Is asking Colt or S&W like asking Ford or Chevy

bushmaster1313 · Dec 10, 2018

I have never owned a Colt and probably never will. S&W's always seemed the more natural purchase. But after seeing the interest and glee on this Forum, I wonder if the same wonderlust is associated with the revolvers made by Colt.

Bro. Dave · Dec 10, 2018

To put a bit of a strain on your analogy, I might say it is more like asking Cadillac or Lincoln.

When I first began a more serious interest in handguns I was enamored of Colts. I had a Detective Special and a six-inch Python (which I have already shared that its sale produced the money that paid off my first-born son's Doctor and Hospital fees when he was born in 1980).

The first S&W that was acquired was a four inch Model 10 that, although not as elegantly finished as the Python, just shot so well. When I discovered a Lee Loader and hollow based wadcutters, that Smith began to be the favorite.

To me, blind brand loyalty prevents one from the wonders of many fine firearms. Both Colts and Smiths seem to me to be upper echelon, finely built guns. One might argue Manhurin, Korth, etc. as Mercedes versus BMW or some such.

I think personal aesthetic sensibilities may fall under the "de gustibus non disputandum est" maxim.

Redcoat3340 · Dec 11, 2018

Colts revolvers are great.....IF you can handle the cylinder revolving the wrong way and the cylinder release opening the wrong way as well.

Somehow I seem to gravitate to S&Ws, both revolvers and pistols. My one Colt wheel gun is a 1917 .45 ('cause I couldn't find a Smith in my price range) and I have 2 pistols: a 1903 in 7.65 'cause it's an icon, and a 1911 in 9mm as I got a great deal at my regular LGS. I like 'em all.

But I find Colts somewhat overpriced for my budget and S&W seems to fulfill all my needs handsomely.

My Dad would never buy a Ford or Chevy...he was wed to Chrysler products. Can't tell ya why....but he passed it along (something genetic?) and today I own 3...Toyotas.

It's not that I won't buy a Colt...they just don't seem to either come along when I want something, or I'm just a Smith fan-boy!

gman51 · Dec 11, 2018

Go to a Colt forum and you will definitely see a great fan club for Colt revolvers and guns. I don't get to excited about Colt semi autos and don't own any but I own several revolvers I have no intention of selling. I feel pretty much the same about S&W.

Yep guns are like cars and each have their following of fan boys and hate mongers. To each their own what they cheer for or boo. I think it is funny while a person owns something it is so great and everything else they want to call inferior. Then they sell the one and buy the one they toasted. I have to laugh how what was fantabulous is **** and what was called junk is now the greatest.

Ford lover f o r d = "first on race day". To a Chevy lover f o r d = "found on roadside dead". I have owned both and have had good and bad of each. All things manmade have their good and bad.

Onomea · Dec 11, 2018

Some of us like S&Ws and Colts with equal fervor. I am now down to a mere five handguns. Three S&Ws and two Colts remain. (And I still occasionally think a single action Ruger or a Freedom Arms would be fun...)

(I guess I am just promiscuous in my attentions...)

Absalom · Dec 11, 2018

Bro. Dave said:
...
To me, blind brand loyalty prevents one from the wonders of many fine firearms.
....

I think this quote sums it up nicely.

The first handgun I handled as a kid was a S&W (a Mod. 37) and the first I owned was one (a Mod. 19). But I wasn't a brand fan, S&W was simply the more visible and available brand with more models back then.

Nowadays, several decades later I'm somewhat of a historical collector and do both S&W and Colt. If I had more money and time and lifespan, I'd probably have a bunch of Rugers, Dan Wessons, and a whole lot more auto pistols, but life sets certain limits

Most brands have strengths and weaknesses, and how can you intelligently discuss comparisons if you are not familiar with one or the other?

I have little use for people who declare they'd never buy X. Fan-boy forums for brands (this one thankfully is not) have turned a lot of keyboard gunfighters into instant experts on why some other brand is garbage. Not a helpful development.

