Would this enhance or hinder value of an S&W?

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pdbertb

New member
I'm looking at an otherwise nice S&W 28-2 that had some non-factory custom work done to it. In your opinion would this conversion be a + or - as far as a collectable? From what I've seen it can't be noticed until you open the cylinder even though chambers are recessed.



http://tkcustom.com/
 
If you using it for SD who cares I love moonclip revolvers. Of course, all though I have to many revolvers I'm not a collector, but I have a nice collection.
 
For serious to semi-serious S&W purists and collectors and amassers- I agrees that it would be a hinderance. However any modification, no matter how sensible or silly, is still worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
 
I don't consider myself to be a "collector" but anything that moves away from "stock out of the box" detracts from what I'm willing to pay. Even non-factory stocks detract.

I suppose if you happen to find someone who wants that particular modification, it might help, but that's going to be a long hunt. You get modifications done because YOU want them, not because you think it will enhance the value.
 
PDBert,

Are you saying the revolver has been cut for moonclips?

As others have noted, no matter how finely done, that conversion will greatly diminish collectors value.

HOWEVER...

That conversion may very well escalate the price significantly if you're able to find someone who is into the speed shooting games.
 
Mike, yes it has been professionally cut to except fullmoon clips. Sounds like it might be a fun gun to shoot so maybe I'll pursue it further.
 
You probably already know the model 27's and 28's are the older of the N frame S&W's in .357 mag.../ the model 27's were the fancier of the two models - blued and Nickel...different blued finish - worth quite a bit more money today in the market / where the mod 28's are a lot less expensive today - satin blued finish.

The dash 2's are a desireable engineering version ..in both the model 27's and 28's ...and while having the cyclinder re-worked to accept moon clips may be ok for you / it will probably detract from the value down the road ...but how much is hard to tell. A lot of collectors - don't really add too many of the model 28's to their collections...vs most of them have more than one model 27's blued, nickel, different barrel lengths ....so cutting a model 28 for moon clips - might not hurt the value that much / doing it to a model 27 - would hurt it a lot in my view !
 
IMO, guns need to be grouped into 2 categories when valuing.

1) How much is this gun worth as a purpose used gun? i.e. A Colt 1911 made into an IPSC open pistol which is competative is worth like $3500 because that is the replacement cost.

2) As a collector. That same pistol is worth ~$100 as a collection piece because it was likely made by an unfamous, but good IPSC gunsmith. It havs probably have most parts altered or replaced.

The fair market value is $3500.

Something like a "fitz special" is a gun which was priced as a #1 when made and used. After the use period was over and that customization became famous. That made it priced as a #2 which became worth more than unused guns because it was a "fitz special."

So, when customizing guns, I would consider how much value the customization gives you in use vs. how much you want to make it into a safe queen. Well used guns carried and used regularly, even unmodified, have little value as a #2 and generally have lost value vs. new undder the #1 value system.
 
If the M-28 has been cut for Moon clips it is no longer a potential collector grade revolver, and is nothing more than a shooter, which is not always a bad thing.
 
It definitely takes away from its collector value though you might get lucky and find a spare M-28 cylinder.
 
Everything you change or modify will reduce collector value.
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First off, an M-28 is not exactly a collector gun, unless it is in excellent/exceptional condition. An M-27 is a different proposition.

Second, never say always, never say never.
Once upon a time (3-4 years ago) I bought a used 4" S&W M25-5 (45LC). That is a ~$750 revolver.

Since it had been worked over by Hamilton Bowen, the asking price was $995. I paid it without blinking, and it was the sweetest revolver I have ever seen, held or fired.

It was not perfect, but it was too nice to carry. I don't have enough money to own "safe queens"--if I don't carry it or shoot it regularly, I sell it and buy something else.

I sold it about two years ago, and when I put it up for sale at the same price I paid, it took only a couple days. The first guy who looked at it paid my price without blinking.

