Buying a s&w at auction
- Thread starter chorlton
- Start date
A while back I made the statement that I would NEVER buy a gun online, sight unseen. Well, my last 6 purchases were from auctions, and I have been very pleased with all of them.
Having said that, auctions are still a crap shoot. The sellers that post good photo's (5 to 6) with close-ups of everything are usually good to buy from. $350 for an very good, excellent, 98%, M66 is probably a good price. I just paid over $400 for a "2 1/2" Brl. I also purchased a 4" for $325.00.
Is there a reserve? Is there a buy now? I have found the auctions with no reserve are the best. That way you know the seller is serious about selling, and the final price is whatever the gun brings... I bought this M36 for $400.00. It's beautiful...
Best of Luck
Having said that, auctions are still a crap shoot. The sellers that post good photo's (5 to 6) with close-ups of everything are usually good to buy from. $350 for an very good, excellent, 98%, M66 is probably a good price. I just paid over $400 for a "2 1/2" Brl. I also purchased a 4" for $325.00.
Is there a reserve? Is there a buy now? I have found the auctions with no reserve are the best. That way you know the seller is serious about selling, and the final price is whatever the gun brings... I bought this M36 for $400.00. It's beautiful...
Best of Luck
As long as the seller has decient feedback, there is little risk in buying at auction. i.e , He's not likely to do 10 honest deals with good / honest descriptions and then bone the next guy out of the blue. I've done 8 auction/ internet buys and have been pleased with all. Having said that, be sure to ask any questions about condition, wear, accesories, etc BEFORE bidding. It's your responsability to assure you are not surprised. As for this 66, I'm guessing that the reason that no one is bidding is that it's not a "steal" @ $350. $350 seems about common for a nice mod 66, however you need to add $25 S/H + $30-$40 for the FFL transfer on your end. That puts you a bit high for a 66 unless it's mint with box and papers.
p.s. I have a mod 66 9 no dash) and like it allot!
p.s. I have a mod 66 9 no dash) and like it allot!
I've never bought a gun on an auction site. Not because I find something wrong with them, it's just worked out that I find what I'm looking for in trade or for sale on the trader boards.
I have only had one bad experience buying a revolver, or any gun for that matter, on the net. I traded a nice 5906 for a 4" 629-1 even. I got it in and I couldn't even cock the hammer back. The pivot pin pressed into the frame for the hammer was sheared off inside, and the guts of the pistol looked like they had been worked on with a file.
I contacted the seller, and after a little bitching, he paid S&W for all the necessary repairs. At first, he said something about not wanting to have to add cash to the deal. I just asked him if he was happy with the 5906. He said yet. Then, I told him he sent me a POS, and to do the right thing. No problem after that, S&W was paid, and I have my favorite N-frame I've ever owned.
If you have any doubts, just e-mail the seller and ask for extra pics or more of a description. If he's motivated to sell, he'll get back to you right away.
Good luck, not that you'll need it!
I have only had one bad experience buying a revolver, or any gun for that matter, on the net. I traded a nice 5906 for a 4" 629-1 even. I got it in and I couldn't even cock the hammer back. The pivot pin pressed into the frame for the hammer was sheared off inside, and the guts of the pistol looked like they had been worked on with a file.
I contacted the seller, and after a little bitching, he paid S&W for all the necessary repairs. At first, he said something about not wanting to have to add cash to the deal. I just asked him if he was happy with the 5906. He said yet. Then, I told him he sent me a POS, and to do the right thing. No problem after that, S&W was paid, and I have my favorite N-frame I've ever owned.
If you have any doubts, just e-mail the seller and ask for extra pics or more of a description. If he's motivated to sell, he'll get back to you right away.
Good luck, not that you'll need it!
That is true Russ, but you only get to handle an auction gun after you have paid for it. Most sellers will give the buyer 3 days to check the gun out. Many of them will do everything they can to not take the gun back.
The only reason I use actions is because I live in an area not target rich with good older guns. So far I've been lucky, but when you don't know who you are doing business with it's still a crap shoot...
The only reason I use actions is because I live in an area not target rich with good older guns. So far I've been lucky, but when you don't know who you are doing business with it's still a crap shoot...
SouthpawShootr
New member
I've bought 3 guns through online auctions. I always look for somebody with an extensive amount of feedback. Things that give me the warm fuzzies:
"Gun was better than rated"
"Gun was as described"
Things I like to see:
"Good communication"
"Fast shipping"
Deal killers:
"Bad communication"
"Gun was a mess, nowhere near what was described"
"Took me 3 months and a threat to get the gun"
I will qualify the bad communication comment by saying that if it happened once, I'll generally overlook it otherwise I go somewhere else. I never buy anything from somebody who doesn't have feedback or feedback less than 20 transactions (it's an arbitrary number, but I believe that this is sufficient to get a handle on how this person deals). Also, I avoid somebody who has good feedback from a long time ago but is just starting back up with unbelieveable deals.
