M37 no dash ?

[psjoe]

Hi-
I found a M37 no dash with a bobbed hammer at my local shop. I was told it was the local PD chiefs gun. It is in pretty good shape, clearly carried a lot. The hammer is bobbed. It has wood hip grips on it. The timing is good but I did notice some end shake. I want to go back for a second look so my questions are:
- what is a fair price range?
- What other problems should I look for, (for example how to identify frame stretch)?
- Can frame wear around the cylinder locking pin near ratchet (star) cause end shake?

 

[mkk41]

Haven't heard of it happening on older 37s , but frame cracking on newer guns happens too often to be ignored. Look at the thin section of the frame under the barrel , at 6 o:clock.

Funny , my old pinned barrel gun was a no-dash , so in my newer non-pinned one (3-letter prefix)?

 

[Old TexMex]

350
Dryfire, hold the trigger down after the hammer falls(full lockup) check for cylinder movement.clearance between cylinder and forcing cone(business card thickness, or less). Look for crack as above. I have a Tyler on my 37 and 38 no dashes.
Personally, if it needed any work, I probably wouldn't endeavor to repair it, as they aren't that hard to find (around here anyway) unless I wanted to do it as a project.

 

[psjoe]

Thanks Guys-
I will take another look it at but I think it is probably out of spec. on end shake movement.

 

[alwslate]

With new no-lock Airweights selling for reasonable prices I think your
money would be better spent elsewhere.

 

[hotrod150]

I don't know, I like the vintage guns better. I just bought an almost-new 442-2 a few days ago, but my other five j-frames are all pinned barrel oldies. My favorite EDC is a 1955-ish pre model 37 airweight Chief. I think a bobbed 37 with some honest carry wear is worth a little effort. I've never done it but isn't excess endshake pretty easy to fix by shimming?
If you decide not to go for it, maybe you could post which LGS so maybe someone else on board here can have a crack at it.