Need to ID & value this revolver

[allen357SIG]

Blue S&W, 5", target sights & grip, 38 Special

[VM]

That's a nice 5 screw K38 (PRE model 14) and it has a 6" barrel (measured from face of cylinder to muzzle). Also has a nice set of diamond target stocks.
Just from pics, I'd say somewhere $650ish
Those are generally tack drivers!

[Modified]

The gun does appear to have been re-finished. The hammer and trigger should be case colored instead of chromed? nickel? I can't quite tell from the pictures.

I also suspect that it was re-blued at the same time that finish was applied to the Hammer/Trigger.

The re-finish reduces the collector value, but it is still likely to be one of the finest shooting guns that money can buy. I'd expect the value is more in the $400-$500 range.

[VM]

Originally Posted by SixgunStrumpet

The gun does appear to have been re-finished. The hammer and trigger should be case colored instead of chromed? nickel? I can't quite tell from the pictures.

I also suspect that it was re-blued at the same time that finish was applied to the Hammer/Trigger.

The re-finish reduces the collector value, but it is still likely to be one of the finest shooting guns that money can buy. I'd expect the value is more in the $400-$500 range.

The trigger has a trigger shoe attached - I do not see reblue from pictures but if indeed it has been, your price would be accurate

[Texas Star]

I think I see the casehardened colors. The trigger shoe should be removed and checked to see if rust has formed beneath it.

[410bore]

To me, the trigger and hammer look to have been polished or chromed. The rest of the gun looks to have been refinished as well. All of the sharp corners are now rounded

[quinn]

In the good ole days when they did action jobs, weren't the trigger and hammer often polished in the process?

[Modified]

Originally Posted by quinn

In the good ole days when they did action jobs, weren't the trigger and hammer often polished in the process?

Well, yeah, people have done everything you could imagine to revolvers at one point or another. The S&W factory didn't chrome/nickel hammers or triggers however. If the factory had re-finished that gun they would have been case colored.

I suspect the gun is an amazing shooter. I've handled similar guns to it that are incorrect from a collectors standpoint, but have had action work to make it pretty dang great. It's just work that reduces the value of the gun to be just a shooter.

[smitholdtimer]

From the photos I am able to see "Case Hardening" on the hammer and also believe the trigger remains as shipped, uncover the trigger and observe the damage the attachment screws have caused. They seem to always remove the case hardening where they were tightened.
I believe VM's original figure will be very close! Of course all these are just individual opinions from photos that are not really that good for evaluating, most require close in hand observation.

[Modified]

Originally Posted by smitholdtimer

From the photos I am able to see "Case Hardening" on the hammer and also believe the trigger remains as shipped, uncover the trigger and observe the damage the attachment screws have caused. They seem to always remove the case hardening where they were tightened.
I believe VM's original figure will be very close! Of course all these are just individual opinions from photos that are not really that good for evaluating, most require close in hand observation.

While I agree that in hand observation is best I am very much in disagreement with you about the hammer. I have cropped and zoomed in on here:



A case hardened hammer is not reflective as it is in this image.

[smitholdtimer]

Had no intention of causing any disagreement, merely wished to express my opinion as to what I see. Yep, my eyes are pretty old so I am likely wrong but sure wish we could learn the actual situation. Is it possible to post more photos concentrating on the Hammer and the Trigger with the Shoe removed?

[allen357SIG]

Thanks for all the info. Love this site. I may just keep it now.

[Modified]

Originally Posted by allen357SIG

Thanks for all the info. Love this site. I may just keep it now.

Have you shot it much? If you haven't I would highly recommend doing so before you sell it.

In my opinion a nicely refinished and possibly tuned Model 14 or Pre-Model Variation is a gun that is simply worth more in the pleasure you get from shooting it (especially with those nice target stocks) then it is in selling it.

Someone refinished it for shooting, and it's a hard gun to top for that purpose.

[handejector]

I'm not convinced it is a reblue.
The late 5 screws were high polish blue. They could always be ordered as an option.

The hammer is most likely just buffed, not plated.
Often done in action jobs to make it smoother and speed up lock time, dontchaknow.