My wife found an estate sale with what appears to be an excellent condition revolver. They are asking for sealed bids on the revolver.
What would be a reasonable offer to toss in?

This is not the gun but it is identical to this.

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Thanks

I have that exact revolver. Great gun. I paid about $600 NIB in 1991 , I believe. Hope it works out for you. Wardawg

I own that same model/bbl length. I gave $550 or so several years back. It really depends on your area. Some places seem to have insane prices on S&W without the Hillary Hole. 

With all the accessories - box, tools, documents - and truly a high 90's in condition, I'd offer $750 if I really wanted it.

Offer what you'd like, but some idiot is going to offer crazy money ($900 or so) for it because they have to have it.

In the real world, a non-lock 686 snubbie used is in the $750-ish retail range. Lock models will be in the $650-700 range, IMO.

My .o2

This, for a 6 shot, unless it's a 686-4+ seven shot. Then, pepper your angus, it'll probably go higher.

Ok, if it's identical to the pic you posted, then those wooden combat stocks alone are worth at least $200. Now, factor in a short barreled L frame .357 and you're looking at $800 or better,

$800 minimum.

Why would those grips be worth $200?

I'm curious as well.  I've got one of the 2.5" 686s with the same grips but it's wearing Hogues right now; I know the original grips are in the box with all of the paperwork but I'm not even sure where that is at the moment.  I paid $357 plus tax for mine NiB; I only remember that because it's a .357 and the dealer thought it was funny too- maybe 1992?.  Mine's been swimming in fresh and salt water and I had it bead blasted at one point just because I wanted a matte finish.  Despite the dunkings I'd just blast it out good with WD-40 and compressed air and it's still completely rust free.  I ended up swapping my "water gun" to a G27 for that sort of work because I didn't care about it as much as I did the revolver; never had any issues with it either though.  I always used factory ammo and I'd add a bt of clear nail polish around the primers and bullets as an extra precaution.  

Not the best picture but you can see the Hogues and the lanyard stud, definitely a good thing when working in the swamps or on boats.  

I bought this exact gun a year and a half ago for $1000 brand new.

The build quality is extremely high on these much nicer than current production. Almost a completely different gun than today. I have both.

The grips are original factory combat wood. Fits like a glove and easily worth $300 on ebay....if you find them.

Its a collectors item and an amazing shooter. I carry it sometimes

Double tap

That sounds about right to me.

I bought my 686 for $360 new around 1994 but prices for new S&W revolvers have dramatically risen since then and used gun prices followed.  I think that a nice, clean 686 with the 2 1/2 inch barrel is worth around $750 to 800 nowadays in most areas.
I used to buy take-off S&W fingergrooved combat grips at gun shows for $5 in the 1990s. I have a dozen of them and sold a few for $250 to $275. N frame FGC grips can easily fetch over $300.

Offer $500 go up to $550

With the older release and chromed hammer/trigger, it's not a -4, and you can tell from the notches that it's a 6 shooter.  I have a 686-4 Plus 6" and yes, the snubs definitely command a premium.

A good condition 686 2.5" with original wood combat grips is $800 all day long.  At auction there just might be that one guy who has to have it and will drop $1000 or maybe more.

That's confusing to me
I bought a brand new with lock 686 for $69x last week

Very interesting...