Pawn Shop Circuit: Three Franklins

I was out taking some photographs this afternoon when I found myself near Neil's pawn shop. "Where have you been?" he asked jovially as the bell on the door handle announced my entrance. He put his newspaper down and met me at the gun counter. "I've been wondering who would come in and buy that one," he smiled as he pointed to a Model 10.

The revolver was in good shape. It was a Model 10-2, and everything was correct except for the grips. The 10-2 is a difficult Model 10 to find. It was only manufactured in 1961. I do not own one. I looked the revolver over, and it checked out good. I asked Neil the price. "Two-ninety-nine," he replied, placing his hands on the counter, his cigar clamped between his fingers.

"Damn Neil, that's a lot. I'll have to sleep on that a bit. How firm are you?"

"I just took it out of hock this morning. That's what they go for now," Neil replied, taking a puff on his stogie. "Kid, you must have a bird dog nose for Smith & Wesson. Not a Smith in my case for months, and you walk in on the day I pull this 'un out."

We chatted a bit more, and I handed the old wheelgun back to Neil. In the parking lot, I pulled my pawn and gun show price journal from between the seats of my vehicle. In it I record the prices of guns I purchase, look at, and am interested in. Even if I do not buy the gun, I record the price. My journal helps me keep a finger on the pulse of what particular guns sell for in my area. I recorded this revolver, and I looked back to March of 2009, and saw that Kenny had a Model 10 snubbie for $319. The last Model 10 I purchased was was a nickel 10-8 from Neil for $239. But I clearly recall not too long ago, when a used Model 10 priced over $200 would clearly show the seller was smoking something, and it wasn't La Palomas.

I already own several Model 10 revolvers with four inch barrels, as well as several M&Ps, and a couple of Model 10 snubbies. I really don't need a revolver simply because it has a particular number stamped on the frame. I did sleep on it though. I closed my eyes for a second at a red light. Perhaps Neil's prices had caught up with the market. Perhaps I am behind the times. Maybe it's the Obamanation. It doesn't matter, really. I just know that three Franklins will buy a lot of 45ACP.

The General Undertaker Gangster Gun

Here's another bumper chrome plated M1911A1 with an incredible speculative story to enhance it's value in the market. I'm quoting the seller's description verbatim, although it is in snippets.

"Here is a colt 1911 that has an old nickle finish. The serial #is 134XXX. I believe it to be made in 1917. It has the colt address on the left side of the slide covered over with nickle but the old Colt logo with the horse holding an arrow(?)in it's mouth and a spear(?) between it's legs are still sharp and clear. It also has a stamp mark of a circle with letters that look like a G,H&S inside a circle on the left side of the frame about a half inch above the mag release button. the right side of the slide says: MODEL OF 1911. U.S. ARMY. It has an S on the back of the slide above the firing pin stop. Those are the only markings that I can see on the pistol. The screw slot for the Mag release is buggered up a little and the grip screws have some wear."

"I got this pistol many years ago from my sister-in-law who got it from her father's estate. He was an undertaker in Ohio. She said that he could have gotten it from a relative that was in the military who was Brigadere General Edward A. Pagels. I cannot prove this. She also said that he carried large sums of cash and frequently carried this pistol wherever he went. Looks to me like a gangster might have owned this gun at sometime. It has normal wear and tear that any piece would have that has seen some heavy use. The bore has slight erosion right in front of the chamber for about an inch however the lands and grooves are still strong and visible with the rest of the bore ok. Overall the finish is still prtty good with some nicks, scratches and a few speckles(not many or deep)-see pictures. There are erosion marks under the grips panels on both sides but are not deep and don't affect the overall appearance of the pistol."

"The grips are worn and dark but complete and the left grip has three notches that are cut in the bottom of the panel that appear to be made a long time ago-obviously has seen some kind of dubious action. The magazine has had the lip removed apparantly so that it would not snag when being pulled from concealed carry. Everything appears to be original to the gun."

