me to the seller! Don't give them too much time to think about it!

Around here, I'd say $450-500 for a used S&W in decent shape is about average. Doesn't seem to matter the model too much, excepting I never see 29s or 27s or 28s. Dominated by K-frames and L-frames.

To whit: I bought a used 629-1 .44 Magnum, possibly unfired, for $479 OTD (let's not forget to include tax and transfers, eh?) 4 years ago. Just a few weeks ago I came across an 18-4 .22LR for $500 OTD. The 18 had some signs of use, but not abuse, and it locks up with a welded-to-the-frame tightness and is in excellent time. I feel it was a fair deal, not great but reasonable, especially when I check prices on gunbroker or gunsamerica lately.

And the same shop I got the 18 from has a pre-war M&P and a Colt Official Police (I think) that show honest wear but not neglect. IIRC, the price on those is $500 or significantly less, but don't quote me for that on the Colt.

Not to worry, I'm on a .22LR kick and there are a bunch of Colt automatic .22s of various vintages and prices sitting in the same used gun case.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Classifieds at

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/
http://www.rugerforum.com

There's a lot more on Backpage and Topix. Those are also local sales, so if you live in a state that allows off-paper sales, most of them will be private.

 

[22-rimfire]

If you want to find low priced handguns or firearms in general, you need to know your values and look constantly for purchases. That means going pawn shops, gun shops, several gun shows a month, watching the gun auction sites, scanning newspapers and bargain banner type papers, and having the $$ available when you find something of interest. If you are willing to do that, you'll find some bargains. Otherwise, you're just like the majority who visit a gun shop every month or so and go to an occasional gun show. Then it is just luck, recognizing a good buy, and having the funds.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Definitely keep an eye on GunBroker. Sure there's $25ish shipping, and FFL fees, but you're saving on tax.

Last week I got a S&W 13 (.357 fixed sights) for $195, and a S&W 18 (pinned and recessed), both worn but mechanically sound and shipped together for $30. The same seller had a rather worn Model 10 that just sold or $155 today.

My local gunstore (McBride's) has rather high prices on new, but has always had good prices on used gear. They have a Security Six for $300, a S&W 28 for $425, a good-condition but trimmed-barrel M&P or $225, etc. Not amazing prices, but stuff you can actually look at and handle before buying, and far cheaper than most any auto.

Oh, and I did get a 5" Security Six for $299 at a pawnshop last month, easily 95% condition. All the shop had was a couple Rugers, and then stacks of boxes of brand-new Hi-Point, Raven, and Aramco or whatever those cheap revolvers were. The Hi-Point 9mm were selling for $279, and the guy ahead of me bought one. I wanted to just shake the guy and say "for $20 you could've had a Ruger!!!"

But I just bought it for me instead.

 

[RON in PA]

It's a function of geographic location, a function of being in the right place at the right time and just plain luck.

Three weeks ago I purchased a 1978 vintage S&W model 10 with a standard barrel with some good honest holster wear, but otherwise in great shape for the princely sum of $185. The tag was for $189.95, but since I'm a long standing customer the dealer doesn't charge me tax or fees and he dropped the price down to $185. It's like I said, being there when the gun is.

 

[Landric]

J&G Sales has S&W 64 revolvers, 4" HB .38 Special for $230-$250. I bought a $230 one and ended up with a 64-5 that showed some moderate holster wear, but is pristine inside and has a nice action.

 

[Geezer Glide]

I picked up a pretty nice M65-3 at a local pawn shop on Friday. $240 + tax.

 

[CSA 357]

im always looking for old smith&wessons! they are getting harder to find

 

[polekitty]

Nice used revolvers?

Around here used (any) revolvers are scarce. All of my local stores are almost bare---when they do have any they are usually maybe $100 under price of a new one. Of course, my favorite stores are fussy about what they take in trade---they don't have any junk.

 

[kmrcstintn]

lately I can't even find used Taurus revolvers for under $300; here's a few examples of revolvers in 1 local shop:

Taurus .44 spl stainless snubby for $319 (looked good, but lockup not the greatest); S&W 629 6" revolver (had beadblasting to cover 'custom' laser etching done as a commemorative revolver--I could still see the deepest part of the etching through the finish) for $500; S&W 66 4" that had a roughened area on the sideplate (steel wool to remove corrosion) for over $400; Dan Wesson 15 6" (nice shape but very stiff trigger) for $350

in other words, I kick myself for passing up a pretty good stainless Ruger Security Six 4" for $269 and the LNIB S&W 67 4" for $329 cuz what I am seeing lately is getting worse and worse