Help with info on an '80's Taurus .38 snub?

[doc540]

I just scored a Taurus 5 shot .38 snub in nickel with a fairly large wooden grip and a target trigger.

The action is smooth and light (w/o gunsmith work), too.

I called Taurus with the serial #EH77xxx. They said it was only sold a few years in the 1980's and was a "target model".

I bought it for my sister years ago, and she just shipped it back to me (thru my local FFL dealer).

I appreciate any info you can give me. Anyone here know anything about this particular handgun?

 

[doc540]

awww, come on....I know Taurus has a bad reputation around here, but surely somebody knows about an '80's target model, huh?

anyone?

 

[MrBill120]

Nice looking piece though! 2" barrel? I like the full shroud.

 

[doc540]

Quick Flitz job cleaned it up nicely.

Looks like I'll just sell it locally.

 

[GrandmasterB]

Looks pretty much like a clean model 85 to me. Never heard of one being a "target model".

If you want to sell, why not post in the classifieds and give the forum members a chance at it?

 

[45shooter]

I had a model 85 back in the late 80's and it looked just like yours including the grip. I don't know what the "target" is about. Are you sure its nickel and not stainless as I don't remember seeing any nickel finish models 85.

It was a good revolver and it was my carry gun for a while. It was as good as my S&W J frame revolvers except the DA trigger was heavier. I think I traded it away few years later on a S&W Bodyguard.

 

[SAWBONES]

That's a stainless Model 85.
It was an excellent value, shot spot-on with .38 Special 158gr LSWCHP +P, and was very reliable and well made.

I had one for years and foolishly traded it on a another gun. Wish I hadn't. Taurus' current .38 Special "snubbies" are crap by comparison.

 

[parallaxbill]

I sure like my wife's CH 85. It shoots to point of aim and never has done a thing but work fine for me. Mine has a very very smooth DA pull. Great self defense pistol for a woman but I would trust if for me too although I'm a 45 acp guy. I've not heard of a target model either unless they think the checkering on your grips makes it more accurate.

 

[doc540]

The service rep at Taurus ID'ed it as a "target model" due to the wide trigger and better-than-average action.

But he might not have known either.

It sure took Flitz like it's stainless, so I guess that's what it is.

And I'll try to sell it locally first because face-to-face is more convenient, but if I can't get a decent price around here, I'll post it in the classifieds. It appears to have hardly been fired in all the years my sister had it.

And thanks for the replies.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Nice looking gun. What ever you do, don't shoot +p ammo through it. Taurus didn't start making the M85 +p capable until the late 90s.

Oh, and you shouldn't share you serial numbers so freely on the web.

 

[doc540]

Thanks, I paused and thought about the serial numbers, but it seems like many pictures are shown around here with serial numbers.

I'll edit it and remember that in the future.

And thanks about the +P advice, too.

btw: I think the finish is satin nickel.

 

[parallaxbill]

"Oh, and you shouldn't share you serial numbers so freely on the web."

Why not?

 

[lee n. field]

"target model".

Taurus said that? A .38 snub with fixed sights is a "target model"?

Taurus has a bad reputation around here

It's probably fairer to say Taurus (the company, and their products) has a "mixed" reputation around here. I had a Taurus Model 66 for a long time. Traded it off after I got a closely equivalent S&W Model 19 -- there was no comparison in quality, the Smith was and is a far better gun.

I'd get another one if the opportunity presented itself, if the deal was good enough.

BTW, watch your dry firing -- my Taurus had a tendency to eat firing pin springs.

 

[doc540]

wow....that was easy

I shot the Taurus last Sunday afternoon, had a gunsmith give it a spring tuneup Monday, sold it Tuesday afternoon for the $350 I was asking.

You know, it seems just about any decent quality handgun in the $300-$450 price range will sell about as quickly as anyone can list them in the local classifieds.

I've sold four within a couple of days of listing them: Firestar .45, Glock 26, and NAA .22LR w/folding grip, now the Taurus.

 

[Eljay]

Wow, you did really good I paid $225 new for my Stainless 85

 

[doc540]

In the late '80's Taurus had a reputation for consistent quality.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Why not?

Call me paranoid, but unless you have a paper trail proving your ownership, someone can report your gun stolen and make a legal claim to it. In California, due to mandatory gun registration, the government keeps track of what firearms I own so I don't have to.

 

[parallaxbill]

Proving your ownership is not the problem. The person making the claim has to prove it too. Plus he faces the potential of a criminal charge against him for filing a false charge.

Someone would be very hard pressed to see a random serial number online and be able to make the claim stick that the weapon was stolen from them.

Nothing to worry about IMHO.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

To each his own.