Now I really love this, emphasis mine......

"This pistol slides into the hand smoothly and actually feels alive as you grip it. There is something about this weapon that makes it feel warm when it is held in your hand-maybe it's because it's old and has a history or it's just my imagination. It shoots and functions real well I rated the pistol as NRA good even though I think it is better than that just because of the way it looks and feels."

Then the seller tosses in a set of Ajax faux ivory grips to sweeten the deal, and provides the usual disclaimer of the gun being a valuable historical piece with no provenance. Of course, the seller being a mere private collector with an overactive imagination and a Curio & Relic collector's license, doesn't know squat about M1911A1s.

"I have Ajax Ivorex grips that I put on it to make it look different-these go with the gun Take a good look at the pictures as I have not tried to hide anything. I am not an expert on colt 1911's so you can tell me anything and I might possibly believe you. This is a great historical piece! I am a private collector and have a C&R license which this gun qualifies as. This gun will make an interesting addition to anyone's collection. As with any gun I sell, I sell "as is" and recommend it be inspected by a gunsmith before firing to protect both you and me. Will ship to FFL and/or C&R. I don't want to get involved with California regulations so I will not ship to California. Make sure there are no laws in your state or community that prohibit this firearm before bidding."

OK. So we have a M1911 that has most of the rollmarks polished off before it was dipped in the chrome tank at Bubba's Bumper Shop. Let's make up a story that it came from a mortician to give it that lurid quality right off the bat. Next, a vague connection to a general officer, and finally, let's file three notches in the grip. Some sucker is sure to believe those notches signify three kills. While we are at it, we may as well get rid of the screwed up magazine with a bogus concealed carry story too. I understand the seller has Clark Gable's Duesenberg up for bids on ebay as well.

Buy the gun, not the story.

+P in Vintage Iron

"I have a 1930 vintage Colt Detective Special that I inherited from my grandfather, and I want to know if it’s OK to use +p ammo in it. The factory won’t tell me anything."

I couldn't have said it better than Syd did.

Specifics on vintage S&W M&P revolver cylinders can be found here.

S&W Model 27-2 Jinks Letter

One of the real treasures in gun collecting is a "Jinks Letter" from the Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks. Often chocked full of information, and with the specifics of the date of shipment and configuration at time of shipment, a Jinks Letter is considered to be authoritative proof that a given Smith & Wesson gun is what it appears.

Mr. Jinks recently raised his price for a factory letter to fifty dollars, up from the thirty dollar fee he previously charged. Never the less, it is still one of the best investments a collector of Smith & Wesson handguns can make on a rare or unusual specimen. Here is a three page Jinks letter on a Model 27-2 that I had lettered for a friend. Click the photos to enlarge and read.



It turns out my friend's revolver was shipped on September 21, 1970, to Woodward Wright & Co. in New Orleans. It had a three and a half inch barrel and walnut grips.

Even though nothing extraordinary was discovered, the barrel configuration was confirmed to be original. Three and a half inch Model 27s are some of the hottest guns on the collector market, although a collector would desire a much more pristine revolver than this. This is on you don't have to worry about shooting.

I still wish I had beat Lester to that gun show table.

How Much Is It Worth?

"I was browsing the local gun store today and looked at an old S&W Victory model .38 special. The gun locks up tight, however, it is very beat up from the outside, the blue is almost entirely gone, the grips are bad, and some dufus engraved his name into it. (poorly)

What would you say a gun like that is worth? They were asking $299 but I think that's too much, I might go back and make an offer. I've been looking for a gun in exactly this kind of shape to fix up...but I'm thinking it should be under $200. Am I wrong?"

First, make certain it is originally a .38 Special and not one of the converted British Victories.

