Hello all,

I'm curious, does the lazy ampersand as it's commonly called help, hurt or not affect value amongst folks/collectors when it comes to desirable guns? Like the 29-2's from the Dirty Harry movies for example?

I've seen 3 screw guns with the lazy ampersand. I've seen 4 screw guns with the lazy ampersand (like the one given to the writer of a couple. Dirty Harry movies) at the NRA museum. I've seen 3 screws with the "cleaner" ampersand.

Also, to collectors, is the one variation more correct than the other or not to you folks. Thanks.

I'm a S/W noob. Way out of my wheelhouse. I've done quite a bit of reading and never saw it discussed.

Welcome to the forum.

I'd never heard of this until now, but I found this earlier thread that seems to mention that the ampersand has no effect on value but might be useful for dating.

Lazy Ambersand (the & sign)

they are just lazy

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Doc has expert commentary and excellent information:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/blog.php?b=62
http://smith-wessonforum.com/blog.php?b=63

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SWCA #2948
SWHF #431

Welcome to the forum. FWIW the original "Dirty Harry" gun that is in the NRA museum is actually a four screw Model 29 no dash having been manufactured around 1960. It was a 'tool room' gun that S&W provided the studio...probably one of their better investments. Personally, I like the lazy &.

Update: based on some new to me info it would appear that the NRA museum 29 no dash that I' was referring to, was used in the second film "Magnum Force" and had been given to the studio by an individual. Sorry if I provided incorrect info.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Welcome to the Smith & Wesson Forum from Arizona.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

The lazy ampersand (with slight changes) was generally used until around 1970 and is generally associated with older guns and higher values. However, an upright type ampersand was used for a time in the early 60s and a larger upright style was used on a few guns in 1966-1968. S&W always likes to keep us collectors guessing.

Bill

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Which Ampersand it has to me has No bearing. Its the gun and model and age that matter the most.

I’ve always found it interesting in the history of the Model 52 that the no-dash pistol always (or nearly always) has an upright ampersand but the 52-1 always (or, again, nearly) has a very prominent lazy ampersand on the slide.

The no-dash 52 was made... 1961 to what; 1963? And the dash-1 ran to about 1970.

...are we there yet...

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