What do you all think of this pre 30?

TNDave · #1 07-24-2011, 04:03 PM

A guy I know is wanting to sell this gun. It is a 32 Long and it is very nice. Sock drawer special type gun. The box has some wear and the label is gone. The "helpful hints" in oil soaked. The pic isn't great but what would a gun like this be worth on average?

stumper · #2 07-24-2011, 04:08 PM

$500 maybe up to $600 ($400 for the gun and $100 for the box).

DCWilson · #3 07-24-2011, 04:11 PM

I'd think a postwar .32 HE almost new in its box is a $500 gun, maybe more depending on subtle distinctions.

Is this an improved I-frame? If there is no strain screw, the answer is yes. There are several postwar small-frame variants, and a serious collector might offer extra bucks if this one has uncommon features.

Memphis · #4 07-24-2011, 04:16 PM

Dave, I looked at that gun yesterday and today. It is in extreme nice condition and even appears to be new,however I think Marvin was misinformed somewhere along the line. IF this is the same one and I believe it is, he was told worth to be between 1K and 2K. I looked it up in SCSW and it was nowhere near that high. It is not my area of collecting so I'll relent to others but it was clearly a very high condition gun. The box was either maroon or red but the end label was virtually unreadable. Let us know if you bring it home.

Roger

TNDave · #5 07-24-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Memphis

Dave, I looked at that gun yesterday and today. It is in extreme nice condition and even appears to be new,however I think Marvin was misinformed somewhere along the line. IF this is the same one and I believe it is, he was told worth to be between 1K and 2K. I looked it up in SCSW and it was nowhere near that high. It is not my area of collecting so I'll relent to others but it was clearly a very high condition gun. The box was either maroon or red but the end label was virtually unreadable. Let us know if you bring it home.

Roger

That's the gun. I have no idea what this era stuff is worth. It is a very cool little gun but I can't buy them all. Lord knows I've tried ;^P

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

I'd think a postwar .32 HE almost new in its box is a $500 gun, maybe more depending on subtle distinctions.

Is this an improved I-frame? If there is no strain screw, the answer is yes. There are several postwar small-frame variants, and a serious collector might offer extra bucks if this one has uncommon features.

It is an I frame. I am not sure if it has a strain screw.

H Richard · #6 07-24-2011, 07:53 PM

They are great little guns, this one is especially nice, and with the box. But nowhere near 1K. The $500 to $600 est. is about top end. It should be an Improved I Frame, with the coil mainspring. It might be an early I Frame with flat mainspring, look for a strain screw in the grip frame. I can tell you that S/N 60009X was shipped in Jan. 1953. I would value this "Used" with no box at $325 to $375. 3 1/4" barrel.

Green Frog · #7 07-24-2011, 08:50 PM

+1 to what the other guys are saying!

The box and the short barrel make it desirable and of course if the condition is really as nice as it looks, that always helps, but I would have a hard time seeing more than a max of $600 if it is an I-frame and maybe $500 if it is the later improved I-frame, but that's me. The question comes down to, "How badly does the buyer want it?"

The I-frames have enjoyed a noticeable uptick in interest lately and I just hope that I will be able to get a couple more key pieces before the market goes wild... that said, if you pay a little more than current market for a desirable piece like this one, the prices should catch up pretty quickly.

Froggie

PS Note I said "a little more" not some blue sky price in the $1-2000 range!