Value Question

[willsnipe]

I notice in the new Bluebook, this M&P 3RD Change has increased a considerable ammount in value. This one does not have the original box or anything, not even the original grips, but it does have some fancy MOP grips with carved Dragons. Any estimations on the value of this one?

 

[willsnipe]

I notice in the new Bluebook, this M&P 3RD Change has increased a considerable ammount in value. This one does not have the original box or anything, not even the original grips, but it does have some fancy MOP grips with carved Dragons. Any estimations on the value of this one?

 

[opoefc]

Don't rely on anything you see in the BlueBook regarding values - the closest estimate of probably value for a S&W is in the SCSW, 3 edit. Ed.

 

[mikepriwer]

What is the serial number of this gun in the picture ? Does it have
a "C" prefix, or some other letter ? The hammer looks like a post-WW2
hammer, the so-called fish-hook variant.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[willsnipe]

I don't recall seeing any letter prefix on this one. It has a target hammer and trigger.

 

[mikepriwer]

Do me a favor and check the serial number again : on the butt,
under the barrel, and on the rear face of the cylinder. This gun
looks post-WW2 to me. There should be a letter preceeding the serial
number. It may not be right next to it, but it should be there
somewhere.

Maybe its just the photo, but that does not look like a target
hammer and trigger, to me.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[cgt4570]

A very nice pair of similar oriental style carved dragon K frame pearls sold at a live auction I was at in Sept. for around $400. I thought that was on the high side and stopped bidding around $200. I really didn't have any use for them. Just thought they were neat.

I agree with Mike. That's definitely a post-war, post-transition hammer. I'm not sure it could have been fitted into a pre-war action. I can't quite tell from the pic if the ejector rod knob is the pre or post war style. With that hammer, it should be the post war style.

As anything is possible with these, a good gunsmith may have been able to modified the actiion of a pre-war gun and installed a post-war hammer. Odds are better though that it's a post-war gun.

Oh, one more thing. I can't tell by the glare of the flash, but if it's pre-war, it would have a one-line 'Made in USA' on the side showing in front of the trigger guard. If it's post-war, it might have the 4-line address if it's after around 1950. It looks like 4 lines showing through the flash glare.

Chris