Collecting Themes

Robert L Wells

Robert L Wells

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Joined
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Location
Oldsmar, Florida
I have a master plan for rebuilding my collection. I want a representative assortment of Smith models, types and barrel lengths, but I have to stay within a budget. So I have decided to stay with .38 special and .357 magnum calibers (that way I'll only have to keep one box of ammo around the house :-).

So I want blue, nickel and stainless guns; N, K and J frames; 6", 5", 4", 3", 2" barrels; target and magna stocks; diamond and modern stocks; round and square butt; pinned, pinned & recessed and non-pinned; 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's.

Finally, because I am a Smith nut (and I don't believe in an overly foolish consistency), I will also find another Model 25-5 blue 6" (my favorite to shoot, and because it says Colt on the barrel) and I've already found a like new Model 59 9mm (because it was one of Smith's true innovations).

That's my collecting manifesto, for now at least. Discounting the last two, I can pull it off with just five or six guns. For the 3" I'm hoping to find a Model 13 round butt "FBI" gun, but a Model 65 3" round butt or a Model 36 3" square butt would work. I already have a Model 640-1 from 1996 (I wanted a 1990's gun).

Does anyone else have a collecting "theme" or strategy that they're working on?
 
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Mr Wells said he was on a budget? I see sack lunches in his future. The bug is upon him. I wish him well.

My theme is if I see it and I want it do I have money in my jeans pocket? I'm firmly in the jaws of the bug. The only thing that saves me from utter ruin is that I'm a shooter accumulater and rarity, perfect condition, original grips and boxes mean little to me.
 
My first Smith revolver was a 66-2 4 inch 357 mag and I told myself I wanted my "theme" to be 38 special and 357 mag revolvers. My second revolver was a 57-1 41 mag. So then I changed my "theme" to 38 special, 357 mag, and 41 mag. Fast forward a little bit and my current accumulation of Smith revolvers consists of a couple 22lrs, a 38 special, five 357 mags, a 9mm, two 41 mags, two 44 mags, and two 500 mags. So I guess my current "theme" is small revolvers, medium revolvers, and big revolvers.
 
rct269 said:
"I can pull it off with just five or six guns."

Yeah, but why would you want to?

Guns are like horsepower and money----some's good, more's better, and too much is just right!!

Ralph Tremaine
Click to expand...

Are you really going to make me whine about my dwindling finances and look pathetic in front of everyone? :D

You're right, though, you can never have too many. That's why I already have a 59, even though it's not a revolver. I wanted another one. I also secretly want to get another 1911 A1, but don't tell anyone they might kick me off the forum.
 
Robert L Wells said:
So I want blue, nickel and stainless guns; N, K and J frames; 6", 5", 4", 3", 2" barrels; target and magna stocks; diamond and modern stocks; round and square butt; pinned, pinned & recessed and non-pinned; 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's.
Click to expand...

Base on the above..... one of each.....you will need 5,400 guns .......

(3x3x5x2x2x2x3x4=5,400)

:D
 
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Good luck,,, my late wife and I collected Highway Patrolman revolvers. When she passed away, we had 14, all different in some way. We lacked 4 ( IIRC) of having a complete set. That was of just 1 model with variations of a relatively short run. When my collecting partner passed away, I sold off or gave away the collection piece by piece.
 
azmick said:
Good luck,,, my late wife and I collected Highway Patrolman revolvers. When she passed away, we had 14, all different in some way. We lacked 4 ( IIRC) of having a complete set. That was of just 1 model with variations of a relatively short run. When my collecting partner passed away, I sold off or gave away the collection piece by piece.
Click to expand...

I'm so sorry you lost your dear partner. My emotion was just was self-pity when I gave mine away. Guns are things. Friendship, fellowship, companionship, love are what really matter in my humble opinion.
 
Robert L Wells said:
Does anyone else have a collecting "theme" or strategy that they're working on?
Click to expand...

IMHO, interests or "collecting themes" rarely last. This has been the case with me...and especially so, when it comes to tastes in firearms. What appeals to me today, might not do so in a few years time. For several years I have had a DA revolver and lever gun obsession...to the exclusion of everything else. I pretty much sold off anything that didn't fit into those categories. Lately I have found my eyes wandering towards other, more modern firearms.

To quote Master Yoda: "Always in motion is the future.";)
 
I decided to collect "best of breed" guns, not necessarily the most rare, but some of the most desirable.

Also, if a really good deal lands in my lap, I try to make it happen.

Barring a winning lottery ticket, I'm not going to be able to play with the guys on here with 10 Registered Magnums or a pile of S&W one-offs and salesman's samples.
 
I wanted a .41 Magnum again last summer, my original one was stolen in 1984. Turns out it was a P&R model. It has been so long since I was into them I had no idea there were non-P&R models.

Luckily the one I got last summer was a 1978 no-dash 8 3/8" 57. Now I have four .44 Magnums to boot, all square butt 29s and 629s.

So I guess my theme is square-butt N frames, in both nickle and stainless finishes, in 6, 6.5 and 8 3/8" lengths.

Only bad thing is now I gotta work up 10 good loads, a reduced-load accurate plinker and a full-power accurate JHP for each one.

It was easier when I just had one revolver, but hey, I got that kind of time!
 
scout II said:
I collect them in kind of a weird way. I love the model 19's with 2.5 inch barrels so I have a 19-2, 19-3, 19-4, 19-5, 19-7, and a 19-8. I still need to find a 19-6 here in CA. I also have model 57's in a 57 no dash, 57-1, 57-2, 57-3, 57-5, 57-6, Still need to find a 57-4.
Click to expand...

Now that's a couple of great collecting themes. As much as owning, it's the "hunt." And of course, it doesn't exclude owning others that are interesting.
 
My collection has been mostly focused on K frame .38 Specials. Why? The K frames in .38 Special are less money than the K frames in .357...and a whole lot less money than K frames in .32 H&R...and a whole WHOLE lot less money than K frames in .32 S&W Long. So initial outlay of cash is a big consideration, not just because of limited resources available, but because nothing is easier to sell (if I need to) than, say, an 80% model 10 for $350 to $380.

I have sub collections within my collection - model 10's in every barrel length from 2" to 5", for example. I also have several K-38's, Combat and otherwise. Beyond that, there isn't really a rhyme or reason for the old Smith revolvers. I should say, however, I've mostly stayed away from pre-war guns...though I really don't know why. I'm mostly thrilled by revolvers from the years 1946 to 1986, so I guess that could be called another "theme." I have a few later than that, though.
 
I'm with Green Frog on this one. My theme seems to be what I like today. Recently that seems to have been a lot of 22's. Though I did recently major splurge on a .32 also.[emoji51]


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