Also, any idea on the value?
I took it to a gun smith today to get the caliber.
He said it does not look refinished.....? Not sure what to make of that, since the majority here deems it is based on enlarging my photos...?
You joined our group only a few days ago. Even as such, some tenured, experienced S&W collectors took you in as if you were an old time home boy. No less than 5, vigilantly studied and experienced S&W antique collectors (excluding myself) have responded to you honestly and above that ... factually. You must understand you asked for our honest evaluation. You have been provided such. That it may not be what you wanted to know, or different than you previously thought .. it is the truth served very gently to you. No one is dogging your gun nor your misconceive evaluation. It's still seems like a nice piece but it "is" what it "is".
You're New Model 3 Target .38-44 "is" ... without a doubt ... a refinished gun.
HOWEVER, in .38-44 caliber and "IF" it is mechanically excellent, meaning tight, crisp, hammer stops are correct and clean, no shakiness, tight lock up and no cylinder slop, with good or better rifling ... AND ... all the numbers match (frame, cylinder, barrel latch and barrel where number is visible in the recess of the rear barrel end with the latch raised), it may fetch up to $1500.00. Perhaps a tad more if someone wants it bad enough.
Once refinished every negative feature is harshly judged. Your cylinder axis pin is ground flat ( buzzer noise ), the sanding and polishing is a bit rough (more buzzing), the vertical posts are in color instead of white as is the barrel crown and front forward upper rib end. No doubt with a hands on, physical examination it will show more evidence of same.
Had it been a S&W factory refinish it could have fetched about $500 to $1000 more but yours is most surely not a factory refinish. It seems to be a decent, practical, utilitarian grade refinish but not anywhere near that of a restorative quality refinish.
If your smith thinks it has not been refinished, ask him if he wants to buy it. You won't find another smith worth his salt to tell you that is anything but a refinished New Model 3. More than likely he his just inexperienced in antique firearms. That would be an excellent finish if it were on a late WWII Hi-power or end of war Nazi luger or Beretta.
If a 32-44 and 38-44 is in 95%+ original condition ( preserved in the condition it left the factory when new) it could bring up to $5,000 in today's market.
For it to be worth any more than that, it would have to be ANIB, being absolutely drop dead gorgeous and stone cold "new" condition. Then it might fetch a bit more. Other than a ANIB exemplar showing up (which would be an extreme rarity for us S&W Antique collectors), what is quoted above is the top of the rainbow for your specific New Model 3.
