A dear friend of mine husband past away and wants to give me this pistol. I want to pay her a fair price the serial # begins with 102XXX and other than holster wear the gun is flawless. Would someone give me and estimated value on this, S&W .38 lemon squeezer?

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So far as I can see from the photos, that looks like a very nice example of a Third Model. I'd want a factory letter to verify that the nickel finish is original. The pearl stocks are worth something all by themselves.

If it's actually as good as it appears, I don't think a retail valuation as high as the $500 range would not be out of order.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I would call this one refinished. The first picture shows rounded edges all around the frame and the S&W logo looks a little weak. Also, the parts that should be case hardened (hammer, trigger guard, etc.) are deep blued.

That would bring the value down quite a bit, since serious collectors would probably not be interested in paying high dollar for this one. That said, it does look like it would make a good shooter and with those pearl grips, you will get attention at the range!

I'm not sure that we can tell, from your photos, whether this has been refinished. I don't know whether I'm looking at a blued trigger guard and latch, or one that is highly oiled? Could you give us a couple more photos? Especially one of the left side, with the sideplate shown clearly?
If not refinished (?), it appears to be in "excellent" condition for a safety hammerless, and I would agree with the $500 neighborhood, especially if the pearl grips are genuine and vintage. If refinished, significantly less dollar value. Does your friend know anything about the history of this revolver? You are actually buying that along with the object itself. Thanks for the photos you did publish.

what parts of the gun should i take pic's of to give a better view to tell if its been refinished?

To me, the photos aren't of sufficient quality to be really conclusive one way or the other. But I agree that if it's a refinish, the desirablity (and hence value) is greatly diminished. I do also think you are quite right on keying in on the small parts that should be case hardened as an indicator for overall originality, and even these photos do seem to suggest that they are (incorrectly) blued, which to my discredit I hadn't noted.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

more pic's

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she said they had a matching pair and gave one away years ago, but she is not sure where her husband got them, just that he had them along time.

That gun does not appear to be refinished. It looks to be in the 95+% range from what I can see.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I believe that it probably is refinished. It appears to have slightly rounded edges. The screw & pin holes appear to be slightly dished, and the case color on the trigger doesn't match the rest of the finish. Having said that, if I were interested in purchasing it I wouldn't pay a penny until I had it in my hands so that I could make a definative judgement on it's originality. It is really hard to tell from photos.
Mark

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Mark Connot

Thus the difficulty in determining condition and value without the gun in hand for examination. I'd say from the pictures it's original, but others say it's refinished. Not knowing for sure which from a distance, I'd be willing to take a chance and consider $250-$300 a fair price for it. Would be more than any gun shop would pay for it

Thanks everyone looks like she has a shooter not a collector.