I've been checking out the pawn shops in the area and there are quite a few smiths in the cabinets. Just wondering which ones are the most sought after.

The Fitz Specials. Reworked for combat carry.

Oooops! my bad. Fitz was Colt per MD below. That'll teach me to talk before my coffee. (^_^)

Mr. FitzGerald, worked for Colt and only worked on Colts..

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Life is good!

You're going to get a lot of replies .

There are plenty of one-off factory specials that you probably won't run into randomly. For guns you might expect to encounter, part of the answer is a production number issue, and part is what you like. Right now 2 1/2 to 3 1/2" (especially 3") .38 and .357 revolvers are popular, probably due to demand for CCW carry guns. Any .22 revolvers, due to ammo prices and the state of the economy in general. For general shooting, 4" .38s and .357s, with fixed or adjustable sights. I'm sure others will chime in with their favorites.

OK, please let us know what you find! Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Model 27-2 with 4 inch barrel, Model 629 no dash in all three barrel lengths, Model 17-1 are just a few of the rarer S&W revolvers based on years of production.

Great response!

There are alot of guns that are "Rare" because the owner says they are!

Any new-in-box, pinned-and recessed Smith revolver and the Rolls Royce of Smiths (IMHO) .......are the 3.5" Model 27 (pre-with the gold box or later).....and the pre-29s in the blue presentation case.

They are the ones I "lust" for but everytime I see them in new or mint condition, the prices are always way beyond my reach.

TAKJR

Everybody wants what he wants. But I think the most popular Smiths (in no particular order) are any Registered Magnum, the Outdoorsman 38/44, the 44 Magnum and early M29, the 3.5" M27 (and pre-variant), and to a lesser extent the various 44 Special models.

Then you have the "cult" guns like the M58 and the M28. I think the most sought after K frame would be the 2.5" M19.

Limited edition pieces are always in demand by serious collectors but their scarcity and prices make them beyond the reach of most folks. The M45 22 M&P comes to mind as an example. Then of course there are the real oldies that are hard to find due to age, like the Triple Locks.

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No life story has happy end.

Big categories, but every one you see deserves a close look.

Model 520. What the Highway Patrolman should have been.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

There is rare and theres desirable.

Very few production guns make it to the truly "rare" category. Some may be scarce, but most likely they made more than you think they did

Some can be scarce because they dont come up for sale all to often. However they seem to come to market in bunches, you find one than another for some reason.

Desirable, that can come and go it also varies by person a bit.

As someone sad short barrels are in. The longer the less desirable at this moment of time. Right now 8" guns are the slowest to sell and bring less money. Will this trend hold or will snubbies fall and long barrels become desirable again?

Is stainless better than blue or blue better than stainless?


Most folks (me to) cant make these choices so we just buy them all!!

In nickel?

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

I could get one of these (19-2, 2.5"), in Nickel even, with the box (white box) papers, tools, I would say 99% gun. I thought the guy wanted way too much ($800). Was I wrong?

As far as the rarest guns, the Model 58 in Factory Nickel has to be one of the rarest...

How true, seems like every used gun that I have bought has had the owner telling me of the guns particular rarity.
Anyone care to buy George Washington's personal Model 10. I have two of them...

terry

don't forget about the model 547 and 940. those are pretty rare

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Shot placement is key!!

Yeah, what were you thinking, audaciously asking members opinions, like that?

Seriously, though, I believe it's a good question. The answers yield some insight into individuals' interests.

Mike

Dont try to mislead the OP, George Washington used a Victory, not a model 10, that is well documented.

In all fairness you have to let us all know where you are finding a lot of Smith & Wesson's in Pawn Shops and then we will pick off the "good" ones.... Kyle

C'mon man, the OP IS putting the "work"; the same as we all do. He didn't ask you to tell him where all the deals are. He said he saw a bunch of Smith's and asked which ones are sought after.

Knowing little about them, he's probably just trying to make a good choice like anybody else.


To the OP - your question is valid and you've gotten answers from some real pros. I would suggest that you consider your needs, look the lot over, and ask if you can write down the model numbers (and maybe evet snap a photo) of the ones that look and feel the best to you. Then come back here with a narrowed down list. The group will surely help you make the best investment in a gun that you are naturally drawn to.

The best answer to your question is that the question is a bit too open ended. "Sought after" is a very subjective term and unless you can narrow down the criteria, this will just end up as a "what are your favorites" thread rather than a collaboration to help you find the pick of the litter in a particular shop.

The .22lr N frame.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Seen mostly around the PPC circuit. Approx 115-125 , depending on who you talk to. Model 14-PPC,4". Mine are both 14-6s, but I saw one that was a roundbut so might go into 14-7s.

Attached Images

DSCN1190[1] (2).jpg (115.5 KB, 146 views)

aaaand the rarest of all S&W's....the free ones.

Chipmunk6

The 4 screw 29-1.

