Yes, that is sad to see.

My favorite pawn shop has a couple of the nickled and bobbed 38/200's with the fake plastic MOP or Stag grips in the display case for close to $400. I think they keep them out as a kind of sucker litmus test. At least they don't throw out the BS stories to try and make the sale.

They occasionally have some decent older Smiths and Colts for reasonable, but not give-away, prices. I picked up a nice early post-war Terrier for a good price there a couple of years ago.