Now that RMs are out of sight in price, and 38/44 revolvers are trying to catch up with Triple Locks, what do you think will be the next "hot" (as in rocketing price) S&W revolver?

Now that RMs are out of sight in price, and 38/44 revolvers are trying to catch up with Triple Locks, what do you think will be the next "hot" (as in rocketing price) S&W revolver?

You've clearly missed it, and I'm buying all I can find!

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Dick Burg

M&P's Dick?

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Dave Ballantyne

Hmm... it might be vintage S&W parts and accessories that people will pay silly prices for.

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N-Frame-itis THERE IS NO CURE!

Uhh, the Handejector 3rd Models and the 4th Models in .44 Special have already gone up.

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S&WCA 1729

Victory Models - the last affordable, shootable American handgun of WWII.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I'm glad most of you chose something else. I may still have a chance to find something at a reasonable price. Regards, Jerry

The next hot smith will be one built without the lock.

No one has said anything about Brazilian M1917s. Maybe because they are usually so rough... ?

I do note that prices have gone up on them of late. What's not to like about pre-war N-Frames in a highly desirable caliber?

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You're shy a few manners.

M&P Targets!

Too late on this one. New Departures are starting to go up pretty good and even pre model 10 M&Ps should be the best buy IMHO.

Those are flat gorgeous!!! I think I might be starting to get the K frame bug.

Thanks for sharing!

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N-Frame-itis THERE IS NO CURE!

.32 S&W Long Regulation Police

Tough to speculate on the question. Though I imagine we'll see continued increases in values on most of the desireable pre war models as the quantity diminishes and owners hang on to those for investment or collecting. The M&P's, of all pre war types, commercial and military are bringing the highest prices I can ever recall.
The .32 Hand Ejector's were really overlooked for decades and were once among the most affordable used revolvers one could acquire. Look at the auction prices now, wow! During the 60's and 70's and even the 80's, today's prices would never been realized. But given the remarkable surge in interest for nearly all pre war S&W's, that has changed dramatically. Victories, pre 10's, etc. were once just thought to be a working gun with no particular premium above the ordinary. The M&P Targets, well, personally I've alway's admired them and have been willing to pay more for them, but that's my taste or interest and not necessarily someone elses.

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that no single model or variation will suddenly become the "next big thing" of collecting pre war S&W's. They all seem to capture the minds and imagination of buyers for one reason or another and I see no end in sight in terms of rising values. RM's, .44 HE's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Outdoorsman's, 1917's and all the other usual suspects will continue to rise in values and that should come as no surprise to any of us.

I really don't know. Heck, 28's are going for a premium now. Now I must go clean the drool off my keyboard from looking at the target triplets. Very, very nice Larry.

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Pace

N frame-2 is the best buy and will continue to rise in price

For S&W products, my bet is on the M1917 revolvers. With the 100-year anniversary of American's entry into WW I only a nine years away, I predict that there will be a renewed interest anything from that conflict, and that any gun from WW I will soar in value.

After the M1917, the next hot item will be the Victory Model revolvers - the most undervalued weapon of WW II!!

Check back in nine or ten years to see if I'm right about the M1917s. :-)

Amen!!

You can use history as a guide. S&W guns that have gone up in value are mostly moderate to low production items. Very scarce guns don't have enough demand to really establish a market value or trading history. The most recent stars have been from the prewar period, where quality was the watchword.

I wouldn't expect to see a dramatic rise in price on the military models mentioned, the 1917 and its variants, or the Victory models. Both were made in huge quantities, then treated roughly buy the original users. That constrasts pretty starkly with things like RMs, K22s, etc. Those guns received loving treatment by their caretakers, and were works of art when produced. I would expect that same kind of guns to be hot in the future.

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Dick Burg

And I thought I was cornering the market on Sigmas.

Very good points, but look what has happened with other US firearms of the two World Wars. It wasn't to long ago I was passing over very good condition Model 12 and 97 trenchguns for $1200 because at the time they were worth $1000 tops. Now they are $3000+ for a clean, correct one. M1 Carbines, which were made in the millions, were $200 not all that long ago. The last big gunshow I attended the lowest priced one I saw was $675, and it was rough. Victorys, 1917s, Colt Commandos, etc. were substitute weapons which may cause them to lack the glory and lag behind guns like the 1911, but I think they will ride the coattails of the others.

For many of us who were kids in the 1940's and early 1950's, remembering the huge amount of surplus arms and equipment that was available after WWII isn't a stretch. Army & Navy stores during those days in my old hometown sold everything and anything that was G.I. surplus. My kid brothers and I outfitted our own neighborhood platoon and played "soldiers" with these objects. I think my first WWII flap holster for a 1911A1 was bought for just a couple of dollars...brand new unissued in russet (unfinished). Look at the prices today at gunshows for these same objects. Today in fact, you'll be lucky to even find much of it at all at many of the shows.

My point is, I suppose, that the S&W military revolvers which back then were "surplus" have already gained a different status, just like the Garands, M-1 Carbines, 1903A3's, Jap Arisaka's, K98's, just to mention a few, and all the **** that went along with them. Once upon a time, most guys I knew would have laughed at the prices we see today. "Surplus junk"....they would snicker, yes even the 1917's and Victory's. Times have changed and will continue to do so. As the supply diminishes and demand for these relics increase, so will their price tags!

To reinforce the above views, think about the old Krag-Jorgenson rifles and the old "Trapdoor" Springfields.

Not long ago, the only thing a Krag was good for was to take a hacksaw to it to make a cheap hunting rifle. Now, a Krag in unaltered condition will fetch north of $1000!

The Trapdoors were often stuffed in a barrel in the corner of a gun shop and used as cheap "trade bait", often selling for under $5 or $10. Today, a medicore example will fetch a hundred times that!

I simply cannot imagine that the military handguns (M1917 and Victory, in this case) will do anything other than follow suit.

I don't think there are many guns that will be shooting stars in the near future. There may be a few, like the Non-Reg mags, which will catch up to Reg Mags.

Rising interest will be seen in:

Any NIB gun, from Dash-2's back.

-2 guns in general, because the Boomers have the time and money to pursue the guns they could not afford growing up.

4 screw guns, because they offer so many variations in such a short time span, like some with numbered parts, Non-model marked guns, model-marked guns, and Dash-1 guns.

Early Combat Mags and Mod 19's.

The bread and butter gun- 38 M&P's.

K-22's in all varities.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I can pretty well tell you that whatever I take an interest in won't be the hot number. In fact, I could really ruin it for some of you guys just by taking an interest in a new series of Smiths that you have figured out is the investment gun of the future.
Don't worry though, I'll stick with the top break antiques.
Mark

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Mark Connot

Any S&W in good condition will be hot. Lets face it, like land, S&W ain't making any more guns like they made in the 40s to the 90s. Even Model 10s and 28s are pulling some strong prices these days.

I also think some of the low production auto's from the 80's and 90's will become more sought after. 10mm have a good following and even 645's with original box/paperwork already have moved upward. There are a few auto's with production numbers in the hundreds or low thousands that will make interesting variations to collect. I'm thinking of the 4505's, 4596's, and others. Something for everyone.

Last weekend I saw 2 Navy marked victories priced at 850.oo and 1000.oo. This is why I never seek out a particular gun anymore and let the gun find me.

I think the most under appreciated S&W's right now are the I frames. Don't know if that means the price will rise or not. For a new collector trying to get one of each I frame variation would be a quest.