36 square butt value

kasper · #1 01-12-2010, 10:37 PM

Hello all, I have decided to thin the herd a bit and wanted an opinion on value of a 36 square butt serial 5304xx. She's an honest 98% with no box. Diamond grips with perfect sharp checkering. There is a turn line but it's not through the blue. Is the square butt all that rare (I have not seen as many compared to the round butt version) and how would that stack up against a round butt of the same description? Thanks in advance, this forum has been a big help! Carl

bamabiker · #2 01-13-2010, 12:12 AM

Hi kasper, I think here in Al. you are looking at about $400 to $450 unless the SB is rare. I'll have to let the more knowledgeable answer that question. Too bad you don't have the box and goodies.
What part of our great state are you in?

kasper · #3 01-13-2010, 12:26 AM

Thanks for the input. I'm in the Anniston area. Im now very courius about the relative output of square vs round if nothing more than a bit of trivia. Carl

bamabiker · #4 01-13-2010, 01:12 AM

Does your 36 have a 3" barrel. The SCSW says the SB was a 3" gun. My estimate may be a little low. Can you post some pictures?

stiab · #5 01-13-2010, 01:17 AM

SB is not rare, it could be a 3" or 2" gun, 2" is more common. In that condition in my area it would be priced in the $350 to $400 vicinity. SB does not add value for most buyers. Hope this helps some...

Norton 750 · #6 01-13-2010, 01:47 AM

SB is harder to hide, RB is harder to shoot for most people. Depends whay you are going to use it for. In a 22/32 Kit Gun, I prefer the SB because I am not going to carry it on my permit. For carry, round but 36 gets the nod.

BUFF · #7 01-13-2010, 03:59 AM

The reason square butt Chiefs Specials are less common than round butt Chiefs Specials is because, when they were being manufactured, round butts were the majority choice of buyers. S&W makes what it thinks it can sell. Most people felt the little five shooters were easier to hide with round butts, the whole reason for being for the gun.

"Less common" only can command higher prices when "less common" is also more wanted. Just because something is scarce doesn't make it more valuable, it has to also be more in demand than the more common article.

Still sounds like a very nice little gun.

cocojo · #8 01-13-2010, 11:44 AM

Stiab is about right here $350.00 to $400.00, pending condition and original grips. Box and papers may add some but not enough to worry about. Condition of the gun and grips are what's going to get you a good price. Poor condition may bring under $300.00. 98 % to 95 %, in time and tight about $395.00. Any work done by a smith you may loose money, along with a reblue. Most people like original factory condition guns. As for round butt v square butt. years ago square butt 36's were harder to sell. The round butt was way more popular. Years ago I always prefered round butt guns but today I like the square butt guns. It's more of a novelty today because S&W don't make them that way anymore. Maybe they should throw out a couple of square butts as classics, in the 36 model and without the hated lock of course. My hands got bigger and heavier as I aged, so the square butts just fit better.

doc540 · #9 01-13-2010, 11:59 AM

Sold this '64-'65 for $450 and had two other people waiting to buy it for $450-$475.

YMMV

cocojo · #10 01-13-2010, 12:04 PM

Kasper, I may be interested in buying that older square butt. I just passed on a nice one for $350.00 with shipping, because the owner had a different trigger (wider) installed by a smith. I prefer original factory. Let me know.