You know how S&W does a special run of a revolver that Lew Horton, Camfour, or Talo requests. They make like 500 to a 1000 of them.

Why can't the "S&W Revolvers 1980 to Present Forum" place a special distributor style order with S&W? We could create two or three model options and take a vote and get 500 to 1000 members to choose and order a style.

We would choose:
-A Caliber
-Frame Material (i.e., steel or scandium)
-Cylinder Material (i.e., steel or scandium)
-Color (i.e., black or silver)
-Frame type (i.e., J,K,L, or N)
-Type of sights (i.e., XS Big Dot, C&S U Notch extreme duty)
-Misc (hammer type, trigger type, no internal lock, etc)

Put two or three of these revolver concepts together and vote to choose one.

Another option could be to resurrect a discontinued model like a 65 LadySmith, or a 396 Night Guard?

Another option...choose a current model with special features/options?

Another option...resurrect a discontinued model with a different frame type, like a Thunder Ranch 22 45ACP with a scandium frame?


Would a distributor style order for 500 to 1000 revolvers be possible? Would S&W accommodate this? Don't they do special runs for agencies domestic and abroad? Wouldn't this be exactly the same type of situation?

I would think S&W would do this. The hardest part I would imagine would be coming up with a choice that everyone could agree on. What do you guys think? I am willing to help organize this in a significant way.

It would work. A union I was with before I retired did a commemorative batch of Model 10s. They were offered in 2", 3" and 4", nickle or blue, square or round butt. The total order was about 4,000 pieces, the largest private party purchase Smith had ever contracted for at that time. As I recall they wanted significant front money. I think it is a good idea in general, though the specifics might be a bear to work out. I would guess they will still do it, for a firm order with a significant down payment. Business is business and revolvers are still politically correct.

Sounds like a neat idea.

A cool L or N frame would fit in my collection nicely.

I would participate. Maybe S/N prefix SWF for S&W Forum or something similar.


Bob

From what I have read, they do custom orders with a minimum of 500 pieces.
Other than the obvious issue of gettin 500 people to agree on a particular gun for this buy, I think payment would be another issue. I would imagine S&W would want the money from a single entity rather than 500 individuals. You would probably need to set up a single bank account and have the participants money put there so it comes from one place, but who would be in charge of it?

Now if you could overcome those obstacles, I think it is a great idea.

I like it.

If we didn't get too, too over the top fancy the gun might be affordable for a lot of people, too.

The key is the distribution. The union that did this, as noted above, likely had a member with an FFL to handle distribution - that's a key ingredient.

Suppose, after a successful thread on the subject, we have 1000 Forum members who agree to buy this one gun. Let's suppose we ask S&W to make a run of 3" HB Model 10s, either as +P guns or even .357 Magnum guns (remember, they did do that once, in a 4" version), just as one example. Then what?

That's a 1000 gun order - how do we organize paying for it? Let's suppose the gun is going to be sold at a distributor price to all of us. Do we send money to S&W or to one FFL holder in the group? Then he delivers the money to S&W, S&W delivers the guns to him, and he ships them out across the country? I'm pretty sure that's how Lew Horton would do it, or Talo, right?

That takes a lot of time, organization, and manpower. If someone has the ability to organize that, well, then we've got a special order coming that will get its own chapter in the next SCSW. Maybe the gun even comes with special markings, like:

Smith & Wesson Forum - 2014

With serial numbers from SWF0001 through SWF1000.

Very cool.

***GRJ***

Ha! I se as I typed that that I was not alone in my thinking. Good job, guys!

***GRJ***

These are clearly the obstacles. But I think they can be overcome. It would be a fun project to work on. I have seen similar things done on other gun forums. Quite a few times on AR15.com and others. But ARs are a lot easier to put together and customize. Creating a revolver is much more of an art than slapping together a modular rifle.

Let's see what kind of response we get here and maybe I will set up an email account and try to get 500+ people on board and go from there. Try to collect suggestions etc. We will see.

Sounds awesome. I think .44 S&W Special would be the perfect caliber for this venture, for a variety of reasons!

I am interested and agree that the obstacles can be overcome.
A model 25 45ACP with a 3 inch barrel. The 3" 625 is very sought after, I think a blued version would be bad *****. It looks like Lew Horton had a run of 100 of these back in 1977.

