During a conversation a couple months ago or more, somebody said S guns were better than N guns. A couple agreed and a couple disagreed.

My question is, is there any substance to that statement?

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I’ve always thought that some folks find the S-prefix guns a bit more desirable because they are earlier, not necessarily because they’re “better” guns. I may be incorrect?

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Some Might Say.

That’s also my understanding.

I remember the topic and I remember some felt the S was better but I can't remember the details.

I think it was because the earlier guns were built by better gunsmiths at S&W but I could be off by a mile.

Not a bad thought but also remember that the system wasn't under the demand pressure which started in the early 70's AND there probably wasn't the CNC machining capability.

Earlier is generally considered better.

S prefix can be either post-war (WWII) K or N frame revolvers. None of the S or N prefix guns were CNC machined.

If you’re talking about N frames, S prefix guns might have diamond grips. Cokes, Targets and PC Magnas (early Model 58’s) are worth substantially more than later versions. That certainly effects the value.

All things being equal, an S prefix 29-2 with Cokes is worth $300-$500 more than a later gun with football Targets.

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"I also cook."

I have no first-hand insight or even just opinion to offer.

However, I would counsel against categorical quality pronouncements based on formalities. Resale value, based on people's subjective perceptions, is a different story. More desirable is not the same as better.

There are people who dogmatically believe that quality took a nose-dive when the 5th screw and then the 4th screw were sacrificed, a view not really tethered to observable reality.

So be sure you listen to people with actual experience or better yet, compare guns yourself.

I own both. The polish on guns with an S prefix serial number is usually better than those with an N prefix serial number, but from a functional perspective, they are the same.

Bill

Pete-As with all things I believe condition is everything. If you make all things equal like a N and an S gun were hermetically sealed in a dark safe temperature and humidity controlled environment, I’m guessing there is not much difference. I have a an S that is darn near perfect, and an S that has been shot a lot and has a little holster wear. I find it hard to buy that Smith&Wesson got rid of all the really talented folks in 1968. “Sorry, we’re laying off everyone, as we are going from S to N on the butt of all guns” Just as “Sorry, you’re being laid off because we don’t need people to screw in the 5th screw, and in a little while we will lay off more of you when we go to three screws.”

Of course people have their preferences. And pay up for condition, provenance, and their particular beliefs.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

Doc44-I do agree that my older guns seem to be a darker, prettier, bluing. My 28’s have no significant difference to my untrained eye. And my nickel guns seem to be about the same. I just enjoy all of them for different reasons. Could be the stocks/grips. Could be the barrel length. Could be the memory of a gun I had to sell to pay a house payment, or one that I let get away. That’s why my tastes are all over the place. And where I’ve put my cash.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

I remember several people saying that.

If more valuable equates to being better, then obviously with condition being equal, the S guns are better.

There are differences within S prefix N frames (about 22 years production) and N prefixes (about 15 years) and models. .357 and .44 Magnums and model 27s, 29s and 57s always had Bright Blue finishes, but other S prefix guns generally had standard blue until the mid-50s to the early '60s, when all guns seemed to have nicer polishing and bluing. The change away from "soft fitting" in the late '50s didn't seem to affect how the guns worked, or lasted.

The differences between S333454 and N1 are probably minimal.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The op asked which is better. So I simply ask which is better a 50 dollar bill or a 100 dollar bill ? S=100 and the N=50

S Diamond targets or Cokes go for a lot more. S is generally preferred.

I think the value has a lot more to do with the panache of the earlier guns (similar to pre war vs. post war guns) like # of screws, etc., and the difficulty in finding equal condition earlier guns.

But just comparing S to Ns is far too general for me.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I think (that in itself is scary) I read here recently that a S 29-2 was P&R and the N was not.

Not sure it that's correct or not.

Not so. The N prefix was used from about 1969 to the early 80’s and the vast majority of them were pinned.

I’m not sure about 29-2’s, but there were “transitional” 27-2 that had recessed cylinders and non-pinned barrels. These were late in the run and not the norm.

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"I also cook."

Thank you.

This is easy even for an amateur like me. All things equal an S is worth more than an N.

Perhaps a relevant date to define when S&W quality may have begun to decline would be when Carl Hellstrom passed and the family sold the company. As to CNC machining, my wife and I had a personal guided tour of the S&W plant in 2000 when we stopped in to visit. They showed us two CNC work stations which were operating as we watched.

This point in time was especially difficult for S&W after the infamous "deal" the company president made with Andrew Cuomo and the Clintons. The company was for sale with no buyers until Saf-T-Hamr stepped up with few bucks and a lot of guts.

I toured again in 2008 with the SWCA group and the place was humming with many CNC stations and lots of very young, green newbies doing assembly. CNC had a huge impact on the skilled labor component of gun assembly. CNC parts will fit up with very little fitting.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Same with the 29-3. They started out with the N prefix and recessed cylinders and eventually went to triple alpha and non recessed.

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-Matt

I don't own any N prefix N-frames and gravitate toward prewar, transitional, and post-war S-prefix examples with diamond magnas and target stocks. That's my thing. I have but two examples from the 1960's, a rare Model 21 and a 4" Model 28-2 shooter. The rest of my N-frames are 5-screw and a mix of stainless and blue N-frames made 1984-2008, mostly shooters.

Lately I like the early-mid 1990's N-frames and am particularly fond of the 29-5 and -6, and 629-2E, -3 and -4. Yeah, these aren't P+R or especially collectible, but they are pre-MIM, pre-lock, with tight throats, and have all the endurance updates. These are well made superior firearms, IMO, from a practical standpoint.

Here's a couple "classic" N-frames:
44 Magnum S147233_July56_right_adj.jpg SW29CKrein05Walkabout.JPG

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Here is a 1992 M29-5 Classic DX 5"

Attached Images

29 Classic DX.jpg (77.3 KB, 7 views)

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I think personal preference has a lot to do with this. Me, I just like the older stuff in revolvers as well as pistols and shotguns. For the most part technology has turned workers in the firearms industry from skilled craftsmen who took pride in the product they produce to workers who needed a job to pay the bills. I think this started happening in the 70's as an aging workforce started retiring and were replaced by the less skilled.