Value of these revolvers

coobie · Feb 26, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
I've got a 6" blue Python I bought new almost 30 years ago. Probably hasn't had more than 100 rounds through it and still looks new. I believe this to be one of the finest revolvers ever produced.

You bet they are.

k0ua · Feb 26, 2015

coobie said:
You bet they are.

I think we have all kicked ourselves for not buying one or more back when they were "cheap".. Of course they were never really "cheap".. just cheap by today's standards.

Bigfoot62 · Feb 26, 2015

LD1 said:
Wonder what a current copy would show?

I have another copy that is 3 years older. Only $50 difference on the Ruger, $60 on the S&W.

Will_C · Feb 26, 2015

The problem with blue books is that they don't reflect local values. I know that 686 would be hard, if not impossible to find around here for less than $550, and that may be tough to do.

Will

DABSGT · Feb 26, 2015

LD1 the S&W looks a lot like my Mod.66. I purchased about 1978 new for about $186. Still own it love the gun.

thread_id

GManBart · Mar 13, 2015

LD1 said:
Not looking to sell either of these guns, just wondering how good of a deal $1000 for the pair was.

You did pretty well at $1k for both guns. I saw a NIB 686-3 go for $1200 on Gun Broker not long ago, and used models in similar condition to yours regularly go for $700 or more. S&W aficionados will say the 686-3 and 686-4 were the best of that model (only difference I recall is that the -4 is drilled for a scope)....they went down hill after that. Anything pre-lock is desirable, and then there are subtle variations as you go back in time, like forged hammers and triggers versus cast/MIM parts. Even something as little as having the wrong grips can make a $50-100 difference on some models. Either way, you wound up with a nice Smith at a very good price.

I'm not as current on Ruger SBH prices, but the fact it appears unfired, and has the original box both help....it's easily worth well over $500, so you also did very well on that one. At the vert worst, I think you bought the pair for $500 under normal retail for them.

If you sign up for a Gun Broker account you can actually search completed auctions to get an idea of what guns have sold for, which can be helpful.