Could someone find a "Distributor" to take orders w/ down payment ..... who would then place the order with S&W?

A "Lew Horton/S&W Forum Special".........


I'd like to see a 3" Model 65 NL ( non marked Ladysmith) ..... like the 3913NL....feed our need for 3" K-Frames.

OK - who is in charge of collecting the first $40,000 that S&W will want as a down payment?

How do we get agreement on Caliber and Barrel length?

Which Grip manufacturer can turn around 500 - 1000 sets of nice wood grips with medallions? (Because people will want those - not GoodYears)

Not saying it can't be done. Anything can be done, but it will take A LOT of consensus building and organization.

Does the person that is in charge of this make any money for their time and effort, or do they just get to pay for a new gun and a lot of headaches?

Anyway, I am interested in nominating a run of a 3" 586 Round Butt with 7 Shot capability and Rosewood or Cocobolo Boot Grips with Medallions.

Since so many of us use ahrends I think they would be an obvious choice by most

If it was priced fairly I’d put my order in for a blued 357 Mag K frame, with 3 inch slab sided barrel, target hammer, target sights, recessed cylinder, no internal lock, and wood RB combat grip.

__________________
Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Would be cool. I think a 3" k or L frame with no lock and wood grips would be the easiest to agree on.

A L-frame 10mm would be nice though!

I think 3" barrel is a definite. 44 Special, 45 ACP, and 357/38 are no doubt the front runners. I'm sure we can all agree thus far.

I'm sure things will get pretty sticky after that. But I'm sure we can figure it out.

Maybe it is best to approach Lew Horton or Talo and place the order with them and send them the money individually. Let's get the price from S&W and they can mark it up 5%-10% for their effort.

I would have no problem pitiching this to Talo or someone and be the group liaison with the distributor.

I have yet to buy my first revolver, but I like the idea of first putting together three options to vote on. I'll vote and even if we were a few short I'm sure it wouldn't be long before we got enough people to join in with the group buy and have enough to place the order. It will be a long process, maybe years to accomplish.

Yes, much work and headaches for the organizer. I'd be willing to chip in 1-3% extra to donate for the cause. If everyone did it would buy the organizers pistol.

Somebody works that hard, yep, I'd give him a free gun, Serial Number 0001.

***GRJ***

It occurs to me that a Forum poll would be the way to go, maybe more than one. One for caliber, one for frame, one for barrel length (easy one there, 3" will win).

That's why I think a poll would help. A lot of things can be ironed out by voting.

An excellent idea - then no single person has to do the work - let professionals handle it - on one condition - okay, maybe they can't do this - but I was going to say restrict buyers to Forum folks. That might be impossible, I am not sure.


Cool.

***GRJ***

OP Here:
I will give Talo and maybe another distributor a call today or tomorrow and see what they say.

I will also put up a few polls on Monday once some more folks have had a chance to read this thread and get informed so they can participate in the polls. Cool?

I think multiple polls is the only way to go. Take the top votes for each and put them together to make our dream gun. That is unless of course you have a 500S&W K frame with an airweight alloy frame.

If you do call distributors, also ask about the speicalized serial numbers. SWF prefix or whatever.

I just composed the email below and sent it to reps Talo and Lew Horton. I will let you guys know what I hear back. Here's the email:

Hi Talo,
As you are probably aware the S&W Forum (http://smith-wessonforum.com/) is a pretty popular spot on the net for S&W enthusiasts. Especially S&W revolver fans. The idea has been floated that we would like to do a group buy of a S&W revolver that we design/choose. Obviously it would be based on the current S&W frames and parts bin. It might even be a discontinued model. It is just in the discussion phase at this point. However, we have no doubt that we can get 500 to 1,000 folks on board to purchase a "S&W Forum" Revolver.

That said, we think it might make the most sense to approach a distributor that currently works with S&W to do this project with. Obviously the distributor/partner would add a percent on to the cost of the gun so they can make their required profit on the deal. We are aware these revolvers would have to be paid for in advance. But these are all things that can be discussed as this project evolves.

