Rossi M885

Register to hide this ad
May be a decent gun, in fact, may be a fine gun, but many would still consider it a lesser gun in comparison with a similar-sized S&W. Your chances of getting a good revolver go up considerably if you get an older S&W J-frame .38. The S&W will be more expensive, but it will retain value better and be more desirable to others should you ever decide to sell or trade.
 
May be a decent gun, in fact, may be a fine gun, but many would still consider it a lesser gun in comparison with a similar-sized S&W. Your chances of getting a good revolver go up considerably if you get an older S&W J-frame .38. The S&W will be more expensive, but it will retain value better and be more desirable to others should you ever decide to sell or trade.
I've got a -36 and some Ks, looking for a bit of a rough-out piece
 
I have a Rossi M85 which is their version of a J-frame....It's OK, and a budget version of a S&W.

As to it retaining value less, I probably disagree...If you gave $175 or so for a stainless Rossi .38 in nice shape, it can't really go down in value...There's nowhere left to go.. It's just like a Heritage single action .22...They are a little over $100 brand new in the box. How much lower can they go?

You'll spend $500-600 on the S&W J frame, and it will possibly gain a little in value, but not that much.
 
I have a Rossi M85 which is their version of a J-frame....It's OK, and a budget version of a S&W.

As to it retaining value less, I probably disagree...If you gave $175 or so for a stainless Rossi .38 in nice shape, it can't really go down in value...There's nowhere left to go.. It's just like a Heritage single action .22...They are a little over $100 brand new in the box. How much lower can they go?

You'll spend $500-600 on the S&W J frame, and it will possibly gain a little in value, but not that much.
I know it's a very subjective question, but how have the timing and lock up held up?
 
I know it's a very subjective question, but how have the timing and lock up held up?
Mine has and works perfectly...I have told this story before, but I bought the gun 35+ years ago from a pawn shop in Tennessee. It is the blued version with 3 inch barrel. I knew the owner, and he had 25 or so of these in his case. They were all South American police trade-ins....He told me "Your choice..$100". I picked the best looking one, but they all had about 10% because they had been carried to death, but not really shot that much.

So, I kept it and when my dad died in 1995, I gave the gun to my mom for her nightstand gun. My mom died in 1998 and I got it back. I moved to Florida and during a tropical storm a couple of years ago, I thought I'd start a project. I took the gun completely apart and soaked it in hot water and dish liquid. I then liberally rinsed it. I placed it back in the bucket and added boiling hot water to it. I carefully tonged the Parts out and applied Oxpho-Blue to all parts. With the parts being scalding hot, it DRANK the bluing. I did this multiple times and then let it dried and immediately oiled everything. I reassembled it and it works and looks great. I got an original box for it on Ebay for $20 or so.

In fact, it looks so good now, I hate to shoot it much because I'll put a turn line on my $100 gun..:rolleyes:

rossi01.webp

rossi1.webp
 
I have a Rossi M85 which is their version of a J-frame....It's OK, and a budget version of a S&W.

As to it retaining value less, I probably disagree...If you gave $175 or so for a stainless Rossi .38 in nice shape, it can't really go down in value...There's nowhere left to go.. It's just like a Heritage single action .22...They are a little over $100 brand new in the box. How much lower can they go?

You'll spend $500-600 on the S&W J frame, and it will possibly gain a little in value, but not that much.
Maybe so...if you're happy with your Rossi, that's all that counts. The opinions of others aren't really worth much.
 
I have a Rossi M85 which is their version of a J-frame....It's OK, and a budget version of a S&W.

As to it retaining value less, I probably disagree...If you gave $175 or so for a stainless Rossi .38 in nice shape, it can't really go down in value...There's nowhere left to go.. It's just like a Heritage single action .22...They are a little over $100 brand new in the box. How much lower can they go?

You'll spend $500-600 on the S&W J frame, and it will possibly gain a little in value, but not that much.
I don't know if I'm an outlier, but I don't consider the money I might get at resale when I buy a gun. This might be because I do my best not to overpay.

