.38 hand ejector 4th change target

[registered magnum]

what would be the orginal finish for a .38 hand ejector 4th change target? i am looking at one for $550 that is probably about 90%-95% and has a polished blue finish. thanks

 

[mikepriwer]

Only two guess's : blue or nickel.

Mike Priwer

 

[opoefc]

3rd guess: It could be a pinto - blue & nickle. Actually, look at the serial number on the barrel. If there's a small "B" stamped in front of the serial number, it left the factory as a blue gun. If no "B' stamp, look under the grips on the grip frame for an "N" stamp, meaning nickel. If you think the gun is a factory refinish, look for a date code on the left grip frame, such as "6.33" meaning the gun was reworked/repaired at the factory iin June 1933. Why do you think the polished blue finish is not original? Ed.

 

[registered magnum]

i jus though a lot of pre war guns had the more flat blue finish. this gun has the polished blue finish. it looks orginial and there is not date or star. i don't remeber if ther was a b or n. i am going to buy this gun tommarow and will look. do you think if this gun has orginial finish for 550 is a good deal?

 

[Stranglehold]

This one letters to 1940 and has the original polished blue finish...

Roe

 

[victorylarry]

i jus though a lot of pre war guns had the more flat blue finish. this gun has the polished blue finish. it looks orginial and there is not date or star. i don't remeber if ther was a b or n. i am going to buy this gun tommarow and will look. do you think if this gun has orginial finish for 550 is a good deal?

It's probably a 1930's S&W which would be high polish blue and not the satin blue used in the years prior. S&W (and colt to a degree) switched back and forth between more of a satin finish when times were good to high polish when times were tough like during the depression. Prior to WW1 you saw high polish pistols then a period through the depression of satin guns, then back to high polish blue again. There are a few ways to determine originality of high polish blue that I use: check sideplate for fit/finish, check screws for buffing, S&W emblem/Made in USA should be fairly sharp, check barrel as about one inch on each end of the barrel should have buff marks going around the barrel while the other buffing marks go lengthwise down the barrel (may need high intensity light for this one). Of course you can post a pic and let us take our best guess. 95% 30's S&W M&P target with high polish blue at $550 is in the ballpark. Good luck and please post a pic.

Stranglehold-That's an awesome M&P target...magna's, humpback hammer, high polish blue!