Shoot or not? My recent vintage S&W purchase.

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tprice

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
155
Location
NW Georgia, USA
Impulse buy - I was nuts. Paid a little over $700, but I just fell in love with the guy. The dealer said it was a pre-10 S&W. Serial is C1566xx. Comes with original box and grips. Bore mint, finish is like 95%+. Action as smooth as a baby's bottom; just fell in love with it.

He said it was pre-1950, but the serial number seems older than that, right?



I bought it thinking to shoot it, but would that be a crime to do so on this specimen? The grips are original, so I did plan on ordering some replacement grips and keep the originals safe.
 

Attachments

  • SWpre10.jpg
    SWpre10.jpg
    80.7 KB · Views: 184
Come on. It's $700. Who's going to suffer if it only brings $2000 at your estate auction, instead of the $2500 it would have brought unfired? Would you marry a girl and keep her in mint condition?
 
If it's in only 95% condition now there's no reason not to shoot it. BTW, IMO $700 is a lot to pay for a 2" M&P revolver. There was one available locally a few weks back that was in at least 95% condition and it was sold for $350. Granted, there was no box or papers though.

Handguns, especially fine revolvers were made to be shot, not stored in a safe... ;)
 
I can't tell you what to do, but you can either shoot it or shelve it until the present depression is over and sell it in the condition received. The gold box probably added $100 or more to the price.
 
You are right, at present market values you paid too much - but not a whole lot too much. :)

Some members on this forum believe every firearm ABSOLUTELY MUST BE SHOT!!! regardless of age, value or condition. Keeping it unfired in a safe is seen as a crime to them. On the other hand those that are in perfect like-new condition do have a collector's value that's often higher then most shooters are willing to pay.

The Old Fuff looks for collector-grade firearms, and when he finds one, at the right price, he grabs it. Later when he trades or sells it - sometimes for a substantial profit - the proceeds sometimes go toward buying more then one other gun that are equally perfect, but have enough cosmetic wear to make them unattractive to collectors. Two for the price of one so to speak.

By working both sides of the street I have often acquired guns that otherwise I couldn't afford to buy. That can't be said by most, if not all of, the "shoot'um all" guys. They have fun, but they never make a penny. I do the same, but make a little money while I’m at it.

Now do whatever you want, but keep in mind that on many occasions I have managed to turn 2 collectables into 3 (or even more) shooters for the same amount of money.

One additional hint. Following World War Two S&W made a lot of those early short-action M&P revolvers, but the scarcest variant was the 2" snubby. :scrutiny:
 
Seems like the general feeling is that $700 was a bit high. Maybe. But you fell in love with it and just plain wanted that one. In my mind that makes it a good deal.
I have my late fathers S&W 66 but the original grips were long gone. I wanted a set of S&W combat grips for it. Found a mint set, early 80's vintage like the revolver on Ebay. It's the set I wanted for it and the buy it now was too high. Did the 'best offer' thing and got a few bucks off but still paid too much. I don't regret it at all. I would have paid the full price if I had to.
Just plain wanting can add value. By the way, very sweet revolver. I would shoot and enjoy.
 
Hummmmmmm! I wonder if Misty would want one that badly? You bought a shooter squirreling it away in a safe will not make it a collector.

D R
 
What did you buy it for? You musta had some reasoning behind the purpose before you shelled out the money. Guns are generally poor investments compared to other forms of investing. Most that make money on guns know the real value of the guns they buy and buy low and sell high. Others either inherit the gun or have had it for a very long time......others are just in the right place at the right time and take advantage of someone who doesn't know what they have or need the cash badly.......None of these scenarios resemble your purchase......I suggest you shoot it.
 
I'm assuming the gun has been shot since you describe the finish as being 95%. I would certainly shoot that gun but I might not carry it or give it hard use. I bet if you shoot a couple of hundred rounds through it on the range, you won't be able to tell it.

I only have two unfired guns, sort of "matched" Detective Specials. I've been sorely tempted but held off because I already have some snubby revolvers. I also have a number of guns that I'll take out once a year or so and put some rounds through them. I don't think I'm hurting their value one bit. Then I have a few that I tend to shoot on a fairly regular basis and/or carry. These see wear over the years, but that's okay. It's no fun not have any guns to shoot. :)
 
will you feel better shooting it or by being a curator to the piece, preserving it for the next generation!

when i am faced with this dilemma, i throw it in the safe and find myself a used one to shoot-

that baby is... too good for words

go ahead and put some rounds down the pipe but dont holster or carry it :)

here is one i saved from the crazy masses - paid 250 three years ago - put six LRN 158 gr shots down the pipe when i got her, cleaned thoroughly- now i just pull it out to look and feel the joy
SWMilitaryPoliceModel10Blue100Seria.gif
 
Last edited:
I am ordinarily in the "shoot it" crowd, but looking at the condition and vintage of that one, I think I would put it away and find a newer gun to shoot if I just had to have a snubbie to pack and shoot.
 
That's a nice revolver, it even has the transitional magna grips. It is in sweet condition with the original box. I would either sock it away or sell it. I would like to find an original two inch transitional M&P in any condition at a price I will afford. You did pay a hefty price for this revolver, so selling it to free up your money will likely not be an option.

Your revolver will shoot like any other ransitional M&P, with a little less accuracy due to it's shorter sight radius. This is not a range gun. It's meant to be carried. Carry guns get knocked around and worn. If you are OK with taking a gun you paid too much for and lowering it's market value further, then go ahead and shoot and carry it. Otherwise, a few rounds here and there and a careful cleaning and oiling afterwards should keep you satisfied.

The C prefix was used from from 1948 until 1967, but the transitional magna grips went away around 1952-53. I'd place your gun around 1950 or so.
 
I try to buy guns that are in very good condition, but not perfect or unfired. That way I get a price break for something that is not quite collector quality, but so long as I treat it well it will hold its value, and maybe increase with time.

But since I can't seem to bring myself to sell them, maybe I'm kidding myself.
 
Wahh!

Cyclops, that brings tears to my eyes - reminds me of the identical 5" I got for $80 in the late 60's and traded off in 1971 for a mint Nazi Mauser HsC, which I traded off for a... :banghead:
 
Thanks everyone for the input. I had a nice talk with the owner of the gun shop I bought it from. I really think that I'm not the collector type, and the gun really deserves someone who will care for it. I exchanged the gun for a modern S&W that will be better suited to carry and protecting my life. The gun shop owner was very understanding, appreciative, and helpful (wow, that's a change!).

So now I own a new 686+ 2.5" to go with my classic 686 6". A trail gun and one for "serious" carry when my 5 shot snub isn't comforting enough.

And the classic pre-10 goes back into the display case to find a more deserving owner :)
 
That's a good looking revolver.

I say if you bought it specifically to try and sell it off for a profit, then refrain from shooting it.

If you have no actual intention of selling it in the foreseeable future, then shoot away and enjoy!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

H
  • Locked
Age this gun!
Replies
6
Views
443
Majic
M
Legionnaire
  • Locked
S&W 317 back in the fold!
Replies
1
Views
506
ClemY
C
M
  • Locked
Model 60 with 5in barrell
Replies
12
Views
822
Magnum88C
M
C
  • Locked
S&W Model 63 w/ 4" barrel
Replies
3
Views
673
El Tejon
E
H
  • Locked
Help with age of S&W 15-3?
Replies
3
Views
339
hdavid66
H
Back
Top