3" model 36 ALMOST

[wnc wheelgun]

Went by the LGS yesterday afternoon, spied a few j frames but all had the dreaded hole, except one. It was a sweet looking model 36 with a 3 INCH BARREL!!! Picked it up, functioned great, looked like it had been fired very little and the bluing was in very good shape. Man, I started to pull out the wallet, but then I flipped it upside down and there it was, crudely engraved on the trigger guard, the old owners social security number. I do not know about the rest of you, but I do not understand why someone is compelled to do this.

 

[H Richard]

If the price was right I'd buy it cheap, take a file to the SSN, and reblue it. But, I agree, why even many police dept's used to encourage this back in the 60's is beyond me.

 

[loeman]

If the price is right....

Yes, I agree with H Richard, if the price is right maybe you can live with it or fix it. Occasionally personal ids on guns can add "character" or even provenance. However you used the word "crudely" and that is indeed a turn-off.

 

[Big Lou]

Like others have said, if the price is right...buy it!

 

[alde]

There great shooters and if you can score a deal it would make a great outdoors gun. If it's not too deep it will come off with some effort.

 

[DAinTX]

Agree with above. You may well be able to file or buff off the SS#, and a trigger guard, since it's isolated on the gun, will lend itself to a decent cold-blue job after thorough degreasing.

 

[BAM-BAM]

If the price is right.......... think KISS first......


1. degrease and try cold bluing as is to "cover/fill in the scratches".... if not OK

2. buff and cold blue.......

3. buff and have reblued

 

[hotrod150]

Ditto on buy it anyway, but only if the price reflects the disfigurement. I don't know why people do this either-- since there's already a factory serial number on the gun, what's the point?

 

[TAROMAN]

The bottom of the triggerguard is the easiest spot of all to repair/refinish.
Following the contour with a few strokes by a fine pillar file followed by progressively finer grits of wet/dry sandpaper followed by the cold blue of choice (following directions carefully) and you will be good to go.
Though I've done more than a few such repair jobs, happily my 3" Model 36 wasn't among that group:

Now, get back to that store and start bargaining!

 

[sac-gunslinger]

My all-time-favorite gun (that I no longer own) is my old M36 with the 3" bull barrel. Shot well, carried wonderfully, was cool to look at. Pinned barrel, Goncala grips.

Saw one at an LGS about a year ago. Priced over $800. Didn't have the funds. :=[

Yes, get back to that store and start bargaining!

 

[CoMF]

If I were you I'd buy it anyway using the adulteration as bargaining leverage and follow the suggestions of others on removal of the engraving followed with the application of a good quality cold blue.

 

[KEN L]

Grip tape is your friend!

 

[mikeruns]

Just checker over it! JK!

 

[Will Carry]

If you are going to use the model 36 for self defense, don't worry about the SS number. A model 36 3" is a fine a self defense weapon. I bought one from my local gun shop after it sat in the gun case for months. I got a good price and it is one of my favorite carry guns. I own many handguns becuase I've been collecting for years. I practice drawing from concealment with all of my concealed carry handguns. Guess which one is the fastest to draw and fire? The model 36 3" beats'em all. It's the grip. It naturally forms to my hand like no semi-auto can.

 

[mkk41]

Like what some dumkopf named 'Schultz' did to this otherwise beautiful 1960 4-screw 14-2.



Oh well , at least I got a nice shooter real cheap.

 

[raylan007]

Where can I locate this terribly ruined 36 ? Thanks

 

[Road Rat]

wnc wheelgun

Back in the day...........late 1960's to mid 1970's every police department advertised that they would be glad to engrave your SSN or driver's license number on all of your expensive possessions . . they would even send an officer to your home to do your stereo, TV, etc.

A lot of nice firearms got this treatment (it is for your safety!!!).

Buy the revolver.........at a reduced price.............and fix it or cover it up............The 36 is one of my favorite revolvers.

 

[chief38]

If the engraved Social Security # was not deep, yes it's easy to repair assuming you can get the gun at the right price. If it is really deep into the metal, I would personally take a pass as you did.

One of my friends always seems to buy guns with some sort of "minor defect or problem" and he usually winds up spending more to restore or repair the gun than it would have cost to buy a good one in the first place. I think he actually enjoys bringing a beater back to life. No quality work is cheap these days! Guess it never was.......

 

[TAROMAN]

Like what some dumkopf named 'Schultz' did to this otherwise beautiful 1960 4-screw 14-2.

His progeny, perhaps?