Coming back to S&W and Colt, they've both produced some great guns and been important to US history. Appreciating both comes quite naturally.

Grayfox · Dec 11, 2018

I started out with S&W simply because they were more affordable. Over the years, I've acquired a bunch of them. They are and always will be my first choice. But I don't limit myself.
Back around 1980 or so, I traded my way into a 3rd Issue Detective Special and it was instant love. Its still my favorite snubby.

Over the years I've stumbled across an occasional good deal on a Colt revolver and snatched it up. I've got about a half dozen now and they're all great guns. I'll buy more if the price is right.

Just for the record, I'm a huge fan of Colt semi-autos and have quite a few of those.

BTW: Ford.

stansdds · Dec 11, 2018

bushmaster1313 said:
I have never owned a Colt and probably never will. S&W's always seemed the more natural purchase. But after seeing the interest and glee on this Forum, I wonder if the same wonderlust is associated with the revolvers made by Colt.

Back in the day when both Colt and S&W were making revolvers, it was sort of a Chevy vs. Ford thing. What makes Colts so desirable, but S&W revolvers so easy to buy is that Colt slowed and eventually stopped making revolvers, but S&W continued to make a wide variety of revolvers. This leads to a supply and demand market. Plenty of S&W's out there and more being made, but the number of Colt's is finite, limited, and that makes them desirable from a collector's standpoint.

As for which is best, it really depends upon personal preference. The bluing on the older Pythons is just incredible, but in my hands, I prefer the action of the S&W.

Donn · Dec 11, 2018

I have both, like both, own a few examples of Colt and S&W auto pistols and revolvers. Over the last few years, I've been able to acquire a Colt Police Positive and a 3 inch Detective Special, both built in the mid 70's. They're excellent shooters and both have the old school rich bluing. I consider myself a S&W man, both wheelguns and auto loaders. That said, my Colt revolvers and Series 70 1911's are and always will be among my favorites.

gregintenn · Dec 11, 2018

I think of it more like "Ginger or Mary Anne?"

LPD256 · Dec 11, 2018

My Dad and his Highway Patrol buddies shot K38’s and 38/44 Outdoorsman in our basement range and carried Model 10’s. My first purchased gun and first issued gun was a Model 10. I’ve owned a Python and Combat Commander, but today I have a Colt AR and a 1911 surrounded by S&W wheelguns. I got started down that road and pretty much stayed on it..

VaTom · Dec 11, 2018

gregintenn said:
I think of it more like "Ginger or Mary Anne?"

Why not both!!! Every revolver collection needs a S&W Model 10 and a Colt Official Police. The most issued police handguns in the 20th century.

A 1977 Model 10 (nickel) and a 1956 Colt Official Police (only Colt revolver I have.) Ginger would be the nickel M10 and Mary Ann the Colt.

one eye joe · Dec 11, 2018

bushmaster1313 said:
I have owned a Colt and probably never will. S&W's always seemed the more natural purchase. But after seeing the interest and glee on this Forum, I wonder if the same wonderlust is associated with the revolvers made by Colt.

IMHO---BACK IN THE GLORY DAYS OF COLT, NO PRODUCTION REVOLVER COULD COMPARE WITH THE COLT PYTHON, WITH REGARD TO BEAUTY AND FUNCTION........

THE HIGHLY POLISHED "ROYAL BLUE" FINISH WAS UNMATCHED BY ANY FACTORY GUN IN THE INDUSTRY......

THE PYTHONS WERE ASSEMBLED BY HIGHLY SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED CRAFTSMEN, WHO HAND FITTED PARTS, TO EACH INDIVIDUAL REVOLVER. THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS "DROP IN PARTS". ONLY THE FINEST GUNSMITHS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE PYTHON LINE---AND THEY DID THEIR WORK WITH GREAT PRIDE.......

