Is this a called Hand Ejector? Did I overpay? PICS added

[Avery11]

What was I thinking? I have no business in this section and I have no knowledge of anything in it.

This morning as I was having a cup of coffee I decided to buy the gun in the link. At the time, it looked interesting so I thought, "I should waste a few hundred bucks and take a good long bath in stupidity."

All I know is that it might be a 1905 and that it has had a terrible refurb.

Can you guys tell me anything about it. The grips, the reason for the strong colors on the hammer/trigger, the approx year and finally...what is it actually worth - if anything at all. Please don't say it's worth what I paid.

Give it to me straight between the eyes so I won't forget this lesson! Really, I'm noot looking for encouragement; just the truth and some facts so I can learn from this. $300 won't braek me but I don't like to give it away. I'm usually a more cautious/wise buyer. Thank you.

A.

S&W PRE MODEL 10 38 SPL. REVOLVER : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

 

[Titegroups]

I wish I had your money.

 

[Crabtree]

First off, you can't be an "idiot" because you are a member of this forum and the sign atop the door clearly says "no idiots allowed"....ergo, you sir, are NOT an idiot.

In my humble opinion, unless the cylinder is welded to the frame, at $300 you got a helluva useful tool with 10x the class of any plastic fantastic that would cost a couple bills more. In my book you're way ahead...

 

[rayb]

It is worth exactly what you paid for it, to you. So enjoy it and shoot the hell out of it. It will probably enjoy it too.

ray

 

[Avery11]

I wish I had your money.

Sorry, maybe it's just me today but I'm not quite sure I'm pickin' up what you're layin' down.

 

[getoff]

i think you made out pretty well here. looks to be in good shape, grips are decent, probably a nice shooter. if you want to dump it, you will at least break even.

 

[Avery11]

Can anyone tell me what it is? Seriously, I bought it on a whim and have no clue as to what it is.

After looking at it for more that 10 seconds, I've noticed the S&W stamp is rubbed out of existance so it has probably been refinished. I'm clueless about the grips and curious about the case colors - they seem a bit too nice.

 

[murphydog]

It is a .38 M & P from the 1930s (given the stocks are original to the gun), and I don't see why you think it has been refinished, so I think you made out just fine at $300. Please post photos when you get it, and enjoy!

Edit to add: I see what you mentioned about the left side of the frame. Since the right side looks so nice, I'd guess grime and/or bad lighting or camera angle in that shot.

 

[Avery11]

It is a .38 M & P from the 1930s (given the stocks are original to the gun), and I don't see why you think it has been refinished, so I think you made out just fine at $300. Please post photos when you get it, and enjoy!

Thank you, Allan. I've read that worn roll marks are a sign of a refinish. Any idea of the real market value? For instance, if I sold it here, what could it bring?

Honestly, I just threw a number out and it happened to be the reserve.

I like the looks of the bulbous ejector tip and the curve of the hammer so if it functions, I will shoot the tar out of it.

I just never buy without knowing all the facts and I'm in the dark here. I don't need to sell it and can afford the cost but I like to keep values assigned to my guns in case I meet my maker early.

I keep photos, descriptions, and prices on a rewritable CD for my wife just in case.

 

[Springfeildkid585]

Assuming it functions properly, $300 isn't a bad price, so it's not showcase quality, it's still a darn fine lookin piece and oughta do the job

 

[mikepriwer]

There doesn't seem to be any mention of the serial number, so its
hard to say exactly what vintage it is. Also, some of the pictures are
very distorted; ie, the gun is lying flat and the the camera is almost
horizontal. And, some of the edges look more rounded that they
should, but again the photography is not all that good.

The gun is some kind of a .38 M&P, and looks to be pre-WW2.
The description pre-model 10 is not really accurate - it should be
something more like a 1905 3rd or 4th change.

I can't tell if you paid $300 or $500. $500 would be too much.
$300 would be OK if the finish is original, otherwise it would be
high by maybe $50 or so.

Mike Priwer

 

[Avery11]

I paid $300 and its local so no shipping. I will pick it up later in the week.

 

[Crabtree]

And for the record, my use of "idiot" in post 3 was in direct response to the op's original question. And I still think you did fine...not that it matters.

 

[jhvaughan2]

You did not get a bargain or a bad price. Honestly it is hard to get any S&W on gunbroker for much less than $400, and this one is nicer than most. Especially since it has the pre-war grips. Many on this board will look at anything that has been refinished, as if it was garbage, but you got a good-looking good-shooting quality-made historic S&W revolver.
Enjoy!

 

[CajunBass]

I bought one similar to it today. We finally figured it was a 1905, 4th change, from the early 20's. It's been refinished, and has the wrong grips (but the grips are very nice post-war diamond magnas), but I didn't think it looked too bad. I got it really, just to get the Magna grips, but the gun ain't that bad either.

I paid $250.00 for it, but they were asking around $300.00.

