Worth of pre-29 and pre-26 and others...

[usm1rifle]

Tomorrow I am going to look at a collection of twenty or so revolvers all made before 1968. I have like $2500 to spend, is the pre-29 in the ballpark if as described?

What is the pre-26 worth if really 97-98%?

Below are the seller’s descriptions. The Outdoorsman would be a great shooter…

Pre Model 29, 44 Magnum, 5 Screw, Target sights Smith & Wesson Pre Model 29, 44 Magnum, 5 Screw, Target sights, N frame, Blue, 6.5 inch, pinned bbl, COKE grips, Factory Letter, original hard case, cleaning equip., 99+% blue, slight drag mark on cylinder estimated year of production 1956, serial # S1662xx. $2600.00

Pre Model 26, 1950 45ACP Light Target Model, 5 Screw, 3T’s (sights-trigger-grips) pinned bbl, N frame, Blue, 6.5 inch, with Factory Letter, estimated year of production 1952, Serial # S854xx, only 2,768 manufactured, 97-98% blue, slight drag mark on cylinder. $1600.00

K-22 Outdoorsman (1st Model) 22LR, 5 Screw, Target Smith & Wesson K-22 Outdoorsman (1st Model) 22LR, Target sights, K frame, 5 Screw, 6 inch, pinned bbl, Re-blue, original grips, estimated year of production 1932, Serial # 6379xx, excellent appearance both blue and grips. $695.

K-22 Masterpiece (postwar 3rd model) 22LR, 5 Screw, Target Sights, K frame, 6 inch, original grips, pinned bbl, estimated year of production 1947 (1st year), Serial # K35xx, 98-99%, slight bbl. tip wear and slight drag mark on cylinder. $1175.00

Model 28, Highway Patrolman, 357 Magnum, 4 Screw, N frame, 6 inch, blue, Target sights, est. production year 1959, #S1948xx, pinned bbl., factory grips plus S&W after market grips, blue finish 99% +, slight drag marks on cylinder, wood grips have slight marks on base. $775.

 

[gjamison]

if the pre 29 is as good as discribed, that is a very good
price. pre 26 seems to be priced right as well. the owner
of these revolver's has done his homework. prices seem
right to me......

 

[greystonedog]

After you have made your purchases could you give us a list of whats left and the contact info.

 

[crsides]

I agree ... he is dead on. Not great deals to make a lot of money on, but if you want to buy and keep, he is ok.

I sold a pre-26 same condition for the same $1600 2 yrs ago, and my pre 29 four screw LNIC would not leave home for less than his asking price ... whenever I decide to sell.

Not sure about the 28, but others look ok.



Charlie

 

[RKmesa]

My thoughts:

The pre-29 and pre-26 look like they are fully priced, but fair.

The Outdoorsman, if it is in good shape (both stocks and reblue) and the refinish is a quality refinish also looks fair.

The HP looks $100 - $200 high for no box/tools.

The hard one is the early Masterpiece - with that serial number, it would be a large ejector rod knob ("LERK") gun. There were only 5,000 - 6,000 of these LERK post war Masterpiece guns produced (from what I can gather, most of them were K-22's, but there were some K-38's and K-32's as well). I purchased a LERK K-22 Masterpiece about 500 SN's higher with the matching box for a little less than that a little over a year ago - because I "had to" have it. It had been on the auction sites for quite a while, prior to me finally talking myself into putting down the cash. I think your seller may be the price of a box high ($100-$250)... unless... someone "has to have it" and in that case it is priced "just right."

My $0.02,

 

[gr8smiles]

After you have made your purchases could you give us a list of whats left and the contact info.

I agree. Good luck.

 

[Homie]

A couple of quick points.
First, the factory letter should list the shipped date so why estimate the production year.
Second, the 1950 Target shouldn't have a target trigger if it was made in '52.
Good luck with the deal.

 

[Fishslayer]

Pre Model 26, 1950 45ACP Light Target Model, 5 Screw, 3T’s (sights-trigger-grips) pinned bbl, N frame, Blue, 6.5 inch, with Factory Letter, estimated year of production 1952, Serial # S854xx, only 2,768 manufactured, 97-98% blue, slight drag mark on cylinder. $1600.00

I sold a pre-26 same condition for the same $1600 2 yrs ago, Charlie

The pre-29 and pre-26 look like they are fully priced, but fair.

WHOA! Really?

I thought I had bought my '52 pre 26 too soon. Maybe not. I really have no clue about condition but I was told it was 95%-98% when I bought it.

I've done a lot of reading on them though & of those 2,768 that were made a significant number got cut down to 4" & 5". The 6.5" light barrel was supposedly not real popular with the shooters, hence the heavy barrel 1955 Target.

And yes... I have been shooting with it.

 

[Doc44]

As described (assuming the case in numbered to the revolver), the 44 Magnum is by far the best buy.

Bill