What does the collective wisom think about the price this gun went for?

Smith & Wesson S&W Pre-War Registered Magnum : Curios and Relics at GunBroker.com

Thought long and hard about it but passed.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

If you wanted a RM and thats all your budget could stand I guess it would be alright.I learned a long time ago condition is everything.I personally would have passed and tried to buy a RM in origional condition regardless of finish.What he has is a 1400.00 dollar shooter, it will never be anything else.

From the very limited numbers of images posted it looks like the shop that did the refinish knew what they were doing. Looks like the seam for the sideplate hasn't been rounded over and the roll stamp on the barrel looked nice and sharp. I would have thought about that one myself, however I'm a shooter and not a collector, so I'm not looking for a registered magnum. However, if S&W ever builds the model 27 with a 3 1/2 inch barrel again I'll be drooling.

This is a very common dilemma. In England, they refinish their old side by sides (very expensive ones , at that) and there is not much of a stigma attached. To their way of thinking, reconditioning brings back the qualities that made the gun desirable in the first place. A little bit of value may be lost, but usually not much...if it was done right. Over here, it is a different story, obviously. If you are buying a refinished gun (done correctly, of course) to enjoy (shoot, display etc)and marvel at....because it has all the desirable features that drew you to it originally, then at the right price, it would be an acceptable purchase. If resale value is of any concern, then, better pass til an untouched one comes along....because us American gun collectors can be awfully fickle. Sometimes a similar, but much less rare model, in pristine condition, is the better way to go....much less likely to have buyers remorse. Sometimes it is more fun hunting for a cool gun then finding a so so one.

I would have liked to see what it looked like prior to the refinishing. With what they have been selling for, I guess it would not exactly be "highway robbery" at that price.

The refinishing job does not look bad at all, and with the grips (appears to maybe be a set of Grashorns) I would say it is worth the money. I have seen some pretty worn out looking RM's go for some big bucks.

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Vaya con Dios

Compared to the one that just sold for $9,000, I would say that that is a steal. Even with a second reblue and drilled for a scope at one point. At 1/6th the cost of a 99% example, sounds OK to me for a shooter.

Wish I had bought 50 of them 40 years ago when I first started collecting S&W's

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James Redfield
LM #497

The incorrect rear sight assembly is a pretty big turn-off for me. If it had the original sight, maybe it might be a passible example for us cheap folks.

If I had the cash to throw away, I won't object to shooting the heck out of that gun.

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Dom

From the perspective of a shooter, it was a fair price. Many pythons are over $1000 but I think they pale in comparison to RMs or even a pre model 27 in terms of quality and design. With less than 7000 made, it might be today the cheapest entry fee to the "club".

On the other hand of course, theres the question, in todays economy, would you be able to get your money back? Its sure not a guarantee with as much wrong with it as there is, but still not impossible either.

If I had the money, I probably would have passed because my internal optimist still says there has to be one out there for less than that, and still original - all you gotta do is find it!

I would give him a little profit right now if he wanted to sell.

The refinish doesn't look that bad. I am more offended by the replacement sight and the hole in the top strap. Well used guns get refinished. Drilling a hole in the strap falls in the abuse category.

As a shooter, neither the hole or the replacement sight nor the refinish will lessen its ability to perform and perform well. From a collector standpoint, I believe that a well worn KCPD Mag would be more desirable and be in roughly the same price range. Those guns earned their "dings" in the line of duty and consequently deserve our respect.

Bob

I own a restored pre-War Magnum. I had it restored by Dave Chicoine. The work is along the lines of a Turnbull restoration as opposed to the all to common assumption it is simply a "re-blued" gun.

I think the registered Magnum pictured went plenty cheap. The scope mount holes are a problem for me, finding an original rear sight will cost money as well. At least you can get a decent set of pre-war grips.

While that is a nice blue finish, the case colors are completely gone on the hammer and trigger. The internals may or may not be up to speed and there is no mention of the mechanics of the gun being perfect.

One theme that seems to be common here is that re-blueing and restoring a gun are somehow the same thing. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As with a restored english rifle or shotgun, a restored Magnum has been gone through in nearly every way to bring it back to as close to factory new as possible.

The work Dave did on my gun was amazing in it's quality and scope. Every screw is perfect, the case colors are redone on the trigger and hammer, the finish is perfect, every mark preserved, timing, trigger pull and weight are all set to the factory spec. Any issues with the metal are addressed, grips restored if need be.

I got a gun returned as close to 100% condition as possible. He also stamped a mark under the grip panel, no one is attempting to deceive anyone into thinking this is an original gun. I bought the gun and realized it had plenty of wear and tear in it's life and was in need of some TLC just to make it a safe shooter. I could have went for the cheapo reblue and aftermarket parts or treated it with the respect it deserved. I chose the restoration and do not regret it in the least.

I'd love to have a shooter RM. Woulda been tempted with that one.

I love how he offers the choice between the elk antler stocks and the Pre-War Magnas. No brainer there!

My concerns with the reblue concerned the color,it looked like a Weatherby blue and not the type and quality found on pre war registered magnums.I would have prefered a worn shooter.JMO

I think it is still nicer than a new S&W for not that much more money, maybe not a collectors item but a nice shooter.

Troy

How does that compare to the price of an un-reblued one in about new or excellent condition from the 1950's? Is there much difference in cost between a pre-27 and a marked M-27 from that decade or the early 1960's?

I once had a very early 27 or late pre-27 with rosewood grips (I think they were cokes), and it was a superb revolver, very smooth and accurate. The finish was superb, too.

T-Star

Since it has no collector value and very little chance to increase in value, I would pass. If you want a shooter, why not choose an early 27? Two reblues and an incorrect rear sight would be a strong turn off for me.

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Dick

I'd be pretty pleased to find a nice condition pre-27. I think the 1950's guns are just as nice, fit, finish and quality are all excellant.