Earlier this year, I bought a satin Nickel S&W 442 at a gun show in Lebanon, TN from a private seller. The serial number is @@@4854. There's a bit of flaking of the finish on the left side, but it's in great condition.

Yesterday, I was in Larry's Pistol & Pawn in Huntsville, AL and found another satin nickel 442 priced at $325. I decided to not get it since I have another already. Today, I went back to Larry's and put the gun on layaway. I figured I could sell the one with the finish issues for at least what I would pay for the one in nicer condition. There's a local auction house having an online firearms auction later this month and guns sold through them tend to get more than you'd think they should. I can sell the one I already have and use the funds to pay off the layaway before the end of the month.

When I got home, I looked at the paperwork for the layaway and realized the serial number is just 68 digits higher than the one I already have. It's @@@4922.

They were almost certainly manufactured on the same day or within a day of each other in 1993 and, thirty years later, they were found less than 115 miles apart. Now, I think I may have to keep both due to the close serial numbers. I don't need two exact same 442's. On the other hand, I'm not going to end up homeless if I don't sell one of them.

What say you? Would you sell the one with the flaking of the finish or would you keep both?

It's an Airweight with an alloy frame. I don't know if it'll accept a good nickel finish.

Refinishing is a monumental waste of money. Keep the nice one as a safe queen / tuxedo gun, and use the finished challenged one for daily carry.

Yeah, I know the close serial numbers don't increase the value or collectability. I just think it's cool that they were likely made the same day, travelled so far from MA, ended up so relatively close to each other, and were both found by me. To me, it's a bit of a cool story knowing full well nobody is going to pay for the story.

My vote here. Having two of the same gun you are familiar with and can handle well isn't a bad thing at all.

This. If you ever have to use it you will be glad you have a second one to go in the holster while the cops keep the first during the investigation.

My 638 looks horrible around the edges.

Still CCWs and functions just fine.

Depending on how bad the flaking is, I probably wouldn't worry about it.  And if you can swing it, just keep both.  $325 for the new one seems like a heck of a price.  I found a newer used 442 recently and thought I did ok for $350. How much could you get for the one with the flaking finish any?  

You could also contact S&W and see if they will warranty the gun?  I found a nice model 10 2" used that dated to 1982.  After owning it for a few months, I realized the frame was cracked at the barrel threads.  I sent it in and S&W sent me a new model 10.  So they might take care of you?

I've been on a snubby kick recently.



And yesterday I found this hardly used 642 PC for $479.