Star SM Super 380 Auto

John/az2 · May 29, 1999, 07:48 PM

Harley,

I'm looking to sell a Star SM Super 380 Auto and I have no idea what percent condition it is in or what a fair market price to ask would be.

I've never done this before, so I don't know what other information to provide you.

Please ask, and I'll do my best to answer you.

Thanks!

------------------
John/az

"Just because something is popular, does not make it right."

www.countdown9199.com

Harley Nolden · May 30, 1999, 05:33 AM

John/AZ2
Condition of the piece is important.
How much of the original finish is left?
Are the grips in tact, not cracked etc?
Is it rusty? if so how much?
Really rusty, Surface Rust?

Are there "dings" in the metal?
Do you have the original box and paper work?
How does it look to you? Would you buy it in this condition?
How's the barrel? Check this dry. Clean and rag it dry, then check.
Bright, Shiney?
Dark?
Muzzle dinged or dented?
Lands and grooves?
Sharp and clear?
Rounded or intermitent?
In general, does it look like it has been well taken care of.

HJN

John/az2 · June 1, 1999, 05:20 PM

Alrighty, then... lesee...

I have no idea what the finish looked like originally. It's blued, but splotchy.

The grips are the original wood grips, they are worn down slightly and dark from use. More so on the very bottom where the checkering is worn away, and the screws holding them are slightly stripped from a screwdriver.

There's a little bit of rust (surface) near the muzzle on the slide, and there's some very fine pitting (it looks like) on spots of the slide.

There are a few dings and scratches. 3 dings. They are shallow and small.

Scratches on the rear part of the ejector (looks like someone pushed on it with a screwdriver), and a few (2 small ones, deep enough to be dings, but very narrow and short 1/8th inch) on top of the slide near the front sight.

No box or paperwork.

I did buy it in this condition.

The firing pin was broken so I made a new one for it. And it jammed a lot because the open cam was bending a little with each shot. I had to have it welded up to strengthen it.

The barrel inside is bright and shiney, with some very narrow strips of darkness running along portions of the lands(the high part of the rifling?) where it looks like the patch can't get to. They look sharp, not rounded.

The barrel outside is a matte finish, not shiney, but not dark. Brushed steel look.

Oh, and the guide rod is not original, and there is no "round loaded" indicator pin (wasn't there when I bought it, and haven't made one for it.)

Anything else?

Thanks!

------------------
John/az

"Just because something is popular, does not make it right."

www.countdown9199.com

[This message has been edited by John/az2 (edited June 01, 1999).]

Harley Nolden · June 1, 1999, 10:07 PM

JohnAZ2:
from your description it is still difficult to evaluate the condition. I will provide the values from 100% (like new) to 60%. This will provide you a range of value.

@100%=$250.00 to @60%=$125.00

HJN

May 29, 1999, 07:48 PM	#1
John/az2 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,729	Harley, I'm looking to sell a Star SM Super 380 Auto and I have no idea what percent condition it is in or what a fair market price to ask would be. I've never done this before, so I don't know what other information to provide you. Please ask, and I'll do my best to answer you. Thanks! ------------------ John/az "Just because something is popular, does not make it right." www.countdown9199.com

May 30, 1999, 05:33 AM	#2
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	John/AZ2 Condition of the piece is important. How much of the original finish is left? Are the grips in tact, not cracked etc? Is it rusty? if so how much? Really rusty, Surface Rust? Are there "dings" in the metal? Do you have the original box and paper work? How does it look to you? Would you buy it in this condition? How's the barrel? Check this dry. Clean and rag it dry, then check. Bright, Shiney? Dark? Muzzle dinged or dented? Lands and grooves? Sharp and clear? Rounded or intermitent? In general, does it look like it has been well taken care of. HJN

June 1, 1999, 05:20 PM	#3
John/az2 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,729	Alrighty, then... lesee... I have no idea what the finish looked like originally. It's blued, but splotchy. The grips are the original wood grips, they are worn down slightly and dark from use. More so on the very bottom where the checkering is worn away, and the screws holding them are slightly stripped from a screwdriver. There's a little bit of rust (surface) near the muzzle on the slide, and there's some very fine pitting (it looks like) on spots of the slide. There are a few dings and scratches. 3 dings. They are shallow and small. Scratches on the rear part of the ejector (looks like someone pushed on it with a screwdriver), and a few (2 small ones, deep enough to be dings, but very narrow and short 1/8th inch) on top of the slide near the front sight. No box or paperwork. I did buy it in this condition. The firing pin was broken so I made a new one for it. And it jammed a lot because the open cam was bending a little with each shot. I had to have it welded up to strengthen it. The barrel inside is bright and shiney, with some very narrow strips of darkness running along portions of the lands(the high part of the rifling?) where it looks like the patch can't get to. They look sharp, not rounded. The barrel outside is a matte finish, not shiney, but not dark. Brushed steel look. Oh, and the guide rod is not original, and there is no "round loaded" indicator pin (wasn't there when I bought it, and haven't made one for it.) Anything else? Thanks! ------------------ John/az "Just because something is popular, does not make it right." www.countdown9199.com [This message has been edited by John/az2 (edited June 01, 1999).]

June 1, 1999, 10:07 PM	#4
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	JohnAZ2: from your description it is still difficult to evaluate the condition. I will provide the values from 100% (like new) to 60%. This will provide you a range of value. @100%=$250.00 to @60%=$125.00 HJN