I CARRIED AND SHOT COLT SNAKE GUNS AND 1911s EXCLUSIVELY, FOR 1/4 OF A CENTURY. I GOT AN ITCH FOR A .44 MAGNUM, IN THE EARLY 1990s. I COULD NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH COLT ANACONDA---SO I WAS FORCED TO JUMP SHIP TO S&W, FOR RELIEF.......

I PURCHASED 2 M629s---AN 8 3/8" CLASSIC HUNTER, AND A 3" FOR A CCW. BOTH ARE GREAT REVOLVERS. THEY ARE PICTURED BELOW. ALSO PICTURED BELOW ARE THE LAST 2 COLT PYTHONS THAT I PURCHASED NEW---AN 8" BLUED VERSION, AND A 4", BRIGHT STAINLESS, PYTHON ELITE, WITH A "COMBAT TUNED ACTION"---TOTALLY RELIABLE WITH ANY FACTORY AMMO. IT IS THE LAST PYTHON MANUFACTURED.......

WHILE I AGREE THAT THE COLT DETECTIVE SPECIAL; AND THE S&W CHIEF SPECIAL COULD BE CONSIDERED A CHOICE BETWEEN A FORD AND A CHEVY, THE COLT PYTHON WILL ALWAYS BE THE CADILLAC OF ITS ERA........

NYlakesider · Dec 11, 2018

Car and gun guy here. After 40 years of pistol shooting I bought a couple Colt Revolvers. (Very good guns Older DS and Cobra)

Still have not lowered my self into buying a Ford. Old habits die hard!

rkittine · Dec 11, 2018

I like certain model Colts like the Series 70 Gold Cup and certain model Smiths. I think Smith has a bigger offering and I have a heck of a lot more Smiths then Colts.

Bob

ladder13 · Dec 11, 2018

I have 3 Colt revolvers and 5 or 6 1911’s. I don’t know very much about Colts at all so I tend to shy away from them.

Krogen · Dec 11, 2018

I have a Ford and a Toyota in the garage. I have Colts and S&Ws in the safe. I'm indiscriminate . . . .

chief38 · Dec 11, 2018

IMHO Colt always had better bluing, fit & finish. IMHO S&W always had a better & simpler design and was much more robust. After taking apart many Colt Revolvers it amazes me they do not fail more often because of the fragility of some of their internal parts. S&W's are also easier to tune, work on and repair - IMO. Unfortunately the vintage guns I own are no longer made and S&W no longer makes anything I would buy. Colt still makes high quality 1911's and SAA's but unfortunately their Revolver offerings are too few and not what they once were either.

Like Ford & Chevy - everyone likes different features and gravitates to one or the other. Try other peoples Colt's when you get an opportunity and then decide what is right for you. IMHO the S&W Revolvers made from the 1950's to the mid 90's are the ones to go for and I consider that their "Golden Age" if you will.

BAM-BAM · Dec 11, 2018

My Dad had and carried both; Colt New Service .357 and a Detective Special along with his 4" S&W M&P .38.

In the early years I tried both..... for Colt it was a Diamondback and a couple of Detective Specials........ in the 80s as I did more and more DAO revolver shooting ....I gravitated more towards the S&W.

I still have my Dad's Colts and maybe a couple others.... but I'm a S&W shooter.

Buford57 · Dec 11, 2018

On the job I owned and carried both, sometimes at the same time. 4" S&W 28-2, 6" Colt Official Police, Colt Agent, Colt Cobra, Colt Lawman MKIII snub.

The Lawman was an engagement present from my fiance, who didn't think much of the Browning .32 auto I was carrying off-duty. M19 snubs were scarce then and she got a deal on the Colt. I still have both the girl and the gun.

The Agent was one of the "parked" economy grade guns they made in the 80s and was a great boot gun.

The Cobra was inherited. The OP was a whim and was too long for me.

I liked the extra round of the Colt Ds over S&W Js and also preferred their actions.

In the end, personal preference and availability.

Is asking Colt or S&W like asking Ford or Chevy

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