I've been a fan of Smith&Wesson revolvers for quite some time, but always from a shooter's perspective. What I mean by that is that collecting guns (or other items, for that matter) just to have them has never appealed to me. I've never owned "unfired", "NIB" guns, or if I did, not for long.

I mean I take good care of my stuff, but it gets used.

Consequently, I've never given stuff like original boxes, paperwork, even grips etc. any thought in the past. I usually wouldn't even ask for any of that when I bought a gun.

But it seems to me that things are changing. Older revolvers are drying up in the pawn shops around here. They used to be plentiful. Prices seem to steadily increase. I guess these things are turning into collectibles now.

So I'm starting to look at the revolvers I have picked up over the years. Probably around a dozen, all pre-lock, all in good shape, but most are not mint.

Two thirds of them have non-original grips. All but two or three are missing boxes and paperwork.

I'm not looking to sell any of them right now, but it is becoming obvious that they are on the cusp of being an investment as well as a tool/toy.

I'm wondering if I need to start looking into "completing" those guns. Buy the correct grips, boxes, etc. I honestly still don't really "care" about that stuff, but it seems to be the reasonable thing to do.

Also wondering if it's starting to make sense to pick up guns just for collecting. Example: found a no-dash 686 in near mint condition with an 8 3/8" barrel locally. Good price, too. Normally I would have passed that up as I prefer shorter barrels. But now I'm thinking that since I have 686s in every other standard length, it would be cool to have this one just to complete the "collection" I never was looking to build.

What do you guys think about all of this? First world problems, I know...


SandSpider

Spider - You're right, the details do matter any more. The collectors, even casual ones, want the correct grips, box & paperwork with tools. I'm like you. It didn't used to matter to me either, but it does now. And you might want to call yourself an accumulator as opposed to a collector.!! Have fun and enjoy.

A collector? A hoarder? A accumulator? It's the same, same. It's a matter of how fussy we in what condition it's in. I prefer the best condition I can afford. Let the gun gods guide you. Enjoy the hunt and the path you take.

What I would do, is pick your two or three nicest revolvers that are incomplete, and complete them.

If you have revolvers that are not mint, tracking down boxes, papers and grips may not be worth the money or time.

If you have to start anywhere, start with getting original era grips for what you have. You'll get your money back on those.

During the late 80s ,90s and first few years of the 21st Century...... I had the habit of accumulating some "nice" S&W revolvers and Autos that were just too cheap to pass up..............

My Father who was not a collector told me to "keep the boxes" ( he/now I still have the box for his 1938/9 Colt New Service in .357 magnum). So I got "a bunch of boxes" and tools for a lot of my Smiths.

I might have changed grips but never left the originals with the LGS...like many use to do.........

So...............


In the past few years my accumulated Smith's have "morphed" into a small but nice "Collection"....LOL

Good Luck!!!!!

I love drooling over the collector pieces (LNIB and the like) you see here and on auction sites. The first thing that goes through my mind is "Man I'd love to shoot that!". Then reality hits. If I bought that and then shot it I'd be devaluing the gun and that would drive me crazy. Having it sit in a safe and not shooting it would drive me equally as crazy. Then I start to think "Hey I could buy a shooter of the same model and maybe another gun, ammo, or range time. I would look at completing the ones you have in the same way. Would you rather spend the money on boxes, grips, paperwork, tools, etc.? Or spend it on shooting and what goes along with that. I really don't think there is a wrong answer. But whatever you decide just make sure it makes you happy.

That way it's always a good investment.

I bought this 64 a couple years back at a gunshow for $350 OTD. Grips are numbered but no other "extras." For this gun in NIB condition (and actually NEW- IN THE BOX as is actually meant by NIB, some folks are confused about this) I'd expect to pay $600 and up. I'm not sweating the lack of accoutrements. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Yes you are.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

I have been interested in guns for 30 plus years. My major focus has been hunting handguns, a passion the model 57. I still spend my money on what interests me. New in the box rarely comes along and that is ok since I shoot most of what I buy.
I say , buy what interests you. Buy smart and you will rarely regret it.

