Approx Value S&W 28-2 Washington State Patrol Commemorative?

[Jackal]

Howdy folks. A friend of mine has a WSP commemorative 28-2 in its original wood display box. Its near mint, never been fired outside the factory. From my limited research, only 760ish of these pistols were ever made, in 1981. He's been thinking about selling it but I'd like to get a feel for what its worth. I cant find any comparables anywhere and I dont want him to get ripped off. I see standard models selling in the $800 range, I assume this one would command a premium? Anyone have any clue what one of these would bring at auction or a good starting point for a local sale? Thanks.

 

[reddog81]

I don't know much about the specific WSP commemorative, but usually any commemorative isn't worth much if any more than the same gun in a non-commemorative package. Additionally it is very common to find a commemorative edition in mint condition. These are bought as an investment and the result is that all of them remain in good condition. An actual 28-2 issued to the Washington State Police in this condition would be worth a premium.

Commemorative editions were common with Colt and S&W during that time. They limited the number produced to however many they thought they could sell and came out with new commemoratives on a regular basis.

 

[Wisco]

Commemorative guns are only worth a premium to someone with that specific interest and to find that buyer often takes some time. It may be a detractor to many others.

Often I'll see a gun I'd be interested in only to see upon a closer look it's a commemorative and immediately lose interest.

I'd be interested in a Model 28 Highway Patrolman, but I wouldn't consider one that was a commemorative of a police organization - simply because I've never been a cop. I'd only buy one if the price was right enough so the commemorative aspect could be taken off and refinished into a regular shooter.

 

[Stephanie B]

What everyone else said. It's worth whatever a NIB Model 28 of that vintage is worth.

 

[tallpaul]

to me it would be worth a bit less... and if it was used as a police gun it would hold no extra value to most... just maybe someone with a connection to the department or a LE worshiper...

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Probably the only guy the gun is worth a premium to is a gun guy affiliated with the WSP who is in the market for a 28....Many of the rest of us don't find it special or appealing. I might buy one at about 25% less than what an unbranded on sells for if I really wanted a shooter.

I see those special run police guns often at gun shows. I rarely see them move.

 

[AZAndy]

The Standard Catalog of S&W says a LNIB would be about $900, which seems like a good rough estimate. It does mention the particular gun you're talking about, and says they're from 1981, have 6" barrels, and that there were 762 made, as you mentioned.

 

[Jonesy814]

I bought an old 5 screw pre 28 last year for $595 which is a fairly decent price as the 5 screw versions demand a slight premium. Of course it shows a bit of wear near the end of the barrel and high spots on the cylinder. A new in box specimen seems about right at $800-900. I agree that being a commemorative generally adds little to no value and can detract from value. In a nationwide auction like gunbroker it may draw the interest of someone who likes commemorative or was a WSP member in which case it could go to the high end of that range, but on the other hand it might only top out at $750 or so. Personally if had it my bottom line or start point would be $775 with the hope I could get $850

 

[CajunBass]

I've got a Virginia State Police 50th anniversary Model 66-1 that I probably paid a little too much for, but it was in "unfired outside the factory condition" and had a nice wood display case, and a really nice set of Smith & Wesson presentation grips (about my favorite grip). The grips alone were probably worth the premium I paid, now that I think about it. The fact that it was a VSP meant nothing to me.

As the others have said, I wouldn't pay anymore than I would for any other Model 28, in the same condition.

 

[Dave T]

To me being a commemorative detracts from the gun's value. If I was in the market for a M-28 and saw your friend's gun, unfired in the box for $500 and a plain Jane M-28 in good condition for $700, I'd buy the plain one.

YMMV,
Dave

 

[tightgroup tiger]

The only commemorative to me that would be worth something to me would be like the 75th anniversary of .357 magnum. Then only if it has an appealing look to it. Police dept commemorative, naaa. Give me a good 28-2 4" or earlier in almost unfired condition and I'm a happy man.
I have one by the way, doesn't have a turn line. I'd be happy to have another one.

 

[Taroman]

Like a house with a swimming pool.
A plus for maybe 10% of prospective buyers,
A minus for everyone else.
As for me, I would pay no more then what a plain model will bring, preferably less.
OTOH, the LGS had a Oregon State Police Model 19.
Sold it for $1500..
Go figure..

 

[Old Dog]

Jackal, there's a guy who's had a WSP commemorative at his table at the last few WAC shows ... only it's Washington State Penitentiary, not State Patrol. Also, it's a model 27, looks sweet. But just not the price (well north of 1K) ...

 

[SwampWolf]

I've got a couple of le commemorative revolvers in fitted wooden presentation boxes (one of them from my own agency, the other from a dear friend from a different department who passed away years ago and it was willed to me). The best thing about these revolvers is their unfired, mint condition; the worst thing about them is that I'm reluctant to shoot them because, well, they are unfired commemoratives in mint condition...