Considering this 18-2...pics inside

[clikclikpull]

First post here and just want to start off by saying hello.

I've been lurking for a while and this site seems to be the best place to get an opinion on the gun purchase I'm considering. It's a model 18-2 with no box. I've seen the gun in person and the bluing is breath taking. Appears to have a very low round count.

So the big question...what should I offer to pay for it? I'm mostly a rifle & auto pistol guy. These old Smith revolvers are somewhat new to me...anything else I need to consider before making an offer? Pictures of the old 38spl. are included free of charge

 

[P&R Fan]

Welcome to the Forum.
That looks like a nice one! We like the K-22s around here, and they sell pretty quickly if priced right. I'll hazard a guess and say if you can get it for under $600 you should try. I'd offer less (I always do), but at that price you won't regret it.
Tell us the serial number from the bottom of the butt and we can tell you what year it was born.
Jim

 

[Cooter Brown]

The Model 18 is a wonderful gun, one of the best S&W ever made for just plain fun. And that one is a honey.

They are commanding pretty good money these days. In my mind $600 would be a decent price, but 50 more (even 100 if I wanted one and had the cash) would not stop me from getting that one. You don't run across that many of them--at least I don't.

You can't get anywhere close to a new revolver of that quality for anywhere near that little these days.

 

[fat tom]

I paid $600 and $500 for the last two I bought. They were pre-18's however. I'd suggest you offer something in between.
f.t.

p.s. Welcome to the forum!

 

[Old cop]

I paid around $500 for mine and never regretted it. By the way, welcome & thanks for the pics.

 

[clikclikpull]

Welcome to the Forum.
That looks like a nice one! We like the K-22s around here, and they sell pretty quickly if priced right. I'll hazard a guess and say if you can get it for under $600 you should try. I'd offer less (I always do), but at that price you won't regret it.
Tell us the serial number from the bottom of the butt and we can tell you what year it was born.
Jim

Thanks for the offer for serial look-up. See below. I have been told approx 1966.

 

[P&R Fan]

Looks like you were told right.
That's what the Catalog says.
Jim

 

[Engine49guy]

I paid $500 for an identicle 18-2 but it had the box and docs so I would say $50 less, and if you can get it for $400 (or less) good for you.
Before making an offer cock the hammer and gently press the back of the hammer spur to see if the hammer falls without the trigger being pulled, also inspect the cylinder face for any firing pin strikes.
The top screw looks clean so I kinda doubt anyone has opened the gun but the leaf spring has been turned a few times so somebody was playing with the hammer tension IMO.

These were the first versions to come out of the factory without the diamond shape around the grip screw.

Good luck and give us a report if you pick it up.

 

[kudzu3]

Offer five, be prepared to pay six fifty. It really all depends on how bad you want it.

 

[Bert Man]

If you haven't already, grab that baby now. They aren't making them any more and there is none better. A great partner to your pre-10 and you will love it. Welcome to the forum.

 

[clikclikpull]

Thanks for the replies guys!

OK, I'm going to lay my cards on the table. I already bought the gun but didn't want you guys to pull any punches so I didn't want to say I already own it.

I picked the gun up off armslist, described as 99% original condition. I paid $650 which I thought was at the high end, but I'm ok with that.

Now, I posted pic's of my Pre-10 for a reason. A friend of mine noticed the S&W Trade mark logo on my 18 is a little shallow (no cratering around the stamping) by comparison to my Pre-10.

Is this something you would be concerned with?

 

[Engine49guy]

Thanks for the replies guys!

A friend of mine noticed the S&W Trade mark logo on my 18 is a little shallow (no cratering around the stamping) by comparison to my Pre-10.

Is this something you would be concerned with?

NO, looks original but you do only have that one blurry sideplate picture up,
Post a few more pics of the right sideplate if you want to be absolutely sure..

 

[Cooter Brown]

You did fine, clik.

That is going to become one of your favorite guns.

 

[clikclikpull]

Here they are together...

The Pre-10...

VVVVVVVVVVV

And the 18-2

VVVVVVVVVVV

 

[clikclikpull]

You did fine, clik.

That is going to become one of your favorite guns.

It already has

I debated even asking the question because I don't think I'd get rid of it regardless of the outcome. It has been nagging at me so I decided I need to put it to rest.

 

[clikclikpull]

So does anybody have an opinion as to the finish being original, or not? Are there any areas other than the TM logo that might help confirm?

Like I said, it's a fine gun and I won't be getting rid of it regardless. I took it out today and was hitting clay pigeons at 40 yards. I doubt I will ever go to the range again without it

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[M29since14]

Did you remove the stocks and check for the R-S stamp, or a date? (left side of the grip frame, usually bottom left corner)

It is hard to say. The sideplate looks very nice, like it was finished by someone who knew what they were about. The gun could have been refinished at S&W. In that day, S&W would refinish blued guns for about $12, if my memory serves. My friends and I had several of our guns refinished once they got field worn. Nowadays, of course, the guns are not for sale, but the purists would turn their noses up at them.

 

[Mickey D]

I can't say for certain on the finish being original. The TM logo does look a bit polished. The one side plate screw hole does not look as sharp as I would expect for an original finish. If it were reblued, it was done very nicely.

Edit to include: Going back looking at the left side, the cylinder stop pin looks a little polished as well. Looking forward to Doc's thoughts as well.

 

[clikclikpull]

Here is a pic of the left side grip frame...

 

[M29since14]

Nothing there. Maybe Doc44 will come by and give his opinion. It is hard to say on this gun. I have seen S&Ws (and Colts too) like that and have been told the gun was original, and I have owned S&Ws marked like that one and had others more knowledgeable examine them and they thought the guns were original, so I just couldn't say.