Opinions on this Pre Model 10

[mcpilot]

A friend sold me his Pre Model 10 SN S 883XXX 4" 4 screw.

The finish is not the best. I can tell that it was reblued and not a very good job. Some of the markings are thin or almost invisible...

I would like to make it look excellent... The action and lockup are just fine.

Im thinking to rebarrel and refinish...

The crown looks like someone ground on it...

Any suggestions?

 

[mcpilot]

Perhaps converting to snubby 2"

 

[sodacan]

Depending on how much you paid, you might want to reconsider putting a lot of money into a not too valuable gun. Shoot it and enjoy it for what it is. There are plenty of high condition guns out there. Good luck.

 

[JP@AK]

Hello
A few comments:
1. This is not properly a pre-Model 10, since it has the older long throw action. Pre-Model 10 revolvers all had the high speed hammer, introduced in 1948. A correct name for your gun is postwar .38 Military & Police revolver.
2. The partial serial number you gave points to a Spring, 1947, ship date. Please check my PM about this.
3. This revolver is clearly a 5 screw gun. You probably forgot to count the cylinder stop plunger retaining screw in front of the trigger guard.
4. The damaged crown may or may not be an issue other than looks. You ought to shoot a box or two of ammo through it to see if accuracy has been harmed. If not, then I agree with sodacan, just keep it the way it is and shoot it. It is a very low cost revolver and probably doesn't warrant much of an "investment" - which you will never be able to recoup.

Good luck with this!

 

[beagleye]

The finishing wasn't super snazzy at S&W right after the war. I am not seeing obvious signs of a re-blue, but the pictures are a little hard to interpret. But if you're correct about a re-blue, then you have probably a 2-2.5 hundred dollar gun. Re-blue it for $200 and you will have a gun worth less. Same goes if you are wrong about the re-blue except worse. Invest money to devalue your gun.

This generation of 38s was made to shoot, not win beauty contests. It might be a really great shooter. If you can enjoy for that, then keep it, if not pass it on, but refinishing, that like trying to put lipstick on a mule.

 

[Art Doc]

If you want a new looking gun I suggest you buy a new looking gun. It will be cheaper, faster, less work and effort, and the end results will be far better. Also, the gun will retain its value whereas a refinished gun loses value. In this case it's already lost and you can't get it back by spending hundreds more on it. Why buy a gun with a poor refinish if you wanted a pretty one in the first place? Buy a gun like this to appreciate the character and shoot the heck out of it.

That's my thinking.

 

[mcpilot]

Thanks guys..

It is definitely a re-blue...

Also I did count all of the screws as per the sticky ..

There are only 4... Three holding on the side plate and the one in front of the trigger guard...

IT does shoot just fine..

Thanks..

The finishing wasn't super snazzy at S&W right after the war. I am not seeing obvious signs of a re-blue, but the pictures are a little hard to interpret. But if you're correct about a re-blue, then you have probably a 2-2.5 hundred dollar gun. Re-blue it for $200 and you will have a gun worth less. Same goes if you are wrong about the re-blue except worse. Invest money to devalue your gun.

This generation of 38s was made to shoot, not win beauty contests. It might be a really great shooter. If you can enjoy for that, then keep it, if not pass it on, but refinishing, that like trying to put lipstick on a mule.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Did you count the one that is under the grips?

 

[mcpilot]

No...
I did not...

Welcome to the Forum.

Did you count the one that is under the grips?

 

[Muley Gil]

No...
I did not...

Must be a 5 screw then.

Enjoy your new, to you, revolver. I really like the old long action S&Ws.