Thinking of starting a collection of Smiths.

[25-5]

My 25-5 was very accurate for years, until I read about the oversized cylinder throats. Yep, mine are oversized. A problem I didn't know I had until I read it on the net. I reload 255gr .452 LRNFP, and they drop right through the cylinder.
However, I did not let my favorite revolver read the article. So still accurate as hell.

 

[Stephanie B]

I got a few:

10, 10-5, 10-11, 15, 17-3, 19-4, 29-4, 442, 696, 6906, 6946.

 

[StrawHat]

My 25-5 was very accurate for years, until I read about the oversized cylinder throats. Yep, mine are oversized. A problem I didn't know I had until I read it on the net. I reload 255gr .452 LRNFP, and they drop right through the cylinder.
However, I did not let my favorite revolver read the article. So still accurate as hell.

And therein lies the solution. When I sold my 25-5 the fellow called me several months later to complain the throats were large. I asked what size were the groups he was firing? He hung up.

Kevin

 

[jmace57]

Don't worry, it doesn't get addicting... And I have bought 2 or 3 more since I took these pictures.

 

[StrawHat]

RJM,

There is a difference between collecting and accumulating. Many of us just accumulate a bunch of different firearms and call it a collection. If that is what you want that works for me. Others have a goal in mind and specialize in a certain firearm. I have done both. For years I collected Baker shotguns. I had a pretty good collection and enjoyed the chase and the capture of each piece. To finance this, I sold my earlier collection of Civil War Carbines. Now, I have an accumulation of S&W revolvers but seem to be concentrating on the various Models that chamber the 45 ACP cartridge. Find what you like and buy it.

Kevin

 

[RJM]

There is a difference between collecting and accumulating. Many of us just accumulate a bunch of different firearms and call it a collection. If that is what you want that works for me. Others have a goal in mind and specialize in a certain firearm. I have done both. For years I collected Baker shotguns. I had a pretty good collection and enjoyed the chase and the capture of each piece. To finance this, I sold my earlier collection of Civil War Carbines. Now, I have an accumulation of S&W revolvers but seem to be concentrating on the various Models that chamber the 45 ACP cartridge. Find what you like and buy it.

Good advice here...

I've thought of maybe concentrating on a little collection of 3" barreled Smith and Wessons. I have the 686+ now and the LGS has a nice model 60 with a 3" barrel that has been calling to me, and I find the 3" barrel to be a perfect size for carry gun and a range gun...but we will see. 3" barrels seem to be a little less available compared to the 4" barrels though. Money is limited so a collection or an "accumulation" is going to be slow going enough.

Right now I'm sitting on a few Smiths in .357 and a couple of Rugers (both in .327 fed mag), so it isn't a terrible revolver "collection" I have.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

As a card carrying member of the Smith and Wesson Collector's Association, yes, I am a collector. Sorry, I have lost count of how many I have, probably 40 or so. Must sit down and catalog them one of these days. I am what you would call an accumulator. I don't specialize. My oldest Smith is this 32 Rim Fire No. 2, Old Army. Made in 1863.





My newest is this 686-6 that was made this year. The first brand, spanky new S&W I have bought in 40 years. I bought it because I didn't have any L frames, and I pretty much bought it on a whim one day. I ain't gonna get into the 'old vs new' argument either, but I will tell you that of 40 or so Smiths, only two of them are new MIM guns. And I don't intend to buy any more.






Collecting Smiths can be a funny thing. I am pretty much a scattershot collector, grabbing what suits my fancy when I come across it. Mostly old stuff, I have S&W Revolvers from every decade starting in 1863.

I did run across a fellow collector the other day who collects nothing but Bekaerts. The revolver in the middle of this photo is a Bekaert. I frame 22 Rimfire target revolvers from the early 20th Century before the K-22 above it was developed. He told me once he started collecting Bekaerts he sold pretty much everything else he had. I couldn't bring myself to do that.







I know another guy who collects Police guns from the Boston Police department. Smiths and Colts. Interesting guy. Interesting collection too.

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

RJM, you could do very well collecting 3" S&W revolvers. They are highly prized by shooters for the different balance compared to 2" or 4" guns. The 3" models are generally much rarer and hold their value extremely well.

Some of the most desirable 3" S&Ws are the M10, M13, M64, M65, M66, the 650 in .22 magnum, and the 60-4 in .38 Special. There is also a rare 3" M640 and I'm sure many other 3" models I've forgotten.

The 3" 60-15 is a very nice gun and your 3" Talo M686 is among the most desirable of that model, but I'm not sure any of the IL guns are considered "collectable" by S&W enthusiasts, though that may change in the future. Bottom line, but what you like, enjoy shooting them, take good care of them, and they will not lose value.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

Be careful with that once the bug catches you can get lost in it.
Even if you say " I am only going to collect 38 cal S&W.
There is a whole bunch of them, plus each model has variations.
That if you going to collect them. You have to have them all.

I have had 5 so far. I sold a pretty well used Model 19 last month :banghead:
So now I have 4.
A Model 10-6


A model 64-6



A model 14-4. The one on the right is the model 19 I sold.:banghead:



And a hand ejector in 32-20