What to do

[Anothergrumpyoldman]

Yesterday I bought this 5 Screw M&P 38spl. made about 1955 according to the serial number. After I bought it, I realized it had been reblued. Should have known from the blued hammer and trigger. They should have been case hardened. Also the Grip is not period correct, but I wasn't too worried about that. I was excited that mechanically, it is like new. No wear on internal parts. Bore is pristine. I know that from a collecting point of view, I did not make out. But as a shooter, it is in great shape. I paid $350.00 for it. The person I bought it from, said he didn't realize it was reblued and would refund my money if I desire. I would like some opinions if it is or isn't worth what I paid for it. Thanks for any input.

Joe

 

[andy52]

At 350 if your looking for a shooter keep it, if your looking for something more collectable send it back. It's pretty evident that it's been reblued do to the plum coloring and the trigger plus hammer as you've already indicated.

 

[BE Mike]

Looks like a good shooter. I don't think you got stung, if a shooter was what you were looking for.

 

[Absalom]

You didn’t get cheated, but if you don’t mind looking around a bit, for 350 there is a good chance of finding an all-original one.

 

[kraynky]

I'd say you did fine Joe, for a shooter. That's the way I like them too. Nice & clean, ready to polish & spit shine, and then get dirty again at the range. Any nicer & you wouldn't want to take it shooting, for fear of damaging it. $350 for a nice 5 screw shooter is making me jealous. Congratulations!

 

[Igiveup]

Where else can you get a good shooter for that price? I would keep it, pack it around and use it. Have fun shooting.

 

[Babysitr]

if everytime you take it shooting you think, " I paid to much for this",, send it back...If you can deal with it being a shooter only, and like to shoot them, then $350 is in the ballpark. IMHO. only you can know!

 

[CelticSire]

Desirable gun, desirable barrel length, desirable calibre, reblue looks to have been done well (except for the hammer and trigger, which is fixed easily enough) for a good price. My opinion, which is worth everything that it costs, is keep it, shoot it, enjoy it. You can always sell or trade it later if you find a better one you want.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

You didn't say if it was a face-to-face deal or otherwise.

Either way, you drove that used car off the lot, and you got a good deal on it.

You might get more for it than you paid if you simply resell it, or you have a terrific looking shooter.

Log the transaction as a lesson learned, and move along.

 

[snubbyfan]

It's a good looking gun. Keep it, shoot it, enjoy it. Maybe even stick it in a holster and carry it.

 

[Art Doc]

Your decision but I hate having S&Ws with blued or nickel plated H&T. Can't live with it.

 

[Narragansett]

I would keep it and shoot it. It is not a collector so where did yo go wrong for that price?

 

[Bosquebass]

For $350 I think you did well. Shoot it and enjoy it.

 

[DCWilson]

Like many others here, I think $350 is an OK price for a refinished or partially refinished shooter. But the uncertainty angel on my shoulder is screaming in my ear about the possibility of a campfire or put-together revolver, and if that's the case I would send it back. Do the cylinder and barrel both carry the same serial number as the frame?

This is not a model whose complete history I follow, but I have it in mind -- perhaps incorrectly -- that the sloped front sight didn't come along until the Model 10-5 in the '60s. I spent a few minutes trying to answer that question but couldn't. I apologize for being an alarmist if that front sight is in fact found on five-screw Pre-10s.

 

[Anothergrumpyoldman]

Lots of good input, thanks. To answer a few questions others brought up-
It was a Face to Face local transaction from a person I know.
All matching serial numbers, so it is not a parts gun.
The ramped front sight came out in the 'C' series K frames in 1952 from what I have read, so it would be correct for a 1955.
I talked again with the seller again and he said he would hold my money for a week so I can decide what to do. I don't think he can be any fairer than that. Right now I am leaning on keeping it as a shooter. I will try it out Monday and see how it shoots and then make up my mind. i will let you know then.
Again, thanks for all the input and questions.

 

[clang444]

I wouldn't be able to get over the plum barrel and cylinder...

 

[kthom]

One more opinion here. NO, you did not make a bad decision to buy that revolver! As I said, my opinion. Even if you are a collector (doubt it!), the refinish job just makes that great shooter a good looking shooter! Everybody needs more than one pre model/Model 10 in their accumulation! These days, any older S&W revolver that is in good mechanical condition will bring more money than you paid even if it doesn't look so well on the outside. Yeah, there are still some of us who remember well what we used to give for revolvers like this. We couldn't believe it when they began to bring so much money for even a used one.

I'm just sayin' that I think you got your money's worth and I think you can get it back if you keep it looking like it looks now, or maybe even if you put some honest wear on it. I'm betting you bought it to shoot, and I say based on your original statement of it's condition, a brand new one wouldn't be in very much better shape! I think you did good! Congratulations on having a very nice looking shooter!

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Shoot it .

 

[Pisgah]

It's a sound shooter, and the price was not out of line too far. Return it if you must, or keep it to use and to remind yourself in the future to know what you're buying before you shell out.

 

[raljr1]

Heando once told me to take a little Naval jelly to the trigger and hammer to take the bluing off.

Robert