Silk Purse or Sow's Ear?

[e3mrk]

I bought this Smith and Wesson Model 19, 357 magnum from my son who bought it from a friend whos father had passed away,It was his service pistol and when he retired he just put it away without protection and it was covered in light pitting. My son sent it to be polished out and reblued and it looks great except the Smith and Wesson Logo is now missing on the right cover,The bore is bright and shiny and it is a tack driver.All together I have $400.00 invested in it but I dont think thats too bad.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Halfway between. Great gun at a killer price. Enjoy!

 

[Rpg]

It’ll shoot just fine without that logo.

It would have shot just fine with the pitting too.

I think you’re about $200 underwater on the gun, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it.

 

[nachogrande]

WAS & WOULD ALWAYS BE A SILK PURSE.

Whoever refinished the gun should pay you for damages. Good luck collecting it. Life lesson learned.

 

[hivel37]

Nice shooter at a good price. Enjoy!

 

[JayFramer]

The .357 will knock a man off his feet with no problem. You got a good one.

 

[JSR III]

If you only have a total of $400 invested then you are fine. Collector value is gone due to the refinish but $400 for a shooter is reasonable. There are air soft guns going for $200-$300 so a .357 magnum for $400 is still in the ballpark.

For target practice and home protection it will be just fine.

 

[Old_Cop]

No doubt that you could get your money back if you wanted.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The visibility of the logo does not impede the function or accuracy.

 

[jimmyj]

The logo can be re-cut if you desire.

 

[Fishslayer]

I've seen much worse for $500 & up in Kalifornistan. For $400 I would be on it if it was mechanically sound.

19/66 are nice revolvers.

 

[Lt JL]

It's a classic, in fact a class by itself. Unless you want to sell it somewhere, the LOGO is irrelevant. It's not like the gun is ashamed of itself. Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it some more.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

If you only have a total of $400 invested then you are fine. Collector value is gone due to the refinish but $400 for a shooter is reasonable. There are air soft guns going for $200-$300 so a .357 magnum for $400 is still in the ballpark.

For target practice and home protection it will be just fine.

I don't give a "rat's patoot" about collector value. I didn't buy "em" to sell. I bought them because I like them and shoot them. If I want to modify/refinish to suit my taste so be it. TOO much emphasis is placed on resale value. If you're planning to sell it down the road why buy in the first place?

 

[BC38]

Great shooter at a great price. What's not to like?

 

[steelslaver]

Some people forget that the real reason guns exist is to shoot them, if it shoots fine for $400 its all good. Boat loads of older Winchesters, Remingtons, 1917 Enfields and Springfields with no collectors value left whose owners cherish them. Got it from my dad, took my first deer, shoot a deer with it every year, Etc.

 

[rwsmith]

Forget that it was refinished.....

$400 for a model 19 revolver is pretty good nowadays. Being a shooter, I'd think it was a great buy. I'm not a collector so me knowing what it is would be good enough. It's closer to being a silk purse than it is a sow's ear.

The cheapest sold model 19 on Gunbroker is $375 and it's not in nearly as good condition. They are over $400 from there and when you include shipping and FFL fees, the total price is about $425.

Let me put it this way. I'd buy it for $400 and be very happy with it.

 

[JSR III]

I don't give a "rat's patoot" about collector value. I didn't buy "em" to sell. I bought them because I like them and shoot them. If I want to modify/refinish to suit my taste so be it. TOO much emphasis is placed on resale value. If you're planning to sell it down the road why buy in the first place?

Not sure why you equate collector value with resale. I have never sold any of my S&W's or other brands for that matter and have no intention of doing so. I collect because it pleases me. I appreciate the fine craftsmanship just like a coin collector or a stamp collector. They don't place their coins in a soda machine or mail letters with their stamps.

I don't belittle your desire to shoot the "snot" out of your guns so why do you bother being concerned what I do with my guns?

 

[Farmer17]

Nice M-19s around here are advertised for $750ish. Looks like you got a smokin' deal to me!

 

[chiefbob81]

Looks better than some of my S&W's and I love the all!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Not sure why you equate collector value with resale. I have never sold any of my S&W's or other brands for that matter and have no intention of doing so. I collect because it pleases me. I appreciate the fine craftsmanship just like a coin collector or a stamp collector. They don't place their coins in a soda machine or mail letters with their stamps.

I don't belittle your desire to shoot the "snot" out of your guns so why do you bother being concerned what I do with my guns?

I not concerned with what anybody does with their guns. Saying he ruined the collector value by refinishing it is a moot point. He bought it to shoot and wanted it to look better.