Trade bait question...
 

Years ago I bought a brand new in box S+W model 57 nickle plated .41 Magnum with a 4 inch barrel, I shot 1 or 2 boxes of ammo thru it. I really don't need this gun and was wondering what was a good price to ask for it in trade.:15_1_70v:Any publication have used gun values?

Re: Trade bait question...
 

These will give you a good idea of the market value:

Blue Book of Gun Values

Gunsamerica.com

Gunbroker.com

your local gunshop

Your local gunshow

Re: Trade bait question...
 

Thank you, I bought this gun on sale for about $250 so I was really wondering if I'd get $500 credit on trade.:bear_tongue:

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Nickle-plated pistols are a little harder to sell and .41 Mag fans are rather few and far between, but it sounds like you bought it right. Good Luck.

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Knowing my main gun store, they'd probably give you $300 credit on trade (and bitch that you are driving them into BK!). I asked them for trade credit on a mint Thompson Center muzzeloader and they offered $75, told them to stick it up their ass. Hopefully you can make a better deal where you are!

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I don't need to sell but my elderly mom is beginning to worry about things (shtf) so shes talking about getting a pistol. She has a 20 gauge I got her but she wants a revolver too. If I don't get a good offer maybe I'll give her the magnum...:452: :452: :452:

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Here's the guy you need to be axin'...

http://goldismoney.info/forums/member.php?u=8484

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If you go to a local gunshop, ask them what it's retail value is and tell them its "for insurance purposes". That should get you and honest figure. They won't pay that because they want to sell it quickly for max profits and not get stuck with inventory that is slow to sell or won't sell for several months...

Then, take it to a local show, find something you really want, and see if someone will trade you straight across or with a little cash either way. Do your homework before you go, so you have a good idea of prices.

Good luck, SC

Re: Trade bait question...
 

SilverCity, thanks for the replies the links you gave me helped a lot. And yes that sounds like the plan to follow.:36_1_34:

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A .41 Mag might be a bit much for an elderly woman. Something more along the lines of a .38 Spl, perhaps?

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I'm thinking a model 36 with a 3 inch barrel or a good used model 10/13 heavy barrel, this gun would be for around the house, I'm just kidding about giving her the .41, way too much for her.

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I have been collecting S&W revolvers for quite a few years, and I'm a big fan of the .41 Magnum (as you might have guessed). If you are willing to answer the following questions, I can give you a pretty good idea of what it's worth:

Is it a model 57 or 57-1?
What accessories does it have? i.e. original box, grips, tools, documents, mahogany presentation case, etc?
What condition is it in? any scratches, chipping or flaking of the nickel?
What is the serial number? (be sure to XX out the last two digits)

Re: Trade bait question...
 

I too have a few opinions of S&W 41 mags.
The 4" seems to be scarcer than 6" and typically commands a higher price.
There seem to be one heck of a lot of nickle guns out there and fo0r sale - if there aren't any problems such as flaking, milky, pitted, scratched or discoloration then a top condition nickle 4" can command top dollar, especially with original box and paperwork. If it is an early model you can add quite a bit for collector value. I have a blue 6" that I have been looking to sell so i checked gunbroker sold listings and the local gunshow. It appears that a range from 600-800 is typical with some specimines going higher. I wouldn't take 500 in trade for it - I have sold regular Model 19's for 450. I would say - without seeing it - go to a gunshow and put 750 on it and take 700

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I bought it a while back, 1991-2, I look it up tomorrow.:confused_ma:

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Box reads model 57 ,Barrel 4 N TS TT TH RR WO serial AUC 15xx, all paperwork except receipt, cardboard box it came in, I had the cyclinder release ground down, the trigger smoothed and action worked on by a local gunsmith the cops used. I also have a product code would that help? On the finish there seems to be a rough speck in one place and faint lines on the cylinder. To my eyes the gun looks new.

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A nickel plated .41 mag has no resale value at all, youd be lucky to get a 100 bucks for it on trade in this market. Id just hang on to it and use it as a plinker.

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Thanks Beaker, maybe I'll trade for a $50 food card next time they have a "food for guns" deal.:sarc:

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Well I didnt mean it like that, it is actually a very nice wheel gun but there is a very small market for .41 mags and therefore a gunshop wont offer you much in trade value because they know it wont move fast off their shelf.

