3” Model 36 value?

[otis24]

I haven't decided if my "new to me" 3" Model 36 is a "keeper " or a "trader ". I'm leaning more towards keeping! Wondering a what is a real world retail value. 1971 vintage, box and paperwork, pinned barrel, hard chrome finish.

UPDATE: finish is from APW in Florida (?) or Alabama.

 

[Mike in Reedley]

Any idea what the after factory finish is? Hard chrome maybe? I have a 3" Airweight and a 3" 60-15. 3" Js are cool guns.

 

[otis24]

Any idea what the after factory finish is? Hard chrome maybe? I have a 3" Airweight and a 3" 60-15. 3" Js are cool guns.

Hard chrome.

 

[Rubone]

I paid $500 for this one about 4 years ago. I would think the hard chrome will diminish value no matter how nicely it was done. This one came as pictured, box, docs, combats, ammo and rug.

 

[sw702]

Finish may be from Ron Mahovskys-Metalife, hard as woodpecker lips !

 

[ColbyBruce]

The aftermarket finish has diminished the value of the piece but not its usefulness. That would be a fine woods roaming companion or general carry gun.

 

[g27racing]

Being refinished it has little collector value so: Shoot it!. Trade it or basically whatever will bring the most joy.

 

[otis24]

I've decided that it will be kept as a carry gun and/or truck gun.

 

[heeter3]

Good choice Otis I have 2 that I love and rotate them into my edc continuously.I've always found that whenever I have let one of my revolvers get away I always regretted it and could never get one back as good as the one I let go.So for the last 20 years nothing gets away anymore.

 

[H Richard]

That finish wears like Iron. Will make a great carry/truck gun, and won't show wear hardly at all. 3" J Frames are great shooting. Good buy.

 

[otis24]

Will this vintage firearm handle +P ammunition?

 

[Retired W4]

That ammo chart must be worth a few bucks. I don't remember seeing one in the past.

 

[otis24]

That ammo chart must be worth a few bucks. I don't remember seeing one in the past.

On the bottom it states "Available mid-1971". I don't recall to which ammo it was referring.

 

[Dave Haynes]

I had the misfortune of looking at a brand new Bodyguard and it was a bad joke. It felt like someone had dipped it into sand, the action was like it was full of sand. Price was something beyond $600. A genuine 36 has to be worth more than that.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Just speculation but thinking that 36 was set up to carry. The grips look pretty nice,so if it were mine I'd pull them and put something on that "fit my pistol" and carry it. Wouldn't shoot any +police in it tho.

 

[ralph7]

Just speculation but thinking that 36 was set up to carry. The grips look pretty nice,so if it were mine I'd pull them and put something on that "fit my pistol" and carry it. Wouldn't shoot any +police in it tho.

+police?

+P won't hurt that gun, don't even worry about it...

 

[otis24]

Far right column, those marked with an asterisk are "Available mid 1971".

 

[otis24]

Just speculation but thinking that 36 was set up to carry. The grips look pretty nice,so if it were mine I'd pull them and put something on that "fit my pistol" and carry it. Wouldn't shoot any +police in it tho.

I put the wooden grips and the t-grip on for photographic purposes. It also came with a set of Sile rubber grips that I put back on for carry purposes.

 

[Green Frog]

If the hard chrome was done by someone using the Metalife/Metalloy process its well nigh indestructible. It may not be "original" any more, but it is sure useful. In truck or holster it will serve you well.

Froggie