Assuming it is originally .38 Special, and assuming it has no function issues, a beater Victory Model is worthwhile as a functional firearm. If it still has the original grips and lanyard loop, it can be an interesting addition to a revolver collection. Not all guns have to be pristine. Sometimes it's nice to just hold a scarred up old gun and wonder about the stories it could tell.

Several years back I purchased a battle scarred and reblued Victory Model that had a bent trigger guard binding the trigger. It had diamond magnas on it, and the lanyard loop was long gone. I fixed the trigger guard, put on some appropriately scarred Victory grips and a lanyard loop. I enjoy shooting it, it's reasonably accurate, and I don't have to worry about devaluing the gun if it gets knocked around a bit. To me, that has value.

I paid $150 for it. I've had a lot of fun with it, it shoots decently, and is reliable. It's also historical. To me, that is worth $150, perhaps a bit more now. Later on, I found a nicer Victory Model for $300. I bought that one too. I still have them both, but the one I brought back from the brink is the one I prefer.

At this time, in my opinion, $300 is too much to pay for the Victory Model you describe. $150 is more like it, maybe $200 if you are in a S&W deficient area. In time, it will be worth $300, but it's going to be quite a while. If you want the gun, try to talk the seller down to a more reasonable price. Wait him out if you have to. If you have $300 and want a Victory Model in better condition, you can likely find one fairly easily. Whether the revolver in question is worth $299 is entirely up to you though. On a gun like this, the gun has no absolute value. It is only worth the price the seller and buyer agree on. You, or another buyer, will be instrumental in making that determination.

The Fitz Special

"J.H. FitzGerald, ("Fitz") to his many friends, was a key employee at Colt between the two World Wars, and the best company promoter since the Col. himself. He was a major force in keeping Colt alive during the Great Depression, and their point man when it came to law enforcement sales.

His revolver design was built around a concept of side-pocket carry, either pants or topcoat. It was for this reason that he cut away the front of the trigger guard, because of the tight confines of a pocket. In addition the hammer spur was bobbed and often the butt was shortened and rounded in the manner used on Detective Specials.

However some rather interesting people, Charles Askins being the most notable, liked the amputated trigger guard on any handgun, including a few pistols.

Askins and FitzGerald were both close friends, and Charley sent the Colt Company a fair amount of business when they badly needed it. But more to the point, Askins discovered he could quickly unload a revolver (or pistol) by, “fanning the trigger,” as he put it. He would hold the gun in the left hand (he was a southpaw) and use the edge of his right to literally fan the trigger through the open front of the trigger guard. It should be noted that he used a holster of his own design that covered the trigger guard, or where the guard would usually be. This holster was adopted by the Border Patrol for general issue, but they never made any alterations to their guns.

When I was a callow youth, and not the brightest light bulb in the room, I asked Askins – who was in a mellow mood – if cutting away the trigger guard wasn’t a bit dangerous. He looked me up and down, and then told me in somewhat stronger language that wouldn’t get past Art’s Grandma, that there were a lot more dangerous things one would encounter in a gunfight then a cut-away trigger guard. His words and experience made an impression I haven’t forgotten."

The Old Fuff

More info on Fitz Specials

History

Ah the agony and joy of having a gun still on one's short list to acquire....... This Colt M1911 was given to a friend of mine by her father. Luckily, she is a shooter and she values the pistol for all the right reasons. A correct World War 1 era M1911 is still a pistol that I hope to acquire someday.

The first rendition of John Moses Browning's most famous handgun is getting more and more difficult to find. The prices have risen such that they are essentially collector's pieces now. Once though to be surplus junk, the prices for usual specimens seem to hover around $2000. Chances are, like a gallon of gasoline, they will not be going down ever again.

The M1911 is history. All the imperfections in the finish, acquired over nearly an entire century add to the allure of the piece. Thus, when a perfect restoration such as this Turnbull restored M1911 appears for sale, I am less than eager to consider it. It's not the $2,999.00 price on the auction that leaves me cold, it's the fact that the gun's history has essentially been erased. Beautiful? Yes. Perfect? No doubt. Interesting? Only if you want to admire the work of a master restorationist instead of the firearm itself. An old gun that has been made to look new just doesn't excite me much. In fact, it kind of saddens me when I think that the owner failed to appreciate the history he held.

