38/44 advice

[vilhelm]

Feel free to flame away....I can take it.

A while back I bought a 38/44 transitional (I think...S65704)

While high on the cool-factor I am just not an "N" frame guy.

I was contemplating selling it and spending that cash on a custom 1911.

My question for you guys, how much would you accept for this gun?

Also, which site would you post it on?

 

[DCWilson]

First off, if I owned that gun I wouldn't accept anything for it. I'd keep it.

Value is subjective. Condition looks like about 90% based on the one photo, which is certainly not collector grade but can be considered as approaching high shooter grade. The stocks look original, which is nice, but you might want to confirm that by taking them off and see if they number to the gun. They have some decent value by themselves and would help support a higher price for the package.

A rule of thumb that I have appropriated from another forum member is that any shootable N-frame with an OK finish is at least a $400 gun. At that point you start adding value for scarcity, condition, demand, special circumstances, and so forth. I'd think that would be a $500 gun any day of the week, and maybe $600 or even better to the right buyer. Somebody who is desperate for a transitional HD might even go $800, but at that price point I think you are dealing with a pretty thin buyer population.

Geography will affect price. What did you pay for it? If you can get that plus a hundred bucks out of it, you are doing fine in terms of its own sales history.

 

[VM]

vilhelm - if that gun went in the classifieds here on the Forum, I don't think it would last 15 minutes @ $800.
I'd never suggest someone take grips off a gun, but if those Diamond Magnas match the serial number of the gun and are transitional length...... they are worth $200-$300 by themselves and very scarce.
I agree with David, hang on to the gun

 

[kaaskop49]

vilhelm, I'm not a collector, so I can't advise as to value. I do know that Smiths of that era were built like Swiss watches. The double- and single-action movements of these guns are almost unbelievably smooth. Please keep this gun.

 

[P&R Fan]

It was made in 1947, so it is a Transitional Heavy Duty.
If it was mine, and I was selling it, I wouldn't take a dime less than $800 for it.

The posters before me said don't sell it. Moved, Seconded, and Passed without debate.

Think about it this way: You want a custom 1911. Even in today's political climate you're going to be able to buy those, anywhere, for the rest of your life. S&W ain't makin' no more Heavy Duties.

Jim

 

[bettis1]

If I were selling that gun (which I would not be doing) I would approach the sale first by considering what I had paid for it and how long ago.

If I had bought it recently and paid a fair price for it, it probably won't sell for appreciably more and my main concern would be to free up the cash. If, on the other hand, I bought if cheaply or a good time ago, I would have an opportunity to make a little on the transaction. Just how much of a premium I put over my cost will determine, to a great extent, how quickly I sell it and free up my cash. If, however, I paid too much initially, I can't count on someone else making the same mistake and my primary goal will be getting as close to my purchase price as possible but knowing that I may have to take less just to stop my loss.

Those are only my thoughts on how I would approach establishing a price.

Bob

 

[1Aspenhill]

I would say that your gun was shipped from the factory in Jul 1946. It does appear to have the original grips and if numbered to the gun, they should stay with the gun. VM is probably right in that it might bring a price in that neighborhood, but would be the high end based on condition.
I hope this helps,
Bill

 

[vilhelm]

Okay

Okay

I will keep it.

Besides, 800 bucks isn't enough.

FYI, the grips are numbered (they match) and the action is pretty amazing.

 

[DCWilson]

Okay

Okay

I will keep it.

Good call.

 

[beagleye]

What a beauty!! Really they just don't get much better. I wouldn't sell it. I have one somewhat similar and I ain't never going to sell it.

 

[DWalt]

Its monetary value does not matter. If you have one, you should keep it and come up with the money to buy a custom 1911 (actually a custom Government Model) some other way.

PS: At present, I am not in the mood to sell anything good that I already have, given the anti-gun legislative insanity going on in Washington and some states at present. If I do, I may soon regret it.

 

[vilhelm]

Dwalt,

I am going to start marketing 1911s for Hayes Custom Guns and need to own a couple. (who would trust a guy who doesn't use what he sells?)

Aaron Hayes is a GREAT 1911 mechanic. Learned his trade at Clark Custom (his uncle). He does his test targets at 50 yards and if they don't shoot inside 2.5 they go back to the bench.

I know that the 38/44 is a special gun, but I don't mind liquidating if I have to so as to get something else cool.

That said...800 bucks isn't worth it for me to get rid of it. If it were over a G I might consider it.

Again, thanks for the advice and insight.

: )

Bill

 

[dewey]

Bill

I believe you made the proper decision. It will go up over $1,000 soon.

Good Luck with your new job !

Dan

 

[vilhelm]

Dan,

Thank you for the kind words.

The deal is not complete. But I am very excited at the prospect.

Thank goodness that the gun culture is unlike other areas of our society. Generally our "royalty" are regular guys.

 

[Doug M.]

A good 1911 set up to work right all the time as a fighting pistol is likely to be north of $2K, maybe as much as $5K, and take a year or more to get. You won't get near that much out of this revolver, so from that relatively objective analysis it is not really worth selling. The other reasons not to sell have been adequately covered by others more savvy than I.

 

[Muley Gil]

Okay

Okay

I will keep it.

Besides, 800 bucks isn't enough.

FYI, the grips are numbered (they match) and the action is pretty amazing.

Good.

Now, the question is: should you convert it to .44 Special or .45 Colt?

 

[sodacan]

The value of the gun would not get you close to a "custom" 1911 or even a semi-custom. It would get you about 70%-80% of a decent production 1911. Keep the gun and enjoy it.