looking to buy a refinished 24-3, need advice

[BrianMajors]

I'm looking at a co-worker's 24-3 Lew Horton 3" .44SPL.
It has been refinished and appears to be hard chrome. It looks to be a pretty nice job, although an older refinish. They left the hammer and trigger case hardened, thankfully. Front sight is hard chrome finished too.

I can't tell if grips are original combats or not, but they fit horribly.
Mechanically, the revolver is excellent, refinish is OK. No pitting, so maybe a candidate for a factory reblue in the future.

I'm figuring on offering $450-$500. does that sound like ballpark, or am I too high, too low?

Sorry I didn't get any pics.

 

[SAFireman]

In my area, any solid functioning N frame Smith & Wesson will bring $500. I would imagine that a snubbie N frame would bring more....how much more? maybe $100 or so from me.

Good luck.

 

[BrianMajors]

Sounds good. I don't want to pay too much, but I don't want to take advantage of him, either.

I would plan on keeping it, but I'd like to know that I could recoup my costs if I ever did sell it.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

I don't know how you would reblue a gun that was hard chromed. Maybe it's possible to deplate it with electrolysis, I've just never heard of it being done. I agree with SAFireman. There is a sort of "basement" on functioning N-frames of $500. If you could get it for that, or a hair less, you'll be alright, even allowing for the stocks being a write-off.

 

[Nightowl]

An original style set of stocks will run $150-$200 if you can find them. The front sight should have a red insert, or maybe it has been changed, too. Hard chrome is a very durable finish, and if well done, should last a life time. I wouldn't want to change it. As a shooter, I would think $450 would be a great price.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Your poorly fitting stocks may be for an N-frame. I believe the Lew Horton 24-3's had the grip frame made to K/L round butt configuration.

 

[S&WIowegan]

In order to get that gun back to blue, you would first have to pay someone to electro-chemically remove the hard chrome. Then pay for a bluing job. By the time it's all done you'd have way more money in that gun than it would be worth.

I'd buy it, shoot it a lot and even carry it for PD. That hard chrome is your friend for durability and easy clean-up.

 

[H Richard]

Think it all the way through and get actual numbers before you proceed. To remove a hard chrome finish (if it can even be done satisfactorily) would be at least $200, a good re-blue will be about $300, then add in whatever it costs you for overnight shipping to these locations to have the work done, if not through an FFL probably $50-$75. Then the price of original grips, which were RB combats (N Frame size not K/L Frame size) about $200 "if" you can find some. So you might have between $700 to $800 for the re-finish and grips, on top of whatever you paid for the gun.. I doubt if you want a $1200 24-3, that since it had been re-finished is now only worth about $500 max.