mod 38 airweight
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Chuck Jones
Member
loaded stuck in your waistband on a Barami Hip Grip?
Priceless!
/c
(other than that w/o the box and papers $250-$300)
Priceless!
/c
(other than that w/o the box and papers $250-$300)
snubbiefan
Member
$350-ish in my part of the country....tops. I paid $320 for the last one I bought, but mine is a -2. Are my eyes (or the picture) fooling me or has it been refinished?
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Looks original to me, at least I don't see anything that sets off any alarms....
Post-1982 production (unpinned barrel). Could fetch a few more bucks if it was an earlier gun.
snubbiefan
Member
I'd like to see a shot of the other side.
The pinned-barrel fetish seems to be wearing off like the IL is wearing off. Personally, I'd give up the pinned-barrel in favor of the newer models with the new yoke retention system and the radius stud package. But....just MHO and we all have one. No...I did not say NEW model. I will never relinquish my lust for a NL.
The pinned-barrel fetish seems to be wearing off like the IL is wearing off. Personally, I'd give up the pinned-barrel in favor of the newer models with the new yoke retention system and the radius stud package. But....just MHO and we all have one. No...I did not say NEW model. I will never relinquish my lust for a NL.
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Broker50
Member
$250-$300 sounds about right.
NFrameFred
Member
I wonder how many of the guys that post in these threads who feel $250-$300 is the right price for a pre-lock S&W like this in this condition would offer to sell one that belonged to them for that ? 
snubbiefan
Member
I would buy as many as I could find in the $250-$300 range.
What threw me on the refinish question was the highlighted script. I guess some of the early guns were not highlighted and I don't know when they started it. Mine is highlighted and it's a dash 2. I made a Palomino out of it.
What threw me on the refinish question was the highlighted script. I guess some of the early guns were not highlighted and I don't know when they started it. Mine is highlighted and it's a dash 2. I made a Palomino out of it.
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jframe
Member
Did that little conversion require any fitting? I've got a new no lock 442 Centennial, and I decided to sell or trade the 642-1 that I've carried a few years. Not having much luck doing either; I wonder if I could do that same thing to mine, and just keep it, and have two homemade "pintos"?
mc5aw
Member
If anyone is selling similar condition Model 38s for $250-300, let me know. I'll take 'em all.
Broker50
Member
Well guys, the last S&W I bought was a new 642 (NL), about a year ago. A very similar model to this, I paid about $350.00 OTD. That was new & with a lifetime warranty to me, the original owner. This one is used, without a warranty, & the alloy frames are known for cracking in the barrel threads. I will stick with $250-$300 as a fair price, I will buy new & get a warranty other than overpay for a used gun. That's just me, though.
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snubbiefan
Member
jframe.....it can be a toss of the dice. I have done several of these for myself (sort of as a novelty) and for a few other people. You may be surprised to know how much some people will pay for that "odd-ball". Actually, Smith built a few with nickel-plated barrels and cylinders for the Michigan State Police (I think). They show-up from time-to-time.
Other guys here on the forum have made swaps. I have blued guns with stainless cylinders and yokes and stainless guns with blued cylinders and yokes. The trick is....you have to find the right yoke. Cylinders are no problem to swap as they are all a standard length (pre-mags are 1.535" +-). The yokes are suppose to be a factory-fit and they can vary in tolerances to get the correct BTCG. I discovered that the 640 yoke and cylinder is a direct replacement with the 38-2. It's not always a guaranteed drop-in. You sometimes have to re-cut the extractor star ratchet, but it can be done. If you find the right yoke....it's usually a drop-in. Just stay in the right "family" of guns and it works most of the time.
Other guys here on the forum have made swaps. I have blued guns with stainless cylinders and yokes and stainless guns with blued cylinders and yokes. The trick is....you have to find the right yoke. Cylinders are no problem to swap as they are all a standard length (pre-mags are 1.535" +-). The yokes are suppose to be a factory-fit and they can vary in tolerances to get the correct BTCG. I discovered that the 640 yoke and cylinder is a direct replacement with the 38-2. It's not always a guaranteed drop-in. You sometimes have to re-cut the extractor star ratchet, but it can be done. If you find the right yoke....it's usually a drop-in. Just stay in the right "family" of guns and it works most of the time.
snubbiefan
Member
Broker.....you can get lucky with the warranty thing. Smith will usually take a severe problem like a cracked frame and fix-or-replace it no matter who owns it. I called them once to see if they had any of my serial numbers registered in their database and they could find nothing to indicate the original owner of any of mine. All that warranty card is....is for getting you junk mail. I asked the rep. what would happen if they could not prove that I was not the original owner. They told me they would take the gun and fix it under warranty. They are pretty liberal with fixing a gun, especially if it's fairly new and has a serious problem.
I wouldn't hang-my-hat on getting a 1965 Model 60 fixed, but anything that fell under the new warranty terms to the original owner will likely get repaired under warranty.
I wouldn't hang-my-hat on getting a 1965 Model 60 fixed, but anything that fell under the new warranty terms to the original owner will likely get repaired under warranty.
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Candyman
Member
Yea really, where are these again? I would buy 2 at the bare minimum for a price of $250 or $300. Everyone that says it is only worth $250 or $300 are wrong. Especially where I live.
Snub's command a premium here. A snub nose revolver in "fair" shape will fetch $350 in these parts. A gun in the condition above will sell for a minimum of $400 all day long, if not more. And that is with NO box, papers, tools, etc...
Broker50
Member
S&W's warranty clearly states original owner. I have had a couple of revolvers repaired on my dime that would have been under warranty had I been the original owner. Of course I was up front about it, & did not misrepresent (lie) myself as the original owner. I don't understand why anyone who can legally buy a new gun would pay more for a used one. The OP asked for opinions, that was mine, obviously different than others. Another point, some will pay a premium for a Bodyguard, I never liked 'em, so they're not worth as much to me. Just my opinion, that & a buck or so might get you a cup of coffee.
wheelman44
Member
bought 2 within the last year first was 350.00 second 375.00 both pinned barrels, love them
I saw one at a gun show in Dickson TN yesterday in "good-carried a lot" condition for $350. It had finish wear and some scuffing to the frame edges, but was mechanically sound. Definitely a carry piece or shooter, OT a collector's gun.
Wakatomika
Member
Got a 638 in my pocket right now.It's been there every day for the last 8 years or however long Ohio's had CCW. In my estimation it is the best carry gun going. Light and powerful. Easily controllable and there is always the possibility of a single action shot if needed. Boy thank God for spell check, these old fingers have forgotten how to hit the right keys.
Wakatomika.
Wakatomika.
