GOT IT PiX in post 11--.38/44 Nickel at LGS

[chud333]

I need some help from the esteemed membership here.

My LGS has a Nickel HD with serial number S 89745
4" barrel and serial is inside ejector rod shroud, crane,
and bottom of grips. Also on face of cylinder when opened.
Looks all original from my eye but where exactly do i look
for telltale markings to determine if it's factory nickel?
I opened the cylinder and the face is only marked with
serial number also. I did not remove the grips.
What is a fair price for a gun in conservative 85%
condition?
This one has minor rub on high points, a few small scratches
around one of the sideplate screws, case color is worn down
quite a bit on the trigger and hammer but some case colors
are still present. No rust or pitting. Possibly a LEO gun that was
carried some but rifling is strong and sharp. Has round front sight.
He has 739.00 on it and he is firm.
Looks righteous to my untrained eye.
Any help from you HD experts is greatly appreciated.

Can someone give me an approx. born date ?


Thanks Chuck

 

[DWalt]

There is no "N" inside the extractor rod shroud or stamped on the left grip frame? Sometimes also found on the rear face of the cylinder. I don't think I'd go that high for a re-plate.

S 89745 would probably have shipped around mid to late 1952.

 

[Art Doc]

Have to remove stocks to look for N on left side of grip frame.

 

[chud333]

Thanks fellas. I will take my gunsmithing screwdriver
with me tomorrow when i go back.
He said he'd hold it for me.
I was thinking cylinder face but it has serial number
and no "B" or "N" stamp there.


Chuck

 

[DWalt]

By the way, while you are looking, another thing to determine is whether the chambers have been elongated to take .357 cartridges. See if a .357 cartridge or a fired case can be completely inserted. I don't consider that a serious fault for a shooter-grade gun (as this one seems to be), but it sure does affect value.

 

[Göring's S&W]

The "N" on the cylinder will be found under the extractor on the cylinder, in that era.

Well worth the money, if factory nickel.

 

[alwslate]

Sending you a PM.

 

[1Aspenhill]

Take the grips off. My records show that it is an APD Heavy Duty. I take it that there are no markings on the backstrap. MOst of these were refinished so check the left grip frame for date stampings. It was shipped 3 June 1952. Buy it!
I hope this helps,
Bill

 

[Pisgah]

One "tell" of a non-factory nickle-plated gun that is immediately obvious many times is a plated hammer and trigger. The factory never did that, while a whole lot of refinishers did.

 

[chud333]

Ejector star is blued and the trigger and hammer both have case
colors although somewhat worn.
It did check these two "tells" for a refinish.
I'll pull the grips today when i go back and look for any markings
of a factory refinish. I'll also look inside ejector rod shroud and
also under the ejector "star".
I appreciate all the help from you guys.
I will report back tonight with pictures if i get it.

I asked the owner Bob where it came from and he told me
he bought a large estate from a collector.
I then asked if he got any old Colts and he said "cases" of them
but he sold them all as one lot to another guy.
I asked if any SAA's or Pythons, D-backs were in the lot and he
said it had "everything". Made me sick to my stomach.
He also has another nickel gun sitting beside this .38/44 in
the case marked as a 15-3 but it looked to be a N frame.
I didn't look at that one yesterday but will today.
I was focused on the 5 screw with round front sight HD
yesterday. He had it marked as a model 333.
I don't think he knows about the pre-model number guns
and the markings inside the crane is sometimes just an
assembly number. So he always marks these older Smiths
as a Model xxx for whatever number is inside the crane.
I'm hoping the other nickel gun i saw but did not look at
yesterday marked 15-3 is really a pre-27 with 153 inside
the crane.
I'll report back later tonite with pictures if i buy anything.

Thanks for all the help
Chuck

 

[chud333]

Well it is mine to take care of for awhile...

Sorry i can't photograph nickel worth a darn.
The S&W logo is on the right side. I just couldn't
get good photos without the glare.
I know the grips are wrong but the rest i'm happy
with. N on grip frame, inside ejector rod housing,
and under the star of ejector. Looks like a return to S&W
on 11/70....is this correct? And what does the R N in the box
mean? Thanks AspenHill it is an Austin PD gun. Number 10














I'm into it for under 8 bills
Did i do OK ??

Thanks, Chuck

 

[Göring's S&W]

It was apparently re-nickeled in Nov 1970. I think you did fine! Cool provenance and many people forgive factory refinishes. Good one!

 

[DWalt]

Sometimes letters in a rectangle or diamond, B (blue), N (nickel), or S (standard/blue) with an R (for refinish), found on 'heel' of left side of grip frame.

Yours was probably factory refinished in nickel in 11/70. The "8" stamp is the caliber code for .38 Special.

 

[chud333]

Thanks fellas
That's what i was kind of figuring but was not sure.
Factory refinish in November of 70. I'm OK with factory refinished guns.
But it was originally a nickel gun as well correct?
I appreciate all your help and Knowledge on the matter.
i'll let you all know how it shoots real soon.

Chuck

 

[410bore]

So what was the other nickel gun


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chud333]

The other nickel gun was indeed a Kframe 15-3
I think he had around 700 on it as well.


Chuck

 

[1Aspenhill]

RN is refinish Nickle. Yes it was originally a Nickle gun. Almost all have been factory refinished. You need to get a correct pair of grips. You good on the price. Watch out, there is a guy in Texas that sucks these in , never to be seen again!��

 

[bamabiker]

Chuck, very cool gun.

 

[Weimar]

Chuck, very cool gun.

I second that

 

[chud333]

Sometimes letters in a rectangle or diamond, B (blue), N (nickel), or S (standard/blue) with an R (for refinish), found on 'heel' of left side of grip frame.

Yours was probably factory refinished in nickel in 11/70. The "8" stamp is the caliber code for .38 Special.

Thank you and everyone else that helped me on,
what to look for.
Great group of people on here to share their knowledge.

Would original grips just be the magnas with diamonds?

Thanks All,
Chuck