model 11 question???

[jo64ohio]

i'm trying to find out if the model 11 is a rare revolver.i have never ran across one before but found one at a local gun shop.it is at least 98%,in the orginal blue box,blue finish,i believe it has an 4 in. barrell,diamond magna's,it has a lanyard ring,i do not know the serial no. untill i go back,he is firm on a price of 475.00,i am going to look at it again this week,the owner has it tagged as a 11-4, but i do not know that for sure yet.thanks for any info.

 

[DCWilson]

I would expect to find very few Model 11s in the United States as it is my understanding most were made for export. It chambers the .38 S&W round rather than .38 Special, and there is not much market for that chambering here. There is demand, however, in Commonwealth countries.

The Model 11 (and of course the Pre-11) is basically the postwar short-action version of the British Service Revolver. According to SCSW, they were shipped as late as 1970.

I think I would be a buyer at $475 (and would be a faster buyer at $400) just because it's an uncommon curiosity in North America -- though I expect there would be some in Canada.

 

[1Aspenhill]

throw the money at him quick and run out the door with it! Mod 11s in great shape were worth twice that 25 years ago and you will not find another for a long time. It probably is a 11-4, one of mine was. I had one that was bright blue and one with a matte finish. Post pics when you get it.
Bill

 

[BUFF]

My Model 11-4 is serial numbered C570307. Blue, 4 inch barrel, square butt, checkered Magna stocks, 4 screw frame, lanyard loop, .38 S&W chambering. Factory marked "SAP" on the backstrap. New in the original box that had labels indicating that it was part of the S&W factory collection. It has a tag indicating the gun was S&W's inventory item CAB #1-15-25. Looks basically like a regular .38 Special Model 10 M&P.

I bought it from Jim Supica's OLD TOWN STATION shop in 1997, from a sales catalog he published. The Jinks factory letter with it said the revolver was made for export to the South African Police in the 1960's but never shipped, probably part of a contract overrun. S&W recently had donated much of their collection to the Connecticutt River Valley History Museum, who then auctioned duplicates and things that didn't fit into the museum's theme of items made in the valley. The auction was conducted by Butterfield & Butterfield Auction Gallery in San Francisco, CA on June 23, 1996.

Jinks' book says, in the K frame section, that these guns resulted from post-war (WWII) demand for what were commercial versions of the .38 S&W Victories for a British Commonwealth country. The first of what we could call "pre-Model 11" guns were part of a contract of 10,009 guns that were completed by August, 1947. The factory received other contracts for this gun in the 1950's and 1960's, and I guess were model marked or named in accordance with whatever the numbers and dash variants were in use at the time for the similar guns in .38 Special.

SCS&W III said shipping of these guns lasted until 1970. Both books said the guns were never cataloged.

That is a good price if you want the gun. I paid $505 for mine in 1997.

 

[Biginge]

I bought one, new in the box, with letter from Roy indicating it was Ex S & W collection and was marked SAP on backstrap. I think I bought it mid 90's. Sold it last year for $1400. Still had hang tags, box like brand new. Just perfect condition.

regards

Bill

 

[jo64ohio]

thanks all,went back to check it out,sign on door, ON VACATION,i will let you know soon,thanks again.

 

[DCWilson]

Let me bring this old thread back for a further check. May I ask the OP if he did acquire this revolver? If so, can you give us further details about dash number and configuration?

My interest in these guns has soared in recent weeks because I managed to acquire one from an estate that was being settled with the assistance of my LGS. It's a -4 without the SAP marking, and it shipped in 1970 from company stock. I was a little surprised to see that it is a four-screw gun, as the -3 modification supposedly marked the elimination of the trigger guard screw. This may be one of those situations in which successive dash numbers represent contemporaneous distinctions rather than a true sequence in which a high dash number reflects inclusion of all changes associated with lower dash numbers.

The 11-4 is thought to be associated with a specific South African contract, but I'm still not sure of the exact year. I am also not sure about the size of the contract, though it may have been for about 5000 units.