Information about my uncle's 1975 Smith & Wesson Revolver

[Jashan Randhawa]

My Father's uncle(Chacha G) Passed away recently and In his will he gave his Smith and Wesson To my Father.




i thought its very boring looking compared to The Revolvers people carry Now a days,But then i came accross a letter my Father's Uncle Received from Smith and Wesson After He Posted Inquiry about some parts of the revolver.

It would be very helpful if you guys will help me in giving Me more Information about this revolver.I dont even know when it was made exactly.And it would be very helpful if you can tell me how much Does this revolver cost.
Thanks in Advance.

[BowMan]

Perhaps your Chacha Gi had a very fine taste in revolvers. That is one of the more desirable guns to have borne that Smith & Wesson name (but for the conversion job).

These were produced from 1942 to 1944 in .38 S&W Special and .38/200 (also called .38 S&W). About 1,000,000 of these were produced and some sources say that production continued up to 1948. I am not sure what the letter means which it says it was used around 1938 when sources confirm production began only in 1942. Perhaps you can post a close up of the serial number to clear things.

Since this has been converted in London, It is safe to assume that this pistol was chambered in .38 S&W and not .38 S&W Special. That also makes it loose some value as US marked guns are considered more valuable.

Apart from the caliber conversion I can also see an adjustable sight which has definitely been added later on as also the Bluing which has been done later on. The Partridge type front sight also seems to be part of this conversion job. The grips are also definitely not original.

Though the pictures suggest a finely maintained arm, it is not a really collectible one because of these conversions/modifications.

However we all know Indian markets have their own way of assessing a guns value which can be quiet different from international standards.

In India I would say this gun should fetch a price somewhat lesser than factory chambered .22LR Smith in same condition largely because of these conversions (if the buyer can spot these).

If however this was maintained in original condition (as I wish) than international prices would be very handsome indeed.

[Mark]

A nice looking and historic revolver, I hope you continue to keep it in the family!

Here is a listing of one for sale in the USA, to give you an idea of pricing. It appears to not be in as good a shape as yours.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Smith- ... =100278557

[Jashan Randhawa]

In India I would say this gun should fetch a price somewhat lesser than factory chambered .22LR Smith in same condition largely because of these conversions (if the buyer can spot these).

If however this was maintained in original condition (as I wish) than international prices would be very handsome indeed.

How much is that?I dont have that much information About firearms.Even if it has been modified and converted the also how much can it fetch?Any Aggregates?

thanks for the Information.It really means a lot.So Does it mean that this revolver was made even before 1950?
I will ask My Father's Chachi Ji about the modifications you mentioned.Maybe She will know about its History.

[xl_target]

Beautiful Smith. I hope you take good care of it.
I would hang on to that one.

How does it shoot?

[Jashan Randhawa]

it shoots very well.I love its sound.Their is very less recoil.We take very good care of it.I don't want to sell it ,i just want to be know more about the gun i own.you know curiosity.

[BowMan]

Hi Jashan,

If it was acquired before it was modified then certainly someone in your family should be having that history. This gun certainly predates 1950 as the victory model was not produced after 1948 according to most sources.

To exactly date your gun please use the serialization resources available on this forum here;
http://www.indiansforguns.com/viewtopic ... 39#p175039

You can find serial numbers on your gun by opening the cylinder and looking at the yolk just under the forcing cone area.

Let me also say that guns in family heirlooms should be preserved as a heritage. This I am sure you must be doing. As for your curiosity let me just say that it can at least fetch you a good hatchback car if you sadly choose to part with it.

I hope this helps.

Regards
BowMan

[Jashan Randhawa]

Hi Bowman,

Thanks for your help,and when I saw the serial no i think it's been made in the year 1946, 1 year before we got Freedom.So that makes it 66 years old.

we will keep this Revolver with forever.Right now i am 18 and whenever i become 21 i will try to Get a Arms licence so that i can inherit it from my father whenever he wants to gift it to me.

My uncle also gave us a Shotgun Which has been made in Japan.Can i post its pictures here?It is "model 600 -15GA -2 3/4 chamber proof tested Ithaca gun Co. Inc. Ithaca ,N.Y MADE IN JAPAN Roto Forged"

Thanks

Jashan

[TC]

Dear Jashan, the Ithaca Model 600 is a wonderful over-under trap shooter. The ones made in Japan for Ithaca are rare and though priced a little less (in terms of dollar those days) than the ones made in USA they are real beauties.

The .22 smith you have is a treasure and rest assured the conversion was not done in India. Right now its market price in our Eastern, Northern and Southern markets should be anything between 3.4 and 4 lakh and I am mentioning a price dealers will quote. So you can easily imagine how much buys will pay...

Take care of these weapons and try to preserve them forever.


TC

[Jashan Randhawa]

Dear Jashan, the Ithaca Model 600 is a wonderful over-under trap shooter. The ones made in Japan for Ithaca are rare and though priced a little less (in terms of dollar those days) than the ones made in USA they are real beauties.

The .22 smith you have is a treasure and rest assured that the conversion was not done in India. Right now its market price in our Eastern, Northern and Southern markets should be anything between 3.4 and 4 lakh and I am mentioning a price dealers will quote. So you can easily imagine how much buys will pay...

Take care of these weapons and try to preserve them forever.


TC

Thanks brother for your inputs.I will take Best care of My revolver and gun.Now whenever my friends will say that you got an old looking revolver i can say to them proudly that its worth 4 lac rupees .

Thanks once agaim

[goodboy_mentor]

i can say to them proudly that its worth 4 lac rupees .

Probably much more than four lakhs. This is what arms dealers may pay you. They will make further profits when they sell it to the buyer. So if you directly sell to the buyer the price may be much higher than four lakhs. To get an idea you may read this thread http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=18007

[Sakobav]

This is a great heirloom hang on to it

Cheers

[TC]

Dear Jashan, the Ithaca Model 600 is a wonderful over-under trap shooter. The ones made in Japan for Ithaca are rare and though priced a little less (in terms of dollar those days) than the ones made in USA they are real beauties.

The .22 smith you have is a treasure and rest assured that the conversion was not done in India. Right now its market price in our Eastern, Northern and Southern markets should be anything between 3.4 and 4 lakh and I am mentioning a price dealers will quote. So you can easily imagine how much buys will pay...

Take care of these weapons and try to preserve them forever.


TC

Thanks brother for your inputs.I will take Best care of My revolver and gun.Now whenever my friends will say that you got an old looking revolver i can say to them proudly that its worth 4 lac rupees .

Thanks once agaim

You are welcome. Feel free to ask any question. We are always here. And, as I have said and mentor has seconded.. the Smith is worth much more than 4 lakh and it is going to go up up and up every year.... My advice would be to forget the price and keep it close to your heart

Take care
TC

[Jashan Randhawa]

Yes i will always keep it with me and never sell it.Thanks for your information.