The barrel, cylinder, and frame were blued together after heat treating and polishing.
Bill
Bill
Pre-25 .45acp?? (Pic updates)
- Thread starter jaestridge
- Start date
LOOKING at the side views of the bbl..
You can't tell from the angles shown. Besides it's already been confirmed to be factory cut barrel.
Years ago, not all that many there was a Model of 1917 offered for sale on G.B. The finish appeared to be nearly pristine but it was a deep shade of maroon or plum, like a very nicely done browning job on a muzzle loader. I asked the seller about the color, he explained that his grandfather bought the piece new and intended to keep it put away just in case. He had stored it in a tin can of axle grease, all I could think was the early grease had a bunch of sulphur in it, hence that great smell of old vehicle transmission and differentials. That was all I could think of at the time that decades of sitting in that grease had done the job, no other explanation. He had a rather high opinion of the handgun and I passed on it. I'm more of a muzzle loader than anything else and the color was beautiful, very difficult to reproduce.
OP
jaestridge
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Pics updated. Actually had the revolver in my hands today. The gun has already been authenticated via S&W that is a factory customer ordered gun. The only issue that's lingering is the finish variations. S&W Historical can't say without having hands in the revolver that's it's been refinished. I've inquired multiple gunsmiths that re-blue and one says it's original and the other says it's not. The hardened casing looks too good to be since an old gun one says. The S&W Historical has weighed in on their own price point of this gem being original as well as devaluation if altered. I know it's worth what someone will pay but what's the line to draw if you have conflicting opinions on what you have?? Dollar value if you're in this situation??
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In my caveman opinion it's highly unlikely to be a factory original but man is it cool!
As to what it's worth …. Well for me the plum finish does hurt the value and points to a reblue as does the side plate seem and CCH on the trigger and hammer.
I think I would pay $800 for it?
As to what it's worth …. Well for me the plum finish does hurt the value and points to a reblue as does the side plate seem and CCH on the trigger and hammer.
I think I would pay $800 for it?
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That is super cool. I agree the case hardening on the trigger and hammer is way more vivid than I have ever seen on a factory original S&W especially on 50+ years old.
For comparison, there are two 44 Magnums known (one a pre-29 and the other a Model 29-2) that letter as being shipped with 3 1/2-inch barrel. The -2 variation sold a number of years ago for more than $6,000 (not sure what the actual selling price was) and the pre-29 has not been offered for sale but would certainly be in five figures (it is mint in the original blue case as I understand). The 1955 45 Target with the 3 1/2-inch barrel and finish issues (sometimes a refinish will result in a plum color) would be similar in price to the Model 29-2 described above, but probably somewhat less (the stocks are incorrect too). I think 3-4 thousand would be a good place to start. I would also want to see the letter and a copy of the factory invoice.
Bill
Bill
Great looking revolver the plum colour dose not bother me I have a model 29 and a 15 that looks exactly like this revolver barrel and cylinder plum
But the little step from the frame to the barrel dose
Still a winner
But the little step from the frame to the barrel dose
Still a winner
StrawHat
Member
As Doc44 mentioned, I, too, would enjoy seeing the confirmation letter and any other documentation.
It is still a nice revolver but documentation, or lack thereof, will greatly influence the value.
Kevin
It is still a nice revolver but documentation, or lack thereof, will greatly influence the value.
Kevin
I think that's easily a $1.5K+ revolver. The plum colored cylinder doesn't bother me at all, and the color case hardening is outstanding! That would probably be a very fun revolver to shoot: .45 ACP with 3-1/2" bbl., and as John Taffin would say, it's a "perfect packin' pistol".
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