S&W Model 586 Nickle (No Dash / Pre-Lock) - Value?

[bryguy]

Hi All,

New here! I inherited a few wheel guns from my dad, but one I'm considering to trade or sell to get a rifle I like.

Anyways, from what I'm researching and understanding about this revolver is that it's pretty rare and I'd like to get an estimated value for it so I know a gun shop wouldn't low-ball me on trade value.
Selling is another option, but I've never done that and I guess I'd prefer to avoid the hassle.

Anyways, it's a Smith & Wesson Model 586 in Nickle with original wood grips. I believe it's manufactured in the 1980's, S&W only nickled 1 out of 10 mod. 586 back then, it's pre-lock and no dash model. 4" barrel.

I believe the "no dash / pre-lock" aside from being nickle are rare characteristics that add value.

Any ideas of what this is worth?

Thanks!

20190506_093234.jpg

[DesertRider]

Condition it everything....
IMO You will get the best price from a private sale - most dealers will low-ball you at about 1/3 what it is worth. You will be getting the short end of the stick even in a trade. I would check sold (completed) listings of similar items on Gunbroker.

There are several things that will affect the price (I didn't say value) it will sell for.
If a gun is not impeccable, then it is often classified as a shooter. If you have the box and paperwork, that adds to total value.
The nickle has to be without wear, pits, scratches, milky areas etc. Condition of the grips will be important- Checkering, wear, scratches, grain, finish.
There are a couple seams in the metal parts that should be original, without burrs and evenly spaced, like a car door that hasn't been in a wreck.
The lockup has to be tight (there are specific tests for this) and no hammer push-off (indicates someone tried to give it a trigger job and failed).

Typically nickle guns do bring a small premium. The 586 was available in nickle from introduction in 1980 thru 1992 so there is 12 years of potential supply.
There was a recall of the 586 and 586-1 for some reason - there should be an M stamped inside the yolk if the gun was inspected by the factory. Yours doesn't have it... so maybe it should be... that can ding the sale price... although i would check to see if they stamped only the box instead (as they did on some recalled 44's).

The no dash models may or may not be the most desirable. In some series it is the -3 &-4 that everyone wants as they have most upgraded features and are before they introduced frame mounted firing pin and MIM parts in the mid 90's. Generally with other models, features people think bring a premium are those that are "Pinned & Recessed"... which refers to a small pin where the barrel enters the frame and the cylinder chambers recessed so that the rim of the cartridge sits flush with the cylinder edge. These features were eliminated in other models about 1982 and my book doesn't list any such change for the 586 so it probably didn't have P&R to start with. Yours doesn't have those features, so i assume you are referring to MIM parts... which is a moot point since they didn't come out with that until the mid-late 90's. Your serial number puts it in the late-1980 to early-1981 time frame.

Off hand (no current research), after looking at your pictures, I would say it is a fairly clean 90%+ gun and should sell readily for around $500 (private sale) or a little more depending on the rest of it. There are a few marks on the nickle or it would go higher. Try to find others like it on Gunbroker but don't get fooled by guns in really nice condition- look at the edges and wear points found on other well used guns. If you go to a dealer you'll get half that at best.

[DesertRider]

Man, I'm used to forums where the questions are current.... the echo in here should have alerted me...

[Mtwoodson]

Yup, same comment. Everything in this category is nearly a year old, or more.

[pneuby]

Hopefully the OP got remunerated properly for it if he chose not to keep it.