From a collector perspective, an important feature of your gun is that it is an early Model of 1902, specifically meaning that the barrel has no shoulder where it meets the frame, but rather is a straight taper from the muzzle to the frame.
The Model of 1902 started at serial number 20900. At about serial number 33800, an engineering change was introduced that thickened both the barrel OD at the frame, and the frame nose, into which the barrel is screwed. This resulted in a shoulder on the barrel. Collectors refer to these later guns as Model of 1902 1st change.
As a result, the early, or original Model of 1902, are scarce guns, and are sought out by a good number of collectors. Maybe your gun is worth $300 to $400, depending on whether the right collector comes along.
Regards, Mike Priwer
|