Value of re-finsihed 1930's S&W M&P ??

[MIL-DOT]

I'm considering selling a pistol to help finance another (revolver), and thought I should check it's value before doing anything stupid.
It's a late 1930's manufactured S&W Military & Police model of 1905,4th change, original grips, in very good condition, but the folks I got it from at a gun show several years ago said they'd re-finished it with a phospate (parkerized) type finish. It's a black finish, though, and looks alot like the "black magic" finish Smith put on the old Victory models.
Any info much appreciated.....

 

[Old Fuff]

You did't mention barrel length, which might be important. Because it's refinished most collectors probably would't be interested, but some shooters might if it's in good mechanical shape with a clean bore and chambers. However for some reason barrel lengths over 4-inches aren't particularly popular while 2-inch snubbies are hot items. If it's in excellent condition I'd say between $250 to $300, but subtract $25 for over a 4-inch barrel

If the stocks are in nice condition you might consider selling them seperately and installing something inexpensive on the gun. Given what it is, this won't hurt the revolver's value much - if any; and on the collector's market you might get $75 or more for the original stocks.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Thanks again,O.F. the barrel is a 4 inch.

 

[Old Fuff]

If/when you do sell it, mention that it has the pre-war/early-post war "long action," which is potentially the smoothest, lightest (and still reliable) double-action trigger pull ever offered on a production revolver.

Also, while it doesn't have the post-war positive hammer block (carry with the hammer down on an empty chamber for complete security), it also has none of the later cost-cutting changes made in future years.

And while I have tried and tried to find it, I have no idea where they put the internal lock...