a neighbor who is a estate manager brought this 5 screw gun over for me to look at..i know nothing about these older smith wesson guns,so i kindly ask your advice.it has been reblued.but the reblue looks so good,it must have been done at sw in the past.i can feel the sw stamp with my finger.it is not smoothed over.the only way anyone at the gun store could tell it had been reblued was a couple ,very tiny pits,under the grips.the action is like nothing i have felt in modern guns the serial number is s849114.there were at least 10 gun guys,gunsmiths,a couple collectors who said this was the nicest reblue they had seen.i am going to call sw in the morning to see if they will tell me if gun came back there at some time in the past.my pictures dont really do the gun justice.there is no numbers or letters buffed out anywhere.

my questions are
when was gun made?
what is approximate value of gun.what kind of factory grips are on gun.i have not seen them before.
i sure appreciate any advice.

IMO,
- postwar Era
- $250-$350 ( if indeed reblue)
- NOT factory grips / look like aftermarket from Asia

I don't care if it's the best re-blue of any gun ever, it's a $250 gun as a looker/shooter. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

BTW, the case coloring is almost gone on the hammer and trigger. I may lower my guestimation.

__________________
Dick

Late 1946.

I don't see the usual overbuffed surfaces and rounded frame corners you often get with even the most careful reblue. The only thing that would make me think that gun was reblued is the fact that the standard postwar factory finish was a semi-matte or satin finish. The late '40s finish just didn't look as glossy as that one.

Those look to me like presentation stocks from about 30 years ago, give or take.

It's hard to offer a value for that. If that could be shown to be an original finish, maybe $400-500. If it is a reblue, whether factory or not, maybe $100-200 less.

Look at the end of the ejector rod. I can't tell for sure from the photo, but it appears to be in the white -- that is, unblued. That is characteristic of new guns; usually the beveled surface of the ejector rod knob is found blue after a gun has been refinished. But a superior refinisher would know that and might clean up a surface to match original factory standards.

__________________
David Wilson

S-series serial numbers are 1946. The forged front sight looks to have
been buffed - its edges appear too roundy. The grips, while some kind
of rosewood, are probably not factory. That top contour is not right.

Mike Priwer

Hi,Are there any numbers stamped on the grip frame.The factory stamped the date of refinish on the left side.

mike,thanks,vm,diamond,low,everyone else,thanks a bunch i will look at gun in the morning.you guys are great,and told me all i need to know.thanks again gents
steve

In my mind, post war started approx. 1946
If I remember from History classes, Europe and Asia WWII ended Summer/Fall of 1945

I would agree with David, probably late 1946. The war era Victory guns went from V 1 in 1942 to V 811119 in 1945. The S series guns started around S 811338 in 1945 and ran to S 999999 in 1948. S&W then switched to the C series with C 1 being 1948 and running to C 999999 in 1967.

This is not to be confused with the N frame S series guns that started in 1946 at S 62489 and hit S 333454 by 1970.

Pitting under the stocks is not unusual for guns stored with their "shoes" on over long periods of time. The rust in the pits could have been cleaned using 0000 steel or copper wool or it could be as you say, a "reblue".

It is very tough to tell without handling the gun. If the emblems and lettering are still strong and the sideplate fit is like new, the possibility of a reblue gets thinner. Yes, the lettering and the emblem can be recut, but the cost with a reblue would not be warranted in a $200 or $300 gun.

Are there any date stamps on the forward left side of the grip frame? It would show as 5 60 for May 1960 as an example. That is how S&W marked guns that went back for work including refinishing.

As others have stated, the stocks are not correct for that gun. They are probably from the 70's.

All in all, it is a neat old 5 screw that appears to be in good shape but with no case hardening to speak of and a possible refinish, collector value is nil. As a shooter it is probably worth what they are asking.

PS: Although letters can reveal interesting facts from time to time, they do not include repair work information. The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation is attempting to fund the digitizing of all of the old factory records that are currently stored at the museum in Springfield, MA. If you think that you are interested in S&W collecting you should consider joining the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association and or supporting the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation.

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

The finish is too glossy for an early post war gun and is definitely a reblue. The stocks have no washers and look like the current production Herretts stocks that are offered from CDNN or found on ebay in the $49.95 range. They can be had with S&W medallions. If the action is tight and timing good it's about a $300 gun.