S&W Model 34 - chance to buy..
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MatthewVanitas
Member
I'd say that's a decent deal. I've seen them in Seattle and Austin for $350 or so.
EDIT: Oh, it's a snubby! I believe that increases the value. Fluff?
The UT range has a S&W 63 (same thing in stainless), and it's a neat little piece of gear.
I'd say go for it, they aren't making any more of them.
Rather than put some rubber monstrosity onto the grip, I recommend that you add a Tyler T-grip to the stock wooden grips.
If you want to do something fun, you can replace the wooden grips with pseudo-stag for around $20: http://stores.ebay.com/TOMBSTONE-GUN-GRIPS
Make sure to post pics after you get it. Look at it this way, what kind of new S&W gun would $310 get you? S&W Sigma, 'nuff said.
-MV
EDIT: Oh, it's a snubby! I believe that increases the value. Fluff?
The UT range has a S&W 63 (same thing in stainless), and it's a neat little piece of gear.
I'd say go for it, they aren't making any more of them.
Rather than put some rubber monstrosity onto the grip, I recommend that you add a Tyler T-grip to the stock wooden grips.
If you want to do something fun, you can replace the wooden grips with pseudo-stag for around $20: http://stores.ebay.com/TOMBSTONE-GUN-GRIPS
Make sure to post pics after you get it. Look at it this way, what kind of new S&W gun would $310 get you? S&W Sigma, 'nuff said.
-MV
XavierBreath
Member
I felt very lucky when I bought my S&W Model 34-1 for $300.
Is it worth it? You're darned tootin' it is!
Go to the link above to read a review.
Is it worth it? You're darned tootin' it is!
Go to the link above to read a review.
MatthewVanitas
Member
@ Xavier:
Dude! You're dissing on my $60 H&R .22 kit gun! Harsh!
@ meef:
Glad we convinced you. Did I sell you on the Tyler or the pseudo-stag (B-movie) grips?
I've almost convinced myself now. Fortunately, I have a Ruger Stainless Bearcat, which I consider the One True Kit Gun. I'll soon be getting back my original grips, which I sent to be used to make molds. The mold-maker is casting me a set of pseudo-stag grips as payment. Pics will post in time for Christmas gift decisions.
-MV
Dude! You're dissing on my $60 H&R .22 kit gun! Harsh!
@ meef:
Glad we convinced you. Did I sell you on the Tyler or the pseudo-stag (B-movie) grips?
I've almost convinced myself now. Fortunately, I have a Ruger Stainless Bearcat, which I consider the One True Kit Gun. I'll soon be getting back my original grips, which I sent to be used to make molds. The mold-maker is casting me a set of pseudo-stag grips as payment. Pics will post in time for Christmas gift decisions.
-MV
Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
Wonderful little guns!
I bought my M34-1 2", brand new, in about 1970 from a Gibson's Discount Store in Fort Worth. They had the price mismarked for some reason - - Something like $69.95, which was WAY low, even back then. I mentioned this to the gun counter clerk. He checked and said nope, that's what their price was supposed to be. I badly strained my small town cop's checking account, but bought it on the spot.
That revolver has a very short sight radius, and really shouldn't be as easy o shoot as it is. I've made several shots with it that I don't tell about, because I think I'm lying when I tell the stories. It seems to like the Federal bulk pack Hp ammo as well as it does target ammo. It rides comfortably in the pocket of my bird vest.
I agree that the factory stocks are the way to go. I prefer the Pachmayr rubber grip adaptor, but the Tyler T-Grip works well, too.
Only recently I ran across a flawless 4" round butt M34-1 in a local pawn shop for a startlingly low price. I bought it, too. Before I could take it out and shoot it, I fell and broke my hip!
I'm about to swap my walker for a cane, and I imagine I can get Elder Son to go to the range with me on his next days off.
meef, $310 is a very good price. I'd have paid that for the four-inch, and I like the two-inch better. Please post an image.
best
Johnny
I bought my M34-1 2", brand new, in about 1970 from a Gibson's Discount Store in Fort Worth. They had the price mismarked for some reason - - Something like $69.95, which was WAY low, even back then. I mentioned this to the gun counter clerk. He checked and said nope, that's what their price was supposed to be. I badly strained my small town cop's checking account, but bought it on the spot.
That revolver has a very short sight radius, and really shouldn't be as easy o shoot as it is. I've made several shots with it that I don't tell about, because I think I'm lying when I tell the stories. It seems to like the Federal bulk pack Hp ammo as well as it does target ammo. It rides comfortably in the pocket of my bird vest.
I agree that the factory stocks are the way to go. I prefer the Pachmayr rubber grip adaptor, but the Tyler T-Grip works well, too.
