M&P Snub - age? Worth?

[SVT28]

I've got quite a few of these, different variants and conditions. The two in the pic below are the most similar to yours, the top long action I paid $425 cash for, the bottom short action I paid $319+tax at Cabelas.

That gun at <$450 in my area, if all numbers matching with good mechanics and bore, would not last a week. I would not be interested unless it was under four bills out the door and all original. Hope this helps

SVT28

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[S&WsRsweet]

No collector grade but as far as a useful carry gun it certainly has value . I would snatch it up at anything under 350 bucks if under 300 I would probably hurt the sellers hand stuffing the money in it so quick . Keep in mind I am well renowned for paying too much for guns I like and I like them old K frame working guns so .

 

[walnutred]

Assuming it was not carried by a left handed shooter I suspect it spent a lot of it's working life carried in a COB holster.

 

[BB57]

I paid $500 for this one a few months ago.

I might pay $250 for the one the OP is considering.

 

[H Richard]

I sort of like those early snub's.

 

[mikepriwer]

BC38

If you are a member of the S&WCA, I'd suggest posting a question to Roy on his piece of the forum, where you can ask for shipping year. If the gun has some important provenance, either he or Don will sometimes suggest that you get a letter on it. If that is the case, then you might make an offer of 250 or so. Otherwise, I'd pass.

Sometimes, but not always, the external condition can be an indication of possible internal problems. In this case, the poor condition of the original grips is a concern, as it might indicate poor internal condition.

Mike Priwer

 

[handejector]

Well, I figured it was overpriced, but not by 1.5x-2x its actual value.
The pawn shop has a price of $449 on it. I've made several purchases from them for 10%-20% below what they put on the tag. But that only takes it down to the $375-$400 range. Still about $100 too high IMO.

To be used as a shooter, it is worth investing maybe $250. Above that, like at 375, my advice is to buy a better gun, even if you have to add 100-200 to that 375. Good guns can always find buyers. Seriously worn guns don't, unless CHEAP.
Free advice, to be tooken or lefted.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...I don't think one line snubbies are all that common...

...I would consider $449 just for that single line "Made in USA"...

 

[BC38]

BC38

If you are a member of the S&WCA, I'd suggest posting a question to Roy on his piece of the forum, where you can ask for shipping year. If the gun has some important provenance, either he or Don will sometimes suggest that you get a letter on it. If that is the case, then you might make an offer of 250 or so. Otherwise, I'd pass.

Sometimes, but not always, the external condition can be an indication of possible internal problems. In this case, the poor condition of the original grips is a concern, as it might indicate poor internal condition.

Mike Priwer

Unfortunately I can't ask that question as I'm not an S&WCA member.

Just for my education, when evaluating future "finds", what is the logical connection between banged up grips and poor internal condition? I would tend to associate banged up grips with lots of time being banged around in a holster on someone's hip. Does that often lead to bad internal condition? I'm thinking of the possibly overused phrase "carried a lot but shot very little". Which I always took to mean internally and mechanically good but rough on the outside - rather than poor condition inside and out.

Sorry if the question seems dumb, but I'm still learning a lot from you guys, thanks. I appreciate the advice and as a result I'm leaning even more towards "pass". I was already leaning that way to begin with, but wanted to make sure there wasn't something special about this one that I hadn't picked up on.

...I don't think one line snubbies are all that common...

...I would consider $449 just for that single line "Made in USA"...

And that right there is the kind of thing I'm talking about. I don't know - is the one line address uncommon on snub-nosed post-war M&Ps, making this one worth more than its condition would indicate?

 

[JP@AK]

is the one line address uncommon on snub-nosed post-war M&Ps, making this one worth more than its condition would indicate?

No, it is not uncommon during that period. It went away in 1948. All S prefix and some of the earliest C prefix M&P revolvers had the one-line address. There are literally thousands of them out there.

When I gave you my take on the price yesterday, I was fully aware of the fact that it lacked the four line address. That has no effect on the price of this revolver.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

No, it is not uncommon during that period. It went away in 1948. All S prefix and some of the earliest C prefix M&P revolvers had the one-line address. There are literally thousands of them out there.

When I gave you my take on the price yesterday, I was fully aware of the fact that it lacked the four line address. That has no effect on the price of this revolver.

...how many had 2 inch barrels though?...

 

[JP@AK]

...how many had 2 inch barrels though?...

Tens of thousands. A lot more postwar M&Ps had 2" barrels than 6" barrels.

In descending order:
4"
5"
2" square butt
2" round butt
6"

 

[ParadiseRoad]

Tens of thousands. A lot more postwar M&Ps had 2" barrels than 6" barrels.

In descending order:
4"
5"
2" square butt
2" round butt
6"

...tens of thousands of 2 inch barrel M&Ps made before the mid year 1948 end of the one line "Made in USA" address?...

 

[CA Escapee]

Jack estimated that this one is from the spring of '51. I picked it up a the local Cabela's for $425.

Bill

 

[JP@AK]

...tens of thousands of 2 inch barrel M&Ps made before the mid year 1948 end of the one line "Made in USA" address?...

Yes. How many times do I have to write it?

Approximately 180,000 M&P revovers were made with the S prefix serial numbers. A large percentage of them had 2" barrels, as noted in the list above. If it was only 10% it would total 18,000 and I believe the percentage was higher than that.

I see no point in debating this any longer.

 

[younggun22]

I dont have much to add here but the Pre war/ Post war K frame snubs with the half-moon front sight just have the right look to them. I only have one and its a nice example but I am always looking to add another!

 

[ParadiseRoad]

Yes. How many times do I have to write it?

Approximately 180,000 M&P revovers were made with the S prefix serial numbers. A large percentage of them had 2" barrels, as noted in the list above. If it was only 10% it would total 18,000 and I believe the percentage was higher than that.

I see no point in debating this any longer.

...sorry for asking...

..I thought that was what we were here for...

...I guess I'll look for knowledge elsewhere...

...P. S. ...118,287 Edsels were made...seen one lately?...

 

[JP@AK]

...sorry for asking...

I have no problem with anyone "asking." It just seemed like you kept coming after me and would not accept what I wrote previously - twice.

My nose isn't out of joint. But I squeeze comments here in between doing my regular work (self employed). I don't want to waste a bunch of time repeating myself. That's all.

Please don't go away mad . . .

 

[JP@AK]

...P. S. ...118,287 Edsels were made...seen one lately?...

As a matter of fact, yes. One lives not too far from me.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...I apparently have been receiving faulty information...

...I have been of the belief that snubs started with the Colt Detective Special in 1927...

...and that S&W didn't challenge them in the two inch barrel market until 1937...

...and I also have heard that S&W still weren't very interested in producing snubs until 1950 when they brought out the Chief's Special...

...1937 to mid 1948...with 4 years taken out for WWII...would be the one line address on snubs time frame...about 7 1/2 years...

...also read that snubs weren't all that popular during those years...

...so my assumption was there weren't that many one line snubs out there...

...guess I was wrong...

...most all of the info I thought I had came from this forum...

...I guess information really is only worth what you pay for it...

...no reply needed...

...thanks...