Pre 29; Bargain or Not?

Vettepartz

Vettepartz

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I was at a local pawn shop yesterday and spotted this 5-screw Pre-29. It had these ugly target style grips on it, and the shop owner told me that he did not have the original grips. In fact, he said most of his possible customers liked the gun, but stayed away because of the grips.

So, after haggling over the price for awhile, I managed to pick it up, with ugly grips only, for just slightly under a grand.. I got it home and cleaned it up and put on this set of old grips that I had. Serial is #165XXX which I think might be from 1956. It has wear on it consistent with its age. Mechanically everything is perfect, with everything being fairly tight.

What are your opinions on whether or not I made a good deal?
 

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I'll be curious to see what the experts think. IMO you paid a fair market price or maybe a tad above, but all the "pre" guns seem to be climbing, so I suspect in a year or two you'll be able to make a tidy profit if you opt to sell.

As far as getting a classic shooter, for around what you'd pay for a modern MIM/lock M29 you got a piece of American history. Seems worth it to me.
 
Vettepartz said:
OK - I see what you are saying. Here are the other grips. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder; just not mine.
Click to expand...

Aren't those the RARE pre-Cokes factory originals??! :eek: :D
I think you did well. I would NOT re-finish it.
 
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Vettepartz said:
OK - I see what you are saying. Here are the other grips. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder; just not mine.
Click to expand...

I CAN SEE WHY NOBODY WANTED TO TAKE THIS ORPHAN HOME. THOSE GRIPS ARE TRULY HIDEOUS ! ! !

FORTUNATELY, YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE PAST THEM TO PICK UP A NICE OLD REVOLVER.......

IMHO, A TRIP TO FORD'S AND A SET OF PERIOD CORRECT, NICELY FIGURED CULINAS, WOULD TURN THIS INTO A TRUE STUNNER. I DOUBT THAT ANYONE'S EYES WILL POP OUT, OR ANYONE WILL GASP IN AMAZEMENT AT THE RANGE, WHEN YOU UNCASE THIS GUN IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THAT WOULD ALL CHANGE ! ! !

I AM NOT A COLLECTOR PRIMARILY. SO IF I WAS A YOUNGER MAN, WITH REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF OWNING AND SHOOTING THIS REVOLVER FOR MANY YEARS, I WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER GOING THAT ROUTE. I WOULD AMORTIZE THE COST OVER THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT, AND BE INTO A BEAUTIFUL GUN FOR PENNIES A DAY......

IMHO---DESPITE ITS PEDIGREE, ITS CURRENT CONDITION WOULD CLASSIFY IT AS A SHOOTER. IF ITS TURNED INTO A BEAUTIFUL SHOOTER, ITS NO LOSS TO THE COLLECTING COMMUNITY. OBVIOUSLY, THEY WEREN'T SHOWING ANY INTEREST IN IT, WHEN IT WAS LANGUISHING AT THE LGS....

OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE OF COURSE---ITS YOUR REVOLVER AND YOUR MONEY TO DO WITH IT, AS YOU SEE FIT ! ! !

IN ANY EVENT, BEST WISHES---I THINK THAT YOU DID WELL....
 
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I like it as is with the period correct and slightly worn Cokes on it.
They match the condition of the gun. Well used but not abused.
I'd leave it as is and enjoy shooting it if it was mine.
But then again a grand for one gun is a little above my budget, so what do I know?
 
BC38 said:
I like it as is with the period correct and slightly worn Cokes on it.
They match the condition of the gun. Well used but not abused.
I'd leave it as is and enjoy shooting it if it was mine.
But then again a grand for one gun is a little above my budget, so what do I know?
Click to expand...

I COULD AGREE WITH LEAVING IT AS IS, AS YOU SUGGEST. AT THIS STAGE OF MY LIFE, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO. I DON'T EVEN BUY BUNCHES OF GREEN BANANAS....lol.
 
Good score! I think it's double cool you happened to have a set of cokes with the right amount of wear waiting in the wings.

I wouldn't reblue. I think honest wear on the original finish is a better look. And in the future, honest wear will have better resale value than any refinish.
 
Well, there is enough wood there for kindling, that's for sure!

I would post them in the Classifieds. Some one who collects target guns may be interested in them. I bought a M27 in 1976. It came with a set of target Franzite (plastic) grips. They sure was ugly. There was a thread about Franzite grips a number of years ago and one of our members wanted them! The grips were shaped like "Cokes", but were kinda swirled pinkish plastic.
 
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I'd have been all over that. I NEVER see pre-model 29's around my area, and I am always looking on GB. And like mentioned above, you never see one less than $1000. Usually $1200 on 5 screw guns. I've got a set of Cokes on a late 70's model 57 that would have found a home on that gun if I had found it first.... GREAT buy IMO.

I'm a shooter and an acccumulator but I want to shoot guns older than I am so that would be a sweet field piece. I wouldn't even think about a refinish. I'd spend the "tree-fiddy" on ammo!
 
Maybe not a screaming deal, but certainly worth it.

The only 5 screw I've had was refinished. This was about 8 - 10 years ago. It had grips that looked like the ones you put on yours. The refinish was so-so, rounded corners everywhere, but the actual blue was pretty shiny. Bought, then later sold for $1000. I'd recommend NOT refinishing.
 
Another gun I wish was mine. Grips make it perfect as it is. Leave it alone and shoot it.
Walt
 
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