1950 M&P 44 Special

[General Flunky]

Yesterday at a small gun show I saw a 1950 44 special M&P with after market Harriat grips. My eyesite is poor and the lighting in the room was lousey but the gun appeared to be reblued at one time but now showed enough wear to be shooter grade even if I was wrong about the reblue. The asking price was $1200. I thought that was about market price for a gun in that condition factoring in how rare these guns are. My question is: am I on track or was that high since it was a shooter and had no collector value in that condition.

 

[moosedog]

That was probably a bit high, but not too much, for a reblued pre model 21 with the wrong grips. Just my opinion.

 

[rburg]

Just to clear the air here, M&Ps are K frame fixed sight guns. 44s with the same configuration are normally called "military" models. Its about what I paid for one a couple of months ago. I think I paid $1100. Its refinished but in great shape for a shooter. These are very rare guns in the 4" length. In the situation the OP was in, chances are he'll never see another, original or refinished. Its what motivated me to buy when I did.

We have a bunch of members here who would love to own one, but they only made a couple of hundred and probably half of those have sunk, succumbed to a casualty or whatever. If half are still out and about, I'd be surprised. From that perspective, buying it wouldn't have been stupid. But only if you want one. And 44s are dangerous. Once you buy one, you'll need another and another. 4 inch guns from the past are the really scarce length.

 

[General Flunky]

Yes, I know what it was, I just didn't know what the current market value is and poorly stated it in the original post. The one I own is a 5" and I bought it in a gun store in 1970 for $200 so I'm a little out of touch with todays market prices. The one at the show was a 4" and I was only carrying $150 in my depleated gun fund. So, I helped a retired Highway Patrolman with the decision to purchase it. He traded a model 28, a model 36, and $425 for the gun. He asked me If I would have purchased the gun if I had been carrying the money and I told him Yes I would have. Later I was just wondering to myself If I would have over paid for a gun in that condition. I've only shot 44 specials and a few Magnums since the seventies and am only interested in the third and fourth models, so I am a different breed of gun owner from the norm. I shoot and carry them and my favorite is the 5" target model 1950. I take good care of them but when I die none of them will be unfired.

 

[keith44spl]

I shoot and carry them and my favorite is the 5" target model 1950.

I take good care of them but when I die none of them will be unfired.

Well right thar ya go Boys!

Life is short, live'r up!

I too, kinda favor the five inch 1950 4th Model .44 Special as well.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Yes, I know what it was, I just didn't know what the current market value is and poorly stated it in the original post. The one I own is a 5" and I bought it in a gun store in 1970 for $200 so I'm a little out of touch with todays market prices. The one at the show was a 4" and I was only carrying $150 in my depleated gun fund. So, I helped a retired Highway Patrolman with the decision to purchase it. He traded a model 28, a model 36, and $425 for the gun. He asked me If I would have purchased the gun if I had been carrying the money and I told him Yes I would have. Later I was just wondering to myself If I would have over paid for a gun in that condition. I've only shot 44 specials and a few Magnums since the seventies and am only interested in the third and fourth models, so I am a different breed of gun owner from the norm. I shoot and carry them and my favorite is the 5" target model 1950.


I take good care of them but when I die none of them will be unfired.

My kind of guy...........I like that last sentence!