Only recently I ran across a flawless 4" round butt M34-1 in a local pawn shop for a startlingly low price. I bought it, too. Before I could take it out and shoot it, I fell and broke my hip!
I'm about to swap my walker for a cane, and I imagine I can get Elder Son to go to the range with me on his next days off. meef, $310 is a very good price. I'd have paid that for the four-inch, and I like the two-inch better. Please post an image.
best
Johnny
MatthewVanitas
Member
Those are out of production, right?
Has anyone written to Pachy asking if they'll be reintroduced?
-MV
XavierBreath
Member
MatthewVanitas,
No way am I dissing a reliable $50 .22 shootin' iron!
Here's my H&R 923 Range Report.
The H&R .22 guns are usually way undervalued!
No way am I dissing a reliable $50 .22 shootin' iron!
Here's my H&R 923 Range Report.
The H&R .22 guns are usually way undervalued!
When I first posted this thread I stated that I had the chance to pick up a blued S&W Model 34 2" in really nice shape.
Oh geez.....
I had no idea.
I hadn't seen the gun, but was relying on a word of mouth description.
It wasn't in really nice shape.......
It was totally cherry!!
I went to look at it and had to control myself to keep from drooling. The blue was 100%, a thorough and close examination lead me to believe that it had less than a box of shells through it, it had less turn ring on the cylinder than some of the new ones I've seen at the dealers, it looked like it'd never been in a holster and it was as tight as my spinster aunt Minnie. It's a 34-1 and might as well be brand new.
What else could I do? I bought it so fast my credit card nearly overheated.
I can't for the life of me figure why somebody sold this beauty. And since I paid $300 (not counting the extra $10 for the usual NICS call) they can't have gotten much for it from the pawn shop.
Not that I'm complaining.
The only thing I don't care for is the Pachmayr grip. I might just be tempted to get a set of the pseudo-stags MatthewVanitas mentioned earlier.
Thanks to everybody for their input. Thanks to XavierBreath for including a link to his very interesting web site here.
I can't wait to go shoot this puppy.... ::happy dance!::
Oh geez.....
I had no idea.
I hadn't seen the gun, but was relying on a word of mouth description.
It wasn't in really nice shape.......
It was totally cherry!!
I went to look at it and had to control myself to keep from drooling. The blue was 100%, a thorough and close examination lead me to believe that it had less than a box of shells through it, it had less turn ring on the cylinder than some of the new ones I've seen at the dealers, it looked like it'd never been in a holster and it was as tight as my spinster aunt Minnie. It's a 34-1 and might as well be brand new.
What else could I do? I bought it so fast my credit card nearly overheated.
I can't for the life of me figure why somebody sold this beauty. And since I paid $300 (not counting the extra $10 for the usual NICS call) they can't have gotten much for it from the pawn shop.
Not that I'm complaining.
The only thing I don't care for is the Pachmayr grip. I might just be tempted to get a set of the pseudo-stags MatthewVanitas mentioned earlier.
Thanks to everybody for their input. Thanks to XavierBreath for including a link to his very interesting web site here.
I can't wait to go shoot this puppy....
::happy dance!::
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MatthewVanitas
Member
Good deal. He also has grips w/ the longhorn relief-carved into the grip, ala Elmer Keith.
I have not personally handled his grips yet, but I have a set of grips being cloned by him, and will post a report on them when they come back to me.
EDIT: I've heard some mixed things on Tombstone Grips, so will refrain from directing folks their way until I can personally review and photograph a set of their grips.
The Pachmayr grips will probably get you $10-15 on the Sale boards here on THR.
Now I just need to sell you on the Tyler T-grip *grin*
-MV
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XavierBreath
Member
That's a sweet one meef!
The correct grips would be regular old J frame non-diamond magnas. They can usually be found on ebay.
S&W has some in Dymondwood right now, but they are not original.
You may notice that the rear sight looks kind of strange compared to other S&W revolvers. Some 34-1 rear sights have vertical serrations. At first, when I noticed this on my 34-1, I thought perhaps it had a Taurus sight or something. I posted on the S&W forums about it, and learned that this is a normal rear sight for the 34-1. If you have the same rear sight, no worries, it's original.
Go shoot that gun!
The correct grips would be regular old J frame non-diamond magnas. They can usually be found on ebay.
S&W has some in Dymondwood right now, but they are not original.
You may notice that the rear sight looks kind of strange compared to other S&W revolvers. Some 34-1 rear sights have vertical serrations. At first, when I noticed this on my 34-1, I thought perhaps it had a Taurus sight or something. I posted on the S&W forums about it, and learned that this is a normal rear sight for the 34-1. If you have the same rear sight, no worries, it's original.
Go shoot that gun!
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