Here's one, among others, I need help with pricing.
I've been asked to handle the sale of a friend's collection,
and haven't found much on how to price one like this.

It's a 29-2 blued frame. The barrel, barrel pin, ejector rod, cylinder,
cylinder release, and side plate screws are nickeled. Barrel is 8 3/8".

Beautiful gun but I need some clues on value.

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I would say - no more and no less - than any nice 29-2 with a 8-3/8" barrel.
Some would argue that the "pinto" features take away from the collectability - but I believe the extreme nice condition and job well done of the custom work would make up for it's unoriginality. It looks very nice!
I would "guess" somewhere I the range of $1000 to $1200 - but I'm certainly no Pinto expert.

My thoughts are that the value greatly depends on whether the "pinto-ing" is factory or aftermarket. That would be confirmed by a factory letter, or by marks under the grips or from other documentation that the seller has maintained.

NOTE: The grips (if they are original to the gun) would make me think that the pinto-ing is not factory original, as most of the pintos that I have seen, left the factory with smooth presentation target grips, rather than checkered target grips.

I love the long barreled guns AND I do collect the pintos (primarily engraved 357 pintos). Your friend's gun appears to be very cool and the value would range between $700 and $2,500, depending on the above and the overall condition (which looks to be very nice).

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Thanks for the reply. I guess the best thing to do is the factory letter
route to determine the originality of the piece, and go from there.

RKmesa, thanks.
I can put it on an auction site and see where it goes.
A letter will certainly help.

It will take 5 months to get a factory letter but it will be worth it in this case. I have many duplicate pairs of guns in blue and nickel and could make up some pintos very easily. I just don't want to ruin two good guns in each case. If it letters to be a factory pinto (as other posters have indicated) it could break the $2000 price tag.

__________________
Dr. B

If the 29-2 letters, I would value it at $3,000. It is in great shape and factory two-tone 44 Magnums are quite rare.

Bill

Just a follow-up on this thread. I received the letter today that I
applied for last August. My friend lived and worked many years in
the Canal Zone and was the store manager for the Balboa Gun Club.
Perhaps the guy who ordered the piece had left and my friend snatched
it up. He sent a letter of inquiry in 1976 and
was answered by S&W's Wayne Reither which assured him the company
did not make this handgun as a standard product. Of course, only a
serial number look-up as Mr. Jinks does could reveal that it is, in fact,
a factory product. Interesting stuff. I wish my buddy could see the
letter.

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Wow! I'd have a tough time knowing what to do with it............'not sure I could stand not to shoot it. I suppose I'd sell it and get 2 or 3 nice shooters with the proceeds

I'm sure Insp. Callahan would like that very much.

Nice gun. Try the auction sites or stick it on the forum for the price Doc44 mentioned above and I bet it sells for just that. It won't cost you anything to try. I'm not a buyer but if I had $3000 to spend and collected 44 magnums than I probably would be. Again, nice gun.

There should be a little voice inside you saying:
"It's your friend, help him out, buy it from his collection."
George

After I have some presentable pics, it'll go
go to auction. I don't have that much to drop on
a safe queen.

Since it letters and is in good shape, $3,000 plus is a valid estimate. I had one just like it a few years ago and sold it for $3,200.

Bill

I'll put it in the "For Sale" section on this site for a while
and check the interest.