By contrast, Colt's reproduction M1911 is rather interesting to me. Because it's a reproduction, not a restoration, the historical aspect is a moot point. It's not a perfect reproduction...... The slide cuts are not the ball cut of the M1911 (although some M1911s had the more gradual cut) and the rollmarks have edges raised above the level of the slide polish; but it is close enough.

When I acquired my a Colt WWI reproduction, I knew it might be a while before I decided to shoot it. To date, I still have not put any lead down range with it. When I finally stick it in my range bag and bring it along, it will begin it's history with me. It is my hope that when it is passed down to it's next owner, that they will value the history they hold as much as my friend values the history in her gun. I suppose I would rather have that than a gun with history erased.

On Getting Beaten

I am often asked how I find the deals I do in firearms. I have a simple answer, I show up with cash and I look for them. I look at estate sales, garage sales, gun shows and pawn shops. I put the word out of what I am interested in. Often, putting the word out among women can be more fruitful than putting it out among gun nuts. Sometimes though, I am a day late or a dollar short, just like anyone else.

At a gun show last year, I was only ten minutes late. I had entered the auditorium on the West side, but one of my good friends entered on the East. When we met in the middle and shook hands, Lester opened his jacket to show me the Smith & Wesson revolver he had just purchased stuck in his belt.

It wasn't a collector's piece by any means. This was no revolver that had been purchased and then stuck on a shelf in the original box having never been fired. It was more interesting than that. This was a Smith & Wesson Model 27-2 with a three and a half inch barrel that had been carried. Whether it started as a blue gun or not was anyone's guess, but now the remnants of it's finish resembled parkerizing. It was honest wear, and a lot of it. The big N frame had spent it's life in someone's holster, not someone's drawer. To me, that was beautiful. To Lester and his daughter, it was beautiful too. He bought it for her, and then she left to go look at jewelry.

I was dumbstruck as I handled the weathered .357 magnum revolver. Here was one of the most desirable Smith & Wesson revolvers today, in a condition that invited carry rather than investment. The revolver locked up like a new Model 27. Then Lester told me the price he paid, and I almost fell over. $265. From a dealer. The dealer had tried to tell Lester it was a Model 28, and then had talked down to Lester when Lester tried to inform him otherwise. Lester's daughter had been the wise one. "Just buy the gun Daddy, I want it," she had said. Over the past year, Lester did do a couple of things to the old revolver. He swapped out the beat up original grips for stag, and he replaced the damaged rear sight blade.

Often times I feel like I have found a mini oasis in the gun collecting accumulating world. I enjoy the guns that show time spent in a holster. I enjoy the firearms that have been modified to make them more suitable to the job at hand. This gives me an opening and a chance to find many different firearms that I enjoy. Even so, I occasionally still get beat to the table.

The British Victory Model

In 1941, the British Isles witnessed the evil sweeping through Europe. With the Brits facing the Nazi blitzkrieg alone, Smith & Wesson stepped forward to supply the Limeys with the sidearms necessary to fight back. Between October 1941 and May 1945 over 570,000 of these military issue revolvers were shipped all over the globe on a "lend-lease" program to the British Empire.

Commonly called "British Victories" by some, the revolvers shipped to our future allies are more properly referred to as Smith & Wesson Model K-200 or .38/200 British Service Revolvers. Like the Victory Models later issued to American troops, the K-200 was a Model of 1905 with a rougher, sandblast blue finish, although early models received a polished or brushed blue finish. Most sported plain walnut grips, but some early K-200s had checkered grips. Unlike the US version, the K-200 had a five inch barrel, and was chambered in .38 S&W, a shorter cartridge, slightly larger in diameter than the ubiquitous .38 special. On the butt was a pivoting lanyard ring. In addition to being stamped "US Property" on the top strap, the British Service Revolvers have British proof marks as well as the occasional proof marks of other countries. Some even had "Not Made In England" stamped into their frames, in spite of a corresponding "Made In USA" rollmark from Smith & Wesson.

