Chrome Plated "Salesman Sample" Crosman 38Ts

[78gCollector]

OK, fellas, looking for some input here. For the past couple of years I've kept my eyes open for a chrome (nickel plated?) 38T and they just don't pop up very often. The information online is sparse as well, mostly referring to them as salesman samples, which is how they are referenced in the Blue Book. I've also come across some speculation that they were made as gifts for retirees. Other than that, there isn't much out there.

What I have been able to determine is there are two versions of the chrome 38Ts. One of them does not have a serial number at all. The other version does have a serial number, and I've come across five of them all made in August of 1976. The serial numbers so far range from 876621827 to 876621892.

Does anyone have any info about these? (If you have a chrome one with SN, I'd love to add it to the database I am keeping!)

I was lucky enough to find three of these as part of a collection I bought recently, and here are a few pics:

1. The front pistol has serial a serial number, and the rear pistol has none. I'm not sure about the grips on the rear pistol as most of these seem to have black grips.

2. Butt of both pistols.

3. This one also lacks a serial number, and the chrome is tarnished or faded. The finish under the grip shines like the other pistols, but the exposed portions are dulled, or a faded gold color.

[SpringerGuy]

Paul

Enjoyed your post.  I agree chrome 38T's are desirable air pistols.  I am not an experienced airgun collector but in my few years of collecting, I never seen one. Thank you, for mentioning chrome plated 38T now I am looking to buy one too.  Maybe there will be some at the Baldwinville show 7/26.

Randy

[JayDee24ca]

Do you happen to know if Crosman ever put out a cadmium plated 38T? I have one in my collection, and I have never seen another. The cadmium was applied to the entire frame and cylinder, and it does not appear to be a home-spun item.

[lefteyeshot]

Better get one before they run out

[78gCollector]

Do you happen to know if Crosman ever put out a cadmium plated 38T? I have one in my collection, and I have never seen another. The cadmium was applied to the entire frame and cylinder, and it does not appear to be a home-spun item.

I don't recall ever running across one that was cadmium plated.  However, the pistol above with the tarnished surface has places under the handle that have that gold cadmium look to them.  Maybe part of the process to chrome or nickel plate them involved a step that gave the gold appearance?

[78gCollector]

Do you happen to know if Crosman ever put out a cadmium plated 38T? I have one in my collection, and I have never seen another. The cadmium was applied to the entire frame and cylinder, and it does not appear to be a home-spun item.

Time for an updated answer to this...  I spent waaay too much time this afternoon chasing down every chrome pistol I could find online.  One old Rock River auction actually had a gold colored 38T in an auction for a batch of pistols.

I took a closer look at the pistol I have that I thought was tarnished chrome, and the gold finish is worn, but way too consistent in areas not prone to wear.  For the heck of it I popped off the side plate and sure enough, this thing was once gold!  So now there is another mystery involving a very small part of a small number of pistols.  Mine, like the Rock River one, does not have a serial number.

Here are a few pics:
1. My worn gold plated compared to a chrome no serial number pistol.
2. The side plate opened up showing the original color.
3. A screen cap from the Rock River auction.

[JayDee24ca]

Yes!!! I thought so! I have been scratching my head over this one for a long time. No one else I have spoken to thought there might be a few gold ones around. Mine is getting worn, but for sure this thing used to be all gold-cadmium colour! I made some birdseye maple grips for it.

[78gCollector]

Yes!!! I thought so! I have been scratching my head over this one for a long time. No one else I have spoken to thought there might be a few gold ones around. Mine is getting worn, but for sure this thing used to be all gold-cadmium colour! I made some birdseye maple grips for it.

OK, so at least three of these were made!  Based on mine and yours, the gold finish doesn't hold up any where near the chrome plating on other non-SN pistols.  Those grips look nice by the way!

So after falling down the rabbit hole a few days ago I have determined the following:
1. I was only able to find one additional serial numbered pistol, and it had brown grips.  The serial number was not legible, so it was not possible to place this to the August 1976 serial number range for known chrome pistols (so far from 876621827 to 876621892).
2. Non SN guns were made in both .22 and .177.
3. Non SN guns came with black or brown grips.  I found 3 .22s with brown grips and 5 .177 with black (3) or brown (2).

I'd still appreciate hearing from others with info or serial numbers to help us get a better understanding of these chrome (or gold) pistols!

[HunterWhite]

PUl, Randy, John and Tim those are some really cool looking pieces.


Hunter

[bantam5s]

I had absolutely no clue these existed, thanks for sharing them.

Did they also do any 38C's ?

[78gCollector]

I had absolutely no clue these existed, thanks for sharing them.

Did they also do any 38C's ?

