I am trying to help a family member with this gun. It was bought for her mother in the early fifty and she inherited it on 2005. The serial number is s148968. She says it's all original with nickel finish and mother of pearl grips. I'm just not sure where to start and what something like this would cost? Any help would be very much appreciated!
S&w 38/44 age and value?
- Thread starter Matt98tj
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Welcome to the Forum. I assume there is an "S" stamped on the butt, which is part of the serial number. The 38/44 Outdoorsman was manufactured starting in 1931. That revolver would have shipped from the factory in 1955-1956 time-frame. Model numbers were not introduced until 1957-1958, so the proper name is as above, plus these are called 38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers by many collectors, due to the fact that they were built on the large N frame.
As for value, it is difficult to make any meaningful assessment with only one picture. The boxes are selling for $200 and up now and the revolver could range from $600 up to $??. How high is a matter of condition, percent finish remaining, functionality, originality, etc. Those stocks are not factory original and deduct some from the gun value, since the original serial numbered stocks are probably long gone.
Sorry, I just noticed the small "s" in your serial number, so you got it right.
As for value, it is difficult to make any meaningful assessment with only one picture. The boxes are selling for $200 and up now and the revolver could range from $600 up to $??. How high is a matter of condition, percent finish remaining, functionality, originality, etc. Those stocks are not factory original and deduct some from the gun value, since the original serial numbered stocks are probably long gone.
Sorry, I just noticed the small "s" in your serial number, so you got it right.
Last edited:
Serial number will help. You can XX the last 2 digits if you like. The same serial number should be on the bottom of the box in black marker. A picture of either end of the box and a few more, high quality, close up pix would help too. If the box is correct likely sometime 1950 to 1960. SN range could be appx S80000 to S200000 (serial number preceded by a "S") or thereabout.
I will try to get some better pics. I'm almost positive the box matches the gun, but I will double check. I know there are 100 different things that come into play with putting a price on a gun. She is wanting to sell it so I'm just trying to get a general idea as I have no clue. The serial number is in the original post. Thanks again for the response!
Attachments
beagleye
Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2010
- Messages
- 2,393
- Reaction score
- 2,585
Neat gun. You don't see many original nickel 38/44s. If it's original finish (look for an [N] under the left grip) and the box matches, then that's a pretty valuable package. I don't want to venture a guess on value. More and better pictures are needed for a meaningful valuation.
Your gun, a Heavy Duty Model of 1950 or Pre model 20, was manufactured in 1955-1956 according to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.
It has good value and is desirable to collectors, just how much I will leave to the experts on the forum.
Your may want to look at the thread on how to identify your gun at the top of this page, and present more pictures and information.
As far as selling it, if I were you I would stay away from pawn shops and gun shops, they need to make a profit and will offer much less than it's actual worth. There is a classified section on the forum which would be an excellent place to start, it requires set prices.
Good luck, and welcome to the Forum.
It has good value and is desirable to collectors, just how much I will leave to the experts on the forum.
Your may want to look at the thread on how to identify your gun at the top of this page, and present more pictures and information.
As far as selling it, if I were you I would stay away from pawn shops and gun shops, they need to make a profit and will offer much less than it's actual worth. There is a classified section on the forum which would be an excellent place to start, it requires set prices.
Good luck, and welcome to the Forum.
Our resident expert is 1Aspenhill, if he doesn't pop in shortly you could send him a message.
Nice looking HD! I hope you are planning on keeping it the family! Your family members mom sounds like an interesting person, HDs aren't your normal "ladies gun"!
Nice looking HD! I hope you are planning on keeping it the family! Your family members mom sounds like an interesting person, HDs aren't your normal "ladies gun"!
DWalt
Member
That HD was almost certainly made and shipped in 1956, but I do not have one listed with a very close SN for better dating. There should be a capital "N" stamped on the grip frame (remove grips) and/or on the rear face of the cylinder. There could also be an "N" stamped ahead of the SN in the extractor rod well. While you have the grips off, check to see if there is a number like, e.g., 4.62, stamped on the grip frame, indicating that it was returned to the factory during that month and year (e.g., April 1962) for some service work. If the nickel and box are original, I'd say it should sell in a private transaction for at least $1000. Of course a gun dealer or pawn shop would pay nowhere near that much. I doubt that the MOP grips are original.
This revolver is one of those which could benefit by ordering a factory letter ($50) to establish with certainty that the nickel plating and/or grips are or are not factory original, but it could take 6 months or more to get it, as there is currently a moratorium on issuing letters due to a heavy backlog of requests.
A gentle polishing of the nickel finish with a good metal polish like Flitz would likely shine it up and improve its appearance. Just don't overdo it.
This revolver is one of those which could benefit by ordering a factory letter ($50) to establish with certainty that the nickel plating and/or grips are or are not factory original, but it could take 6 months or more to get it, as there is currently a moratorium on issuing letters due to a heavy backlog of requests.
A gentle polishing of the nickel finish with a good metal polish like Flitz would likely shine it up and improve its appearance. Just don't overdo it.
Last edited:
The gun serial number should be hand written on the bottom of the box in grease pencil.
How did I miss that SN. I ask for pix as the one you posted is terrible for ascertaining condition. I sold one for a fellow member a few months back, Same SN range S148xxx with original wood grips numbered to gun, in 97%+ original condition and original finish.
Depending on the condition and / or if it had been refinished you're looking at between $800 and $2000.00 on the high end. Low end is 85-90% or factory refinished showing excellent condition. High end is with the box and if in 98-99% original condition. OR anywhere in between there. Another member stated a guns store is not your best outlet to sell. I agree. Sell to a collector that will pays a fair price but first post excellent quality images.
In this circumstance I feel the pearl grips actually detract from the value as the original wood S&W grips were numbered to the gun.
