Value or Texas DPS 38/44

[iggybomb]

Hello,
I recently got this 38/44 and was curious as to its value. No rust or any major flaws.The serial number is S722XX. Marked Texas Public Safety Dept 615. What is the approx year and value?
Thanks!

 

[Muley Gil]

Around 1949-1950. Cop guns usually get a premium.

 

[MG34/bar]

Should be about 1947 or 1948; I have one that is S69,XXX that lettered to September, 1946.

 

[VM]

Neat gun although it’s wearing K frame grips.
Our Texas Father/Son LEO collecting experts will be along shortly

 

[usmc2427765]

Do you have the "blue card" and a S&W letter ? If so, That would be at least a $ 1700 + revolver. Check the blue card to find out who it was issued to, you may get a pleasant surprise The grips are a minus.

 

[Texas Star]

Has the long action, so probably 1946-1950. Has the duller postwar bluing.

Pretty ratty condition, esp. along the back strap. Wrong grips.

What's a Blue Card? Showing which trooper(s) were issued the gun?

 

[Art Doc]

I always enjoy the "I just got this, what is it worth?" posts.

Um...did you buy it? If so, what did you pay for it? Anything is worth what someone will pay for it so I'd say the gun is worth exactly what you paid until you sell it for a different amount.

Call me kooky...

 

[moosedog]

Duty guns get worked over pretty good. I'd say it would be a sell at $600-$700.

 

[squidsix]

I agree that it is rough, but I bought one with no grips in comparable condition last year for $600.
I was happy

 

[1Aspenhill]

It appears to have been refinished, they were all 4" Nickel and they were shipped in 1948. If you don't mind, would you send me the full serial number so I can associate the rack number to the serial number. I have all the serial numbers.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[quinn]

Here's my take: a post war 4" transitional HD in well used condition with incorrect grips is somewhere in the $400 - 600 vicinity. Price would vary by the part of the country. The Texas Public Safety Dept inscription changes the ballgame to a duty gun collector, and even more so to Texas duty gun collector. A bit more interesting is that the backstrap has the department's earlier name. If I saw your gun at a show and I had money in my pocket I would probably be willing to fork out $900 or so since I don't have a DPS gun. If you had the 'blue card' showing who carried it and could search the Texas Ranger Museum and find that one of its issued officers was or became a Texas Ranger, then you could add a bunch more.

Neat old gun. Wonder if it ever pulled me over...

Edit: apparently Bill was posting at the sme time I was. He is the authority in all thing Heavy Duty. I did not know they were issued in nickel (like the Austin PD HDs). That deducts a bunch... maybe a couple of hundred putting the non LEO base price in the $300-400 are in my book.

 

[glowe]

There seems to be some of the opinion that a police marked gun will bring a premium, but for me unless it says the state or city where I live, it has no importance or value adder for me. I think there are a small amount of collectors who look for PD guns and a few who live in the city or state where the gun was issued who would pay a premium. Some collectors looking for original factory issue and condition will say the gun has been modified and feel it diminishes value. In general, I think the value is not significantly affected one way or the other.

To be honest, the gun itself is near the bottom of the condition barrel and the wrong stocks don't bring anything to the table in terms of value. The refinish doesn't match, since the cylinder appears to be different bluing than the rest of the gun. Does the serial number of the cylinder match?
Add a set of N frame factory appropriate stocks and it could cost an additional $150 - $250 depending on condition, so $600 seems very strong for that gun.

It is, however, a HD 38/44 and that is a big adder for those who want a great shooter.

 

[iggybomb]

Hey everyone, Thanks for the responses so far! I got the gun from the son of the original trooper who carried it. I messaged Bill to continue the conversation regarding the Serial number over PM.

 

[peyton]

Forgive our manners, welcome to the forum! Now, I recommend contacting the seller and try to find more about the trooper who owned it.
This historical information is something that will "fill in the picture".
We love stories about the people who possessed the revolvers!

 

[SAFireman]

Neat gun!

The blue card would be icing on the cake for sure. Bill is the #1 guy with regards to anything Heavy Duty, so if he says '48, then it must be.

The stocks are terribly wrong, but replacements aren't that hard to come by, but expect to pay 100-175 for a decent set.

If I was buying it, I could see 800-1000 depending on mechanics ect....btw - Welcome to the forum

 

[1Aspenhill]

Those grips are the high horned transition and finding an original pair in decent shape are extremely difficult.

 

[usmc2427765]

A " blue card " is a record of when and to whom the revolver was issued. Before computers, this is how they kept track of the revolvers . The blue card will document all of the people to whom the revolver was issued. You might possibly find that it was issued to a future Texas Ranger, which would add big $$$ to the value.

 

[smith17]

Edit: apparently Bill was posting at the sme time I was. He is the authority in all thing Heavy Duty. I did not know they were issued in nickel (like the Austin PD HDs). That deducts a bunch... maybe a couple of hundred putting the non LEO base price in the $300-400 are in my book.

Come on, Quinn. I'll be at the Madisonville show in a couple of weeks that only has 68 tables and I could sell 2 dozen at that price.
Ed

 

[Dave T]

I love the weathered look of that gun. It helps of course that I like HDs. Even if it was once nickeled it still has character. Given a chance and the right price I'd buy it just 'cause it's cool. (smile)

Dave

 

[iggybomb]

Thank you all very much for the great info. I am not looking to sell the gun as I am just beginning to have a modest collection of hand ejectors, and recently joining the forum is throwing fuel on the fire to be sure. I have begun to look for the proper stocks for the gun and if anyone has any they want to part with I would be interested. Does anyone have a photo of one of these Texas DPS guns in their original configuration (nickel, correct stocks, etc?
Thanks again