The Blue Book mentions a price adjustment for the value of both 38T and 38C pistols ("Add 200%-400% for chrome finish salesman sample"), but I haven't seen a 38C that was factory chromed.  Of course until a few days ago I didn't know there were some gold 38T pistols as well, including one in my collection! I spent a few hours this weekend going through every online source including lots of old auction listings, and all the chrome pistols that show up are 38Ts.  Considering the number of entries in the Blue Book, there are bound to be some errors along the way, and I would bet the chrome 38C was one of them. 

[SpringerGuy]

Guys

I am going to try that bright chrome paint instead of boring black Tuff coat. I think I will start with my 38C paint it chrome.  After chrome paint
is added "My low budget" Salesman chrome paint model 38C can be listed on Ebay.

In super small text at the bottom of the ad, I will explain it is just chrome paint see ad text (Chrome Salesman sample* )


 . . . . . . ...*Faux Chrome -- LOL !

On a serious note I am going to chrome paint a 38T.  No joking I will show you gents the final product. Peace


Randy

[bantam5s]

I had absolutely no clue these existed, thanks for sharing them.

Did they also do any 38C's ?

The Blue Book mentions a price adjustment for the value of both 38T and 38C pistols ("Add 200%-400% for chrome finish salesman sample"), but I haven't seen a 38C that was factory chromed.  Of course until a few days ago I didn't know there were some gold 38T pistols as well, including one in my collection! I spent a few hours this weekend going through every online source including lots of old auction listings, and all the chrome pistols that show up are 38Ts.  Considering the number of entries in the Blue Book, there are bound to be some errors along the way, and I would bet the chrome 38C was one of them.

That's very likely.

Something I've just thought about regards the possibility of these being some kind of gift item, if that were the case I'd expect there to be maybe a fancy presentation box or something and wouldn't really expect there to be many examples with heavily worn finish.
I can't think of any reasons for there to be chrome examples that aren't officially documented and don't have any special markings or special packaging.
It doesn't seem like something they just tried if they went through the trouble to also make black grips for them.

[78gCollector]

Guys

I am going to try that bright chrome paint instead of boring black Tuff coat. I think I will start with my 38C paint it chrome.  After chrome paint
is added "My low budget" Salesman chrome paint model 38C can be listed on Ebay.

In super small text at the bottom of the ad, I will explain it is just chrome paint see ad text (Chrome Salesman sample* )


 . . . . . . ...*Faux Chrome -- LOL !

On a serious note I am going to chrome paint a 38T.  No joking I will show you gents the final product. Peace


Randy

That's one of the concerns that show up in older posts - people sometime strip paint, polish, or paint these.  That's where researching to find a lack of serial number or a very specific range of serial numbers indicates a factory example versus an eBay cash grab! 

[78gCollector]

That's very likely.

Something I've just thought about regards the possibility of these being some kind of gift item, if that were the case I'd expect there to be maybe a fancy presentation box or something and wouldn't really expect there to be many examples with heavily worn finish.
I can't think of any reasons for there to be chrome examples that aren't officially documented and don't have any special markings or special packaging.
It doesn't seem like something they just tried if they went through the trouble to also make black grips for them.

Agreed.  Lore has it that the salesman pistols without SN came in Crosman brown soft cases.  A very few have shown up with this case, one was in a nice standard Crosman red and black box of the early 70's, one in a later color box top and Styro bottom, and the majority have been without any packaging at all.  The black grips are interesting in that they were made, but not for all of these samples. 

Regarding the worn finish, this seems to only affect the gold pistols.  All of the chrome models I've found are in pretty decent shape. 

[JKM6442]

My chrome plated 38T is # 876621863 and has dark brown grips.  Its my understanding that the chrome plated guns were not offered for commercial sale, so they could only be salesman samples, gifts, or used for some other non-commercial purpose.

[SpringerGuy]

Ordered chrome spray paint so I will show you guys my "Chrome plate 38TC". after the paint drys.  If it looks good I'll ebay it as * .

* Faux chromie 38TC =  Target Chrome

Want one - before I put it on Ebay?

Randy

[78gCollector]

Ordered chrome spray paint so I will show you guys my "Chrome plate 38TC". after the paint drys.  If it looks good I'll ebay it as * .

* Faux chromie 38TC =  Target Chrome

Want one - before I put it on Ebay?

Randy

From the soon to be released 14th Blue Book or Airgun Values: "Subtract 100%-500% for chrome spray paint eBay samples."   

[SpringerGuy]

Guys

       Crosman 38 TC Target Chrome?  . . . I hope no one took me seriously! Faux chrome plating paint is sarcasm. 

[JayDee24ca]

Here is a shot of the numbering on my cadmium gold 38T. There are no other markings on the gun, and these ones are read right side up and upside down! No idea what they signify.