Found in a closet @ my Dad's estate, finish is terrible, mechanics are excellent. Does this have any collector value or is it just a shooter? Sn is S7034X and it is .38 smith and wesson special.Picture 241.jpg

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I think it's a "transitional" Outdoorsman. Very desirable gun in horrible condition. No, doesn't have any collector value at this point.

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No life story has happy end.

Not a collector gun, looks like a early post war Outdoorsman? Still has significant value.

As much as I LOVE transitional N frames that gun is TOAST.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Looks like a restoration project to me.
It could be made to look very nice.
It would be so expensive you could not recover the cost on resale, and the collectors would turn their noses up at you. But it wouldn't hurt to look at it any more.

Value would be around $300, restoration would run you close to a grand. 38-44 OD transitional are hard to come by.

Clean it up the best you can, then go shoot it and enjoy.

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George Jamison

If the bore and cylinder are good then shoot the snot out of it. Probably drives tacks with wadcutters or 158grain SWCs.

I'd clean, oil, and shoot it.

Shot a half box through it last weekend very effectively on assorted cans @ 20 yards. Mechanically, its perfect, just has the longterm light rusting issue.

I would have it restored, especially if it will only be about $1000. Super cool model and dad's too boot=restoration to me.

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Possum—The other white meat!

Very few guns are worth the restoration; throwing good money after bad.

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The American dream is alive

I don't think spending money on a family heirloom is ever "bad." However, from an economic standpoint I know you are 100% correct. But if most of us on here made gun purchase/investment decisions based purely on economics why would any of us ever need anything more that a 4 inch Model 10 and a pump 12 gauge? Could those two not handle virtually any situation a gun owner finds himself/herself involved with in North America?

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Possum—The other white meat!

It is one house payment to restore a family gun- have it done, you won't regret it.

I love it when something like this turns up...use it for what it was intended for, and enjoy.

Rode hard and put away yet. Shoot it & enjoy it.

Personally I would just shoot it and enjoy it. But being from your dad I can understand if you wanted to fix it up.

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John
S&WCA Life Member

This gun wouldn't last 5 minutes on this forum if you put it up for sale at $300.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

I would just keep it as is. You have a great shooter. You dont have to worry about beating it up.

I think that part of gun owning is aesthetics. Most of us don't buy beater guns. We look, we imagine, we test our theory of what we could do/not do with a certain gun etc. In this case, it is in very poor condition and may need some other look-see at the internals. Since it was your dads old gun, you want to keep it and that is very understandable. I would want to keep it.

So, having said that, I would call around to the various 'smiths in this country to get some estimates. I would have it fixed up and restored. Some of the work done by this nations gunsmiths is truly amazing and makes one jaw drop from what a gun was to what it can/will become. It won't be cheap, but if the internals are good, it shoots well (you verified), then I say go for it. Aesthetics. It will make a difference. You'll be very pleased to say "this is my dads old gun."

The grips are worth more than the gun. If you have it restored then you won't want to shoot it. I'd lightly scrub off as much rust as I could with some gun oil and four ought steel wool and then shoot it and enjoy it. I've got a few like this that I use in the field when I don't want to mess up one of my nice guns.

I have very good luck putting a heavy coating of KROIL on all the metal parts and re-apply for several days (Remove stocks first!)
Then use 4 ought steel wool and a brass brush to work into the rusted areas. Don't rush it, sometimes it will take several applications to finally get down to the bottom of the rust.
Check under the side plate, if the insides are coated with rust/gunk, you can remove all the parts and dip everything in an ultrasonic cleaner.....this will pretty much remove anything that is removable without hurting the gun. Be sure to rinse the parts in the proper solution and dry/oil them before reassemling. My gunsmith has a tank for this and I was amazed at the results of the cleaning!
Good luck!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

This is another vote for clean it and shoot it, I would not be a bit ashamed to own it and take it out in public and shoot it, clean it and make it ready for another range trip. Mostly like these that enjoy working as opposed to basking in the darkness of a safe!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

I'd be quite happy if my father left me guns like that.
His old shotgun a J Stevens 520 will be hunting this year.

It is no longer a collectible smith for collectors.
It is still a nice remembrance and shooting Smith.

I would use it as is

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

I'd definitely be in the 'clean it and shoot it, don't restore it' category. Neat old gun with personal/family history. I'd write down what you know about it too, for future generations. Two generations and most family history is typically gone, don't let that happen.

As others stated, if you want it for a shooting gun make sure there is no active rust, wax and enjoy. If you have the desire to have it restored, to me pitting and rust are the "go-ahead" signals for a redo.

Incidentally, the stocks on it will likely have a different number than on the gun; they are from a slightly later N frame and are about 1/8" long, as the Transitional grip frames are slightly shorter than later ones.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Can't say what you should do but will say what I'd do. If mechanics are good and finish is only thing lacking, I'd shoot it as is and enjoy it.
As to sentimentality, keep it as your dad left it. Other than preserve condition from deteriorating any further.

HAHAHA!!!! Now that's so doggone true!!!!!!!!!

I'd at least clean that .38-44 up and I'd definitely shoot it. I have a near pristine .38/44, circa 1931 or 32, and I shoot it. That's what they made it for.

***GRJ***

How did the finish get so bad? Maybe there are some good family stories there.

If I saw this gun on the range, I'd ask about its history. If it were redone I might think it looked nice, but would never stop and ask about it.