"Gun was better than rated"
"Gun was as described"
Things I like to see:
"Good communication"
"Fast shipping"
Deal killers:
"Bad communication"
"Gun was a mess, nowhere near what was described"
"Took me 3 months and a threat to get the gun"
I will qualify the bad communication comment by saying that if it happened once, I'll generally overlook it otherwise I go somewhere else. I never buy anything from somebody who doesn't have feedback or feedback less than 20 transactions (it's an arbitrary number, but I believe that this is sufficient to get a handle on how this person deals). Also, I avoid somebody who has good feedback from a long time ago but is just starting back up with unbelieveable deals.
You could always start your online buying using the trader boards here or The High Road. I've only done a few deals here. Some of the best places to try are Gunboards.com (excellent transactions there), AR15.com (also had very good experiences there, too), S&W Forum (outstanding), Sig Forum (not just for Sigs, either), Ruger Forum (only done a few deals there, but great people), and some smaller boards like Massguns.com and Northeastshooters.com.
This is how I've done all my online dealings so far, and there's been a LOT of them. I haven't tried the auction thing since it seems a little impersonal to me anyway. With the trader boards, you can talk to the people (phone conversations are fairly regular and always welcome if you want them), and you can exchange e-mails with a million questions if you want, or to request more pictures.
One place to stay away from is CSP Guntalk. I've been involved in three deals there, thankfully all low dollar items like magazines, and have had all three of them come in damaged, and two of them were definately that way when shipped. The sellers drop off the face of the earth and won't return e-mails, except for one. He said he would ship me a replacement AR mag that was damaged in shipment. I paid extra for them to be put in a box and packaged correctly, and shipped Priority Mail. Well, I got them in parcel post in an envelope, damaged. Although he promised to send a replacement, I never recieved it. Oh well, I'll just chalk it up as a learning experience about a very unfriendly board.
All the other boards I've mentioned are outstanding and have friendly people there. They are a great way to start your online dealings, and you may be like me, and never use the auction sites.
This is how I've done all my online dealings so far, and there's been a LOT of them. I haven't tried the auction thing since it seems a little impersonal to me anyway. With the trader boards, you can talk to the people (phone conversations are fairly regular and always welcome if you want them), and you can exchange e-mails with a million questions if you want, or to request more pictures.
One place to stay away from is CSP Guntalk. I've been involved in three deals there, thankfully all low dollar items like magazines, and have had all three of them come in damaged, and two of them were definately that way when shipped. The sellers drop off the face of the earth and won't return e-mails, except for one. He said he would ship me a replacement AR mag that was damaged in shipment. I paid extra for them to be put in a box and packaged correctly, and shipped Priority Mail. Well, I got them in parcel post in an envelope, damaged. Although he promised to send a replacement, I never recieved it. Oh well, I'll just chalk it up as a learning experience about a very unfriendly board.
All the other boards I've mentioned are outstanding and have friendly people there. They are a great way to start your online dealings, and you may be like me, and never use the auction sites.
Model 66s are everywhere. Quite a few were LEO trade-ins at a lower price. Once you add the shipping and transfer fees that $350 price tag isn't that attractive. The M66-5 also has the MIM parts which some shooters frown at. Now if it had a 3 inch barrel there could be a bidding war for it.
I'm sorry to keep posting pic's, but since my grandson taught me how to use a digital camera I can't stop taking gun pics... 
I agree with Majic...I couldn't find a M66, 3" so I bought is online. The original owner bought it new, and has never fired it. NIB for $427.00. And, it's only a 2 1/2"...But I think I'm gonna like it anyway.
I agree with Majic...I couldn't find a M66, 3" so I bought is online. The original owner bought it new, and has never fired it. NIB for $427.00. And, it's only a 2 1/2"...But I think I'm gonna like it anyway.
orionengnr
New member
I've had pretty good luck so far
couple S&W's (bought and sold) and a nice Remington 700.
BTW, I bought a pretty nice 4" S&W 66 no dash last winter on GunBroker, $200 Buy It Now. Not that it's an everyday occurence, but good deals pop up every now and again.
Hate to give away my secrets, but try searching for Smith, Smith & Wesson, S&W, etc. This particular 66 was listed as a "Smith and Wessom" --I apparently typed that in by mistake and...Bingo!
couple S&W's (bought and sold) and a nice Remington 700.
BTW, I bought a pretty nice 4" S&W 66 no dash last winter on GunBroker, $200 Buy It Now. Not that it's an everyday occurence, but good deals pop up every now and again.
Hate to give away my secrets, but try searching for Smith, Smith & Wesson, S&W, etc. This particular 66 was listed as a "Smith and Wessom" --I apparently typed that in by mistake and...Bingo!