When the mind and heart battle.

Mehutch

Mehutch

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When the mind and heart battle.

I now have nine S&W's, Two 586's and five 686's of different barrel lengths, a Model 65-1 in 4" and a Model 19-3 in 6". I am very happy with what I bought over the years. That is a lot and plenty for me to have and pass on to my Son.

But... I wandered into one of my local gun shops, just looking, and I saw a pre-lock 686-4 in 4" six shooter. I knew I was in trouble. It was magnificent in all ways. Old school pre-lock outstanding trigger and action. Clean like new, round butt with rubber grips.

There was only one problem, my mind said, "you really don't need it, you have so many fine 686's as it is." My heart said, "Oh you beauty, it is just the gun to fill the tiny hole in my gun family, and you have the money... run home and get the cash."

It is true I have a fine line of 686's in dash -4, -5, -6 and -7 with 6" and 4" barrels, six shooters and mostly seven shooters. I don't need another one. "but it is a pre-lock 686-4 six shooter..... just get it. There won't be many more around at this low price, $649." my heart pleaded with me. "You don't have one just like it, these older 'Best of the S&W Breed' will disappear and be over priced very soon. Hell you have the coin!"

My mind spoke sense, "That's $714 out the door for a gun you don't need. Hey when is this going to end? You are almost 65 years, how long will we be above ground? Your Son promised to take care of all your guns, but he is not into guns like you. Don't get me wrong... he like shooting, but still."

My heart replied, "If your Son is not into it like you, his kids will, and it will be a gun they could never have or afford. Think about that."

I went back to the gun store with the correct cash in my left pocket. It was still there next to the S&W 686 5" Talo 6 shooter and the S&W 686 3" Talo 6 shooter. "Don't do it!"... "There it is, get it now!" My hand grabbed my cash pocket and I hurried to my car cursing.

I understood both sides, both were valid reasons. "So many others are not as fortunate to have the guns you have. You don't have the time to shoot what you have now." said my logical mind. "But you would take really good care of it, and those new grips, wow. What if some guy got it and didn't care for it like you would, that's a crying shame. This gun wont cross paths with you again, ever." my heart shot back.

It is 11 PM and tomorrow is another day... maybe then... maybe not, I'll let you know.

 
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I have come to accept I can't buy every Smith I happen upon. I also realize, however, that money, no matter how high you stack it, just isn't as satisfying to possess as a fine revolver.

If you need that cash to be liquid, don't spend it on that pistol, but if your intend is to stack it up, I'd rather it be in the form of a gun I can fondle and admire, and especially one I can shoot. In a pinch you can always sell it and recoup the money.

Life is short my friend, if you really want that 686 I say buy it.
 
Hmmm,,,I just bought a Seiko mechanical watch which my wife thinks is identical to three other Seikos in the box. Geeeze, how could you think that, I ask her. But its the subtle differences that make it worth the money to the owner. I have nine L frames, all no dash, from 2 1/2 through 8 3/8 barrels. 585s, 686s, a 581 and a 681. I also have your early 19 with the 6" barrel. (Patridge front sight? Makes a great target gun for the .38 wadcutters.) But once in a while another early L frame will catch my eye and cause me to think about any particular hole it might fill. Clearly you have an enviable selection of 357 Magnum revolvers. And that one pictured is really pretty so good luck with that decision. As a side-note, I read that enviable list and my first thought was "where's the .22"
 
I have it as bad as you, but for model 27's. I'm about ready to get me my seventh on (really only 6, since I gave one to my daughter).

Heck, go for it. Those L frames are some fine weapons, especially the pre-lock models and they aren't making any more without the lock. ;)
 
Thank you all my friends, you all make sense. "I'll never lose money on the deal. My Son and grandkids will have a better investment or heirloom passed down from the ol' man. Who knows what it will be worth in 30 years, like that Colt Python I never bought or that Colt 45 Peacemaker 2nd Gen I passed on, (still hurts)."

"Just stay out of gun stores, what you don't see, you can't want. Be happy with what you have and let it pass."

