Found 1947 .38 M&P In Gold Box

[MRJ]

While on a recent routine gunshop search for N-frames, I stumbled onto a gold boxed 4" blue .38 M&P revolver in a local store. The gun is on consignment with a price of $529. It looks to be at least 90+ % condition.
Grips are original and the right grip is numbered to the gun. Serial number is S9247XX which is probably a 1947 vintage according to SCSW. This gun has all porewar features such as a long action, patent dates on top of barrel, and serial numbers on the barrel bottom and cylinder face. While I'm not really interested in a K-frame, would this revolver be a good buy at the price stated above? I took some poor photographs next to one of the shop's S&W ads.

 

[DCWilson]

I wouldn't go $529 on a 90% M&P, even with its box, but I think that one might grade higher. If it could be as much as a 98 or 99% gun, it might be worth picking up.

Hard to tell from the photo, but a 90% gun would show some obvious blue loss, maybe some scratches and light dings, and possibly the stocks would be a little worn from use or fast contact with hard objects.

Leaving finish condition out of it, I'd say any decent postwar M&P shooter grade revolver is a $275-300 gun. Throw in $100 for the box, which most collectors would pay, and you're at or near $400. How much higher you should go would depend on how much blue is left and how clean and tight the gun's action is.

 

[Oldiron]

MRJ,
Ditto on what David said.....
Larry

 

[toddimusnimski]

It seems a little high. $450 might be closer I'm thinking. Or $500 out the door if he includes the cool M&P ad.