Collector vs Accumulator

Hmmm. The truth is evident. Or - - - is it?

The first S&W revolvers I owned were a pair of 25-5s, .45-Colt. Late ‘70s. Bought them because I couldn’t get Model 29s due to that dratted fictional character, Dirty Harry.

But that wasn’t really “why.” A fellow in my line of work said that my next assignment was a place with people who had more respect for large-bore revolvers than semi-autos. Shoulda know’d better, but I believed him. Upon conclusion of the contract I kept them simply because it was so hard to get a DA large-caliber auto. Stuffed ‘em in the back of the safe.

Then a colleague offered me a spurless hammer DA-only Ruger SP-101/.357 Magnum at a fire sale price. I never could resist such bargains, even if I could not think of a single justification. Bought it, actually became proficient with it, decided it was waaay too heavy for its size and only five rounds, and introduced it to the 25-5s.

Next up, after the rousing success of the SP-101, was a GP-100. Offered to me at a fire sale price I simply could not pass it up. THOUGHT about carrying it, became proficient with it, carried it backpacking a few times and introduced it to the SP-101 and the 25-5s.

One of our sons, around age 14 at the time, said he knew someone who knew someone who had a Colt Anaconda he wanted to sell. Our son was enthused. I was not. Since I had NEVER wanted one, much less ANY .44 Magnum, I of course followed up the lead until I found the owner, clearly a motorcycle gang leader. He wanted the price of a small motorcycle for it. Four-inch barrel. It looked as though it had been DRAGGED behind a motorcycle for a few thousand miles and, when I fired it, lead chunks flew out the cylinder gap. The cylinder practically rattled in the window. Bullets made a wide pattern on a target at 10 yards, the longest distance the gang leader said he ever fired it. Offered him the price of a nice ice cream cone. He took it. Must have had a criminal transaction waiting for the cash. I sent it to Colt. They polished it, replaced the barrel and unspecified internal bits for a modest sum. It became a back packing favorite for years.

Our youngest son reached age 12 and wanted to compete in Cowboy, so I bought a Ruger Vaquero .45-Colt for me and two .44 Magnum Vaqueros for him. I loaded all the ammo for him, most of it to Cowboy specs, but somehow black powder snuck into some of them. Lovely cloud of smoke and a lovely scowl on his face! I needed another .45-Colt revolver but couldn’t find a Vaquero any where near by. Went to a gunshow. Saw a 125th Anniversary Colt SAA on a table, $1,000. I had NO interest in a Colt, especially since they were so expensive and all the Cowboy guys said they were too fragile. So I offered him $600 for it. He laughed maniacally and turned away. Until the end of the show as I was headed out the door. “800?” he asked. “Nope,” I answered. “Six.” It was all I had; left. I walked out the door with a 125th Anniversary Colt SAA that didn’t feel even REMOTELY like the Vaquero.

Discovered I really liked Cowboy and really liked black powder, so I bought a Ruger Old Army. Did not feel even REMOTELY like the Vaquero or Colt, so of course I used it in Cowboy events.

I liked THAT so much I bought a pair of Colt Signature 1851 revolvers and then a pair of 1860 revolvers. Used ‘em for years. Then I was offered a beautiful Colt Walker, something that would be totally useless in Cowboy, so of course I bought it. Followed by an equally useful LeMat.

THEN, through circumstances I’d rather not divulge, I came into possession (like that weasely phrase?) of a Colt Detective Special. I had absolutely no use for it so I was quite happy to loan it to a friend - who kept it for 20 years. I figured I’d never see it again, right up until it was brought back. It was, ahem, in need of attention, so off to Colt for a rebuild and reblue at a very reasonable price. Upon return another friend noticed it and asked for it. Kind-hearted sucker that I am, I loaned it out. Again. Came back 10 years later.

