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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 12-08-2012, 09:22 PM
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To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question.  
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Default To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question.

I have a pre-model 10, Military and Police revolver in .38 special that I inherited many years ago. The blue finish is very thin in some places, and completely gone in others. There is no rust on the gun, and it functions flawlessly. I also inherited a K-38 Target Masterpiece and Model 36 which are in nearly-new condition. I don't particularly want the pre-10, and I'm thinking of selling it. So far, every potential buyer has rejected the gun because of the worn finish. Here's my question: Should I invest the money to have the gun re-blued, or just opt for a lower selling price? In other words, is it worth the cost of refinishing the gun?
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Old 12-08-2012, 09:27 PM
Waidmann Waidmann is offline
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To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question.  
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A restoration of such a common gun will not bring a return. A shooter price in my area is probably upper two; low three bracket.
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Old 12-08-2012, 09:30 PM
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Right now gun is worth about $300 or so as a well worn gun (how much have you been asking for it?). It will be about $200 to refinish and afterwards the gun will be worth $300 or so as a refinished gun.

Sound like a winner to you? Even if you were to get an additional $150 for it (which you won't) you STILL lose money.

Refinishing is almost never economically wise. Especially just to sell it.
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Old 12-08-2012, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 4x4moses View Post
I have a pre-model 10, Military and Police revolver in .38 special that I inherited many years ago. The blue finish is very thin in some places, and completely gone in others. There is no rust on the gun, and it functions flawlessly. I also inherited a K-38 Target Masterpiece and Model 36 which are in nearly-new condition. I don't particularly want the pre-10, and I'm thinking of selling it. So far, every potential buyer has rejected the gun because of the worn finish. Here's my question: Should I invest the money to have the gun re-blued, or just opt for a lower selling price? In other words, is it worth the cost of refinishing the gun?
IF it was mine I would replace the grips < put them in a safe place>& keep it beside my bed & worry about something else. When you wake up it will hit you like a ton of bricks what needs to be done. --nice piece--pm me for a buy it now.
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Old 12-08-2012, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by SaxonPig View Post
Right now gun is worth about $300 or so as a well worn gun (how much have you been asking for it?). It will be about $200 to refinish and afterwards the gun will be worth $300 or so as a refinished gun.

Sound like a winner to you? Even if you were to get an additional $150 for it (which you won't) you STILL lose money.

Refinishing is almost never economically wise. Especially just to sell it.
You wont it also.
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Old 12-08-2012, 09:58 PM
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I'd be tempted to disassemble it, strip it, and cold blue it. As pointed out it's not a collectors item but would make a nice project gun.
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Old 12-08-2012, 10:17 PM
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IMHO, you could not recover the cost of just the refinish. In other words the gun would be worth less than what you would pay to have it blued.
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Old 12-08-2012, 10:52 PM
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That thing is just fine the way it is.
Run it.
There's nothing wrong with a revolver that has honest wear & history all over it.
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Old 12-09-2012, 12:20 AM
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To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question.  
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Oberon: Yes, it is a very solid revolver. There is some history to it, but I still like my K38 and Chief's Special better.
SaxonPig: I have the gun on AL now for $300.00, but don't expect many inquiries. In my area, revolvers are slow movers - everybody wants a .40 cal or 1911 clone.
4barrel: I keep my 2" model 36 by my bedside. When I travel, my 66-2 goes with me. For fun plinking, my K-38 gets the workout. This pre-10 is kinda the "odd man out." My wife's uncle (now deceased) was the original owner, and his wife (who lives next door) is the one who gave it to me - those are the only reasons it has lived here this long. Gee, now that I put that in writing it kinda makes me feel like a jerk for wanting to sell it. Good thing my aunt-in-law doesn't surf the S&W Forum!
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Old 12-09-2012, 01:05 AM
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To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question.  
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You're right, nice old revolvers like this have not been fashionable for some time. I currently have 7 of these. I guess I'm not fashionable, either.

Have you shot it? If you put some rounds through it and are still not interested in having it then maybe you should sell it. Put it on Gunbroker with a $250 starting price I can almost guarantee it will sell.

Even if the gun serves no immediate purpose, it doesn't take up much space, and it's not so valuable that you feel guilt in hanging on to it. Why not stow it away for now and see if it has more appeal in a few years? It's amazing how time can make the unwanted most desirable.
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Old 12-09-2012, 03:41 AM
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To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question. To refinish, or not to refinish - that is the question.  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SaxonPig View Post
You're right, nice old revolvers like this have not been fashionable for some time. I currently have 7 of these. I guess I'm not fashionable, either.

Have you shot it? If you put some rounds through it and are still not interested in having it then maybe you should sell it. Put it on Gunbroker with a $250 starting price I can almost guarantee it will sell.

Even if the gun serves no immediate purpose, it doesn't take up much space, and it's not so valuable that you feel guilt in hanging on to it. Why not stow it away for now and see if it has more appeal in a few years? It's amazing how time can make the unwanted most desirable.
Sage advice.
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Old 12-09-2012, 11:00 AM
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There is a product called Blue Wonder you might consider to pretty it up inexpensively. If it is scratched up, you would need some 0000 steel wool to polish it after you remove the original bluing. I see consignment guns around here all the time that have been polished and nickeled. People snap them up even at what I consider an outlandish price for a refinished gun (e.g., $850 for a nickeled over 1917). If you reblue it yourself, you might be able to get $400 from a non-collector. (I know, I know...Blasphemy!)
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