It is 7 AM, somewhat sleepless night... we will see what happens today.
 
retiredbadge8091 said:
I have come to accept I can't buy every Smith I happen upon. I also realize, however, that money, no matter how high you stack it, just isn't as satisfying to possess as a fine revolver.

If you need that cash to be liquid, don't spend it on that pistol, but if your intend is to stack it up, I'd rather it be in the form of a gun I can fondle and admire, and especially one I can shoot. In a pinch you can always sell it and recoup the money.

Life is short my friend, if you really want that 686 I say buy it.
Click to expand...
+1, you know you're going to buy it (that is if you haven't already ;))!
 
Mehutch said:
When the mind and heart battle.

I now have nine S&W's, Two 586's and five 686's of different barrel lengths, a Model 65-1 in 4" and a Model 19-3 in 6". I am very happy with what I bought over the years. That is a lot and plenty for me to have and pass on to my Son.

But... I wandered into one of my local gun shops, just looking, and I saw a pre-lock 686-4 in 4" six shooter. I knew I was in trouble. It was magnificent in all ways. Old school pre-lock outstanding trigger and action. Clean like new, round butt with rubber grips.

There was only one problem, my mind said, "you really don't need it, you have so many fine 686's as it is." My heart said, "Oh you beauty, it is just the gun to fill the tiny hole in my gun family, and you have the money... run home and get the cash."

It is true I have a fine line of 686's in dash -4, -5, -6 and -7 with 6" and 4" barrels, six shooters and mostly seven shooters. I don't need another one. "but it is a pre-lock 686-4 six shooter..... just get it. There won't be many more around at this low price, $649." my heart pleaded with me. "You don't have one just like it, these older 'Best of the S&W Breed' will disappear and be over priced very soon. Hell you have the coin!"

My mind spoke sense, "That's $714 out the door for a gun you don't need. Hey when is this going to end? You are almost 65 years, how long will we be above ground? Your Son promised to take care of all your guns, but he is not into guns like you. Don't get me wrong... he like shooting, but still."

My heart replied, "If your Son is not into it like you, his kids will, and it will be a gun they could never have or afford. Think about that."

I went back to the gun store with the correct cash in my left pocket. It was still there next to the S&W 686 5" Talo 6 shooter and the S&W 686 3" Talo 6 shooter. "Don't do it!"... "There it is, get it now!" My hand grabbed my cash pocket and I hurried to my car cursing.

I understood both sides, both were valid reasons. "So many others are not as fortunate to have the guns you have. You don't have the time to shoot what you have now." said my logical mind. "But you would take really good care of it, and those new grips, wow. What if some guy got it and didn't care for it like you would, that's a crying shame. This gun wont cross paths with you again, ever." my heart shot back.

It is 11 PM and tomorrow is another day... maybe then... maybe not, I'll let you know.

Click to expand...


You gotta admit, it's more interesting to see a pic of a fine revolver than a pic of a few $100 bills..... :)
 
Mehutch said:
When the mind and heart battle.

I now have nine S&W's, Two 586's and five 686's of different barrel lengths, a Model 65-1 in 4" and a Model 19-3 in 6". I am very happy with what I bought over the years. That is a lot and plenty for me to have and pass on to my Son.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like you have good self control, as for me I'm at (13) K, (4) L, (3) J, and an N frame, all pre-locks.

Then when I add in my Ruger and Colt revolvers, well, I start to scare myself!

Then I think about my auto handguns; S&W's, Glock's, Colt's, Kahr's, and Browning's....... :eek:

Then I start to add in my long guns; AR's, lever action's, and pump's (I just realized I need some bolt action's, gee thanks)...... :eek:

Then the shotguns.......... :eek:

Trust me, you NEED that pre-lock 4" 686, you're only just getting started! :D
 
I was in a similar situation last week over a 686-1 2.5".

I ended up buying it and have zero regrets, I paid $540 for it. It's off to S&W now for a 30+ year old recall.

