MDL 36 and 36-1 Square/Round butt and Heavy/Normal barrel

g27racing · #1 07-07-2016, 12:27 PM

I have another thread where I showed off a pair of consec 36-1's I just bought. (they are Nickel consec serial, square butt and 3" HB)

The seller also has a pair of:

36-1 Nickel consec serial, Round butt, 3"HB
36 no dash Blued consec serial, Round butt 3" (not HB)
36-1 Blued consec serial, square butt 3" HB

Each pair though is fairly close in price with the least expensive pair being about 12% less than the most expensive pair.

Not being a Smith guy I don't really know what is more desirable. Square/round and heavy vs/ standard barrel. I know all things being equal the no dash guns are probably a bit more desirable, but I don't think I can afford all of them so I am asking for some advice.

All of the guns are NOS guns and still have cosmoline on them. This is a retiring FFL holder that is selling off his stuff. Technically all of these guns (he has others aside from what I have listed) have never been sold to an end user.

He also has a NOS 4" Stainless steel MDL 63 (no dash) and a NOS single (not consec serial) Nickel 36-1 square butt/ standard barrel. On these guns I will divulge asking prices: He wants $1050 for the mdl 63 and $1k for the model 36-1. (shipped prices)

gen3guy · #2 07-07-2016, 12:49 PM

What would be least desirable to me is a 'J' frame with a square butt. If it were my decision I'd go with one of the RB models. That's just a personal preference. A 3" model 36, in any case, is a very nice find.

I would not pay $1K for a model 36, especially one with standard barrel. I just bought a 98% 36 no dash for $350.

g27racing · #3 07-07-2016, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gen3guy

What would be least desirable to me is a 'J' frame with a square butt. If it were my decision I'd go with one of the RB models. That's just a personal preference. A 3" model 36, in any case, is a very nice find.

I would not pay $1K for a model 36, especially one with standard barrel. I just bought a 98% 36 no dash for $350.

Thanks. I don't want to divulge his asking prices but I will add the following. This is regarding the 3 pairs of consec serial number guns.

The two pairs of blued guns are the same price (and below $1k/gun but well above $350/gun). The nickel pair is a little more than the blued guns. I think you got a good price on your mdl 36, especially if it has the box/papers/tools etc. NOS consec guns with stuff pretty much the way it came from Smith will obvious command a premium. These are most likely at the top of the pricing structure for J-frame guns, but they probably should be considering their condition.

ryxlyx · #4 07-07-2016, 02:15 PM

Maybe I'm missing something, but these sound like Cabela's prices to me. No dashes are always desirable, but IIRC the 36 ND was a 36 ND for a couple decades, no big deal there. And while normally a dash 1 would consecutively follow (production-wise) a ND cuz of an engineering change, in this case the 36-1 was simply the designation given to a 3" 36 w/ the then-new 3" HB, as opposed to the normal 3" tapered bbl-- they were produced concurrently.

Either you're a "nickel" guy or your not-- I'm not. I'd go w/ one of the blue sets if it were me, more representative of the era. And I'd make the decision based on whether I preferred the more-delicate lines of the 3" pencil bbl (they truly are beautiful), or the more-practical fact that the 3" HB on the 36-1-- giving it a hair more stability/momentum in use-- makes that one (to me anyway) the better of the 2 for carry (I've got a set of short Spegel boots on mine). Decisions decisions....

g27racing · #5 07-07-2016, 06:23 PM

I wasn't really asking if the pricing was good or not. I think the pricing is fair for what I am getting (not a steal at all). I was more looking to see if the Smith world goes in a certain direction for gun value/desirability on these guns. I have seen "regular" mdl 36 guns (no dash and -1) guns sell for over $600 if the condition is there and if there are extras with it (such as box/papers tools etc). I personally sold a nickel 3" 36-1 for over $700 and the gun was fired. It was in top condition with box etc. Again I am not really looking for advice regarding what these guns should cost. We all want to pay as little as possible and get as much as we can. We all have gotten great deals and we all have paid our fair share at times.

I certainly don't plan on carrying or even firing these as they are in "collectible" condition so I was just trying to get a gauge on the current collectible market. (which certainly can change over time).

ryxlyx · #6 07-07-2016, 07:58 PM

I recognize of course that you don't plan to fire them, I'm just saying that it would seem the HB was added because at the time it was thought to be a desirable feature for those buyers who DID plan to carry them, and the success of the gun would seem to bear that out. On the other hand, from my bleacher seats it would seem that some of the aesthetics were lost in the process. My crystal ball is pretty cloudy, I'm just saying your decision might want to factor in the degree to which you think aesthetics-- long term-- might tip the scales. But then-- you might disagree w/ me completely about what is more aesthetically pleasing. And the best part is, we'd both be right haha.

