Hello all. I picked up a S&W Model 48 the other day a guy inherited. From what I found in my own research is its a 1960 model based on serial number. Had a gunsmith friend check it out and replaced a cut spring with 11 lbs new spring. He stated this gun is a true 90-92 on condition. 8.25 barrel couple scratches minor tho but original bluing is beautiful. Would love to keep but honestly bought as an investment. I have seen these anywhere from 600 to over a grand but I do not have original box. Thinking of advertising for 850 obo and wanting some educated S&W input from you guys. No this is not an advertisement for it here I read the rules. Honestly just need some smith guys input.
Newbie second opinions appreciated
- Thread starter FNO4LIFE
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Without pictures, clear and close up from multiple angles, can't help. There could be a $500 or more spread due to condition variances.
Welcome to the forum.
You need a host like FotoTime.
You need a host like FotoTime.
bananaman
Member
Welcome to the FORUM! I do not buy guns with the intent of reselling them. But on the flip side, I research, and try to pick up something that has a following or demand. (of course like it too) Bought a K-22 yesterday from G.B. Look at G.B. for pricing ideas. Remember that guns with no bids have a reason for it. Look at what examples sold for. Good luck! Bob
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! To upload pictures as attachments, use Go Advanced/Manage Attachments. You can post up to 5 pictures per post. Make sure they are not too large -- 1920x1080 pixels or smaller.
As far as value goes, the recently published Standard Catalog of S&W, 4th Edition says this:
ANIB Exc ..VG .Good Fair
1250 1100 700 500 ..350
(Page 252).
As far as value goes, the recently published Standard Catalog of S&W, 4th Edition says this:
ANIB Exc ..VG .Good Fair
1250 1100 700 500 ..350
(Page 252).
Welcome to the Forum. Please do not fall into the trap of listing a particular model for sale using all the other For Sale guns like yours. Most of the posted for sale guns are over-priced and do not sell. Only check on completed sales to gauge valuations. You will quickly see high reserve guns listed over and over without selling.
I hate hidden reserve prices and often limit my searching to "No Reserve" guns when searching. I have sold several guns on GB and will place a minimum price roughly half what I consider as the value in the opening bid. The starting bid is clearly posted and can be seen by all, and the result is that every gun I have listed has sold the first try for at least double that of my minimum. Let the bidders decide on what your gun is worth, as they will set the value by bidding what is their estimate of what a gun is worth.
Personally, I think there is way too much greed out there and sellers are so worried about losing a buck that they will relist and never sell their guns with sky-high reserves. Follow David Carrol's approach to selling on GB. (woodlawn boys) No reserve and no opening bid minimum.
I hate hidden reserve prices and often limit my searching to "No Reserve" guns when searching. I have sold several guns on GB and will place a minimum price roughly half what I consider as the value in the opening bid. The starting bid is clearly posted and can be seen by all, and the result is that every gun I have listed has sold the first try for at least double that of my minimum. Let the bidders decide on what your gun is worth, as they will set the value by bidding what is their estimate of what a gun is worth.
Personally, I think there is way too much greed out there and sellers are so worried about losing a buck that they will relist and never sell their guns with sky-high reserves. Follow David Carrol's approach to selling on GB. (woodlawn boys) No reserve and no opening bid minimum.
larryofcc
Member
What you have is a fairly scarce gun. 4 screw 8" M48's are fairly hard to come by. The earlier the more they are worth. Production started in late 1959, so you have one of the earlier guns. I cannot give you a value as I paid near $1,000 for my 1960 gun. It is minty and has the 3 "T"s. On the other hand, I bought a 1959 vintage M48 6" bbl. for $625 and it is near mint. If it were mine, I would keep it. I have 3 8 3/8" M48's and one 6". I have never fired any of them. Big Larry
Thanks guys I typically don't buy and resell my guns either and wish i could keep this one I actually love it and haven't even shot it but money is tight and it's not in the budget. I had to sell a lot of my weapons when I was laid off three years ago and replaced several of them since but what great investments they are. I uploaded photobucket and will try n get pics up. I also agree with the what they sell for
Not lost for approaches.
Not lost for approaches.
DocB
Member
Looks pretty nice to me. Plus I like the long barrel. If I saw it out for $650 at the LGS, I would have to grab it; but, I am cheap.
TT-target trigger; TH-target hammer; TS-target stocks (or grips). Your M48 has none of these.
