Price check on 6 inch 4th Model DA in .32 S&W

[forindooruseonly]

I've been offered a DA 4th Model with a 6 inch barrel, nickel and in very good condition. What would be a fair price to me and the person wanting to sell it? Sadly, I don't have pictures, but the nickel is extremely good, probably redone at some point. The lettering looks factory, but the sideplate doesn't fit as well as I think it should.

My knowledge of these old top breaks is severely lacking so I'm looking for some help in ballpark pricing. Thanks.

 

[mmaher94087]

Your question can only be answered by giving a very wide range of values. There are too many variables and without pictures, one can only guess. A good place to look would be the SCSW4 as there are sections on evaluating condition and value.

 

[mmaher94087]

I looked at a few closed auctions and the hammer prices ranged from $475 in low condition (and five years ago) to $1599 asking price in fair condition (presentable but not sold) recently. Wide range.

 

[glowe]

I have one in 98% condition, but have no illusions over what it is worth today. The only reason it is not 100% is that there is some plum starting to show through the bluing. Bought it in 2014 for $210 and am thinking about selling it on GB this year. The 32 DAs and Safeties are notorious for selling low. SCSW4 states that a 32 DA was worth $525 Exc+ in the 2016 book with 6" barrels show a slight premium. Personally, I think a 6" 32 DA in 98% condition should sell for $1000, but the market is fickled when it comes to this model as shown in my purchase 10 years ago.

Caliber is anemic, almost obsolete, and certainly unpopular. There were over a quarter-million of this model made, with some 50,000 that could have been made in 6" by my estimate.

 

[gmborkovic]

It maybe re-nickeled and the side plate does not fit right? Why do you want it?

 

[forindooruseonly]

Well, I couldn't resist and snagged it. Photos attached. I have an old top break in the .32 that was my great great grandfathers and I load and shoot it occasionally, this looked like a fun companion to that one as the bore is in good shape, better than most I see, and it is mechanically sound.

 

[mrcvs]

Yes, your revolver is refinished. However, it appears that the refinisher was knowledgeable enough to not nickel blued and case coloured components.

Being refinished and a less popular model means, unfortunately, this revolver is worth very little. I hope you got it cheaply enough.

 

[forindooruseonly]

It was cheap enough to me, though more than what most here would pay. I wanted a shooter and this is perfect for that. I'd love to have a nice original like Glowe's, but I don't think I be willing to shoot it very much if it was.

 

[glowe]

I cannot agree with certainty that the gun has been refinished. Every pin and stud are in perfect shape, screw slots are great, sideplate show no hint of buffed edges, cylinder edges look sharp, trigger guard is blue and hammer/trigger show case color. There is a slight blur to the caliber stamping, but not enough to be confident of a refinish. How is the top rib stamping?

 

[forindooruseonly]

Looks sharp across the whole thing. Nickel is so dang hard to photograph, especially on a cell phone, so this is the best I could do, can't get the whole stamping in focus.

If it was a refinish job, whoever did it had knowledge, experience and a gentle touch, as it doesn't show the normal signs of dishing, nickeling everything and all the other trademark signs of a bad refinish.

 

[handejector]

I do not see any signs of a refinish.

 

[forindooruseonly]

Here is the only thing I see an issue with - the sideplate doesn't fit all that great. I know nothing about these older guns, so maybe this is more common than I know. The sideplate sits ever so slightly higher than the frame. A thousandth or less, but if run you fingernail across it, the difference is there. I've never seen that before. But it doesn't look like it's been polished or buffed, and the edge is sharp.



It doesn't really matter to me, as I'm just an accumulator of things I find interesting, nice or fun, not really a collector. Maybe whoever took it apart last didn't get the sideplate back on properly or tweaked it? It fits nicely over the top by the hammer, looks like factory there, its just the lower half that is sitting proud. I'll see what I can do about knocking the sideplate loose without damaging it any further than what already has.

I appreciate all the comments.

 

[handejector]

Here is the only thing I see an issue with - the sideplate doesn't fit all that great. I know nothing about these older guns, so maybe this is more common than I know. The sideplate sits ever so slightly higher than the frame. A thousandth or less, but if run you fingernail across it, the difference is there. I've never seen that before. But it doesn't look like it's been polished or buffed, and the edge is sharp.

Decades ago, the sideplate screw was a half turn loose. The oil in the joint has turned to varnish. There could be some rust which will actually push pieces apart as it grows.
Remove the sideplate and clean both surfaces of the joint. Clean the screw and its hole. Tighten snugly and get back to us on how it fits.

 

[mmaher94087]

I recommend that you pull the side plate screw and press or tap (rubber faced hammer) the plate back into place. Don't try to pull the plate home with the screw as that is a recipe for stripped threads, buggered screw slots or broken screw threads.

 

[iby]

All good advise and observations.
Congrats

 

[Spurdann]

I am not a purist, I think you did well. Shoot her a lot.

 

[mrcvs]

Looks sharp across the whole thing. Nickel is so dang hard to photograph, especially on a cell phone, so this is the best I could do, can't get the whole stamping in focus.

If it was a refinish job, whoever did it had knowledge, experience and a gentle touch, as it doesn't show the normal signs of dishing, nickeling everything and all the other trademark signs of a bad refinish.

This crisp lettering proves without a shadow of doubt your revolver is NOT refinished.

My earlier claims about a refinish were based upon what appeared to be dishing around a pin that wasn't buffed flat and a soft appearance to the Smith & Wesson logo. The reality is that a nickel finish is often VERY difficult to photograph realistically.

Now as to value? Any ideas anyone else? It's an undesirable model, but this one is nice now that we established it's not refinished.

So I'm going to "guess" $750, as it's surely worth at least $500 but $1000 may be a stretch. However, if I had to lean one way or another, $500 to $750 seems more realistic than $750 to $1000. YMMV.

 

[max503]

It was cheap enough to me, though more than what most here would pay. I wanted a shooter and this is perfect for that. I'd love to have a nice original like Glowe's, but I don't think I be willing to shoot it very much if it was.

I've been shopping for an older 32. Recently saw a #5 Hand Ejector (I think that's what it was called) in "good mechanical shape" but obviously worn finish go for $210 plus 15%. I didn't bid on it because I didn't have a change to inspect it first and wasn't taking the chance of bidding on a paperweight.
Care to share what yours went for? I'm just doing my homework.