After the war, Great Britain disarmed, and many of the revolvers were returned to the United States as surplus over the years. Sadly, quite a few of them were converted to .38 special by reaming out the chambers. Alas, the chambers were too large in diameter for the .38 special, and ruptured shell casings were commonplace on firing them after this conversion.

In addition to the rechambering, some were butchered even further, receiving new ramped front sights on chopped barrels, and a chrome finish to make them more attractive to the US market. The returning K-200s were sold for between $25 and $35. Today, unmolested examples in Very Good to Excellent condition often command prices between $375 and $500. Original accessories can drive the price up a bit more.

I still hope to find a K-200 in unmolested form, as well as a pimped up, chopped and chromed version for a fair price. Somehow, I think I had better buy while the buying is good.

More

The Smith & Wesson Model 27

The Model 27 is often called the Mona Lisa of Smith & Wesson revolvers. From 1957 to 1994 it reigned at the top of the heap of .357 magnum revolvers. As a finely tuned and polished N frame, it is the direct descendant of the princely Registered Magnum Smith & Wesson. There was a period of time from 1948 to 1956 when the .357 magnum Smith & Wesson is known as a "pre-Model 27." In 2000 the Performance Center released the eight shot Model 27-7, but with a frame mounted firing pin and a MIM hammer and trigger, it was not the same.

The Model 27 sold in either highly polished swimming pool deep blue, or resplendent in blindingly smooth mirror like nickel. The big revolver was available with the options of a target trigger and hammer, as well as target stocks. Barrel lengths ranged from three and a half inch snubbies to eight and 3/8 inch target guns. The three and a half inch Model 27s are enjoying a surge in collectibilty, but the five inch guns are actually more scarce. The longer barreled guns wore a Patridge front sight, while the shorter barrels had a Baughman "Quick Draw" sight up front, often with a orange insert. The top strap was checkered from the front sight to the rear adjustable sight. Indeed, the extravagant topstrap checkering is the hallmark of the Model 27.

It is difficult to predict the path that N frame revolvers will take in the marketplace. Whether the prices have reached their limit, or whether they will continue to climb remains to be seen. Most collectors expect the upward trend to continue. One thing is almost certain. Which ever path the prices go, the Mona Lisa of Smith & Wesson will remain on top.

Vintage CCW

Gun Blast has an interesting article with nice photos of vintage hide-out guns up. This is one of those oddball areas of collecting that I enjoy.

Flamecutting

Often folks ask what "flame cutting" is. Here is what it looks like. Flame cutting is created by hot ignition gases escaping the cylinder gap of a revolver and burning away the top strap. It's primarily seen in .357 magnum and .44 magnum revolvers, but a .38 special firing hot loads can also receive similar damage. In most cases flame cutting is self limiting. Once the closer metal is eroded away, the erosion stops because the gases have room to dissipate.

Because flame cutting indicates hot loads being used in addition to a wide cylinder gap, end shake on such a revolver should be checked scrupulously.

Say Hello to my Little Ring....

Now I have seen Knuckle dusters and Palm pistols before, but this little pinkie ring shooter is a new one to me!

Courtesy of Club Littlegun

The Red Eagle Ruger

One of the .22 pistols that represents American ingenuity is the Ruger Standard. Approximately 25,500 Red Eagle Ruger Standard pistols were manufactured between October 1949 and November, 1951, before Ruger's business partner, Alexander Sturm died of hepatitis. After Sturm's death, Ruger mandated that the grip medallions be silver and black. The remaining red medallions were depleted by February 1952. The "Red Eagle" pursuit may be a sentimental affection for a long passed plinker, but the red medallion is also indicative of an innovative firearm's first year of production.

