My husband died last year and I am trying to value 2 different Nickel plated guns. ANY help would be gratefully appreciated

1. .38 S & W SPL. stamped on barrel. 5 round W/ejector, Nickel plated, Model 38, 38 cal.,
Barrel length 1.25". Manufacture stamp 32965. C9 below that stamp. excellent condition no signs of wear. Chamber and barrel interior look very clean. Trigger & hammer look like straw finish.
SN: J52993. Black Rubber Grips W/bronze medallions.

2. 32 S&W LONG. MODEL 30-1, 6 ROUNDS.W/ejector. 32 CAL. 1.25 BARREL LENGTH. NICKEL PLATED. Very Clean. BARREL & CHAMBERS look very clean. Black Rubber Grips W/bronze medallions. SN: H622XX

Sorry about your Husband!

Your first one should be a 5 shot J Frame Chief's Special made between 1954 & 1955. Sounds like he replaced the grips and installed Pachmeyer's. If you can find the original Diamond Walnut Grips it will bring you more money. Without good pictures I can only estimate the gun is worth between $400 - $450 WITHOUT the original Grips. Over $500 with them.


The .32 was made between 1972 - 1976 and again would be more valuable with the original grips. I'll take a quick guess at about $425 - $475.

GOOD PICTURES of both would vastly help us.

Good information above. The SN of the first gun puts it closer to 1970 but the value estimate is the same.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Yes. The J prefix makes the difference and puts manufacture likely to have been 1970. chief38's estimate would have been close if there were no prefix.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I will try to find the grips which I suspect are there. For this kind of gun, I think he was making it "user friendly" for home defense.

I realize this if a forum dedicated to S&W's but sadly, my husband left behind, many other guns and some long guns. We all thought he had more time.

For instance, Rock River 1911, Manurins, Colts 1911s, Auto Mag, etc. He took excellent pictures of many, and I know he sold on G.A However, with the exception of the ones he had already catalogued (description i.e. Harriet grips or Ford refinish etc.) It's frankly hard to know who to trust.
But with others I'd be unable able to accurately describe, other than the obvious, photos + make model cal. & SNs It will be arduous.
So my Question is: I live on the East Coast; are there collectors out there that may be interested in buying some of these as a "lot". and if so, would you or are you allowed, on this forum to help me find evaluators and collectors?
Guns America was great for Ed, my husband, people would often thank him for his clear descriptions, photos and fast service. Many of these folks would ask Qs that upon reading, made my head spin-but they rarely fazed him and if he didn't know he'd just say so. If you're still reading this, Let me thank you again for your time. Triggerfish

READ her post! She said Model 38, not 36.

The gun is an Airweight Bodyguard, not a Chief Special.

Triggerfish-

Barrels are measured from the front of the cylinder, as some of the barrel is within the frame. Your posted barrel lengths suggest that you didn't realize that. One of the previous posters should have already told you that. We generally try to give better information here.

The grips sound like Pachmayr (note correct spelling) products. They make the guns easier to shoot well and reduce the felt effects of recoil. But collectors value the guns more if they have the original wooden grip panels, and if you find the boxes and cleaning rods, etc., the gun will sell for more than without them.