This really pertains to all eras of S&W revolvers but more specifically to the vintage revolvers, let’s say pre 1988 and earlier. I have a confession: for an approximate 20 year period, I felt nothing but disdain and contempt for revolvers! Before you string me up and beat me like a piñata, please hear me out!

You see, I became a deputy sheriff when revolvers were on their way out as a police service weapon. I prayed at the alter of high capacity wonder nines, Sig Sauer, Glock, H&K, S&W 3rd gen. I lived and breathed tactics, advanced weaponry and I looked upon revolvers as an archaic tool of the past and useful only as a backup weapon.

I recall many a conversation with my brother, an avid vintage S&W revolver collector. So did you get another expensive paperweight? (He’s always been more collector than shooter). Why don’t you just get a Japanese replica since you don’t shoot them? And of course his response: these are beautiful classic revolvers that can be shot but I choose not too! (In fairness, he does shoot some).

Over the years, as his collection grew, I compared him to Gollum and his “precious” revolvers that he keeps in his safes at his home office, ready to hand and always available to handle and admire! Of course, only to be carefully wiped down afterwards. For years he tried to convince me to start acquiring S&W revolvers, but mind you the half dozen classic S&W revolvers I obtained back then, he rapidly figured out a way to get them from me! He crows had he not got them from me, I would have traded them off long ago (he may be right).

Then fast forward to about 5 years ago, now a grizzled old patrol Lt., nearing retirement, and my visits to one of the pawnshops in the ghetto, yielded many beautiful classic S&W revolvers. It was as if a beam of radiating light showed me the way! The truth was revealed! Beautiful model 27’s, 28’s, outdoorsman’s, heavy duties, 581’s, M15 combat masterpiece’s, etc.

S&W forum brethren, please forgive me! All I can say is it’s better late than never to the game! Now I’m retired and a die hard collector of these beautiful revolvers that almost speak out to me and the countless enjoyable hours studying the history of them, quite enjoyable.

In full disclosure, my very first revolver was a Model 29-3 6” 44 mag given to me by dad when I was a young Marine corporal in 1986. Thank God I held onto it to this day. Of course, brother now teases me incessantly, always reminding me of my past sins, what are brothers for!

Welcome to the best group of revolver lovers on the planet. Glad you have come over from the dark side. Welcome!

Say four Hail Marys and then go buy another S&W.

Confession is good for the soul. Go forth my son, and sin no more

__________________
Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

"Now I’m retired and a die hard collector of these beautiful revolvers that almost speak out to me and the countless enjoyable hours studying the history of them, quite enjoyable."

We need proof..... where's the pictures?

Better late than never...

Say 3 hail Mary's and 2 strictly revo range days and you shall be absolved of all sins.

__________________
This is the way....

"Say four Hail Marys and then go buy another S&W."

"Say 3 hail Mary's and 2 strictly revo range days and you shall be absolved of all sins."

These two have only started you on the right path of forgiveness. You must now bow before your brother and seek his guidance in selecting your next Revolver.

I won't be the sinner to cast the first stone!

__________________
Mike H

That was good. Please keep that sense of humor alive and well!
Here's a challenge for ya: show up on retirement day with a big ol' 6" S&W in your holster!

First off thank you for your continued service! Welcome to the wonderful world of S&W revolver accumulation! Hopefully between now and your retirement you'll be able to add more to your stable. Maybe your brother will make a RETURN sale offer for the ones he obtained from you? Never know, it wouldn't hurt to ask...or beg!

I felt the same way years ago util I got my first S&W; a 66-1 4", at a local gun show from a older gentleman selling a few from his collection. After shooting it over the next few months, I kicked myself for not starting collecting them years sooner...when they were a LOT more affordable and plentiful. Oh well, like you said, better late than never.

Now that first S&W; my 66-1, is my wife's primary home defense gun and NO ONE is going to get that back from her. As a matter of fact, I've seen that older gentleman at shows since then and he STILL asks if I still have his 66? Oh hell ya...but it's my wife's now and it'll never leave!

Great that you hung onto your Dad's 29!

Yes! For sure!