Would Talo consider working with a liaison/member of the S&W forum to get this project together and place the order for the revolver we collectively decide on?

Best Regards,
Jason B
S&W Forum Member

I'm in. One of the first things to find out from S&W is if all 500 units have to be the same. If S&W will do a RB K frame, 3" barrel, adj sights, no lock, wood combat grips and in either SST or steel (blue) and either 41 Mag, 44 Mag or 45 ACP, the door comes open for a lot more takers. Some folks for more than one. I know there can't be total flexibility but I'll bet there could be some.
At probably $800 a pop, 500 units works out to $400,000. That's a strong incentive.

I would definitively get in on this. Sounds like a great idea, as long as the logistics aren't like wrestling a grizzly bear.

Love this idea. Love it.

Since I think about this all the time, and it periodically evolves, here's my (currently) ideal revolver vote:

- L-frame
- .357 Magnum
- round butt
- 3" lugged barrel
- fixed sights with a gold bead front
- cut for moon clips
- old style factory combat stocks
- no lock
- all forged
- old school blue
- PC tuned

Basically a 3" 581 with an improved front sight.

Alternately, revive the 3" fixed sight Model 19 and its near-perfect fighting revolver twin, the 65 LS.

Below is the response I received from Bob Coyle at Talo, and my response to him.

As I said earlier, I will put up some polls on Monday once more folks here have had a chance to give this some thought.

Fascinating. When you hang around a bar, pool hall, or any campfire long enough, you probably find that if you really like the place the other customers have a lot in common with you! Maybe not always.....

If I'm going to carry this dreamy little gun I'd opt first for a K-frame but I'd not shy away from an L.

K-frame
.357
recessed chambers (can I get a side of pinned barrel with that?)
lugged barrel
combat trigger
no lock - just because
firing pin on the hammer
non-tear drop cylinder release latch
round butt
combat stocks
forged (as long as we're getting around to all the details, as Hapworth did)
high polish blue with color case trigger and hammer
best trigger they can do under Mass. law

=========

My alternative would be an L-frame just like that but in .44 Special.

***GRJ***

HarrishMasher - can you cut and paste the Talo reply? The picture doesn't appear for me on this computer (it's a work issue I have to live with).

***GRJ***

I heard back from Lew Horton, and much to my surprise Lew Horton no longer works with S&W:




For those who can't see pictures:

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the interest in working with Lew Horton’s, but unfortunately we no longer sell S&W products.


Good luck,


Don Drysdale

Lew Horton Dist. Co. Inc.

Jason, interesting concept. We would explore it with you. Please keep in mind that our success has been as a result of the support of our local stocking dealers without whom we would have no showcase.
Under any circumstance I am sure I can help you in the development.

Email [email protected]


Regards,

Bob Coyle


And my response:

Hi Bob,
Thanks for getting back to me so fast. I appreciate you interest and support. I will be in touch with you in a week or so once I get some more feedback from the group. Thanks again, talk soon.

Excited to hear Talo got back to you so quickly. We have over 148,000 members here. If word gets out I'm sure filling an order for 500 would not be an issue. Revolver threads/posts here rank at the top in terms of numbers.

I think something like this could wake up S&W and make them realize that having no locks on K/L/N frame revolvers would sell out. Keep us posted on what happens.

__________________
Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

I think a fixed sighted 3" model 19 would really appeal to the masses.
Or an L frame version of the above.
P&R with the old cylinder retainer stud and cylinder release.

Or a 4" Heavy Duty in .357 or .45acp/.45LC with humpback hammer.

Either of those and I'm in.

I thought I remembered reading on the forum last year that s&w and LH no longer did business with each other, but when I searched, I could not find anything about it.
what a shame.

Well, I learned something new today.

Flint Virgets from Lipsey's just called me. My phone number was in the email I sent him. Really nice guy. He pointed out all the obvious obstacles we would face getting something like this together. I told him we would work on getting a model figured out and a way to collect money etc. and get back to him.

So we have Talo and Lipsey's to talk with about this project as it evolves. So far so good.

Please remember my screen name. I would definitely be interested. Would prefer a 3" barrel, but K, L, N frame all work for me as long as it is at least a 38/357 model.

