Vintage S&W Price Check

[6_gunner]

What would a fair price be for a S&W pre-Model 10 with a broken hammer nose and timing problems (doesn't lock up in single action)?

I have a pretty good idea of values for good condition revolvers, but I don't know what would be fair to pay for a "fixer upper" like this.

Thanks.

 

[Oyeboten]

Images?


Serial # including any letter prefix?

 

[6_gunner]

Sorry, no pictures. It's an early 1940s gun with a six inch barrel. The finish is maybe 75% and it's in good shape other than the problems I described.

I was thinking about $100, but maybe that would be low with today's prices.

 

[Ron James]

I think a 100 dollars is a fair price as is 25 more than I would pay. It's going to cost more than 200 for parts and labor unless your labor is worthless. If it's that abused, how do you know something else isn't broke, like a cracked frame, warped crane or also the star may be beyond repair.

 

[Oro]

It's an early 1940s gun with a six inch barrel.

Three were very, very few commercial guns made in the early '40s - probably it's a 30s vintage? I would be curious about the s/n if you know it (or first three digits)?

I think you will find these go for more than that these days, but honestly I figure it like this: it's a $275 to $300 if it has original grips and is in very good condition - more like $250 if really 75%. It will take about an hour and $65 in used parts (if you are lucky). I'd maybe pay up to $150 a) if I wanted the gun for myself and b) I could make sure it didn't need a new cylinder/yoke (e.g., these gap/turn fine and straight, and the problem is in the lockwork).

There are these older guys out of the Olympic peninsula of WA who travel the western gun show circuit with just fishing tackle boxes full of parts - enough boxes to stack three deep under and four boxes deep on top of five or six long folding tables. I saw them again today at a show and picked up eight or 10 parts for old 1911s. I have hit them up in the past for pre-war S&W parts and they always come through. Gun shows are great places to find those parts if you have some good ones near you.

 

[6_gunner]

The serial # is 961xxx. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the original grips.

The barrel is a replacement as well, so I don't know how it was originally configured.

Kind of a beater gun any way you look at it. It could be restored to a solid shooter, though.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Sav .250]

Google it.....

 

[Pistol Toter]

I'd probably pass on it and find a much better condition gun for not much more money than you'll have in it by the time get through.
961XXX was probably made about 1944 or 1945, the post war premodel 10's serial number should start with an "S" or a "C" or it could be a transition gun made from left over WWII parts and post war innards..

 

[OFT]

What is the caliber? At that time they were made in 38 Special and 38 S&W which is a totally different caliber and will have something to do with the worth of the piece.

 

[6_gunner]

Thanks for the responses.

It's a .38 Special caliber revolver.

This is actually a gun that I'm thinking about selling or trading; not one that I'm considering purchasing. I wanted an idea of what I could expect to get out of it.

 

[Jim K]

961xxx with no prefix would be April 1942 vintage, just before the Victory Model, and should be Parkerized.

Jim

 

[Oyeboten]

Hundred bucks...

If nice plain 'Victory' style Grips or decent early-correct 'Magna'...m-a-y-b-e, Buck-and-a-Bird...Buck-and-a-half...