Since I had absolutely no use for one whatsoever, when a deputy sheriff friend offered me her nickel-plated Det Spec, I did the only logical thing, I bought it.

I had been backpacking the Idaho backcountry, carrying a Marlin 1895SS in .45-70 Gummint. After a couple unfortunate physical “events” my doc ordered me to do a number of things, among them reduce the trail weight. Tried the Anaconda. Too heavy. Bought a S&W 19-5 with 6” barrel from a friend. Carried it until my macho backpacking friends harassed me about my “lady’s gun.”

Traded it for a 29 something or other, nickeled, 8” barrel. WAAAY too clumsy for ‘packing.
Bought a Ruger Redhawk and sent it to Hamilton Bowen for conversion to .500 Linebaugh. Nearly broke my hand when I fired it. Tolerable weight for Idaho trails, serious overkill for Colorado trails; even after I found a grip that protected me, and had the barrel ported.

Bought a S&W 329PD. Nearly broke my hand. Crimson Trace Hog Hunter grips, Magnaport, changed its whole personality. Still, a very single-purpose gun. Lots of safe time.

So when I was offered another, NIB except for four rounds shot through it, at a fire sale price, well, you know. In the safe.

OH, and I left out the other 629s! Going WAAY back I was at a gunshow in Milwaukee and saw a 629-1 2&15/16” bbl on a table, $350. Came with a box of ammo with 11 rounds fired. The owner, an older gentleman, said it seemed like a good idea until he fired it. I offered him $250, since I had absolutely no interest in it. I went home with it. And the rest of the ammo.

Then one of my backpacking buddies bought a 629-4 with 2&15/16” barrel. Fired it 11 times. Or thereabouts. Offered it to me for, oh, I don’t remember, the price of a nice ice cream cone. Bought it. Joined the -1 in the back of the safe.

THEN, a couple years later I was just sort of rushing through a gunshow with my eyes deliberately covered when a 629-6 “Trail Boss” with 3” barrel pried my eyelids open. “$450,” the guy said. It joined the other two in the safe.

Saw a 327 TRR8 and thought about how wonderful it would look on my hip while backpacking. That thought overcame the price, which was NOT around the cost of a nice ice cream cone. Bought it. Oldest son, professional military. Stole it. Since we never knew where the %&@$ he was in the world, that was the end of it. Bought another for only slightly more moolah. YOUNGEST son, who is a LEO, stole it. Since he can arrest me for breaking and entering his house to get it back, he still has it.

THEN was offered a 327 TRR8 at a fire sale price. Note: when offered a gun WAAY below retail, be suspicious. I wasn’t. Got it home. LEO son grabbed it and headed for the door. Came back. Showed me how the barrel wiggled in the frame. Tossed it back to me. I sent it to S&W. The “repair” consisted of, and I am quoting, “replaced frame.” No charge, sooo - - - oldest son returned from deployment and stole it, gave it to middle son who said, and I quote, “THANKS (Oldest Son)!” I was never mentioned.

Bought a 327 M&P R8. It is well hidden.

THEN a friend who hunted with a 29-5 Classic with the 8”+ barrel, offered it to me at a fire sale price. By now, you know what happened.

I really don’t know how the two 29-2s got in the safe, one with 6.5” barrel, the other with 4”. BUT, I do know how the third one got there. Made 1979, 4” barrel. A beauty. I had absolutely NO use for it. BUT, b’longed to a good friend who offered it to me at, well, you know.

A friend told me about an estate sale where an early 29 no dash was for sale. Got it at a great price. Researched it a bunch and found the grips were worth what I'd paid for the whole package.

I bought a LH 29-10 on purpose as a CCW gun. Decided I needed a 386NG to keep it company, and to carry when wearing lighter clothing. A friend, and this is a lesson about choosing your friends carefully, offered me a PD at a fire sale price. Yep, in the safe.

