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09-18-2020, 11:30 PM
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.38 M&P Airweight w/aluminum cyl -- Got it!
Have a chance to pick up C237414, round butt, 2". It's in very good condition with a few signs of handling, all numbers match.
It "lettered," and it shipped on November 25, 1953.
Asking price is $950.
Thanks for sharing whatever thoughts you have.
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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob
Last edited by two-bit cowboy; 09-19-2020 at 08:32 PM.
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09-18-2020, 11:40 PM
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Very cool! I especially like the first style flat thumbpiece.
And you get it "pre-lettered."
Sorry. I cannot help on the price, but given the rarity, I'd have to say that offering price isn't far off the mark, and it seems low to me.
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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318
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09-19-2020, 12:16 AM
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Thanks Jack!
I'd hoped you'd see this before I have to be back at the gun show at 7:30 a.m.
Neat show; terrible hours. We knocked off tonight about 8:30 because no new folks had come for nearly an hour.
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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob
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09-19-2020, 12:20 AM
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I’d love to find one in that condition. Mine is maybe a few months older. Although mine is in very good condition, considering how fragile they are, yours appears to be quite excellent.
Enjoy it.
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09-19-2020, 05:41 AM
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In a sane world the price seems in line, given the condition. But I recently saw a couple of very nice examples online that were relisted several times in the $500 range that went unsold. ?
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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
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09-19-2020, 07:03 AM
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Wow.
Thanks Alan. I appreciate the sanity check. I'm going to pass.
The seller has become a friend through the years, and I would rather maintain a friendship than to lose one from dickering over a gun.
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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob
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09-19-2020, 08:31 PM
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Well, stranger things than this have happened.
My pal dropped by my table at the show today to see what sort of trading stock I might have.
He made a mistake and fell in love with one of my 1955 Chiefs. My asking price was $1,100 because I really didn't want to sell it. I said, "How 'bout you give me your Airweight and $125"?
He said, "How 'bout a hundred"?
Done.
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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob
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09-19-2020, 09:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphydog
In a sane world the price seems in line, given the condition. But I recently saw a couple of very nice examples online that were relisted several times in the $500 range that went unsold. ?
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My personal belief on this one is that the un-shootable nature of them coupled with the fact that they are still technically firearms puts them in a class somewhat like a deactivated gun, but with all the drawbacks of a functional gun.
I think that this makes them a very, very, odd collectible in that many of us who have owned them eventually ask..why? And are happy to pass them along at that point. So that even though there really isn't a huge supply of them, they just don't have the broad appeal of more functional guns.
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09-19-2020, 10:32 PM
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I have serial #C22408X that letters to have shipped Dec. 24, 1953. It's also a 2" round butt..
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09-19-2020, 11:03 PM
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It has been quite a while since I have seen one in VG condition with the aluminium cylinder go for $500.
The one I have is 4500 guns older and was shipped in October of 53
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09-20-2020, 12:46 AM
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Not a revolver I would have any personal interest in, but I wouldn't be too afraid to shoot it a limited amount using downloaded reloads. Who knows what the value could be in a few years?
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09-20-2020, 06:07 AM
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SixGunS... and DWalt,
I sure understand your reservations. The sole reason the K-frame Airweight holds interest to me relates to my Chiefs Airweights of the same year.
I find that new era of lightweight carry revolvers fascinating. Pushing boundaries -- the aluminum cylinder that didn't work -- and discovering -- through failure -- solutions.
It seems the "bug" screw -- upper side plate retaining screw -- also evolved to solve a problem. The earliest Airweight Chiefs Special I list shipped in January '53 to a police chief, and that was an "advertising" expense, according to the order. A brilliant marketing/testing plan to put new revolvers in the hands of those who'd use them and report back to S&W.
My "5-screw" round butt Airweight Chiefs Special shipped in July '53. That upper side plate screw, reportedly, had a tendency to back out of the thin aluminum side plate so the solution was the bug screw, as seen on my October '53 shipped square butt Chiefs.
I don't track the K-frame Airweights, but I've read the bug screw didn't come into play on them till '54.
I've evolved into more researcher than collector. That's where I find the appeal in having these "deactivated" or dysfunctional" guns in my hoard. They help tell "the rest of the story" (with accolades, not apologies, to Paul Harvey).
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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob
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09-20-2020, 10:06 AM
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$950. And I can remember people advising others to avoid those because of the aluminum cylinder.
Wish I had one.
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