My biggest heart and mind battle lasted over 10 years and was about a knife. I just couldn't see paying $400 for a damn pocket knife.

Was at a local gun shop a couple weeks ago, and saw one in person for the first time. Shop owner let me play with it a while. Pure craftsmanship. It took every fiber in my body to leave the store without one, but I did. I also went back and bought one 3 days later. I have a weak spot for a nice auto knife.

My newest, favorite, and oldest.

i-W85JGWM-X2.jpg
 
You often see it referred to as a "sickness", that irresistible urge to buy a particular S&W. It's that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" mindset. I have always appreciated fine mechanical things, quality cameras, nice watches, and particularly S&W's. I've never been one to concentrate on a particular model, but "just know" when I see one that I should own it and care for it, and enjoy it. Not too many will be going to my children, certain ones are designated, but I do kind of look at many of them as investments, to be enjoyed, appreciated, then at some point to be sold.
 
If I still lived in the Seattle area (& had the coin), I'd be headed out looking for that un-named LGS right now.

Suggest you scoot on back down there - before some one else gets the idea.

If you get buyer's remorse after, & have a 4" 686 no dash hole in your collection, maybe we could work out a trade...
 
Ah yes, the eternal "want vs need" dilemna! As already said it's the wallet the usually wins the fight. For myself if I have truly disposable funds available, "ding-ding ding" want wins by a knockout. Only you can put out this"forest" fire.
 
Mehutch said:
When the mind and heart battle.

I now have nine S&W's, Two 586's and five 686's of different barrel lengths, a Model 65-1 in 4" and a Model 19-3 in 6". I am very happy with what I bought over the years. That is a lot and plenty for me to have and pass on to my Son.

But... I wandered into one of my local gun shops, just looking, and I saw a pre-lock 686-4 in 4" six shooter. I knew I was in trouble. It was magnificent in all ways. Old school pre-lock outstanding trigger and action. Clean like new, round butt with rubber grips.

There was only one problem, my mind said, "you really don't need it, you have so many fine 686's as it is." My heart said, "Oh you beauty, it is just the gun to fill the tiny hole in my gun family, and you have the money... run home and get the cash."

It is true I have a fine line of 686's in dash -4, -5, -6 and -7 with 6" and 4" barrels, six shooters and mostly seven shooters. I don't need another one. "but it is a pre-lock 686-4 six shooter..... just get it. There won't be many more around at this low price, $649." my heart pleaded with me. "You don't have one just like it, these older 'Best of the S&W Breed' will disappear and be over priced very soon. Hell you have the coin!"

My mind spoke sense, "That's $714 out the door for a gun you don't need. Hey when is this going to end? You are almost 65 years, how long will we be above ground? Your Son promised to take care of all your guns, but he is not into guns like you. Don't get me wrong... he like shooting, but still."

My heart replied, "If your Son is not into it like you, his kids will, and it will be a gun they could never have or afford. Think about that."

I went back to the gun store with the correct cash in my left pocket. It was still there next to the S&W 686 5" Talo 6 shooter and the S&W 686 3" Talo 6 shooter. "Don't do it!"... "There it is, get it now!" My hand grabbed my cash pocket and I hurried to my car cursing.

I understood both sides, both were valid reasons. "So many others are not as fortunate to have the guns you have. You don't have the time to shoot what you have now." said my logical mind. "But you would take really good care of it, and those new grips, wow. What if some guy got it and didn't care for it like you would, that's a crying shame. This gun wont cross paths with you again, ever." my heart shot back.

It is 11 PM and tomorrow is another day... maybe then... maybe not, I'll let you know.

Click to expand...

Flash chromed hammer and trigger indicate an early dash 4. Is this one of the rare square butt dash 4's? If yes, and it is in your lap, you know what to do....

Im just here to help you spend your money, you're welcome:)
 
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If you don't overpay much, you can buy it now and think about it for a couple of years or so. You can always change your mind and sell it. Or one of the others. Or none.

P.S. What did you expect to hear on this site?
 
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