I have no clue where the Lew Horton 624 came from. (I’m stickin’ to that story.)

One day I noticed there were four 65s, a -2, two -3s, and two -4s in the safe, all former LEO guns. Oh, that’s five. Go figure.

A 66-1 with 2+7/16” barrel from a Wisconsin cop. It clearly needed company so I got a 4” 66-1 from the estate of another LEO. And another pristine beauty 4” 66-1 from a “friend” at a fire sale price.

A near-perfect 28 that found a well-traveled friend somewhere. Ditto a 27.

A pair of 19s, from friends, of course.

Couple Mountain Guns, .44 Magnum and .45-Colt. I have NO idea.

A gorgeous 586, price low due to burned out tritium sights. Only to be joined by another that had been dragged behind a truck for a few years and shot out. To S&W for reblue and rebuild. Super gun.

A 686BSS, my bet winner, from the “friend” who sold me one of the 27s. Did I mention the 27s? Not sure where/when the second one showed up.

Or the other 686s, except the 686+, which I actually bought and paid for new, and then gave to a friend in need. I’ll never see it again.

Uhm, a 617, coupla 18s, 17s, Combat Masterpiece. 648. I have NO idear where they came from. And a 650, fully engraved. Gun show. Got it for less than the price of the engraving.

I know there are some others in there. I’m just afraid to look.

There were some other Colts and Rugers and a few miscellaneous, too, along the way, but they aren’t the subject of this missive.

Sooo, I ask again, collector or accumulator?

I'm sort of a collector, but when guns get too nice, they get expensive and too valuable to shoot. In other words...if I pay $800 for an almost unfired K frame of some sort, and if I put only 700-800 rounds through it, it's suddenly worth a couple hundred dollars less. Therefore, I'm not interested in guns like that.

I have guns in good to excellent condition. Some of the revolvers I have that I first thought were in near mint really aren't. On closer inspection, they're more like exc., and that's fine with me. I have no boxes or papers with any of my guns, and mint or LNIB guns most often do. It's nice having a few 98% guns, but even though they can be shot without denigrating condition, they don't get shot all the time. I was happy to get a fine shooting model 15 with about 70 or 65 percent finish recently. It's a gun that I literally don't fuss over, a true classic that I can actually carry around and shoot often like the old-timers back in the day.

Yeah, I think that's what happens when you join a S&W forum. It did that to me too.
Steve

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Birds like shiny new toys too.

I never had a chance I collect guns. Growing up my father was consistently bringing home rifles and a few shotguns. no semi's. He shot most of his rifles and threw away any boxes that may have came with them. So naturally I picked it up ran with it also. I on the other hand love my handguns, revolvers for the most part. I guess one reason is that when that sad day come, hopefully many years from now (age 67 now) that most almost all of his collection will go to me. Figured I might as well start on the handguns, and I live in the city and its easier to take my girls pistol shooting than rifle. PawPaw loves every minute of teaching them that. Box and docs are nice, but they don't go bang. Not saying that if I do luck up on a good deal with box I won't keep it. But they just don't matter that much to me. I do like it if it has the correct grips, but still they don't go bang. And sooner or later I will run across the right period grips. I am just rambling but figured I would throw in my .02 also. Do what you like, collect, shoot, don't shoot its your perogitive. Just enjoy the liberty that we have that others don't. Ok I'm done.

Can we be friends?

It does not matter how you characterize your habit, as long as it brings you enjoyment.

However, if after each new acquisition you are given to affects as flamboyant as depicted below, then you, sir, are a collector.

I started out with the surplus military guns. Then for the past decade or two the prices weren't affordable anymore on certain guns. I figured I might as well go AWL jump ship and look at some modern guns. There wasn't much of a difference in cost anyway.
I still like the surplus military stuff. My 1907 Swede Carl Gustaf m96 6.5mm mauser makes me proud every time she's at the range she still shoots 1 1/2" groups @ 100yds if I do my part.