Some people change a lot as they grow older and some hardly at all. Some are in a constant state of change and often will eventually end up back where they started. “Life’s a journey. Enjoy the ride.” S&Ws have always been a great ride, for me.

We all like to see pictures! Since you did not post any, I will. My 29-3. Last revolver I purchased. Bob

Attached Images

	29-3 new stocks 006.jpg (142.2 KB, 41 views)
	29-3 new stocks 001.jpg (129.7 KB, 43 views)
	P1050727.jpg (58.6 KB, 39 views)
	P1050728.jpg (53.8 KB, 37 views)

Thank you for your service! Keep the faith!

Welcome to the fold. Don't dwell on past sins, just enjoy your newly found love.

Since confession is good for the soul, and my soul can use all the cleansing it can get before I draw my last breath of cordite-tinged range smoke, I will confess to having sold the only two S&W's in my possession about a year ago...I immediately regretted that decision and used the ill-gotten gains to fund more Smiths...

I'm now up to having welcomed into my life a total of 73 and still seeking the ever elusive "more"...Please help me pray for absolution for I shall sin no more......Ben

__________________
Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Began my career in 1968 when revolvers ruled and they saved me in more than one deadly confrontation. In retirement a J Frame still goes w/me most of the time unless my mode of dress calls for my LCP.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

No way will I pray for your absolution. But I will pray that you ABSOLUTELY keep on S&W sinning until your last breath!

We just want to know where that pawn shop is!

__________________
Eaglebeaver

I too mostly ignored DA revolvers of any sort for years. My "first impression" of a S&W came in the form of a friend's 8 3/8" M29. I then primarily hunted with a handgun, and was no stranger to heavy loads in my Super Blackhawk. But his "loaded for bear" heavy handloads were just plain unpleasant to shoot. Sort of soured me on anything DA.

But I too have become a convert, I've accumulated this small herd in less than a year. All 5 screws save the 28-2, and the no dash 36.

Attached Images

Smiths.jpg (144.4 KB, 31 views)

Wonderful anachronisms these revolvers. I bought a S&W Model 28 at a gun show for what today would be a laughably low price from a dealer who got it in trade did not want to take it home and clean it, just to have a revolver since folks here talked about them so much. Then I bought four more including my EDC. Get your wallet ready.

OP, I absolve you in the name of Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger. Go your way and sin no more.

__________________
Let's be careful out there

Welcome into the light. The light has just recently illuminated my path to these wonderful revolvers.
I bought a M29-2 in 1974 on the coat tails of Dirty Harry. I shot it quite a bit but always with full magnum loads. Time drifted by and it got used less and less. I wandered towards M12's, Belgium Browning A5's then Parker and Fox shotguns. I bought a Parker double trap and after a while those 1 1/8 oz loads became unpleasant so it followed the path of the M29.
I've come to enjoy the 3/4 oz load in my classic SXS and the 12's are once again fun to shoot. I've taken this path with the Smith's. A light load in the 44's and 41's make them fun to shoot again. Wadcutters in the M19's and 27's are pure joy. This of course leads to the purchase of more Smith's. Like the elusive perfect grouse gun there is no perfect Smith.
Follow the light it will lead you to your next Smith.

Haha, I did the exact opposite.

I've been a S&W wheelgun guy since I was a teenager. Still am. But I thought that S&W semiautomatic pistols were inferior to the European ones (minus the 52 and 41).

Fast forward to 2020. Epiphany. Now I own 11 of them.

PS - Smith handguns are like potato chips. You can't just have one.

__________________
BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

Congrats on coming to your senses!

Obtaining them is only half the joy of those beauties. Take 'em to the range and tell us about it!

Welcome from Bastrop, Texas. When I started as a LEO in 1969 the revolver we carried was S&W 38/44 then the Mod. 27 and when i went to plain clothes a Mod. 19. When the rest of dept. went to autos. I still carried that Mod 19 until I retired. Once a wheel gunner always a wheel gunner.

__________________
Dogs are better than people.

Sorry, I must apologize for not posting pics! How dare I! In my defense, I had some unexpected health issues immediately after posting, we’re currently renovating a cabin and making repairs to our current home plus trying to get better so I can get out there and bow hunt elk & deer!