Other details of the Ruger Standard pistols include a receiver with no scallops before the bolt knob, a nine round magazine and no bolt hold back mechanism. Very early examples have a square ejection port, and a block rear sight instead of the swept back rear sight shown here.

It is still possible to find Red Eagle Ruger Standards at reasonable prices. I occasionally see one at a gun show, often tired and battered. Not infrequently the seller has heard that he has "something" and on looking the pistol up in the Blue Book, he sees higher listings. He jacks up his asking price accordingly. The red eagle Ruger pistols can still be found through private sales and estate sales. I hope to someday find one at a "take me home price". Maybe at the upcoming gun show.......

Aircrewman?

Cabela's, the world's foremost outfitter, recently placed a .38 special firearm up on the internet for $699. The list it as a "Smith & Wesson U.S. Airforce Lightweight in 38 Special":

Smith & Wesson U.S. Airforce Lightweight in 38 Special. In 1953 the Air Force purchased a large quanity of Model 12s with alloy cylinders and frames. Smith and Wesson didn't designate the handgun Model 13 but the Air Force stamped M13 on the top strap. They were rejected do to alloy failures and most were destroyed by the government. Backstrap worn or may have been buffed. Stamped "US Property".

The serial number of the Cabela's revolver falls into the correct range. The revolver appears to be a four screw gun. The barrel lacks the "AIRCREWMAN" rollmark. It has "U.S. Property" stamped on the backstrap and then rubbed out. At right is a picture of my demilled M-13 Aircrewman frame to compare the topstrap markings. It has "PROPERTY OF U.S. AIR FORCE" stamped on the backstrap. Go here for more information. Draw your own conclusions.

Humpback Hammers

Starting in the 1930's Smith & Wesson offered a special order hammer on some revolvers. The Humpback Hammer is most commonly seen on .357 magnum revolvers, but it is occasionally encountered on the Military & Police revolver as well. It is distinquished by it's flat top, and it's fine checkering from front to back. The Humpback Hammer is a very desirable Smith & Wesson option on a wheelgun sought after by collectors. The presence of this option can today raise the price of a revolver by a hundred dollars or more.

Evaluating a Victory Model

A reader brought this Smith & Wesson Victory Model to my attention. The seller's description reads:

S&W 10 (VICTORY)Price $259.00 S&W 10 (Victory) in 38 SPL CAL with 4" barrel Color BLUE Condition 80% Serial number V267190 ALL ORIGINAL!!!!

Now I'm not one to denigrate another man's item for sale, but I am one to educate others.

Larger resolution photos of this revolver are available at the link above. They really are not needed however. This revolver is far from "ALL ORIGINAL!!!!" It has been refinished in a poor quality hot blue. The S&W logo on the sideplate is almost polished away. The screws appear to have been polished down as well. Chances are, the entire revolver was not even disassembled except fot a grip removal prior to tossing it in the bluing tank. Finally, the grips are wrong. Non-diamond magna grips did not appear until 1968. The Victory Model wore smooth walnut service grips. The lanyard loop is long gone, but a replacement is available from Numrich.

Still, this revolver has a couple of pluses. It does bear the "US Property" marking, and it has not been bumper chromed. I actually purchased a similar S&W Victory revolver, but at a very different price. The Victory Model I purchased was $150, and it had diamond magnas. This particular example, while a Victory Model, has zero original finish. It's numbered grips are long gone. It has no collector appeal. If functional, it's worth about $150 as a shooter.

You can see my two S&W Victory Models here.

Free Pistols

There is a sublime beauty in form following function. Perhaps this is why Glock pistols, and the M1911A1 seem to be the two handguns shooters eventually gravitate towards. Both are unadulterated in a quest to get shots on target as quickly as possible. There is another style of shooting however. Shooting for absolute accuracy. Shooting a handgun as Robin Hood shot a bow and arrow. Placing a hole exactly where one wants, and then placing rounds through the same hole.

