Saw this at the LGS yesterday and thought it looked decent enough to throw on layaway. It's no safe queen that's for sure, but mechanically it checks out, and I think some Flitz and Ren Wax will go a long way toward making it look presentable.





The diamond magna grips don't number to the gun. As a matter of fact, they're not numbered at all. That and the checkering pattern lead me to think they're not factory, but some no name repo. I don't think I've ever seen factory grips with that big of a diamond in the center. The screw looks wrong too. Someone can correct me I'm wrong on that. A previous owner had scratched his SS number on the botton of the stock...right side IIRC. That and there was a number stamped into the steel of the grip frame. A five digit number that I don't recall off the top of my head, but it was neatly stamped and was something like 11570 (not the actual number I'm sure). I took it to be a rack number, maybe a badge number. No idea, and just another quirk in it's persosnal history. No other unusual stampings. The S/N on the butt, cylinder, and barrel all match. S/N C310XXX marks it as a 54-56 model.

Resting comfortably in the lay-A-way bin for now.

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John 3:16 .

That front side plate/yoke screw does look a little odd. But then, I left my glasses up stairs. Shoot it!

I went back to my phone and blew the picture up. I think that's just an overhead light reflecting. I remember checking the screws and don't recall any of them being boogered up. I was giving the kid behind the counter a hard time about every scratch and blemish. Got the priced dropped about 10%.

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John 3:16 .

Nice find. Could the stocks be a later set that someone cut the diamond into?

That diamond does look pretty crude in the picture. I think I've seen Ebay stocks with a diamond like that before, but they're usually a lighter color. The color on these looks "right" to me, but I'm not very knowledgeable about these things.

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John 3:16 .

Looks like the gun came from Greentop. I have purchased several from them over the years.

Yes, it did. It never fails they find something to temp me.

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John 3:16 .

Nearby serial numbers would suggest shipment in 1954.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Looks plenty presentable to me. I'd just get it dirty if it was mine. Prolly scratch it, too.

The last time my shooting buddy and I did a Richmond day trip, we skipped Green Top because we spent ourselves out at Cabela’s and Bass Pro. I very seldom make it out of GT without spending some $$$!
Froggie

Does Green Top still carry a large selection of Cooper rifles?

Sweet ! Simply Irresistible - Classic Beauty !

Congratulations on a great find ...
I would of had to buy it too !

Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Appears to be reblued but that won't affect shootability as long as you don't care.

Colby, I'm afraid I can't help you on that. My visits usually stop at the handgun counter with a side trip over to the reloading section once in a while.

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John 3:16 .

Those don't look like S&W medallions in those stocks.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Since Cooper sold out to Nighthawk and they have not ramped up any production, the only Coopers I ever see are on highly inflated internet sites. If Nighthawk ever does manufacturer any you can bet they will be very pricey.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

You got a good eye. I went back and blew up the picture, and they're not. I hadn't even looked at them yesterday, I had assumed they weren't factory just from the diamond, and not having a number at all on the inside.

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John 3:16 .

17 post and nobody has asked? Talk of 10% off and still nobody has asked.

And they still haven't.

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John 3:16 .

Is there a trick to using Flitz on blueing? I’ve been temped to try it but don’t want to risk it.

Go easy and use a good cloth.

Cajun, the title of the thread indicates to me that there will always be one more.

Not really. I just use my fingertip to apply it. Let it dry. Then lightly buff it off gently with a soft clean cloth. I tell people you’re trying to polish something, not sand a piece of plywood. Gently and by hand. No power tools. I’ve done it on I don’t know how many guns and I’ve never seen any damage.

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John 3:16 .

I can neither confirm nor deny.

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John 3:16 .

Thanks for the advice on the Flitz. I’ve used it on nickel guns just never on blued.

Recover your costs. Take the Social Security Number and sell it to some day laborer hanging around Home Depot. < JK>

I got it home yesterday, and I believe you're right. It has been refinished, and the stocks are some kind of aftermarket, but that won't hurt it shooting. The stocks at least LOOK period. It's got some minor pitting too. I've cleaned it up, Flitzed and Ren waxed it and it's looking a little better this morning, but it's still what it is. An old five screw, M&P 38 that has probably walked a beat somewere, sometime along the way. I'm sure that number stamped on the grip frame (11530) is a rack/badge number. The trigger isn't bad at all, bore looks good. It will be a good companion to my Colt Official Police 38, but the S&W has the experience the Colt doesn't have.

I load 38 wadcutters for guns like this. I'm looking forward to getting it to the range this weekend.

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John 3:16 .

I too had trouble seeing any S&W logo in the medallions when enlarged. The diamond does not look like factory work. You didn't say what 90% ended up being but to me any S&W revolver that shoots well is worth $500-$600 all day long. Regardless of finish or stocks it will still get its intended job done.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Heh heh. Last time I went there to buy a $10 gun sock, I dropped $700+ at the used gun...uhh... drug... counter on the way to the gun socks in the far back corner.
GMTA.

Oh, I paid $450.00 for it.

And here it is after being fluffed and buffed, cleaned and oiled, and Flitzed and waxed.





That right side view is actually not very good. It slipped down a bit and looks sort of flat. The roll marks are much sharper than they appear there.

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John 3:16 .

I have had a long line of next to the last guns

That's in great condition Mr Cajun!

Turns out that's an eagle in the medallions. I had to get out a flashlight to really see what it is. That right side stock has some nice tiger striping going on there. I didn't notice it until I saw that picture. Other than that, they're pretty plain, but don't look bad at all.

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John 3:16 .

Didn't Sile use an eagle in their grip medallions?......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I have never heard of them, but did manage to find a picture of a set of one of their grips that appears to have the same eagle on them.

I will say, whatever they are, they're quite comfortable. Maybe a little thicker than factory Magna's but that might be my imagination.

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John 3:16 .

That was a fantastic pick up. Your fluff and buff really made it shine. Here's to the next next-to the last gun!

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Matthew Conrad