Bottom line--Modifications will not always diminish an S&W revolver's value. :)
 
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You also can't just swap cyclinders on a model 28 ....in those days these guns were hand fit ..../ and taking a cyclinder from a different model 28 might fit ....but it probably won't / or it may have significant timing issues ...and its very difficult and expensive to fix timing issues on these older revolvers.
 
As I get older and dumber (I know that is not the way it is supposed to work, but it does), I keep finding that what I always considered shooting guns are now considered "collectors items." Now I could see that with some of my guns that are fairly uncommon, or even rare, but a Model 28? They made a whole bunch of them and they were never "class" guns to begin with (the Model 27 was, or at least the pre-27), being made as a cheapo .357 for police purchase.

My reaction to this thread is that cutting a Model 28 for moon clips is not going to significantly reduce the collector value of the gun, which is pretty much non-existent anyway.

Jim
 
First off, an M-28 is not exactly a collector gun
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That's my thinking. 28's don't command a premium in my area. So for me, the moonclip modification would be a wash. I have two revolvers cut for TK moonclips, and I like them, so while I probably wouldn't pay extra for the modification, it wouldn't cause me to downgrade the revolver.
 
Thanks to all for the feedback. Any "non-rostered" pistol in CA is a little tough to come by unless it's a face to face transaction. Unfortunately that makes a lot of otherwise common pieces that are within driving distance seem like gems. I have a nice 5" 1956 pre-27 that I like to look at, but mostly it sits in the safe.
 
If the pre-model 27 were mine, I'd shoot it and enjoy it / maybe not draw it from a holster..and put excessive wear on it ...but I'd still shoot it.

I'm in my 60's now ...and I have always love S&W revolvers...and the model 27's have a special place in my heart and always will ...and while I have indoctrinated my sons ( both in their mid 30's ) to love them as well ....I've noticed that my grandkids ( from 10 - 20 ...) like the nostalgia of the revolvers...but aren't really in love with them like I was 50 yrs ago.

It makes me wonder - if the value will be maintained on model 27's and pre model 27's ...after all of us Baby Boomers are long gone.../ I'm not saying sell them today and get what you can ...but hanging on to them long term ...might be like "baseball cards" - they were pretty Hot in the 80's and 90's ....and hardly any value there these days..../ I'd hate to see it happen ...but the same thing might happen to these old revolvers...( and I have a lot of S&W revolvers --- about 25 of them now / mod 18's, 19's, 27's, 28's, 29's - and 66's, 686's, 617's, 629's...)...

My grandkids as an example ...would be happier if I bought a new FN --- or a fancy black rifle...for them to shoot ...way more than another revolver.
 
In your opinion would this conversion be a + or - as far as a collectable?
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This question is very specific, and the answer is no, as otherwise said.

The dash 2's are a desireable engineering version ..in both the model 27's and 28's
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Sort of but not really. They were the last P&R'd model 28s made BUT a pre model 28 aka 5 screw highway patrolman, a 28 no dash, and 28-1 are all more desireable to collectors. 28-2s are very common as were 27-2s. They are better than later variations, but anything earlier is much harder to find.

First off, an M-28 is not exactly a collector gun, unless it is in excellent/exceptional condition.
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More info is needed. A 28 no dash is harder to find, and with a lil holster wear is still a collector piece. I have yet to find one for a good price. 28-1s, as many -1s (esp those which were at one time 5 screw models) are very hard to find and any 5 screw highway patrolman aka pre 28 brings a distinct premium when all else is the same. Another thing that helps would be if the gun had options such as target grips, TH or TT. These options were non standard on 28s and are hard to find today as original options. Many are changed out after the fact however.

being made as a cheapo .357 for police purchase
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I personally, like many others, would rather have a S&W version of a "cheapo" than a deluxe Taurus or Ruger. As many of you know, I prefer S&W over Colt as well and I have plenty of both. Many people actually think that 28s are diamonds in the rough because even though the superficial things were cheaper, they were still great designs, with great quality put into them.
 
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