Yesterday I ran into a pre war .38 target. I failed to notice much detail due to being distracted by another gun they had, but the more I thought about it the more interested I am getting.

What I did notice was that it had the one line address so it is a 1905 fourth change with what looks like a 6 1/2" barrel. Bluing is about 90% +. In fact, it looks just like a .22 Outdoorsman except in .38 Special. Unfortunately, the original stocks are gone and in their place is a set of post-'68 magnas.

Okay, so my question is: based on the limited info I have, what would be a fair price for it? They have it at $749, which I feel might be a bit high due to the missing grips, but then I know that production of .38 target models was fairly limited.

I kind of want it to go with my 1899 Target, but I know that the missing stocks will likely drive me crazy until I can come up with a set of pre-war magnas and I know they are somewhat scarce and pricy.

Do you have a SN? i.e., do you know for sure it is pre-war, and how far pre-war? It even could be one of the 2000 or so "Mexican Model" .38 M&P target revolvers made right after the war. $749 could be good. but without more details, it's not possible to say.

No I don't have the serial number. I am going back there today (they're open on Sundays) and am going to have a good look at it. As for knowing for sure about whether it is pre-war, I just assumed (I know, I know) that it was pre WWII due to the non ribbed, tapered barrel and the one line roll mark.

And I apologize for posting this in the wrong forum. I guess I need some more coffee.

Mods: would it be possible to move this to the 1896-1961 forum??

If possible take your camera. Detailed shots of the sights would be good. And measure the barrel length. I have been looking for years for a postwar Mexican Model, but have yet to find one. They have no barrel rib. Your posting will find its way to the proper area.

Heading out there in a few minutes, so I will let you know. If it is a post war Mexican model, what would the serial number range be?

And to reiterate my earlier question, If it is a standard pre-war Target Model, what would a fair price be?

S812000-S817000

I just got back from checking it out. Definitely a pre-war gun, serial number 852XXX (sorry, I can't remember the rest). They want $799 for it and are reluctant to come down in the price. I decided to pass on it for now.

That SN would date it from late 1941. I am somewhat surprised that the SN would be that high for a K-frame target model, or even that any would have been made and shipped that late. Someone who knows more about the immediate pre-war .38 target revolvers than I needs to address this one. I think it could be very unusual if legit.

To see a factory target MP with a serial number starting with an 8 would be very interesting to own. I would check to see if the bbl and cylinder numbers matched.

I would go get it if it looks unaltered.

An 852XXX serial number would be late 1941 just prior to the U.S. involvement in WWII . . . a time when the S&W factory was almost exclusively producing military M&Ps for the British Commonwealth. Pretty late for a commercial M&P target .

A significant number of M&P targets have been seen from the early to mid-30s timeframe including the 652XXX s/n range and, many times, a stamped 6 can look like an 8.

If it truly is 852XXX it could be a very special gun . . . possibly worth a trip back for a few pictures to share.

Russ

Dammit, I thought I was going to walk away from this one with a clear conscience. The serial number sure looked like it started with an "8", but I will go back with a magnifying glass and verify the number.

It is a 50 mile round trip to go see it and I wasn't planning on going back. Looks like I'll be trekking over there again tomorrow.

Maybe when I go back I'll start waving hundred dollar bills around and see if I can get them to come down in price.

If you do return, make sure that the SNs on the barrel, rear face of cylinder, and butt all match (if they don't, walk away), and that there's not anything odd-looking about the sights which would suggest they could have been added later. As stated, it's difficult to imagine that, at that time, there would have been any target model revolvers coming off the S&W assembly line. If it did, it could well have been a special production item for someone important. And pictures would be great. I have to think there is something really unusual about that one. Unusual good or unusual bad I cannot say.

Can't You just call and ask them to check for You?

50 miles from Reno? Where is it? Fallon?

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I actually live almost 20 miles north of Reno and the store is at the other end of town so it's around 25 miles away.

At least gas is cheaper now than it's been for awhile.

It doesn't matter how much gas costs if you're going to a gun store----even if there's no particular reason you're going to a gun store.(!!)

So it is written!!

Ralph Tremaine

True, very true.

Ah! I believe I know exactly the store you are talking about. I was in there in October. Make the drive.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Look closely at the rear sight. I have seen a few fixed sight guns that were modified with a rear sight added.

Okay, I went back there armed with a flashlight and a magnifying glass.

The first digit is a 6. whoever stamped the numbers on this gun was very enthusiastic that day and they are stamped really deep. Under magnification I could tell that what I thought was a 8 was, in fact, a 6.

The barrel and cylinder numbers match the frame number. It is definitely a factory target gun. The finish may clean up to 95% with a small bit of blue wear at the muzzle. I told them I would be a buyer if they could come down enough in price to make up for the missing stocks, but they are holding firm on their $800 price.

At this point I am going to pass on it as I really wasn't looking to buy a 30's era target .38 anyway. Quite honestly, I have my sights set on a 1928-A1 Thompson right now and since that one is going to be rather expensive, I really need to save my $.

A 652xxx SN would put it as probably shipping sometime in 1935-36. And that makes much more sense. I'd say that if missing original grips is the only defect to an otherwise truly 95% revolver from that period, $800 is not overpriced. But if you need capital for something else and you are not really into target revolvers, walking away is the right thing to do.