My collection of S&W revolvers is quite modest mind you, a total of 7 and 14 total revolvers of different makes. I’d say all but 2 were acquired within the past 5-6 years. Of course I have varied interests and have always been first and foremost a rifleman, enjoy archery hunting and collecting guns off all types really.

Like many, if I wanted a gun, I had to sell a gun for most of my adult life, which thank God I no longer practice but with my late arrival to collecting S&W revolvers, varied gun interests, family and bills, this was the best I could do! Of course I got what I could from the pawnshop (almost all the older revolvers were “off roster” handguns and could only be sold to law enforcement officers in CA, not to the general public).

My brother has all the 38/44 outdoorsman’s and heavy duties, which I’d love to have! At the time, while beautiful revolvers, I just didn’t see the sense in owning an oversized 38 special! I curse myself now of course! Someday I hope he’ll post pics but he’d need a drone!

My list of current revolvers:

S&W 29-3, 28-2, 686-3 Midnight black, 686PC, 581 no dash nickel, 581-1 blue, & model 15-3 department issue.

Non S&W: New model Colt Python, Taurus 992, Ruger Toklat, security six agency commemorative, speed six, LCR, bisley vacquero.

I may own more than some and probably quite a few less than others, but nevertheless it’s a start! I won’t part with them and will only add to the collection when I’m able and regardless, it’s still fun to read and learn about S&W revolvers whether I’m able to acquire them or not (like a registered magnum I recently got on my brother’s behalf which was another post of mine and I damn near kept it for myself!)

Attached Images

	59DBAEB3-B0D0-449F-932B-6C8A41E34FAA.jpg (110.9 KB, 31 views)
	8FF782CB-8A28-4856-BC98-877A42FFF901.jpg (101.8 KB, 29 views)

Posted bottom of thread! Sorry!

You did good!

Just a sorta-random thought: the media would say you have an "arsenal" there.
On the other hand, here we would call it "a good start."
Your story is so familiar! Selling to finance my latest gotta-have-that or trading up to the next one. The turning point for me was 2012, when I spent the year on desk duty while I had a series of 5 surgeries. I had one of those AFLAC-style policies that paid me a ton of money for the year, tax-free. Did I use it for bills? Did I gift it to the Mrs. for her household agenda? Heh. NO. I spent 90% on guns and ammo! I have zero regrets, too, other than the usual "Geez, I should have bought that one when I had thee chance!"
Take care!

Well said OP and welcome aboard!

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Enjoy your retirement and your search for the beloved revolver, now consider joining the S&W Collectors Association and really see some rare and special revolvers and meet some really nice folks. Congratulations!

__________________
Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

I'm better with revolvers than I am with semi-autos. Yet this guy on the now-defunct Kansas forum insisted that that was not true, even though he never met me. Anyone who carried anything other than a Striker-Fired pistol was a fudd, not serious about self-defense, mediocre, or a hobbyist.

__________________
Let's be careful out there

Welcome to the asylum? I am more of a collector of shooters as opposed to a collector of collectibles so if I had the chance to buy a pristine Model ? and a used but not abused Model ? I would get the shooter. I’ve looked at pistols real hard and put them back down with the thought ‘it’s too nice.’ I do have a couple safe queen’s but the rest get shot.

Pretty much the same with me. I am fond of the 32 cartridge and also the Colt Police Positive Special, so in the mid-1990s, I went to Kansas City from Wichita to look at one.
The shopkeeper showed me one of 1965 (by the SN) vintage and it was brand-new in the box. He said that the previous owner had bought the gun new in the 1960s due to the race riots that were happening, stuck it and a single box of 32 S&W in a dresser drawer, and forgot about it for the next 30 years.

When I say brand new, I mean the cylinder had never been turned on it. I wasn't about to shoot that one but I was still wanting a 32 shooter, so I looked around and saw this one at a Wichita pawn shop.



This 1958 model is a shooter; it has an action so smooth, it will put a Python to shame. I also think that it is the best-looking handgun Colt ever made

__________________
Let's be careful out there