I am pretty sure near unanimous support for no lock. S&W is currently doing a pretty good job of creating NL J-frames. It would be nice to show them the way to starting in on NL larger frames.
Two possible candidates I would suggest is bring back a Mountain Gun or a Night Guard, either with NL. Caliber: 357 mag, 10mm, 41 mag, 44 spec, or 44 mag.

Hasn't S&W made it clear for years that they will NOT make a no-lock gun under any circumstances (except for the ones they want to make, all of which have been concealed hammer guns?)

I'd love to get another 3" round butt K frame, but will keep looking for a pre-lock used one rather than buy a lock. Just my preference, of course.

Since I'm not in a Free State I'll have to bow out, but I'm rooting for you all to come up with a really cool piece!

I recently emailed TALO asking how they create distribute exclusives and received a similarly quick response from Mr. Coyle. I think the most likely to succeed option would be starting as a distributor exclusive that we can piggyback on. That would give their stocking dealers to sell and might give us the volume necessary to swing a smaller run of custom serial number guns.

I, for one, would buy a Model 65LS or 3" Model 66 with little hesitation.

While the idea sounds neat, I cannot imagine 500 of us agreeing on anything, let alone a single gun.

As long as we're dreaming, I would like to see an updated Model 12 with a 3" barrel and scandium frame.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Put me down as a Possible.

I don't know how Special a special order they would fill.
Are we talking a reissue of something like a M&P Target?
Or parts bin engineering, a collation of available features, just not one in the current catalog?

I would not be interested in a 3" L or N frame, that big a gun ought to be a 5" to give it some exclusivity and decent balance and ballistics.

A 3" M19 RB would be nice.

I will be keeping my eye on this. I think it's a great idea and I'm interested. It's interesting to see the overwhelming interest in a 3" barrel.

Interesting idea. Perhaps a member or two, in addition to the union member who chimed in, could relate how his particular outfit bought some of their special runs.

For instance, I read the Oklahoma state police has an approximate 900 troop base, but, they do have at least one special run firearm.

I have never known quite how these special runs are put together and paid for, so some of our LEO guys might know how the deal was put together.

As for a "bring back, or reissue" of some of the favorites mentioned here, I for one would not like the idea of everyone being able to step down the street and buy a NEW revolver that I searched for years to find.

I know it sounds a bit selfish, but I like to think that the scarce item I searched out and paid premium for, can not be had by just whipping out a card and ordering one.

The idea of a run of specialty revolvers, never seen before, and not to be duplicated is appealing, and of course opens another can of worms. Will S&W, or Talo grant us an exclusive order, not to be repeated ?

Well, perhaps I'm thinking too much. One free "pick-of-the-litter" revolver to the organizer may be a little "light" for payment.

__________________
wanna do right-- not right now

^^^^This is what I see as the major stumbling block; that & the lock. I'm interested, and even more interested in watching how this plays out.

-Klaus

You know I haven't been on here long, but I hope that everyone knows they are not going to get exactly what they want ( but I would hope that we can work something out that we can all agree with We will have to make some sacrifices. But how great would it be to have a run of a certain revolver that is exclusive to members of this awesome site? We will all just vote on the polls mentioned above, and if you don't get exactly what you want suck it up. You would be purchasing the first in hopefully a line of firearms for this forum. Maybe starting a new collection line.

This is a great idea but I think some aspects are un realistic. (Hammer mounted firing pin, forged parts, old school blue, an accetable set of grips) as far as grips go I would settle for ahrends

I would be in for a K or N

3in
Fixed/adj sight
.357 (k frame)
.357, .41, .44spc, .45ACP, 45colt cut for moon clips (.45acp) (n frame)

Tapered non full lug barrel

Probably stainless

The only way I could see this working is by taking a deposit of say $100 from each member who wants in. Then we set a poll where only members with a valid deposit can vote on the gun selection. Here's the kicker. Even if the gun you voted for doesn't win, you still have to buy whatever choice gets the most votes. If you back out you lose your $100.

Sounds like a good idea!
3" in K,L,N / 357 an up / "SWF" markings of some kind a must, serial number and prefix probably the easiest.

I am guessing these will be PC builds?
PC tuned at least?

I will look for the polling.

Excellent idea!