I hope one of you got this pre-29 5-screw for $1,200!

cgt4570

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5-screw .44 Mag

It closed this afternoon on GB. I was the runner-up and probably should have bid a lot more. It was missing the upper sideplate screw, but otherwise looks to be as described at 97% and wearing Cokes. The idiot listing it called it a 4-screw. Properly described with better pics and it should have brought double that.
 
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5-screw .44 Mag

It closed this afternoon on GB. I was the runner-up and probably should have bid a lot more. It was missing the upper sideplate screw, but otherwise looks to be as described at 97% and wearing Cokes. The idiot listing it called it a 4-screw. Properly described with better pics and it should have brought double that.
 
I got a call from another forum member on this gun when it was a $995, but was unable to view the auction at the time.

I'd say that was a bargain. Hopefully the threads for the 5th screw are alright.
 
Originally posted by R. Walter:
The seller lists the SN as starting with a J. Shouldn't it start with an S?

The seller was an idiot as he also called the gun a 4 screw.
 
Well Curtis--there were only 4 screws--the other one was missing.

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Originally posted by 1950jcb:
Well Curtis--there were only 4 screws--the other one was missing.

If that's how it works, then I'll just carry around two extra screws with mine, making it a five screw.
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I'm not sure why the seller has to be an idiot just because he didn't realize the difference between a 4 and 5 screw gun. I would wager that everyone on this forum had the relevance of the screws explained to him/her at some time. Some just earlier than others.
Ed
 
Well-
1-it looks like the photo was made in a gun store
2-its missing the upper sideplate screw
3-it is wearing a nice set of Cokes
4-he got the serial # wrong in the original add
5-he obviously had zero clue what he had

May not make him an idiot, but if he is a dealer he aint that knowledgeable of older S&W's. Should have done some research and found a screw.

I saw this last week but passed for the above reasons. Something didnt smell right to me.
 
66tas i agree. i saw it as well something didn"t smell right. if all it's missing is a side plate screw, thats an easy fix. would have liked to put my hands on it first...
 
A Dealers' License doesn't require an "Intelligence Test" and over the last 40 Years I have found that I simply keep on learning and learning because there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many different Smith & Wessons out there, even if you just limit yourself to the Post War guns. I managed to snag a Model 29-no Dash this weekend that is a 98-99% gun with the longer 8-3/8" Barrel that has one of the nicest set of Cokes I've ever seen:
b-003a.jpg

It shipped in October of 1961. A "Keeper"!!!
 
Originally posted by smith17:
I'm not sure why the seller has to be an idiot just because he didn't realize the difference between a 4 and 5 screw gun. I would wager that everyone on this forum had the relevance of the screws explained to him/her at some time. Some just earlier than others.
Ed

Ed is right and possibly idiot was too strong of statement. I have seen plenty of people mislabel the screws because they forget about the one under the grip. Someone got a deal because of the misinformed.
 
As I am new to the forum I usually read the posts instead of comment. I did watch this gun but was afraid to bid because of the missing screw.
 
I watched that one. The seller did correct the Serial number to S166xxx. The cokes had a chip out of the toe of one of the panels but not bad. Some people probably worried about what might be missing under the side plate if the screw is missing. My pockets are a little shallow right now or I might have bid on it. I figured it would go for at least 1500.
 
An S166xxx pre29, probably a 1956 1st year gun in great shape and only missing the bug screw-12-1300 shipped
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What a deal for someone! The seller's intelligence shouldn't be called in to question, only his knowledge of S&W and more specifically the .44 Magnum. If I was to be trying to sell any type of Colt, I'd be making the same mistake this seller did. I bought a 4 screw nickel 29-1 from the same type of uninformed seller a year ago. There are still bargains to be found out there.
 
Originally posted by 29-1:
If I was to be trying to sell any type of Colt, I'd be making the same mistake this seller did. I bought a 4 screw nickel 29-1 from the same type of uninformed seller a year ago. There are still bargains to be found out there.

I don't think so. Most of us with any clue (the seller was a retailer after all) are going to research anything we aren't 100% positive about. If I was tasked with selling a Python or an SAA, etc., I'd make sure I learned what it was. Not knowing isn't what makes him an idiot. Not finding out (with today's ease of information gathering) is what makes him an idiot.
 
Originally posted by 29-1:
An S166xxx pre29, probably a 1956 1st year gun in great shape and only missing the bug screw-12-1300 shipped
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It could be missing the 5th screw but not the bug screw. Never made any Airweight 6 screw 29s; only some airweght I and K frames had 6 (bug)screws to lock in the 5th screw.
 
Originally posted by jubela#4:
As I am new to the forum I usually read the posts instead of comment. I did watch this gun but was afraid to bid because of the missing screw.
That would be my take. Minimum buggered threads in the missing screw hole and good possibility of messed up innards(Note no comments on function in the ad other than "Warranty issues through the manufacturer"). Plus chipped stocks? No thanks.

Bob
 
1200 for any 5 screw pre-29 in this guns condition is a good buy, regardless the missing screw. If you have one with a missing screw in the same condition and it 'bugs' you
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send me a note and I'll take it off your hands for that price any day.
Chuck
 
i watched that gun untill auction closed,but could not get the money at this time.anyone that has eyes could have seen it was a 5 screw missing the top screw.i think it was a great deal for someone.
 
The seller did one of two very common things: didn't count the screw under the grip or didn't count the "4th" screw in front of the trigger guard. This probably means it would not have had an appropriate reserve no matter how many screws were counted.
Ironically, my buddy and I ran across the mate to this gun in 4", w/ cokes and serial # 168XXX
at this weekends local show. He bought it for $1200. Although it was over serial # 167XXX, it still only had 6 grooves on rear of backstrap, not 10.
 
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