wanderinwalker
Member
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.