What that search shows me is how many people - including gun dealers - do not know the difference between 38 S&W and 38 Special. I hate to offend people by treating them as if they are ignorant, but it is hard to avoid when so many people are.
Unfortunately, youre right on here. And dont feel bad in the least offending them either.
I went through it about a month ago when bidding on a real nice lend Lease Victory in 38 S&W. The dealer said he picked it up at an estate sale, and had no idea what he had. He thought it was 38 Special, and listed it as such, and then posted a correction after someone sent him a message and told him, giving anyone who bid on it thinking it was 38 special an out. I was high bid, and doing real good, right to the end, and then lost it to a boy who just kept running it up and up. I finally gave up and lost it for $5.
The next day, I get an email from the dealer saying the boy who won, thought (another nit wit) it was a .38 special, and then didnt want it. I could have it, but someone else sent him a message and told him it was worth a lot more than was bid, and to make him an offer. I told him Id give him what the other guy won it for, but he never bothered to answer me back.
Ive had a couple of things like this go on on GB, and Im about done bothering with them. The better deals are what you find in out of the way shops, or people you know or know of someone looking to get rid of stuff. About all GB is good for, is to give you an idea of what things are going for. Not factoring in that many overpay for things there.
Most all of the top break guns Ive seen in shops though, Id probably shy away from. Ive had a number of them given to me over the years by people looking to get them out of the house, etc, and most were junk. Poorly maintained, and cared for, most were sloppy mechanically and out of time etc, and shaky at best to be shot. The only exception to that was the little 32 S&W I got above. Its also the only one I didnt break down into parts and sell on EBay. Made out pretty good $$ wise doing that.