I have become absolutly facinated with pre war guns but know little about them and have only been finding rough or altered guns.

My latest pondering is a very early 1899 38 special. The owner says it has a 4 digit serial number but has been reblued. For me in the world of post war guns any reblue is an automatic deal killer. My question is does the history of this gun make up for the fact that some one made the poor choice to reblue it? here is the only pic I have seen so far.

I have become absolutly facinated with pre war guns but know little about them and have only been finding rough or altered guns.

My latest pondering is a very early 1899 38 special. The owner says it has a 4 digit serial number but has been reblued. For me in the world of post war guns any reblue is an automatic deal killer. My question is does the history of this gun make up for the fact that some one made the poor choice to reblue it? here is the only pic I have seen so far.

I, for one, would rather see an 1899 in original condition. But then again, it is an 1899 that survived. If the price was reasonable, I would buy it. I would not buy it for the same price as one in original condition. That's me, other opinions may vary.

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Pace

What is market value?

It's the first K frame, it's the first .38 S&W Special, and there were 20,975 made from 1899-1902.

I'm not a collector of early guns (can't afford 'em) but I couldn't pass on this one at $221. It's got maybe 5% blue left, but the numbers all match, including the grips (156xx). Picked up the holster for $15.

It ain't pretty, but it's history. Shipped to Stauffer, Eshleman & Co. Ltd. New Orleans, LA in 1901.

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Hoot Gibson

See this post further down this page.
"Help evaluate condition 38 M&P 1st Mod"
You have a M&P 1st Model. They are difficult to come by in any decent condition. They are very interesting guns that have a different lockwork than later M&P's. Value is based on condition, and the books are all over the place, from $250 to > $1000 (in Exc condition). It sounds like you may have an "Army Model" from the markings you describe, but they were all 5 digit numbers. Posting pictures will help evaluate.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

If the gun were in poor condition before being refinished, it was
probably a $150 - $200 gun. As it is now, with a decent refinish, its
maybe a $250 to $300 gun.

That looks like a decent refinish - maybe even factory. If you have an
opportunity, pull off the grips and look for any service department
markings. The edges of the sideplate still look very square, as do the
flutes of the cylinder. The front sight looks a bit low, in the picture.
Maybe someone filed it down, to get better accuracy.

1899's are somewhat in a category of their own. There are not that
many around, in any condition. Refinishing one of these does not
effect the price quite as much as refinishing a later 1905, for example.

If you can get the gun for less than $300, or thereabouts, I would
advise you to buy it. It may have some important history, or it may not.
Either way, its a nice example of an 1899.

I doubt it's an Army. Unless something bad happened to the grips,
the Armies are always seen with the walnut stocks.

Later, Mike Priwer

The hammer and trigger look blued in the picture. I don't think a factory refinish would have done that.
Still, well worth 200 to 300.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

All the "Army" 1899's were in the 13,001-13,999 SN range and were in 39 Mil. not 38 spl.
Has the front sight been squared off on the back? Hard to tell from the picture. The blue looks like a cold blue and the hammer and trigger should not be blued. Try sniffing the finish, you can usually tell because that odor rarely leaves.

I recently picked up a S&W M&P 1st model.
Paid a little over $300.00.
Finish is well worn, barrel (4") is good, the insides are near perfect. Function, lock up, and grips are excellent.
It cleaned up very well.
The tag was originally marked .38S&W, that was scratched out then marked .38 special. What calibers were these M&P's chambered for?
There are no caliber markings on the revolver. I have not shot it, but a .38 special does fit into the cylinder.
Serial numer is 3852. Can anyone help with the DOB?

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

3865 is Sept 1901, but the dates bounce around quite a bit. This is a
good gun for the price. They all chamber 38 special . Some of them are
marked for two cartridges, some have no markings on them. But -they all
chamber 38 special.

Later, Mike Priwer

Mike, are you sure s/n 3865 would be Sept 1901? My s/n 156xx letters as shipped on November 4th of 1901.

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Hoot Gibson

Here's my Army 1899 SN 136xx. It's got about 85% original finish and is real tight and fired very little.

Resized it for you.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Hoot

That is what the letter said. Mine (3865) is a target,so
maybe it sat around the factory for a while. I don't think that
the the targets were very popular, at the time. You rarely
see one . Also, several of the serial numbers I have are
bouncing all over the place .

Later, Mike Priwer

Like Mike said some times guns sat around for a while or somebody forgot to put the "new" ones going into the Vault in behind what was already in there. Kind of like making sure the "older" milk gets sold 1st at the Grocery Store.

Not long ago there was an example of a pair of Model 39s that were one digit apart but actually shipped 14 Years apart!!!

Mike and KKG,

That makes sense. I mostly have newer guns, and it seems that they don't sit on the shelf as in days gone by.

One digit and 14 years? That's amazing. What a neat set of guns to have in a collection!

Thanks for the history lesson!

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Hoot Gibson