I would def keep it but I do understand you want something for mom, you may be able to find someone who would trade a nice .38 snubby for it and that would be ideal for your mother.

Re: Trade bait question...
 

just kidding, you are right though, anyone that can handle a .41 mag most likely got the .44 instead and nickle plated just does not seem to sell as well as blue steel. This gun is one of my "live and learn" guns.:bear_rolleyes:

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It is a -3 or later model based on the serial number (my reference book is not handy), and the cylinder release work further lowers value to a collector. A -2 or earlier has a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder, features that demand a premium.

A dealer is not gonna offer a fair value on trade. You would do better listing it on one of the gun boards.

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Yea anyone looking for a gun with that kind of power probably went for the 44 but you got it for 250 so you certainly didnt get ripped off or anything and you probably could get at least that if you shop it around a bit but your desire to get 500 is probably a little much.

Good luck in any case, it is def a nice revolver.

Re: Trade bait question...
 

Like farscott said, the cylinder release work and the smoothed trigger reduce the value somewhat, but it is not one of the more collectible early models, so it's value is more as a shooter than a collector anyway. You should be able to get $500 to $600 for it if you sell it on gunbroker or auctionarms. I recommend that you sell it privately, you will get a lot more for it than trying to trade it to an FFL. A dealer would probably give you less than half what you could get selling it yourself.

Re: Trade bait question...
 

Thank you Sir. I have learned alot from you and others on this thread.:applause_

Re: Trade bait question...
 

I met an old gent near me that was willing to trade a 44 mag Mountain Gun for a 4" 41 - Blue or Nickle - but mine is a 6" so he wasn't interested. The 4" is useful for CCW and a lot of people prefer pre-expanded bullets instead of the 38 spl. Yes it is a large frame but there are a lot of large framed people out there too. If you are set on getting rid of it, do a private sale and you'll get more $$ for it - I will bet 600 easy.

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Thanks CyberGold, I'll try it that way.

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LM,

My older Blue Book shows $350 for basically NIB. Now understand that price is about ten years old.

But the price of these revolvers doesn't vary much from year to year. Granted we have seen a spike recently. But even then, as has been mentioned here earlier, trading it in will net you NO MORE than about $200.

Keep it, buy a box or two of .41 specials. Let your mom try it out. She may OR MAY NOT like shooting a 4" large framed S&W. It's basically a bit heavy and some people just don't like the feel. While others (I am one of them) love that feel.

Besides the cost of one or two boxes of ammo and the range fee, you are out nothing. And taking your Mom to the range would also allow you to take her 20 gauge shotgun out and test it for it's overall reliability. Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong with it. Just the WRONG time to find out is when she needs it to defend herself and her home.

I can contact a buddy of mine who owns a local shop. He will give me the current Blue Book price. But I'd be willing to bet a dollar to donuts that it has not gone up more than $100 (max) in the past ten years.

Sometimes, holding onto a firearm is MUCH better than trading it in and taking the hit financically. Other times, not so much. You will be able to make that call after allowing your mom the chance to shoot it. Trust me, after the first set of bullets fired (6) YOU WILL KNOW by the look on her face whether she likes it or not.

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.41 Special is a wildcat round. AFAIK, no one loads factory .41 Special ammo, though I really wish they did. You can buy (very expensive) .41 Special headstamped brass for reloading, otherwise, it has to be made by cutting down magnum brass to .38 Special length.

In my experience, Blue Book values, especially for S&W revolvers are wildly out of line with real world prices. I would gladly buy just about every S&W revolver I could get my hands on at Blue Book price, or even $100 over Blue Book.

Re: Trade bait question...
 

Here is a datum point. A local shop has a nickel four-inch M29-2, the same basic revolver except in .44 Magnum with the pinned barrel and recessed charge holes in the cylinder. The gun is darn close to 100% as I cannot even see a turn line on the cylinder. The gun has a price tag of $585 on it, and it has been sitting there for at least one month. I keep looking at it when I stop by, but I need another .44 Magnum like I need another credit card.