s&w 1920's 32

[chuck303]

hi guys, i found this local. the guy says its very good to excelent condition. but i notice the finish is not so great and there is pitting on the barrel. he says it commands a price of 500 dollars all day........ i just want to know what a fair market value would be for such a piece as i do not want overspend,.........

here is the sellers description, can you guys help me

VGC-EXC condition, 1920's S&W 32 Hand Ejector, I frame , 4" bbl, Blue turning to brown, not rusty,DA/SA 32 S&W Long or short, 6 shot swing out, fixed sights, original hard rubber grips not chipped or worn, round butt, tight and smooth vg bore, shoots great very slim, Smith and Wesson revolver quality was at its peak when this was made, and it is new enough to be a heat treated gun SN 309xxx, last patent date on bbl Sept '09, would be great as a combo collector /shooter Value $500

 

[murphydog]

I would guess this one is in the $250-300 range currently.

 

[Göring's S&W]

Too common and too low condition for that money. Demand is not high either. He may have it a long time with that price.

 

[glowe]

An excellent condition gun should be over 95% original finish. I do not think the left side of that 32 HE has much of any original finish left. I would say something under $200 would normally buy a 32 in this condition at many auctions.

As an example, I picked up a 95% 32 HE at an online auction last week for $150. If you are not in a hurry to buy, keep watching the auctions and you should find a nice 32 at a much lower price.

 

[Hondo44]

Seller must have a boat payment due, because his value is inflated in his mind.

I ditto what everyone said above!

 

[DCWilson]

1919, I think, based on lack of S&W logo anywhere on the frame and the serial number. That gun is NOT in VG-EXC condition; the seller is deluded. If in sound mechanical condition, the gun is worth about half of what he is asking, maybe as much as $300 if you are in a generous mood.

Keep looking.

 

[glowe]

1919, I think, based on lack of S&W logo anywhere on the frame and the serial number. QUOTE]

Correct as usual David. My $150 32 HE 3rd with serial number around 280,000 shipped in 1919 and has no logo on either side.

 

[Green Frog]

I love my I-frame 32s almost as much as David, Jim and the rest, but I wouldn't dream of shelling out that kind of money for that gun in such worn condition. Some sellers look at whatever gun they have and assume that since it is theirs it should automatically bring the maximum listed value for the model, without regard to condition or presence or absence of key features. Two hundred and fifty dollars would be about as generous as I would get, and unfortunately if he has as inflated a value for it as he seems to have in mind, he won't be much fun to deal with. I'd pass rather than "insulting" him or gently suggest that I might be interested in it at a lower price and let him sit on it for a while.

Regards,
Froggie

PS FWIW, SCSW says improved heat treatment on cylinders began at 321 000, so one of his big selling points is blown as well!

 

[Smithhound]

What GreenFrog said, that is a common occurance. Sometimes you have to wonder where percieved prices come from, sometimes you have to just walk away.
There are plenty of them out there in better condition for that or less, be patient, they will come.
RD