 

[Avery11]

Thanks Ty. I AM an idiot that seems to have escaped a potentially costly mistake.

Although I didn't spend very much on this particular gun, I went into it completely ignorant so I deserve what I get.

Can anyone send a link where I can learn some more specifics?

The "search" never seems to help.

 

[Avery11]

CB, that finish looks really nice. Do the grips on these old guns hold any value?

Was it common for the logo stamp to be faint like mine and yours?

Lots of questions...

 

[handejector]

Click- SEARCH Instructions

 

[geoff40]

Avery
When you get that 'ol thing, just go out with a box of target loads and some paper to punch, or cans to plink, and have a go at it. If you have any kind of shooting ability, and the gun is mechanically sound, then it won't take long before you feel okay about spending $300 for it.
In today's gun market, you'd have a serious challenge to find a better shooting gun for that.

 

[CajunBass]

Yes, the old grips hold their value quite well. After all they don't make them anymore, and a lot of times, the first thing the original purchaser did was take off the stock grips, throw them away, and put of aftermarket ones. I did it myself "back in the day."

I've paid $75-80.00 in the last year, for diamond Magna's like the ones on the gun I bought.

The S&W logo on mine doesn't look as faded in real life, but the patent markings on the top of the barrel are.

 

[Avery11]

Click- SEARCH Instructions

Your avatar always scares the poo outta me for some reason. When I see it, I feel like I'm about too get a public whoopin

I assume this is no mistake.

Thank you for the link, Sir. ...and the hospitality.

 

[mkk41]

At least ya didn't call it a CTG!

 

[Goony]

Stocks are 30's vintage, if they are truly indicative of the age of the gun itself. If it is refinished, it's a very nice job. I wouldn't fret about a few hundred bucks on one that good looking, original or not. At worst, you got what you paid for, but on the other hand, if it is a super nice original gun (and I see nothing in those photos that's a red flag), then it was a good deal and a keeper, for sure.

Oh, and welcome to the mahogany smoking room....

 

[geoff40]

Your avatar always scares the poo outta me for some reason. When I see it, I feel like I'm about too get a public whoopin

I assume this is no mistake.

Thank you for the link, Sir. ...and the hospitality.

He was grumpy that day. This is him when he was a little more mellowed out.

 

[Avery11]

Stocks are 30's vintage, if they are truly indicative of the age of the gun itself. If it is refinished, it's a very nice job. I wouldn't fret about a few hundred bucks on one that good looking, original or not. At worst, you got what you paid for, but on the other hand, if it is a super nice original gun (and I see nothing in those photos that's a red flag), then it was a good deal and a keeper, for sure.

Oh, and welcome to the mahogany smoking room....

So glad you noticed I was here. Don't worry, I won't look you in the eye in front of everyone. Can I refill that for you, ahem, Mr. Goony?

 

[lebomm]

Avery11;
You won't get much of a public whuppin' here - maybe just a stern reproach.
BTW, an easy way to remember the difference (ask any suthunuh) is that whup is what you do to the bad guy out in the parkin' lot, and whoop is the noise all yer buddies in the bar make when yer finished.

Larry
(a well-traveled yankee)

 

[Avery11]

Thank you for that clarification Larry

But he still scares me. What's wrong with benevolent leadership? Wouldn't a picture of a princess holding a puppy be more welcoming.

"Welcome to the Springfield Spa, may I take your coat and Outdoorsman?"

Here I go again. Back to the topic at hand.

Deos my new gun qualify as a hand ejector?

Last one, I promise. I will follow up on this with photos when I get it home.

 

[handejector]

You guys are sleeping today.
I thought someone would have filled you in by now-

"Reg US" added to hammers/triggers in 26.
Order to drop 'mushroom' knob in 27.
Pretty well nails it down, doesn't it?

So, grips are later- from 30's.

YES, it is refinished.
Case colors look good because they look good. In other words, they simply did not fade or rust or see much wear.
Sometimes, a gun simply rusts by being forgotten for a few days and people get them refinished.

 

[Jack Flash]

Obviously, you want to know as much as you can about a gun before you buy it.

However, if you asked for a show of hands by those who have never bought a gun on a whim, with precious little knowledge except they think it "looks good", I don't think you would see too many hands in the air, at least not with this group.

So don't beat yourself up too much. You're not an idiot. Just next time maybe take it a little slower. And remember the old adage:

Good Judgement results from Experience. Experience usually results from Bad Judgement.

Editted to add:
Yes it is a handejector. That term came along when S&W went to swing-out cylinders. The earlier S&W top-breaks would automatically eject the empties when broken open. With the HE, you had to swing the cylinder out and eject the cartridges / empties manually by means of the ejector rod.

 

[Avery11]

Is that from the same guy who said "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast"?

Nothing better than sage advice.

My Grandpa only gave me two tips but they stuck.

On love: Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone.

On war: T.J., never bring anything into a fight you don't want shoved up your ***.

Both have served me well.