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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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Old 01-11-2013, 11:30 AM
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Gentlemen and Ladies:
I have a friend who is getting ready to sell a collection of guns on behalf of a small foundation. He has given me an opportunity to look them over before he puts them on the market. Among them is a Model of 1953 .22/32 with a 4" barrel. The serial number is 322xx, which seems pretty early. I saw this revolver several months ago but I can't remember the screw pattern. I believe it only had 3 in the side plate, but I'm not positive. He should be sending me pictures soon.

Here's the issue: He is willing to give me a slight edge on the price, but he also has a fiduciary responsibility. Can you help me determine a fair price on the Kit Gun for a starting point?

The condition is like-new - the gun shows no wear at all, no scratches to the finish, very faint turn line. It is wearing original stocks. No box or tools.

Thanks.
Jack

He also has a 25-2, two Model 60s and a late production 53. No boxes for anything and one of the Chiefs Special Stainless revolvers is wearing Goodyears. I think these are the only S&W items in the collection.
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Old 01-11-2013, 12:46 PM
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I paid $700 for #13278 about a year ago. Show with its favorite holster...

I put these target grips on to shoot it. One of several favorites. At the time I traded off another almost as nice for about $600, on a pre-model 35.
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Old 01-11-2013, 10:02 PM
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I've got serial #666 and my buddy has #237. At the gun show 2 weeks ago a vendor still had #890 and he wanted $850 for it, and it had a box.

I'd go with a value of maybe $600 or $650 for one up in that serial number range.
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Old 01-11-2013, 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by JP@AK View Post
Gentlemen and Ladies:
I have a friend who is getting ready to sell a collection of guns on behalf of a small foundation. He has given me an opportunity to look them over before he puts them on the market. Among them is a Model of 1953 .22/32 with a 4" barrel. The serial number is 322xx, which seems pretty early. I saw this revolver several months ago but I can't remember the screw pattern. I believe it only had 3 in the side plate, but I'm not positive. He should be sending me pictures soon.

Here's the issue: He is willing to give me a slight edge on the price, but he also has a fiduciary responsibility. Can you help me determine a fair price on the Kit Gun for a starting point?

The condition is like-new - the gun shows no wear at all, no scratches to the finish, very faint turn line. It is wearing original stocks. No box or tools.
Hi Jack,
Yes, that sounds like a beauty and would likely be a 3 screw and although not Model 34 stamped, likely didn't ship until mid-1958 per my data base. So not that early of a gun. Therefore I feel a price with a "slight edge" and fair to his fiduciary responsibility would be $500-525 if a RB.
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Old 01-11-2013, 10:28 PM
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SDH,
Nice Kit Gun and nice holster, is it by El Paso Saddlery?
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Old 01-14-2013, 01:54 PM
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Hi Jack,
Yes, that sounds like a beauty and would likely be a 3 screw and although not Model 34 stamped, likely didn't ship until mid-1958 per my data base. So not that early of a gun.
Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the help on a date. It has the look of a later gun, but the SCSW doesn't provide much detail on serial ranges. And the absence of a model mark had me confused. Was there a delay in stamping these little I frames? Also, as I understand it, these remained on the Improved I frame until the early 1960s, correct?

Turns out it has a 2" barrel, not 4", and, as we suspected, a 3 screw frame.

Here are a couple photos I now have of this gun. The stocks are not original, obviously.




Is your value opinion still the same?
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Old 01-14-2013, 02:40 PM
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I'd go with a value of maybe $600 or $650 for one up in that serial number range.
Thanks, Dick. Now that you have photos to look at, is your opinion the same or different? I appreciate the help both you and Jim are giving me!
Jack
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Old 01-14-2013, 03:46 PM
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SDH,
Nice Kit Gun and nice holster, is it by El Paso Saddlery?
It's a Don Hume holster, you don't see them with white lining on black very often.
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Old 01-14-2013, 04:04 PM
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SDH
Sorry. Didn't mean to ignore your input. I was so taken by your photo that I didn't notice the price information! That is a nice looking holster, and Don Hume made good ones!
I think the subject gun, being a 2" and much newer would not likely command the price that your early example would. Plus it lacks proper stocks. What do you think?
I really want a 4" Kit Gun, but I'll probably end up buying this one, once I am able to arrive at a proper price.
Thanks for your help.
Jack
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Old 01-14-2013, 07:13 PM
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i think they are all over price, but send off a check for another .44 today...
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Old 01-14-2013, 09:19 PM
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Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the help on a date. It has the look of a later gun, but the SCSW doesn't provide much detail on serial ranges. And the absence of a model mark had me confused. Was there a delay in stamping these little I frames? Also, as I understand it, these remained on the Improved I frame until the early 1960s, correct?

Turns out it has a 2" barrel, not 4", and, as we suspected, a 3 screw frame.

Here are a couple photos I now have of this gun. The stocks are not original, obviously.

Is your value opinion still the same?
Completed guns in inventory and frames in progress during a change order like the Mod 34 stamping are common and would ship after the order date w/o being stamped.

Yes the 22/32 continued to be built on the new model of 1953 I frame until Oct 1960.

My opinion on the value would decrease somewhat since the stocks are not original although the condition seems very nice.
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Old 01-15-2013, 12:21 PM
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but send off a check for another .44 today...
Nice suggestion, SDH, but I already have 5 or 6 .44s (two are guns that go hunting with me). Unless I stumble on a near perfect 4 screw 29 or pre-29 at a price I can't walk away from, I'm not likely to buy another one soon!
Jack
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Old 01-15-2013, 02:42 PM
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Nice suggestion, SDH, but I already have 5 or 6 .44s (two are guns that go hunting with me). Unless I stumble on a near perfect 4 screw 29 or pre-29 at a price I can't walk away from, I'm not likely to buy another one soon!
Jack
Speed typing.. I meant to say, I think that they are all overpriced, but I just sent off a check for another .44 Special... a 3rd Model HE 5".
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