Price check on a pre model 10 5 screw S&W

[grizz223]

So a friend of mine ask me to clean up an old Smith and Wesson pre model 10 5 screw K frame for him. First let me tell you the thing was rusted shut it took me a good while to get it working. So let me describe it It is almost completely without any finnish. Nickel plating is maybe 10% it has some really bad pitting on the trigger gaurd. However after much elbow grease it is fuctioning perfectly the lock up is very tight and I think it would make a good shooter and I want to rescue it. So witout any pictures as I am at work right now. What would be a fair price for an old sad looking Smith?

Thanks for any help you can provide

 

[ScottRiqui]

I have an old (~1930) M&P .38 as well, and it's one of my favorite guns. That being said, there a kajillion of them out there, especially if you include all the Model 10 police trade-ins, which usually sell for for $269 or so, with 70-80% of the factory finish remaining.

Realistically, the gun was virtually worthless before you cleaned it up, so he should probably just give it to you. But if you want to offer him something, I wouldn't go above $50-75, and that's only if the cylinders and bore look good.

Also, unless you're planning on some kind of DIY refinish, I'd pass entirely - the cost of the gun plus the cost of any professionally-applied refinish is going to drive you up into the range where you're better off buying a used Model 10 that still has its factory finish.

 

[madcratebuilder]

It can be saved. I started with a $20 revolver that was ugly, only 5-10% of the nickle remained. I had it stripped of the remaining nickle and painted it with Aluma-hyde. OK for a $50 revolver, it shoots fairly well.

 

[grizz223]

So I gave back the guns I had worked on for a friend and he gave me the Smith I had posted about in this thread so great day.