Help Identifying 2 Revolvers

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*Pics Added In Post #9*

Ok so my stepfather died about 5 years ago and left my mother with his guns. I had been given a couple that we enjoyed shooting together and my mother kept the rest. Now she has realized she is going to do nothing with them and could use the cash more. Unfortunately for some reason though he was anal about some things he didn't care for his guns very well. So my mother tasked me with trying to figure out what she can get for them. I have 5 siblings who enjoy shooting but other than a black powder rifle have no interest. So being interested in a few myself I told my mother I would buy what I wanted off her and get rid of the rest. First are 2 revolvers... long guns in a day or two.

First, I know what it is maybe if you could help me value it. Ok it is a S&W model 32-1 .38S&W cal. with a 2 inch barrel, blued finish (not sure if it came in any other). How would I go about dating it? I looked on S&W's site and didn't see anything but I could have missed it. Ser.# is 1109. The finish is worn, I know he carried it a lot. All sharp edges and a few worn spots on the cylinder. There was some rust spots on it that cam off with some 0000 steel wool after soaking in oil for 24hrs. Good lock-up/ functions fine, just not pertty on the eyes. I will put pics up tomorrow i can't get them off the camera right now. So I know that will give you a better idea.

Second is a Dan Wesson Arms .357cal, 6 shot revolver. It has 3 barrels, a 2", 4", and 6". There isn't a "vented" rib on the top like I have seen on others. Finish is blued. I looked for markings but all I could find other that the name, ser.# and other standard markings was what looks like a "6" on the inside of the Crane, but searching for that doesn't do much. On the frame its labeled:
Dan Wesson Arms
Mnson, Mass. U.S.A.
3295xx

Then on the barrels:
Dan Wesson Arms
357 Magnum Ctg.
All and all this one is in ok shape. The grips have some scratches on them. The bluing is good on the frame, minor wear. It seams to be a little faded on the frame and the 4" barrel, which was used the most. Also the 4" barrel has some holster wear on the muzzle and had some small rust spots that I could remove with oil and more 0000 steel wool. The bluing on the 2" and 6" is darker showing they weren't used much. Lock-up is good and id functions good. I have boxes for 2 barrels, a tool to change the barrels and take the gun apart, a plastic shield to put on the end of the barrel to protect it from the wrench, and a feeler gauge to keep correct spacing between the barrel and cylinder. Again I know its its tough with no pictures, I will get them up tomorrow. They are stuck on the camera but I had all this typed before I tried to put them on and wasn't re-typing it tomorrow.

My mother hasn't seen any boxes or paper work in the house, I am sure they are long gone. Thanks so much for any and all help. If you have any questions ask away. I just want to make this fair for my mother and I want to keep them but don't want to pay more that they are worth. I doubt I would ever get rid of them but you never know. I will get the pics up tomorrow after work.

Brian
 
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Can't give you a price but I can tell you that the Dan Wesson is a keeper. To get an idea go to Gunbroker.com Also KTP has a used gun section on line look up the 2 pistols and that will give you a idea of what there worth.
 
Im pretty sure the -1 puts it after 1960 you need to post the first numbers in the serial number to get a closer date.. A buddy of mine is addicted to firearms made in massachusetts. He would go into full drool for a dan wesson. I would look long and hard for the boxes.

.38 S&W cal., 5 shot, 2 in. barrel, walnut or rubber grips, blue or nickel, fixed sights, built on .32 cal. frame. Mfg. 1948-1974. @ 100% blue book has it @ 450.00 values drop quickly as the % rateing drops.

The Dan wesson sounds like a pistol pac that they offered with the extra barrels http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=244437984 these came with a custom briefcase made with aluminum....this listing has some good pics.
This are all over the place in value. Even on blue book they are some what low. http://www.notpurfect.com/main/dwrev.htm
 
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Dan Wesson were known for their accuracy. I'd keep it. Can't comment on the age of your S&W without a reference book. In the pre-model days it was known as "The Terrier" and the four inch version was known as the Regulation Police. Both discontinued in 1974. Originally they were built on the I-frame (smaller than J) and then were built on the J frame. The transition happening after the introduction of the Chief's Special circa 1952-53.

The fact that you have a model number indicates that the revolver was made in 1958 or later and is on the J frame. They really were neat little guns, of course like a .25 ACP, you might piss someone off if you shot them with the rather anemic .38 S&W round (although the British used this as their standard service round in WWII). I used to have a Regulation Police and I thought it was a neat little gun.
 
Take the grip off the Dan Wesson. If you see "andy" or "adrienne" engraved on the frame, my grandmother assembled that gun at the Monson factory.

If her name is on the gun, please let me know.

-Nick
 
So I found out the Dan Wesson is most likely a 14-2. I would grade it around 75-80%. The S&W about 50% or so. Maybe a little more maybe a little less. It the metal isn't that bad just the grips and finish is bad. With new grips and re-bluing it would look great. I am going to try to get the pics up momentarily.

Nick, I took the grips off, the only markings I see are a "5" that seems to be cast into the frame and a very small "8" that was stamped in with a punch.

I am not trying to get a 100% correct value on them I just want to help my mom out as much as possible and I have no idea what so ever these things could be worth. I suppose I could go to Barnes and Nobel and by a blue book.

Thanks for all the help thus far.
 
mac, I was laying in bed last night and about 1:30 I was thinking of random crap that keeps me up at night when I said to my self "you dumb ass, you should have posted the beginning of the ser.# not the end. So here goes wouldn't be tough to figure out now lol.

S&W:1109xx
Dan Wesson:3295xx
 
Im no dan wesson expert, but I did like the semi autos of the older dan wesson for a while.
Blue book will not make you happy on these models http://www.danwessonforum.com/archive/models-2/revolvers
Copied from blue book

MODEL 14 Add to Collection
- .357 Mag. cal., 2 1/2, 4, 6, or 8 (disc. 1994) in. interchangeable barrels, fixed sights, blue. Mfg. 1975-95.
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$215 $170 $150 $140 $130 $120 $110
Last MSR was $274.
Add approx. $7 for each additional barrel length.


smithy

Add to Collection
- .38 S&W cal., 5 shot, 2 in. barrel, walnut or rubber grips, blue or nickel, fixed sights, built on .32 cal. frame. Mfg. 1948-1974.
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$450 $375 $275 $175 $150 $135 $125
 
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