S&W 638 value?

[Steelharp]

A buddy of mine has a pre-lock S&W 638-2 Bodyguard Airweight .38, the kinda grey-silver finish, that belonged to his Dad. A LEO friend bought it for him as a gift when the Y2K insanity was in full bloom. Told him he needed something when everything went to hell. Oh, well...

 

Anyway, it's literally never been fired once. Not a trace of a powder ring anywhere. Dad is gone now, and my buddy is wondering what he should ask for it. No box, nothing but the gun. Any idea?

[BryanP]

New they go for what?  $400+?   Minus for being technically used (unfired is nice, but once it's changed ownership it's considered a used gun).  Minus for no box/paperwork.  Plus for condition, plus for pre-lock.  I'd guess $450-500 if you can find someone who really cares a lot about pre-lock. 

[Patton]

Weird, -2 is supposed to be IL. If it is a no-IL, NIB, I would say no more than $500. $400-425 is more likely.

[Guest TresOsos]

I have a 638 - 2 and it is definately pre-lock, my understanding is the -2 indicated it was built with a j-magnum dimensioned frame.

I believe around 1996 S&W started building all their J-frames on J-magnum sized frames. Thus they used one frame size regardless

if it was a .38 special chambered J-frame or a .357 chambered J-frame. S&W did not start putting the IL's on there guns until after

they were aquired by Saf-T- Hammer in May of 2001.

 

The 638 is an aluminum frame with a stainless steel cylinder and barrel.

[Patton]

I have bought and sold a lot of J frames over the last few years. Thy can be slow, very slow, to move. You just have to be patient and the right person comes along, it's not like trying to sell a Glock.