I'm sure this attitude has cost me the chance of grabbing a real collectible, but usually these have been online sales where sometimes it is not easy to tell EXACTLY what you are looking at. The last one like that was what I believed was a Mexican customs carbine. The way the bidding went, I was not the only one with this belief, but I backed out when the bids got up there. Never mind, not long afterwards I snagged a Mauser stamped with the crest of the Iraqi royal family that somehow slipped under everyone else's radar.
 
I don't know if I'm an outlier, but I don't consider the money I might get at resale when I buy a gun. This might be because I do my best not to overpay.

I'm sure this attitude has cost me the chance of grabbing a real collectible, but usually these have been online sales where sometimes it is not easy to tell EXACTLY what you are looking at. The last one like that was what I believed was a Mexican customs carbine. The way the bidding went, I was not the only one with this belief, but I backed out when the bids got up there. Never mind, not long afterwards I snagged a Mauser stamped with the crest of the Iraqi royal family that somehow slipped under everyone else's radar.
Different perspectives. I've learned (sometimes the hard way) over many years to look at resale value and lasting appeal before buying a number of things like guns, cars, or homes. All are items that may potentially be sold regardless of your intentions at the time of purchase. You may spend a little more up front, but seldom does such a plan not pay off.
 
I've owned an Interarms Rossi M68 for several years and believe it is a well finished revolver. The tolerances are tight, timing and lockup are good. In fact, the machining and fit are so tight that, after taking it apart to see how it was made, I had to put the side plate in the freezer to shrink it before I could replace it. The picture posted may appear to show a sloppy fit but, it's tight, seamless. But, this revolver was made before the Taurus acquisition and revival of the Rossi revolver line. I'm curious to know weather quality has improved. The innards of the M68 appear identical to the S&W 36. Some questioned whether the parts were interchangeable. The only concern that I've read about with the earlier Rossi's is that the hammer nose might break with dry firing.
IMG_8907.webp
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8908.webp
    IMG_8908.webp
    730.8 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
I have owned 2 of the little Rossi 5 shooters. A 2 inch Blued one that shot great and went to a friend who needed a defense gun and a 3 inch stainless that I have had for about 35 years. Carried it hiking fishing and hunting more than any other firearm. Finished downed animals and bagged few on its own. Well timed, accurate, packable and reliable.
 
I've owned an Interarms Rossi M68 for several years and believe it is a well finished revolver. The tolerances are tight, timing and lockup are good. In fact, the machining and fit are so tight that, after taking it apart to see how it was made, I had to put the side plate in the freezer to shrink it before I could replace it. The picture posted may appear to show a sloppy fit but, it's tight, seamless. But, this revolver was made before the Taurus acquisition and revival of the Rossi revolver line. I'm curious to know weather quality has improved. The innards of the M68 appear identical to the S&W 36. Some questioned whether the parts were interchangeable. The only concern that I've read about with the earlier Rossi's is that the hammer nose might break with dry firing.
View attachment 789979
I have one just like this one but mine is Stainless. It is a Solid Serious Gun. And not a "light-wt". I have big hands so that helps. I keep it in my shower in a Zip-Loc Bag - for 20+ yr now. Along with - 1ea 5-shot Speed-Loader and 2ea 5-shot Strip Loaders. And 10 more extra rounds, loose. All HP Rounds. And an AR, nose-down, & 2 Reload Mags, in the corner ie Grab and Go. And a "Billy-Club". I built my bath/shower room in Concrete Block. It is my Alamo. I "CARRY" Daily - Everywhere (for 10+ yr now) - a S&W M&P9C at 3 o'clock Nose-down, in a Fanny-Pack and 2 Reload Mags at 9 o'clock - 50 rds tot. Hornaday Critical Defense in it. I shoot - say 100rds/month for 10yr now and 3 Combat Competition matches/mo, Pistol & Rifle, every month. State & DHS Certified Instr. I Have taught Swat Teams - on request. Including Snipers. Chattanooga Tennessee.
 
Back
Top