With my 64yo diabetes eyes with open sights with rifles I can't shoot a tighter group than 1 1/2". My son takes the same rifle and prints the same size group so it's no fluke.

I have the same jacket.

Take note of how expen$ive that can be . . ..

[QUOTE=SandSpider;138420474]I've been a fan of Smith&Wesson revolvers for quite some time, but always from a shooter's perspective. What I mean by that is that collecting guns (or other items, for that matter) just to have them has never appealed to me. I've never owned "unfired", "NIB" guns, or if I did, not for long.

I mean I take good care of my stuff, but it gets used.

Consequently, I've never given stuff like original boxes, paperwork, even grips etc. any thought in the past. I usually wouldn't even ask for any of that when I bought a gun.

But it seems to me that things are changing. Older revolvers are drying up in the pawn shops around here. They used to be plentiful. Prices seem to steadily increase. I guess these things are turning into collectibles now.

So I'm starting to look at the revolvers I have picked up over the years. Probably around a dozen, all pre-lock, all in good shape, but most are not mint.

Two thirds of them have non-original grips. All but two or three are missing boxes and paperwork.

I'm not looking to sell any of them right now, but it is becoming obvious that they are on the cusp of being an investment as well as a tool/toy.

I'm wondering if I need to start looking into "completing" those guns. Buy the correct grips, boxes, etc. I honestly still don't really "care" about that stuff, but it seems to be the reasonable thing to do.

Also wondering if it's starting to make sense to pick up guns just for collecting. Example: found a no-dash 686 in near mint condition with an 8 3/8" barrel locally. Good price, too. Normally I would have passed that up as I prefer shorter barrels. But now I'm thinking that since I have 686s in every other standard length, it would be cool to have this one just to complete the "collection" I never was looking to build.

What do you guys think about all of this? First world problems, I know…


DEFINITELY BUY THAT NO-DASH, 8 3/8" M686 RIGHT NOW ! ! ! ITS A FANTASTIC SHOOTER. YOU WILL LOVE IT, AND YOU WON'T BE SORRY. YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE…..

BOXES THAT ARE NOT NUMBERED TO THE GUN DON'T ADD MUCH TO THE VALUE. I WOULD NOT BOTHER….

IF YOUR REVOLVERS ORIGINALLY CAME WITH FINGER GROOVE GOOD YEARS, DO NOT BOTHER TO REPLACE THEM. IF YOU CAN BUY THE APPROPRIATE ORIGINAL TYPE, **WOODEN** FACTORY S&W GRIPS THAT THEY CAME WITH, I WOULD BUY THEM…..

FOR THE 3 THAT HAVE BOXES AND PAPERWORK, I WOULD TRY TO GET THE TOOL PACKAGE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM, W/O BREAKING THE BANK. OTHER THAN THAT, CONGRATS ON YOUR EPIPHANY, YOU ARE NOW A SHOOTER / COLLECTOR…….…….

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Outside of here and on gun auctions,I don't know any shooter personally who would pay more than $50.00 to have a box and goodies with the gun.I think when you get right down to it,true collectors are a small number here.Most complete sets are not genuine anyways.most are put together long after they were originally purchased.To pay an extra $400.00 for a gun that is represented as an original package is of no interest to me ,since there is no way to verify a lot of these packages.Just look at all the post looking to buy tools,paperwork,case relining, stocks ,etc etc.

I am guessing you are one of the above when you have more gun boxes in your closet than you do clothes.

If we don't admit were collecting were closet collectors till we actually come out of the closet and admit it?

I have respect for the guy/gal who has one as much as a big collector. Just one is where it all starts. I have give up buying guns in the late 70's to raise a family. They came first over my needs.I stopped shooting because I worked three jobs to get ahead. Then one job but it was 7 days a week except for one month a year. I been through it all too.

