Country Auction Listing 38 Military & Police Unfired in its Wood Presentation Case

[OldK22]

Country Auction Listing 38 Military & Police Unfired in its Wood Presentation Case

Aution here in Missouri Saturday. Listing was for a New in the Presentation Case M&P 38 Special. Picture in the flier was so fuzzy it was hard to tell what it was other than 70s vintage target grips and a S&W wood display case with the cleaning kit. Got to the auction and it turned out to be a pre 23 S70000 serial number range at about 95% with 70s vintage target stocks and the wood presentation case (interior was begining to come apart ). Cylinder had turned plum with a slight turn ring. Ended up selling for $950 with no tax or buyers premium. No pictures as I did not have a camera with me and I dropped out of the bidding at $925. Probably should have stayed in but the plum cylinder color just was not doing it for me.

 

[jsfricks]

Wood presentation case would have been for another gun. I've never heard of one for an M&P.

 

[OFT II]

Sounds like a 38/44 that someone put into a later presentation box. Did it have adjustable sights?

 

[tlay]

A lot of people don't know the difference between an M&P and a Heavy Duty. I went to a gun show yesterday and a guy was selling a couple of rusty pre-war Smiths. He had a HD and an M&P 4th. He had them listed as both M&Ps. I showed him the difference in frame sizes and told him the N frame one was a HD. I would have bought it but he wanted way too much for a HD with 10% finish.

 

[OldK22]

Yes it had adjustable sights & 5 screws. I knew the grips and box were not correct for a pre 23. It is amazing to me the listing errors I continue to see at auctions.

 

[DWalt]

S70000 would have been for something on an N frame, post WWII, maybe ca. 1947. No presentation cases at that time, and no target stocks. I have a feeling you did nothing wrong by dropping out.

 

[OldK22]

As I said it turned out to be a Pre Model 23 which is an N frame and the S70000 does put it in the 1947 to 1948 time period. Had the old long thow hammer in it too.

 

[1blindref]

Sounds like it was a Transitional Outdoorsman.
Sounds like whoever won it got a pretty good deal. I would have sold the presentation box and 70's targets to fund the proper vintage stocks, or maybe a set of KB's.