Bill_in_fl
Member
I have a chance to pick up a Belgium double action Schofield copy. Saw it last evening. Looks to be old nickel plating over numerous tiny pits on entire gun, but overall nickel covers well and looks very good. Owner says it's factory nickel, but I see nickel over small pits which makes me dubious. Hard to see most tiny pits without magnifying glass (which I used). At first glance it presents smooth nickel beautifully until carefully examined. Owner claims it was made somewhere from turn of century until 1920's.
Timing is off some but biggest problems are the hammer spring is so light I'd be concerned that it wouldn't pop a primer and the bolt doesn't rise up enough to lock the cylinder most of the time as well as cylinder has lots of play pushing both forward and rearward. Not sure of caliber because of inadequate markings. Does have Belgium proofs. Owner says he thinks it's 44/40 but I don't see how he knows for sure without markings since he hasn't shot it and doesn't seem to know that much about it. Bore is "wavy" but rifling is clearly present. Chambers look okay. Has real mother of pearl grips.
Might be something I could fix but a little hesitant having never worked on a Schofield or Belgium copy before. Researched it a bit online and it is larger than a regular S&W Schofield and most parts will not interchange with a S&W and the internals are somewhat different and parts would be extremely hard to find if at all. Probably would have to make parts if they were needed. Here's a pic I found online that looks just like it only the one I am interested in has smoother better looking nickel plating (over very tiny pits) and undamaged real mother of pearl grips.
I'm not interested in keeping it personally. I'd just be getting it to fix and flip. Owner is asking $300.00 Just don't want to end up with a problematic lemon Belgium copy that I can't get working due to lack of parts unless it would be worth a lot if I fixed it.
My question is, what's it worth in this condition I described, and also if it was working perfectly?
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Timing is off some but biggest problems are the hammer spring is so light I'd be concerned that it wouldn't pop a primer and the bolt doesn't rise up enough to lock the cylinder most of the time as well as cylinder has lots of play pushing both forward and rearward. Not sure of caliber because of inadequate markings. Does have Belgium proofs. Owner says he thinks it's 44/40 but I don't see how he knows for sure without markings since he hasn't shot it and doesn't seem to know that much about it. Bore is "wavy" but rifling is clearly present. Chambers look okay. Has real mother of pearl grips.
Might be something I could fix but a little hesitant having never worked on a Schofield or Belgium copy before. Researched it a bit online and it is larger than a regular S&W Schofield and most parts will not interchange with a S&W and the internals are somewhat different and parts would be extremely hard to find if at all. Probably would have to make parts if they were needed. Here's a pic I found online that looks just like it only the one I am interested in has smoother better looking nickel plating (over very tiny pits) and undamaged real mother of pearl grips.
I'm not interested in keeping it personally. I'd just be getting it to fix and flip. Owner is asking $300.00 Just don't want to end up with a problematic lemon Belgium copy that I can't get working due to lack of parts unless it would be worth a lot if I fixed it.
My question is, what's it worth in this condition I described, and also if it was working perfectly?
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(and functioning, or nearly so...)