Free pistols are used in 50m Pistol, an ISSF and Olympic event. Free pistols only have a few limitations. They must have open sights. The grip can not lock the wrist in any way. Caliber must be .22 caliber rimfire. The pistol must be loaded and fired as a single shot pistol. Anything else is permissible.

For several years I have enjoyed shooting my Ruger MKII Government Target Model. I has a Volquartsen/Clark Custom action, an anatomically formed Nill grip, and a Volquartsen compensator, added primarily for weight. With Ruger's competition barrel, the gun is accurate, darned accurate. Still, the trigger is not adjustable, and it is not a true single shot. Competition is possible only with a modified magazine.

My IZH 46M was produced by the Russkies for the 10m air pistol event. It is an extraordinarily accurate pistol. With a fully adjustable trigger and swappable sights, it is probably my most accurate pistol.

Still, the IZH 46M was an air pistol. While handy for killing mice, and for winning a few bucks in a friend's back yard, I continued to lust after Pardini K22s and especially the Hammerli 162. Let's face it, old Xavier ain't to awful bad at hitting paper plates on the run with his 1911, but I'm not a world class Olympic shooter. The precision and purity of calling and placing a shot exactly where you want to fascinates me though. The esoteric and functional beauty of a tool designed for that type of transcendental shooting captivates me as well.

Today, I placed an order for a TOZ-35M Free Pistol with the wooden case from CDNN.
$512 with the case.

On Old Converted Victories

I bought and have just received a .38 S&W caliber M&P that had the cylinder bored out to accept a .38 SPL. I was only told that it was a .38 SPL. When I got it, I saw the "V" in front of the serial number for a Victory model. I know .38 S&W bullets are 3/1000" bigger in diameter than .38 SPL. It can't seal as well. Is that 3/1000" enough to affect accuracy and velocity? Plus, the .38 S&W case is a bit wider than that of a .38 SPL. I've read that sometimes the narrower .38 SPL cases bulge and could be cranky to remove. It's a beautiful gun, all nickeled and reworked by Parker Hale in England a long time ago. It's Does anyone have any experience with this conversion? Will it work up to snuff? Should I return it? Am I worrying over nothing? If it works well, I'd keep it but there's the "no firing" "examination only" return period. The action is like glass, the bore is great and it's gorgeous overall. I knew it had been refinished and I just wanted a shooter and it only cost $225, which is cheap for a nice old S&W. It looks ten times better than it does in the picture. Thanks.
woad_yurt

I find your revolver interesting. I find the front sight/rib on your revolver to be interesting, as well as it's history and conversion. I collect old S&W Military & Police revolvers. I want, at some time, to acquire a Parker Hale conversion, in nickel, for an acceptable price. You will note that I have not yet found such a revolver at a price acceptable to me. My acceptable price, around $150, might just be a tad low.........I say one thing, the market apparently says another.

True, your Victory Model has no collector's value, at least on the usual collector's market, and the .38 S&W to .38 Special conversions are sketchy at best. To oddball collector's like me though, it's an interesting revolver, and that's good enough.

The problem comes in pricing such a gun. To a common garden variety blue chasing firearms collector, your revolver has no value, and those guys are who the books are written for. As a result, you must know what the gun is worth to you. The reference books are worthless to you on pricing. It is good that your revolver is accurate and you are pleased with it. That is good enough.

If I were you, I would shop around for some genuine, period stag or jigged bone grips, screw them on, and enjoy the heck out of this revolver. In the end, any revolver is only worth what the seller and a buyer agree on.

More on this neat gun and some sage wisdom from Old Fuff and others here.

Save Those Maks!

I understand the price of Makarovs may be on the rise.............

Of course, the TT33 is going up too......