Photos of Pistol I posted verbal decription few days ago seeking value info. I paid $199 OTD.








I'm thinking of a Kroil treatment to loosen rust, wait a few hours, then a burnish treatment to start with. I'm sure it's unfired, perfect inside, no transfer on recoil shield. Box is a mess but LGS manager opinion it has recovery potential -- meaningless to me, not being a boxophile. Comments, estimates, advice appreciated ----->

That's surly a leap of faith to say it is unfired but the damage seems to be from improper storage and really not that bad for the price you paid. Too bad the box is trashed so badly.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Doesn't matter if the box is trash or not, KEEP IT> Could be valuable to the next owner of the gun.

IMHO you paid about right (or maybe a little less than right...)
However, having seen the quality of some of your work, I have no doubt we won't recognize it after you finish with the "touch-up"...

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

a real shame on a nice blued SH. Could be un-fired but stored all wrong.
if you will take a look at the box, there is evidence of moisture. a lot of times Grandma but guns out in the shed or down in the cellar after the funeral. I bought several Lugers with missing side plates that Ma had taken off to render useless'. She was worried about the kids finding it.
Your gun is still a nice find. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Took the barrel off to get at the pitting at the hinge area -- pretty bad but now looking better with several levels of paper now 1000. Front sight & muzzle area pitted same, likewise a place on the cylinder. Making progress. -- Wish I could find some on who values the box, it's meaningless to me & has a bunch of papers in it still unfolded.

dID YOU PUT SAND PAPER ON THAT LITTLE GEM.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Not sand paper; a special abrasive paper I get in a package of various grits from 220 to 1500, That I have been using for years preparing my Colt 1902 & 1905 autos for bluing ----->

Kroil only for a good while - do not touch it with abrasive paper of any kind.

Worth what you paid for it. Too bad about the pitting. The cleaning will remove any collector value that was left but obviously you are not concerned about that and are preparing it as a shooter. Not sure what it will be worth when you are finished but looking forward to the photos.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Too much of a turn line to be unfired unless someone did a bunch of dry firing, but I still think you got it for a good price.

Before & After a series of abrasive papers up to 1500 & Oxpho-Blue --

It's always a pleasure to see something from the past brought back to presentable condition. And, I imagine an equally skilled paper conservator could transform that box to match the look of the revolver. Nice work.

Statements "like never been fired" remind me of the GB sellers who use terms like NIB, rare, never fired, one-of-a-kind, etc.. My advise, for what it is worth, is please don't portray a 100 year old firearm as unfired since you cannot prove that it has never been shot.

As for the box, check prices realized for old S&W boxes and maybe the box would not be meaningless to you anymore. Many sell for more than you paid for both the box and gun. To have both a revolver and matching box is something you simply do not run across often and it makes your find an important part of S&W history. Hopefully, it has a serial number written on the bottom of the box.

If the gun cleans up, the box can be repaired and made solid and usable again. All cleaned up, you have a gun and matching box worth $400 minimum at auction.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

No s/n on box. I'm not a box-ophile & if someone wants it make me an offer. There may be money amongst all those papers. Some of this reminds me of the saying "I've problems of my own I can't solve but I'll be happy to advise you on yours."

Well, if you were a "box-ophile", "glowe" could transform that box into whatever you wanted------old, but sound-------well cared for over the years-----or brand spanking new---or anywhere in between.

Ralph Tremaine