Should I have bought this M&P? 1902 1st change

[Kamerer]

Saw today, couldn't decide:

M&P model of 1902, 1st change, build about 1903 (35,xxx S/N). No pitting under later re-bluing. Bluing was even, glossy and "thick" (not sure how to describe, but not unattractive). Hammer and trigger also reblued. Peeled back later Pachmayr-looking grips, they had S&W label in the rubber and blue was nice as far as I could peel back the grips. $325.

The seller had no idea what it was. I had never seen one this old in the flesh - I informed him it was indeed old, but likely not that valuable because of the re-blue. I gather his dad had done it years ago (a gunsmith, not a complete amatuer job).

Just curious about the opinion of these very early M&Ps as curiosities. Not looking to make money or call it "collectible," but maybe it would be a good companion to my high grade transition model and .455 HE.

Thanks.

 

[Kamerer]

Saw today, couldn't decide:

M&P model of 1902, 1st change, build about 1903 (35,xxx S/N). No pitting under later re-bluing. Bluing was even, glossy and "thick" (not sure how to describe, but not unattractive). Hammer and trigger also reblued. Peeled back later Pachmayr-looking grips, they had S&W label in the rubber and blue was nice as far as I could peel back the grips. $325.

The seller had no idea what it was. I had never seen one this old in the flesh - I informed him it was indeed old, but likely not that valuable because of the re-blue. I gather his dad had done it years ago (a gunsmith, not a complete amatuer job).

Just curious about the opinion of these very early M&Ps as curiosities. Not looking to make money or call it "collectible," but maybe it would be a good companion to my high grade transition model and .455 HE.

Thanks.

 

[chillypepper]

300 seams high to me. and with a non-factory reblue it seams really high. don't know how the market is in wa. but i recently sold one similar with a factory reblue for 150. hope this helps.

 

[deadin]

See Acorns post on the 1905 Target. He paid $150 for a refinished Target Model. That's more like it for a refinished gun.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Any S&W in mechanically good, safe and shootable condition is worth a few hundred bucks, at least. For a shooter, the refinish merely preserves the revolvers apppearance. In your case, the seller is playing a guessing game, not attaching a value based upon anything that is logical. So....yeah, $325 is well over the top from the perspective of any illusion of collectibility. It's a shooter and should be priced as such, no more, no less. Best of luck.

 

[Kamerer]

OK, thanks. I was thinking $200 was about my limit, so I am glad that I was reasonable. If I can find a decently reblued one under $200, I may start actively looking.

 

[deadin]

What you can "find them for" and what they are worth sometimes seems like two different things.

Keep looking, you should score sooner or later.