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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 03-16-2011, 05:56 PM
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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Question Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price

I found for sale a Pre-29 don't have pictures yet but it is an "S" series serial number. I am told it is a 4 screw with original cokes, target hammer & trigger with an extra set of Hogue Combat gips. No box & no tools. I am told it is in excellent condition with no dings or scratches. I was told bluing is very good over most of the gun, but not 100%, but close. So the asking price is $1,350.00, too high, about right or??? He will send pictures tonight and if it is as good as it sounds is this price ok or ?? Any help would be appreciated. I don't have any more on it than this at this moment and will have more history later. Thanks for your help before I do something wrong, I have been looking for one of these for a while and just want to make sure this is a good buy.
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Old 03-16-2011, 06:06 PM
Masterpiece Masterpiece is offline
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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Craig,
I wouldn't make any hasty decisions until I saw some "Really Good" Photos!! Sounds a little pricey for a 4-Screw that includes an extra set of grips. That means to me that it has seen some use!! Is it close enough to look at?? That's what I'd do if at all possible or make sure he has a good return policy.
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Old 03-16-2011, 06:30 PM
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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Thanks masterpiece
it is about 100 miles north of me and he is going to send pictures and details. I was just told he has the S&W factory letter that comes with it and it is a 1956 gun. He says the barrel is perfect, so hope it isn't used a lot. I won't make any hasty decisions until I get more comments from you pro's as that is a lot of $$$, and I want to make a good purchase. Thanks again!
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Old 03-16-2011, 07:40 PM
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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If it is a 1956 gun with a factory letter, it has to be a 5 screw pre-29 which is first year production. That is a great price for any 5 screw with 95% or better condition. Check prices on any of the auction sites. If the Coke bottle grips are nice, they alone will bring $400 or better. I would suggest you tell the guy to hold it and drive to see it and make your decision.

Bob
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Old 03-16-2011, 09:28 PM
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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Thanks Rad29 I will be talking to him this evening and I will find out all the details I can and he will be sending pictures of it. So if it is a 1956 it would be a 5 screw? When did the 4 screw production start and what is the difference besides the amount of the screws?
Thank you all for your help. I will ask about the serial number also, he said it started with an "S"

p.s. He is holding it until we talk and I see pictures.
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Old 03-16-2011, 09:58 PM
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I agree that the price is a bargain if it is a 95% or better 1956 gun with the Cokes. The four screw guns began to appear in 1957. Ask him to send you a picture of the factory letter or at least send you the text of the last paragraph with the date and place where the Pre-29 shipped to from the factory. At this point, it sounds like it would be worth the drive if the pictures turn out to show a high condition revolver. Also, ask him to remove the grips and look at the left side of the grip frame for any marks. The presence of a square with the letters RBl would indicate a factory reblue. If that is present, you would also find a string of three or four numbers that indicate a month and date the gun was reworked at the factory. Also, I usually ask for a close up picture of the sideplate. Many people who refinish S&W revolvers have this weird desire to buff the edges of the side plate. You can usually spot a non-factory refinish from a mile away because there is a big gap in the sideplate.

Hope these suggestions help. Right now it sounds like you found a good deal if this turns out to be a five screw, 1956 gun. If it is a four screw 1957 gun, the price may still be decent if in high condition with nice Cokes... but I would negotiate a bit if it is a four screw.
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Old 03-17-2011, 01:38 AM
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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Thanks Kevin, I had him find the factory letter. It turns out it is a 4 screw and it was shipped 10-13-1957 Serial # S 1775XX with Goncalo Alves target grips 6.5" barrel blue finish. The close up pictures I can see the sideplate has not been messed with the seam is clean and tight. It has a bit of bluing wear on the muzzle end of the barrel and on the front edge of the cylinder ( forcing cone side), it is very slight wear. The grips are in really great shape, clean and no dings or scratches, and the frame under them is just fine. One tiny ding under the yoke hinge but other than that it seems really pretty good. Rifling is crisp and clean no deposits. No rust on gun or scratches. He is standing firm on the $1,350.00 and he will hold until I decide tomorrow. He seemed very open on its condition and said he hasn't shot it very much at all. When he did take it out he used the Hogue's so as not to mess up the Target grips. He said he had it 30 years and it spent most of that time in his safe. So guys help me out here, I am not sure how the rating goes on what points off percentage, but I would say 95% - 96%, maybe more?? I get to sleep on this one and could sure use some feedback from anyone who would know. Thanks in advance for your help. Any replies will be gratefully looked forward to.

