Neewbie Needs advice regarding .44 and .357

[Country_boy_88]

Hello im new to this forum and i joined so i could ask everyone if they could give me some advice in regards to a friends situation. Heres the story he recently aquired two guns from his father. A smith and Wesson Model 27-2 .357 and a Smith and Wesson Model 29-2 .44 magnum. Both of these gun were bought new in the 1970s by his father but they have NEVER been fired. I dont even think they have even had a shell in them. Both have the orgininal box and paper work. He wanted to know if they would be worth anything to anyone or if he should enjoy what a great gift his dad gave him and shoot them like they shoulda been 40 years ago. If i can remeber correctly the .44 has a very long barrel(like 10") and is black while the .357 is probly 5" or 6" and is nickel plated(i think). So what do yall think?

[Her1911]

if he should enjoy what a great gift his dad gave him and shoot them like they shoulda been 40 years ago.

So what do yall think?

Nothing like family hand me down guns for keepsakes. We have a good many that were my husbands Grandfathers and though they may not be anywhere near valuble, they will always stay with us and get passed onto our children.

My thoughts...tell him to keep em :headbanger: :grinning-thumbsup:

[CoorsLightGuy]

I'm sure that they're "worth something" to someone else, but that they would always be worth more to him than to any stranger. They did after all, belong to his father. You only have one father.

[xpertgreg]

I say shoot 'em, enjoy 'em, and keep them as family heirlooms.

gw

[Mosko]

I suspect your friend has already decided whether to sell or keep the weapons. If he's decided to sell, he needs to know the valve to formulate an "asking" price. If he's decided to keep them, he needs to know possibly for insurance purposes. Either way, he should search some of the auction sites to see what similar weapons are currently "fetching".

What he will find is that "like new", "new in the box", "unfired", with original papers, will add value.

So, if he's going to sell, don't fire them. If he's going to keep them in the family, shoot away!

[WmRoy]

I think Mosko and the others have pretty well nailed it down.

But welcome aboard.......... ;)

[rugerwheels]

There is a Smith & Wesson Forum where you could register and perhaps get an idea of value from their Trader Board. You could also ask about value on that Forum in the appropriate section. That said, I support the idea of keeping them as family heirlooms.

[xpertgreg]

more than once I have had other folks tell me, "Daddy bought me this _____ and i traded it off, man I wish I had it back now."

gw

[LoLo25643]

I have to agree with the rest. Something that came from your folk's hold a special meaning. I'd keep them and enjoy them if they were mine. Two very nice sixshooters besides.

[Country_boy_88]

I appreciate everyone 2 cents. He went out this weekend and shot the .357 and said he loved it. He said he was shakin to much and didnt hit the target but our friend nailed the bottle at 30 yards. The one with the guns we just got started hunting this past year and now he owns a ruger .270, 10-22 and both of the pistols within a year! Ahh nothing like becoming a memeber of the southern gun club. Hes scared to shoot though because everytime he shoots he jerks the trigger(might even close his eyes) which is not good when ur trying to hunt with them. Ohh well he'll get used to it eventually. thanks yall for posting