What to do??

[weeha1966]

I just picked this up at a dealer. Probably paid too much. $250out the door. I figured you can't get much of a gun for 250. Need some opinions on weather to have it re-blued/nickel plated or just leave it alone. Where is a good place to have the work done? TIA

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Need some pics and a little more info here !
John

 

[10/22]

AH...no pic? Maybe one would be good to judge your find.
10/22.

 

[weeha1966]

Sorry I forgot to post.

 

[MSgt G]

I love it just as it is!

 

[S&W Fan]

Going by your photos I don't see any reason for a refinish. If there are other issues I'll step aside & let those more knowledgeable remark.

If it checks out mechanically then get some nice mild loads & enjoy it as a fun range gun.

I'm not much of a fan of refinishing unless there are serious flaws.

Good luck and enjoy it.

 

[jhde69]

I would leave it alone. Take it to the range and enjoy the revolver,for the reason it was built. If it could just talk!

 

[gametime]

Beautiful just the way she is... buy ammo and have fun!

 

[jglsprings]

Contrary to most folks on the forum I am not against "project" guns. I think if you can get a deal on a cosmetically challenged gun and make it your own - DO IT!

But, in this case. This one looks great as is. I'd get a custom holster made for it and call it "done".

 

[diamonback68]

LEAVE IT ALONE! You've got a $250 gun that you're going to put $250 more into, to end up with a $200 gun.

 

[DCWilson]

I'd leave it alone; it's just fine as is. Whatever money you put into refinishing it would be essentially unrecoverable at the other end. It is a $300-350 gun, give or take, and nothing you do to it will make it more valuable.

$250 is a good price for a solid M&P specimen, which that is. In complete terms, it is a Model of 1905 Military and Police, fourth change.

Is that a .38 or .32-20? Smith made both in that format.

I can tell from a couple of the gun's features that it is probably of 1930s manufacture. The grips are not original, as they date to the 'teens. Grips looked similar in the 1930s but used different medallions.

 

[P&R Fan]

I'd leave it alone; it's just fine as is. Whatever money you put into refinishing it would be essentially unrecoverable at the other end. It is a $300-350 gun, give or take, and nothing you do to it will make it more valuable.

$250 is a good price for a solid M&P specimen, which that is. In complete terms, it is a Model of 1905 Military and Police, fourth change.

Is that a .38 or .32-20? Smith made both in that format.

I can tell from a couple of the gun's features that it is probably of 1930s manufacture. The grips are not original, as they date to the 'teens. Grips looked similar in the 1930s but used different medallions.

What he said.
+1
Jim

 

[everReady Rob]

Looks okay to me, I think you did good. Be happy. Sometimes the character is in the blemishes.

 

[CelticSire]

For $250, you have an excellent 1905 Fourth Change. Refinishing it will do nothing to increase its value, and a bad refinish will greatly lessen its value. Enjoy it for what it is: a great example of a classic revolver, and one that you can shoot without having to worry about damaging it's collector value, but at the same time is one to be proud of owning. In other words, "ya done good".

 

[WILDPIG]

I'm with everybody else, leave it be. It is a beauty. Good purchase.

WILDPIG

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Agree with above. You did fine as it stands. You can put money into it to make it worth less, but not more. Enjoy it!

 

[weeha1966]

Its a .38 I just got done shooting it. It shoots great. The only reason I was thinking of refinishing is that it has a few scratches on it that you can't see in the pics. Did they make these in nickel?

 

[H Richard]

I love a gun with a little "character". Leave it alone.

 

[Muley Gil]

"Did they make these in nickel?"

Yup.

Yours looks real decent. Leave it alone as far as finish. Spend your money on ammo instead.

 

[weeha1966]

You guys know more than me. You win. I have a future son-in-law that might get it!!

thanks
-Mike

 

[rburg]

Yep, they made them in nickel. If you've got the other $250 in your pocket, instead of blowing it on a refinish, why don't you go looking and find an identical one with a nickel finish. Then you'd have a great pair.

For ammo, I'd suggest you find someone who reloads and makes 148 grain target wadcutters. Its a very mild loading that works really well in those old M&Ps.

If you need or want a holster, spend some time looking. Don't jump at a new production model. Look for a vintage H H Heiser or something similar.

 

[jproffitt]

That's a nice looking little gun. $250 is never a bad price for something in good enough shape to shoot.

 

[weeha1966]

I've been shooting semi-wadcutters through it. Works great. The wife even likes it! That means more guns. LOL

 

[DWFAN]

Shoot it. A lot.
DW

 

[Waidmann]

If someone wants to swap grips, for the 1920's nonmedallioned ones do it, otherwise standfast!