S&W 44 special

Bamavol

I am looking at an S&W model 24. It has the red insert in the front sight so I think it is recent, maby 80's, manufacture. The shop is asking $300.
The gun is in excelent mechanical condition, but looks rough.
The blue is 85% but the bad spots are surface rust. Also rust on the hammer and trigger. The grips are dinged and scratched but not worn. What should I offer?

bpost

can you post a picture? the price seems high for a nasty rust gun

nmyers

The motto of Dean's Gun Restoration is "Life's too short to shoot an ugly gun", & I feel that way, too.

But, there's no way you can justify spending anywhere near $300 if you plan to have it refinished. Especially if you aren't already set up to reload .44 special. I guess it's a personal decision, but I wouldn't spend > $150-200 on a gun like the one you describe.

I've never had much luck "making an offer", unless the price I was willing to pay was close to the asking price.

Neal

dfletcher

I'm in California - where used 80s Smiths are a bit more difficult to find - so my "too much" price may be a bit higher than others.

I'd be willing to do $250.00. If you're going to keep it as is (back packing or truck gun) then I think $250.00 for a mechanically excellent, but ugly, N frame Smith is fair.

If you're going to have it refinished, if you can get that done for $150.00, including shipping costs, I'd say $400.00 total cost is fair. Shipping is usually about $40.00 each way so that may not be possible. If there's a local guy who does good work that's your best bet.

Contender Man

Reintroduced as the 24-3 in 1983. Production was discontinued in 1984 with total production stated to be 7,500. All are purported to be in the ABZ serial number configuration. None reported as having red insert front sight. All reported with baughman or patridge front sights.

However ... Lew Horton had 1,000 special manufactured with 3" barrels and round butts. These are reported to have the red insert front sights. These revolvers were mfg. between 1983 and 1985.

Hope this helps.

punchie

You mean the ones that looked kinda like this

Bamavol

Thanks for the info. I do not have a pic of the gun, but it looks like the photo that punchie posted except for a longer barrel and square butt grip. I could buy new grips and I could polish out the rust on the hammer and trigger. It would then look better. I was hot for this gun but have now cooled off. I may offer $250. The ammo is out of sight, so I will not shoot it much.
I am going to a gun show Saturday. If I don't see anything I like better I may make an offer. I will also check on ammo cost.

rsnyder55

44 special is a SASS cartridge so you may be able to find some reasonably priced for cowboy action shooting. They will be lead rounds.

dfletcher

quote:Originally posted by rsnyder55
44 special is a SASS cartridge so you may be able to find some reasonably priced for cowboy action shooting. They will be lead rounds.


Since I reload for the 44SP it's been a while since I've bought factory, but I'm pretty sure MiWall has 210 LSWC for about $15.00 per 50.

Bamavol

I went back for a second look. This gun started life as a model 28-2.
It was converted to a 44 special. I think that it received a trigger job then. It is very smooth. This information only adds to my confusion. Why would anyone make a conversion and pay for trigger work and then treat the gun so rough?

ATF

quote:Originally posted by Bamavol
I went back for a second look. This gun started life as a model 28-2.
It was converted to a 44 special. I think that it received a trigger job then. It is very smooth. This information only adds to my confusion. Why would anyone make a conversion and pay for trigger work and then treat the gun so rough?


Because,their not very smart. [:(]