38 hamerless safety 2" bicycle gun ... value?

[X-RingDistroyer]

I'm at work so no pics. My coworker has:

38 s&w ctg (stamped on barrel), nickle (trigger, guard, and latch are bule), 5th model (release latch forms a T and rear sight is on the latch, 2", with pinned front sight, Ser: 243xxx seems mechanically fine, well over 85-90% finish, has cheep plastic grips - not original, bicycle gun.

The SCSW has a paragraph that talks about one in the 250xxx range and the term "premium" was used.

What is a ball park value of the gun described above? I'd give the guy $50 bucks cause it's just an old gun ... lol. Really, I don't want the guy to get stiffed if he sells it.

Thanks in advance.

[X-RingDistroyer]

I'm at work so no pics. My coworker has:

38 s&w ctg (stamped on barrel), nickle (trigger, guard, and latch are bule), 5th model (release latch forms a T and rear sight is on the latch, 2", with pinned front sight, Ser: 243xxx seems mechanically fine, well over 85-90% finish, has cheep plastic grips - not original, bicycle gun.

The SCSW has a paragraph that talks about one in the 250xxx range and the term "premium" was used.

What is a ball park value of the gun described above? I'd give the guy $50 bucks cause it's just an old gun ... lol. Really, I don't want the guy to get stiffed if he sells it.

Thanks in advance.

[ldp4570]

Not sure the value, but would be very interested in purchasing it!!

Leighton

[Buffalo Nichols]

Do you have a picture, if so that would help.

[tbury]

The standard catalogue of Firearms (2006) has the 5th model (front sight integral part of the barrel) valued from 385 (exc) to 175 (good) to 110 (fair) For 2" barrel add 50%. I find these prices low for retail sale and high for what a shop will pay you. Private sale might be 30% higher than this listing. Unless its a gunbroker auction where prices seem almost as high as retail.

[opoefc]

Ball Park = $500 to $700, assuming good mechanical condition, plus figure another $50 to spend for correct stocks ( black, hard rubber) and I would tell your friend to get a factory letter before he/she sells it to prove it was shipped as a 2 in. gun, and they might get lucky and find out it was a special order gun to an individual. Ed.

[jwh32]

here is mine, don't have the bicycle to match. DAMM



john

[cflier]

welcome xring,
Technically it is not a bicycle gun as the old factory catalogs only referred to the 2 inch 32 as a bicycle gun. I'm obsessing on trivialities here and yours is very common mistake. A 2 inch 38 in the 243000 range is really quite an early one. I estimate that about 85% of the 2 inch 38s were serial numbered after 250000. I agree with Ed (opoefc) on the value tending toward the $700 end on an 85% finish. If it is a gunsmith job and not a factory barrel the value is probably a third of that. That's why Ed advised you to encourage your friend to get a Factory Letter of Authentication from Roy Jinks the S&W factory historian.
Mark

[cflier]

jwh32,
your picture didn't show up on my computer. I'd love to see it though so you might try again.
Mark

[Oyeboteb]

Images showing the top and sides of the Barrel would help in evaluating whether this is a factory 2 Inch or a cut-down.

Plus, would be fun to see some images of it, period!