Pawn Shop Find

[reddog reddog]

Top break nickel hammerless 38 S&W 3.5". Crack in what appears to be original plastic S&W grips. Other than that, gun appears perfect. Older man sold the Smith and a Winchester 1890 that was just as nice. Owner wants $200.00 for the top break. I don't know much about them but cool gun. He is holding it for me.
Any thoughts?

[DCWilson]

S&W made that general type as late as the 1930s, and they were in production for about half a century. If the nickel looks new, I would suspect the gun has been refinished. That would hold down collector value. But if you just want an old-design shooter, this would probably be OK. $200 is about as high as I would go on a gun with a cracked grip panel without knowing more about it. If it is an early model of the safety hammerless with original nickel on it, it would be worth more than $200.

Just a note of caution. The .38 S&W round, which is widely dissed as "anemic" in comparison to .38 Special, actually has a bit of a kick in these small butt revolvers. It takes some practice to shoot them accurately because the trigger pull is long and stiff. If you train yourself to pull the trigger to the point of resistance (which is designed into the action), then aim before you pull the trigger the last sixteenth of an inch, you can get acceptable accuracy at close distances (7-10 yards, say).

[H Richard]

If it is "perfect", and if the old gentleman possibly had them for50+ yrs. and didn't use them, which isn't all that uncommon, it may be well worth more than the asking price. Only a close inspection by someone who knows how to evaluate it will tell. If you could take good clear closeup pictures and post them here more information could be given.