OLDSTER
Member
Purtty darn nice Model 48. Welcome from North Dakota 
S&WsRsweet
Member
Nice gun ain't these guys great they give good advice .Now I'm not an expert on guns but as a blue collar working class guy who has been around the block and had to sell some firearms here is so e selling advice .My wife yes,my dog maybe ,my guns never.LOL guys just kidding of course I would never sell my dog either.
The grips should be diamond at that serial number. That aside, it looks nice and would be an early M-48 with a nice long barrel.
Pop the grips off and look for any markings stamps on either the left or right grip frame (under the grips). Post picture of same.
I suggest you write for a letter on this one to verify the barrel and ship date then post it for sale.
Not at all knocking your M48 but from the picture the metal prep on this (prior to the blue) looks more 1970s than 1960s but for S&W in the era it would not be unusual and will likely turn out to be correct but may be a refinish.
Looks like a very nice "shooter grade" to me...... but IMO .22 magnum and 8 inch barrel; make it a "nitche buyers"gun........ to the right buyer it may be worth a bit ($50-150) more..... in a LGS around here........IMO it would be listed at around $600........ discounted the longer it sits.
I will check and see. When the gunsmith who looked at it pulled it down the finish is original. The grips are not as I bought it with some silly comp grips that were messed up and Dan had an extra set of
Stock maybe not period correct smith grips that are currently on it. Kinda neat when a world Champion revolver shooter is the one who went over everything and suggested ask around for any more details on this model and sent me
Here. I'm not looking to kill it. Honestly I paid 600 for this and a snub nose stainless Rossi .357 I use just for a brush gun so I didn't get hurt on the deal but want a smith officianado to own this one
Stock maybe not period correct smith grips that are currently on it. Kinda neat when a world Champion revolver shooter is the one who went over everything and suggested ask around for any more details on this model and sent me
Here. I'm not looking to kill it. Honestly I paid 600 for this and a snub nose stainless Rossi .357 I use just for a brush gun so I didn't get hurt on the deal but want a smith officianado to own this one
You've found the right place but a serious S&W guy wants to know the exact details. The early M48s are desirable to those who collect them, the long barrel even more so but it has to be "correct" and original.
See if there are any marking on the grip frame (steel). If it was refinished it was a nice job although the prep work does not seem 1960 S&W factory quality. In the 1970s S&W started getting sloppy with the prep work for awhile until they turned it around.
You seem like a straight and honest guy. The same way you would not want to be taken advantage of, you would not want to take advantage of an unsuspecting buyer. For example, if refinished, that cuts the price drastically.
The wrong grips already knock off about $300 as this likely came with K frame diamond Target grips ... if you can find a pristine set of Diamond Target grips at $300, it would be a bargain.
No matter which it would likely still shoot the black X out of a NRA target with ease.
Last edited:
Sounds great and thank you I will check when I get home. And from
What I can tell I agree on the grips. It was the closest thing I had to "oem" and free to me so it was better than the comp grips lol thanks again guys I will follow up
What I can tell I agree on the grips. It was the closest thing I had to "oem" and free to me so it was better than the comp grips lol thanks again guys I will follow up
Ok here is the pics I took. When Dan looked at it he stated it did not appear to be a refinish as well as one gun shop locally in AZ I took it to who offered 5 cash and 6 trade. I feel it's worth more and can sit on it awhile so any info you guys share is truly appreciated.
No indication of a S&W "factory" refinish. The only thing that is odd is the metal prep (as shown in pix you originally posted). On a 1960s S&W the metal preparation, before finishing, was a better quality than this one shows.
See the sand scratches on the butt by the serial number and on the frame along side and near the cylinder release button. If that was a 1970s S&W Masterpiece, I'd not have mentioned it. Being it's an early 1960s, that is unusual. Also, all the side plate screws have turn marks but that S&W Logo is clear, clean and sharp.
A quality refinish is not only a S&W Factory refinish. There are many able gunsmiths that do excellent and some even undetectable work.
The bluing, itself, is not any concern. It just seems the metal prep is unusual for an early 1960s Masterpiece.
Get a letter on it to verify the ship date and barrel length and you'll likely make a profit on it.
PS: to a Masterpiece collector that is a very nice, collectible, early model 48 ... but ... the hard core collectors would rather pay more to have one as new, or near new (with or without box). All these things that add to the value. If this were ANIB with all the papers and tools, you'd be good for at least double what you paid.
Last edited:
Thank you is there a thread on how I go about getting a letter or how long it takes etc? Never knew that was an option and I have seen some here posted so pretty cool indeed. Is there a cost associated do you know?
larryofcc
Member
In my collection I have one very close to yours. # 419610 that was shipped 6-1961. It too has the 8 3/8" bbl. Big Larry
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
- Locked