Thank you,
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Old 03-17-2011, 02:44 AM
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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Craig,

Well having the Letter is a plus,but I would still definitely look at it in person if it were me!! Like Kevin (SigKev) said look over the inside of the Left Grip Frame for any indications of a Factory Refinish. Any Dates,R-B in a Rectangle,Etc. and also look at the area around S&W Logo on the Side Plate to see if it is still raised a bit from the Factory Stamping. Also,make sure the Grips are True "Cokes". The easiest way to tell is the Larger Checkering Area & an Oval appearance to the Base. Being that it has a 1957 Ship Date helps,but you also have to remember that to Complete the Package you're going to have another $400-$600 in a Correct Presentation Case & Correct Period Tooling going by todays prices unless you stumble across a deal on them somewhere. I guess my speculation comes from the fact that I believe we see more of these on the East Coast & from what I've seen of the West Coast availability of some of these Early Revolvers it tends to drive the price up a bit. So anyway,without being there,you're going to have to use your best judgement. I would still see if he is willing to negotiate once you get there because he most definitely doesn't have near that invested owning it for 30 yrs!! I think more in the $1000-$1050 Range would be a decent deal & $1100-$1200 so-so. You know it doesn't take much wear on these to change a 95% Condition Revolver to an 85% Condition Revolver and that sounds like the condition you are describing to me. Well "Good Luck" with your decision as the ball's in your court now!!

Masterpiece

Last edited by Masterpiece; 03-17-2011 at 02:47 AM.
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Old 03-17-2011, 11:51 AM
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Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price Found a Pre-29 4 screw 6.5" for sale Help needed on Sale Price  
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Thanks Masterpiece,
The only thing I keep thinking is that here in California they are not easy to find, and not on the CA DOJ list and I am only able to get one thru a face to face, private party transaction at an FFL. I haven't decided yet on it, but you have made some great points on what it is missing, box tools, etc. and the fact I haven't seen it yet. I have pictures I could email if anyone wants to see what it looks like. I asked him if the price was negotiable and he is not going to budge, as he said he sees them going for 1,700 to 2,000 and he says the 1,350 is a good price for the gun in its nice condition. I have a couple hours before I told him I would let him know, thanks to everyone for their help and advise. Any more feedback would be appreciated!
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Old 03-17-2011, 02:20 PM
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Well I looked at Gunbroker and I guess I am going to go for it as I have seen some pretty pricy rough looking ones on there for 300- to 500 more than he wants for this one. I think I am doing ok with this one and I will keep you all posted. Thanks to all of you guys for your help and feedback.
Craig
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Old 03-17-2011, 03:28 PM
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Craig:

A 1957 gun will C&R into California ! It does not need to be on the DOJ list !

Jerry
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Old 03-17-2011, 04:05 PM
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Craig,
Well if he's not going to budge I guess if you want it you're going to have to pay the piper!! You also have to remember that all those Uppity-Priced ones you're seeing on GB don't always sell either. More times than not "They Don't"!!
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Old 03-17-2011, 04:14 PM
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I forgot that you are in California. Given that factor, I would probably be willing to pay his asking price, but would want to meet him half way and be willing to walk if the gun was not 95% or better. He is correct about the selling price in California. The past few examples that I remember seeing were higher than his asking price.
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Old 03-17-2011, 05:15 PM
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Hi Kevin,
He sent me a lot of pictures every angle you could imagine and the only thing I found was a tiny ding under the cylinder yoke hinge. And a bit of bluing loss, as I noticed earlier. I went over each picture with him on the phone and he answered any question I had, when I spotted the ding he said that the blow up of the picture makes it look a lot bigger than it is, and said hardly noticable at all when you actually see the gun. He answered honestly each cosmetic question I had and said it looks much better than his pictures, he said I will be pleased with it. And the grips have no issues at all they are in really great shape, plus I get the added bonus of a Factory letter included from Mr. Jinks, so that takes $50 off right there. And I have no clue what the Hogue combat grips that also come with it are worth, so that is another added bit of a bonus. Thanks for your help and I will keep you all posted as I set up the transaction with him. Again all you guys were really great in helping me out, and keeping me out of trouble, I think I am going to be ok with this purchase. I have found out these don't come along every day especially in California for a person to person sale.
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