Am I done with S&Ws?

[Art Doc]

I just realized that it's coming up on two years since my last S&W purchase (a 4" 29-2). Since then I have acquired 8 handguns (4 Colts and 4 "other brands") so it's not like I stopped buying...I just stopped buying Smiths.

I may have reached full saturation point. I have just about everything I would like to have in the S&W line except for the few models that are simply not going to happen. The Model 45 is an example. Love to have one, but not willing to pay what it takes to get one.

Hmmm...I'm having trouble thinking of another example. Maybe I really have played myself out on Smiths. It's not like I have them all, but the ones I really wanted...I have (save the before mentioned M45).

It's sort of sad, really. A man needs goals, something to strive for to keep his mind active and his spirits up. But with S&Ws, I may be done.

With Colts, I'd still like to have a genuine SAA with a 7.5" barrel, and I may take the plunge one day although those things have become frightfully expensive. Would also like a nickel 38 Super. I like the Super and have had several but never a shiny one. Never had any nickel plated auto pistol for that matter. Maybe a nickel Model 39? I like the 39. No, I just don't feel a burning desire for one.

I feel like I've lost my mojo. The wife suggested a couple years ago that I should sell all my guns and start acquiring a new collection all over again. She may be right. Maybe I do enjoy wanting more than having. The thrill of the hunt and all that. But I think I'm way too old to start over. Also, building a collection at today's prices would freak me out. I paid $190 for my 1st year, 4" Highway Patrolman. I gave $195 for my 4" Heavy Duty. My 14-3 set me back an even $100. There's no way I could buy those today for what I paid at the time I bought them.

Sigh...I'll study on the situation some. Maybe I'll come up with something I want badly enough to actually start searching again. Perhaps I'll just suck it up and look for that M45 at a price I want to pay.

 

[M29since14]

... Love to have one, but not willing to pay what it takes to get one.

That's the way I feel about the few S&Ws I have "always wanted" but have never been able to land. And yes, it is age-related as well. I don't see as well and I did and that is only going to get worse. The other thing that is operative is very few new models are being introduced that tempt me. Who wants a .460 or a .500? (Yes, I know some people love them, and they are technically interesting, but I have no desire to own one.) On the other hand, maybe some day I will weaken and pick up a Model 69, even though I have absolutely no need for one. And I have seen at least one Performance Center model in .44 Magnum that interested me.

As to your interest in Colts versus more S&Ws, remember the old saw: "A change is as good as a rest." Some Colt therapy may do you good.

 

[BigBill]

First we only pass this way once. I'm not going to have any regrets on my death bed. I'm going to say I left no stone unturned. Anyway my s&w are coming with me to the next life. The song goes the devil pokes me with his pitchfork and I shoot him with my 41. The I take the pitchfork from the devil and tell him I'm going to rule hell by myself. Lol

I tell my misses I never seen a armored car piggy bank in a funeral. When someone passes on the greed comes out in the family members. I'm spending it know. Oops my Swedish Mauser is coming with me too.

I traded off my semi auto military stuff so I didn't have to register it. I registered what little I had left. The military stuff is priced out of sight anyway. I did jump from the military stuff to s&w.
I'm probably cemented here for a while. There expensive but a few more.

Maybe someday another Python.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

Told the Wife I want to be buried with my guns.

She said, "NOT until I'm done playing with them first".

So much for that idea.

 

[LMWIS]

First world problems.

 

[ben_g1]

You could sell all your shooter grade and start collecting safe queens.

 

[cmort666]

I haven't bought a Smith in going on ten years.

Of course until recently I hadn't bought ANY gun since 2009. In fact, I had to sell my Norinco M1911 just to pay my rent a couple of Christmases ago.

When the recession hit, I was out of work for the better part of two years, with NO offers apart from scam commission sales jobs. When I finally got a job with a crooked IT contractor working at the Cleveland Clinic, I could barely pay my rent, much less buy guns.

I'm still doing IT contracting work, but for a decent company at a reasonable wage. I just bought a 3.5" Citadel CS compact M1911 to replace the Norinco.

Prices on Smiths certainly aren't going down, so I won't be buying any pre-lock K or N frames which are the only Smiths I'm interested, in any time soon.

If I were to get a long term gig after this one ends, I'd probably be in the market for a Model 15 and a Model 19.

 

[sigp220.45]

I feel the same way, lots of times.

I just had to sell a bunch, to pay for a new roof on a house I was moving OUT OF. That really blows, but it had to be done.

I'm not sure I'll replace them. If I do, it most likely won't be with Smith and Wessons. I have varied tastes, and while this is clearly the best gun forum, there are plenty of other guns out there.

I've been picking up a few Beretta's lately, and had a brief dalliance with Lugers (that is deep water, my friends. Stay away.)

I've always figured one day I would sell all my guns except my grandpa's shotgun and take the wife on a nice cruise. I still may.

 

[gregintenn]

I know how you feel. I have just about every gun I'd like to have. I think I'm going to start really beefing up my retirement account now.

 

[giddyupsut]

I sold all 38 of my SW top breaks (they were all sweet but, it was time to let someone else enjoy them) and bought a bunch of Colt snubbies from the 70's and 80's. I still have 11 SW's but, they rarely get taken to the range anymore.
I have been on a 1911 platform kick for the last two years. I have purchased 13 WW1 and 9 WW2 era Colts just this year.
I think that I may be developing a problem.

 

[Frank237]

I have ups and downs as well. One can spend so much time and energy SEARCHING then the object of your interest is either misrepresented, mismatched, some other issue or the usual....unaffordable.

I have had a recurring thought to sell off the majority of the collection and get my dream car while I can still appreciate it.

Then the thought of trying to reacquire anything I sold off comes to mind and a new 911 Porsche doesn't seem as attractive any more.