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

How about the 28-1

Its the sasquatch of Smiths

This is the most rare Smith I have found in my travels:

The ultra-rare 586 "black gold" edition. With Combat grips, gold trigger and hammer, gold rear sight and gold cylinder release, and red fingernail polish front sight ramp

Please dont tell us you passed this up???

That was Saddams personal gun. It went missing during the fall of Iraq, it must have been smuggled in to the country. Its probably worth tens of thousands of Yen...

I have Gandhi's "Kit gun" -- never fired, never even a .22 round put in the chamber. Used only (held by the barrel) to pound sesame seeds with the grip and also to soften dates, so as to feed the temple monkeys with nice treats. Grips have a few dessicated sesame seeds in the checkering and a little bit of date pulp, but chamber, lock-up, cylinder are all perfect. Also comes with a prayer for world peace in the original platinum-colored box.

Alibi: the mint juleps were a little strong this afternoon -- alas, there is no such Kit gun.

Model 26-1 GSP overrun? Only about 39 made---

One of the 15 factory nickle Model 17's.
Also George Armstrong Custer's Triple lock.

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Forum consigliere

Now a days its rare to find a sought after or rare gun at a pawn shop or mom and pop gun shop, that the owner doesn't what he has. The first thing they do is a search on gun broker or other online source for a gun like they have before they put it on the shelf. Its no longer a I'll just mark it up 30% and be happy with a nice profit. Today they go straight to the highest price paided by anyone anywhere. And if it doesn't sell in 30 days they put it on gunbroker themselves. Its a shame what has happened to the poor collector that is as our president refers to as middle income American that now has to compete with millionaires for the nice guns out there. just sayin

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Bob
Sic Semper Tyrannis

The rarest revolver is the one you don't have and just can't live without.

What he said!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

Double ditto's to that!

The K-32/Model 16 in .32 Long is fairly scarce with only 3630 manufactured 1947-74. Also the 16-4 in .32 Magnum, with about 8800 produced 1989-92.

I know that at my LGS any Smith that I want to buy is rare and any that I want to sell is/are common. It also seems that I can transform them from rare to common by just purchasing them!

Jeff

Just about any Pre WWII in 98%+ condition with box and papers. earlier ones 1910-1930 or so even harder to find especially .22's (Lady Smiths) Example: a 1912 Bekaert 22/32 heavy frame target 98% in the opriginal box with receipts/papers. Or a Registered Magnum .357. Dream on. The older the Smith the more important condition becomes as a general rule especially with original box

Ischia

Model 45, K frame 22LR M&P.

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Ed45

Hi
Here is one of the Rarest revolvers ever made, a K-22 Outdoorsman 2 inch Barrel Fixed sights. It was given to Col. Rex Applegate in 1944. It is the only one ever made. Copies of letter and Write up about Col. Applegate are posted below.
This revolver will be in my display at the Denver Display show in May and at the Annual meeting in Boise in June.
Jim Fisher

I would think that the 3", model 19's are fairly rare. I've never seen one in person, but I've seen pics of one marked "California Special", or some such marking. Probably a distributor special order.

EarlFH

Like screwdrivers, the left-handed versions are typically the rarest.

But it's your lucky day! I just happen to have a couple of left-handed guns I can sell you.

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But then, what do I know?

21-2's are really pretty rare and hard to come by as are early S&W Model 3 Americans.

I happened to pick up an 8" Model 3 American last year before I realized just how scarce they really were. Now I just need to get it lettered

I've seen one model 29-58 here on the forum, apparently only 3 were made.....

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Even older, even crankier....

Rare is what I sell common is what I buy.

A little more detail:

None of us have ever seen a 28-1, but we have been told they exist. Time will tell.
Along with the 15 Model 17s in original factory nickel, another K22 that I believe is rare is the Model 18 in nickel. Who here has seen one? How many are there?
We also like very low serial numbers, like 1, 2, and 3 digit guns.

You should invest in a copy of the Standard catalog of Smith & Wesson third edition.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

I have one sitting right next to my Model 45-1...

Doesn't everybody?

bdGreen

The S&W Tunnel Gun.

S&W model 64 NY-1, 3 inch barrel, square butt.

Most desirable? A Model 10 or 15, any dash, with or without lock.

There are screwdrivers that are so sought after, they are being counterfeited.

Then there's boxes. Some can bring hundreds, or even thousands.

I've seen pictures of the "sunburst" box on this forum, but never a real "live" one.

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and what his trumpet saith

The CTG Series are the rarest of the S&W revolvers.
If you run across one, buy it immediately and then get back to the Forum with questions about it.
Denis

From my experiences the Rarest Smiths are the ones you
are looking for when you have the cash on hand.
Someone said on a different thread to not go to a Gun
show or Gun shop looking for something particular as you will probably
leave disappointed. Just do your research and look for the best
available deals at the time. I think this is sound advice.
Maybe have 3-4 models or variants in mind that would be nice
to get at a good price for your shooting/collection that way
you'll have a better chance of finding something if you have
the funds that particular day.


Chuck

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They hold no Quarter