As far as value goes like I said-- "maybe I'm missing something"-- wouldn't be the first time!!

g27racing · #7 07-07-2016, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryxlyx

I recognize of course that you don't plan to fire them, I'm just saying that it would seem the HB was added because at the time it was thought to be a desirable feature for those buyers who DID plan to carry them, and the success of the gun would seem to bear that out. On the other hand, from my bleacher seats it would seem that some of the aesthetics were lost in the process. My crystal ball is pretty cloudy, I'm just saying your decision might want to factor in the degree to which you think aesthetics-- long term-- might tip the scales. But then-- you might disagree w/ me completely about what is more aesthetically pleasing. And the best part is, we'd both be right haha.

As far as value goes like I said-- "maybe I'm missing something"-- wouldn't be the first time!!

Ok, thanks. I wish I had a crystal ball as well. From the lack of comments (so far) there doesn't seem to be much of a preference from either the barrel or the butt..... Please no jokes about barrels or butts!

And it sounds to me that YOU would prefer the no dash blued guns (standard barrel) as you prefer blued guns with the thinner barrel and a round butt.

ryxlyx · #8 07-08-2016, 08:14 AM

So much of this just gets down to personal preferences that I think it's difficult for even seasoned collectors (I may be a little seasoned but I'm certainly not a collector as I can't afford to own guns I'm not willing to shoot) to say they have a clear crystal ball. As an example gen3guy above considers a J-frame w/ a SB to be the least desirable. I on there hand consider a SB J-frame to be the most desirable, as the SB stock gives me something to hold onto-- and again, we're both right, just personal preference.

The only way to improve the looks of the 36 w/ a 3" pencil bbl IMO would be to go back in time a ways and add the 2 screws that are missing....

DocB · #9 07-08-2016, 08:51 AM

Not even a contest here. . .3 inch RB Nickel wins! First off, the 3 inch guns are more uncommon than 2 inch, but they are all 3 inch which is good. RB on a 3 inch is very uncommon. I've seen a few out for sale. Nickel on RB 3 inch. . .wow! Under 10% of all post-war Smiths were done in nickel (or so I've been told). Therefore, 3 inch more uncommon than 2 inch, RB more uncommon than SB, nickel "much" more uncommon than blue. You're not going to shoot them anyway, so it doesn't matter what you like best. I'd be all over that nickel pair.

g27racing · #10 07-08-2016, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocB

Not even a contest here. . .3 inch RB Nickel wins! First off, the 3 inch guns are more uncommon than 2 inch, but they are all 3 inch which is good. RB on a 3 inch is very uncommon. I've seen a few out for sale. Nickel on RB 3 inch. . .wow! Under 10% of all post-war Smiths were done in nickel (or so I've been told). Therefore, 3 inch more uncommon than 2 inch, RB more uncommon than SB, nickel "much" more uncommon than blue. You're not going to shoot them anyway, so it doesn't matter what you like best. I'd be all over that nickel pair.

Thanks Doc! When I went to sleep last night I had decided that I definitely want the other set of 3" Nickel guns (I got a set of SB from this guy last week). I am just trying to decide if I want to make an offer on a set of the blued guns but also decided to try and get the No dash 2" 36's as well (and a 6" Stainless python he has).

g27racing · #11 07-08-2016, 12:11 PM

Update: I just made a deal to buy the RB Nickel guns and the no dash blued guns (as well as a Colt Python).

Thanks for the advice from the people that answered me.

firemanhank · #12 07-08-2016, 12:19 PM

Keep in mind that consecutive numbered guns are very hard to come across. ANIB are even harder!!
I would like to see pics when you get them home.
Congrats on a great find.
Hank

Road Rat · #13 07-08-2016, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g27racing

Update: I just made a deal to buy the RB Nickel guns and the no dash blued guns (as well as a Colt Python).

Thanks for the advice from the people that answered me.

Okay, I'm old but please adopt me!!!

You obviously require assistance spending all of that disposable income!!!!

Congrats on getting a ready-made collection!!

g27racing · #14 07-08-2016, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firemanhank

Keep in mind that consecutive numbered guns are very hard to come across. ANIB are even harder!!
I would like to see pics when you get them home.
Congrats on a great find.
Hank

Thanks. The seller is going on vacation tomorrow and then I go on vacation so I won't get these until the last week of the month.... and they are still covered in cosmoline. A dealer that bought them brand new for himself and has decided to get out of the business. These guns (the Smiths) have never been registered.