In regard to our gun collections, I often opine:

We're all just caretakers of history and soon the job will belong to someone else...

I also have a new screen name picked out (please don't steal it!): Ivan Acoomalation

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Be Well

Yup the family members will inherit them someday. They already know if they sell them I will haunt them. I was told they will cherish them forever.

I wouldn't stress too much over the terminology, or having the box/contents if you didn't keep the originals.

It sounds as though you enjoy the S & W revolvers you have and are on the lookout for more...I think that puts you soundly into the category of "normal gun guy" .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Most of the guns I have did not arrive with the boxes. I see no sense in trying to find a box and tools/paperwork for a gun that was shipped 50 years ago that is not original to the gun. I save all boxes that I do have and save the grips with the box, because I change grips to what I like to shoot, and triggers and whatever else I change.

Guns that I buy that have been changed, I leave that way, except for grips usually. I have an RM that was cut and hammer changed to a cockeyed style and pearl grips. I am not changing it as that is just the way it came. I change the grips to shoot it, but thats all. I see no sense in trying to find an original hammer, or an old RM box to put it in that would not be correct anyway. That's just me and if someone wants to put together a non original box and tools for their 1970 model 10, then that is fine as it cultivates their enjoyment of our hobby.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I'll go as far as finding the correct grips for a gun,but that's about it.If I stumbled across a rare box (and actually knew it) I'd snag it for flippage.

Harkrader quite an entertaining post. When can we expect chapter two?

I can't believe I read this whole thread. Time to put the computer aside and tend to the "collection."

Welcome to the sickness!

Mine is a passed-down trait, as my dad had a thing for 8-3/8" barrel S&Ws, Colts, Winchester Model 12s and a few others. We shot his guns, but absolutely babied them.

I just picked up where he left off, and added my own personal tastes to the part of the collection that I inherited. In time, my children (the ones who prove that they love firearms and wouldn't sell them) will get my collection.

I personally can't buy a firearm and not shoot it. But I also handle my guns like they are rare museum pieces (minus the white gloves).

As others have said, if your gun is not in at least very good condition, it won't really do you a lot of good to spend the money on correct grips, boxes and tools. You have a shooter-grade piece, and the only people that would be interested in buying that gun if you are selling it are shooters. Nothing wrong with those guns whatsoever, and you will find that you can enjoy them a lot more on the range.

Good luck.

I'm not sure if I am either one of the above. However, I do love older Smith and Wessons. I only have a few. Keep on accoomalating and enjoy!

Unfortunately, I have the same hair.

I think "collectors" come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them, like a lot of the members of this forum have museum quality examples, with all the "stuff" that was supposed to be with them originally.

I tried to do that for a while. I looked for guns with if not pristine, at least really nice finishes. I looked for the ones with the original boxes, and papers. I managed to get a rather motley "collection." I almost never shot them, if I shot them at all. If I did, it was a dozen rounds or so, then back in the safe.

There there was a period of what I like to call "economic downturn." I was out of work for a couple of years. And I was glad I had those guns. I sold them off here and there and helped to pay bills. At first I hated to sell them, but then I came to realize that they were just "things." I had no real emotonal attachment to them. Then it got to be fun to sell them. As much fun really as buying them in the first place. I met a lot of nice people. I got to see peoples eyes light up as they took possession of something they had wanted for years in a lot of cases. (I remember one young fellow, a Marine, just back from the Sandbox, and how excited he was to find a Python he could afford.)

After getting another job, I thought about replacing some of them, but this time I just looked for "regular" grade, or even well worn ones. The price was a lot lower than way.

Today I've got a "collection" of holster worn, finish damaged, rubber gripped Smith & Wessons and one oddball Colt. They all shoot just fine, but is it a "collection?" I doubt many people here would call it that, but it's MY collection. I actually appreciate them more than I did the really nice ones I had.

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John 3:16 .