FN in MT

 

[Skeet 028]

Was visiting the Livingston show today. Discussed prices on S&Ws with a dealer friend. The Prices on Good S&Ws is going up up up quickly. I found a like new in box M-18-4 yesterday. Guy wanted a grand for it. I almost choked.... and he had a 8 3/8 inch 17-3? for the same price. I'm probably going to sell a couple N frame guns(a 27-2 and a 29-3 3 inch)and buy a couple new or newer Smith's that I want and quit buying them. Colts are ridiculous so will leave them alone. I'm even going to sell most of my RCBS A2 and A3 presses. Will figure out what to then... maybe.

 

[Fishslayer]

I keep telling myself that each one is the last one...

 

[cussedemgun]

I think I have it under control ---

I quit!

I haven't bought a new Smif' (to me) since this morning

Come on guys, I'm trying. I been a member of "guns anonymous" for 20 years now & they haven't given up on me, - yet.

 

[Brian41]

I'm getting a divorce and was forced to sell off a bunch of guns lately as I couldn't afford to buy her out. I sold mainly what I haven't used in a long time and probably wouldn't in the future much anyway. Took some thinking on my part on what to keep and bought her share of those from what I got for the ones I did sell.
It wasn't as painful as I expected it to be and do regret seeing some go but someone else will have a chance to enjoy those guns now as I have done. At today's prices it's unlikely I'll be replacing any S&Ws I sold.

 

[the armanian]

I just realized that it's coming up on two years since my last S&W purchase (a 4" 29-2). Since then I have acquired 8 handguns (4 Colts and 4 "other brands") so it's not like I stopped buying...I just stopped buying Smiths.

I may have reached full saturation point. I have just about everything I would like to have in the S&W line except for the few models that are simply not going to happen. The Model 45 is an example. Love to have one, but not willing to pay what it takes to get one.

Hmmm...I'm having trouble thinking of another example. Maybe I really have played myself out on Smiths. It's not like I have them all, but the ones I really wanted...I have (save the before mentioned M45).

It's sort of sad, really. A man needs goals, something to strive for to keep his mind active and his spirits up. But with S&Ws, I may be done.

With Colts, I'd still like to have a genuine SAA with a 7.5" barrel, and I may take the plunge one day although those things have become frightfully expensive. Would also like a nickel 38 Super. I like the Super and have had several but never a shiny one. Never had any nickel plated auto pistol for that matter. Maybe a nickel Model 39? I like the 39. No, I just don't feel a burning desire for one.

I feel like I've lost my mojo. The wife suggested a couple years ago that I should sell all my guns and start acquiring a new collection all over again. She may be right. Maybe I do enjoy wanting more than having. The thrill of the hunt and all that. But I think I'm way too old to start over. Also, building a collection at today's prices would freak me out. I paid $190 for my 1st year, 4" Highway Patrolman. I gave $195 for my 4" Heavy Duty. My 14-3 set me back an even $100. There's no way I could buy those today for what I paid at the time I bought them.

Sigh...I'll study on the situation some. Maybe I'll come up with something I want badly enough to actually start searching again. Perhaps I'll just suck it up and look for that M45 at a price I want to pay.

I have been here for awhile and started feeling like you a few years agver the years I have had just about every kind of Smith.Now I am down to two and collect Colt Pythons but even that is losing its charm.Half the battle is acquiring them and when the conquest is over so is the charm there of.You and the wife find more things to do together as that man in the looking glass disappears all to quickly and life turns on the Dime.I wish my wife was here to do things with but she died 5 years ago.
Good luck my friend.
The Armenian

 

[Jessie]

This thread is depressing. I understand priorities and how divorces work, but its still disheartening to hear someone got rid of most of the guns they spent their lifetime acquiring and don't plan on replacing any of them.
I just hope I'm not faced with the same decisions that some of you have had to make.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[Grayfox]

I know the feeling. In the last several years I've bought far more other brands than S&Ws.
My S&W wish list is pretty short these days and the few on it are hard to come by and darned expensive. Even a couple of the more common models that I wouldn't mind having are now priced way out of my range. I've pretty much resigned myself to the reality that it just ain't gonna happen.
But who knows? Maybe someday I'll stumble across one of my grail guns at a price I can afford. Hope springs eternal.

 

[g8rb8]

.....it's coming up on two years since my last S&W purchase ....

I may have reached full saturation point.....

It's sort of sad, really. A man needs goals, something to strive for to keep his mind active and his spirits up. But with S&Ws, I may be done.

I feel like I've lost my mojo...... I paid $190 for my 1st year, 4" Highway Patrolman. I gave $195 for my 4" Heavy Duty. My 14-3 set me back an even $100. There's no way I could buy those today for what I paid at the time I bought them.

Sigh...I'll study on the situation some. Maybe I'll come up with something I want badly enough to actually start searching again. Perhaps I'll just suck it up and look for that M45 at a price I want to pay.

SaxonPig,
Well, hopefully, if you give up S&W collecting, you'll still post here from time to time as I would miss your interesting, insightful, and frequently informative posts.

Any person, for any given subject, is likely to reach a point where they are over-saturated or bored. I think it's a natural evolution for any hobby to experience ebbs and flows in your interest level.

Even though it's sad, sort of like a loss, to lose interest in a passion it's normal unless you've lost interest in all facets of your life then it's probably depression. Hopefully you'll find other hobbies that create the level of passion you experienced as an early S&W collector/shooter/accumulator/enthusiast OR maybe your interest will reignite for some unforeseen reason?

Yes..... inflation, time, and money in a money intensive hobby could make anyone lose their mojo, me included. My general impression is the current economic environment has driven up prices in a number of collectible hobbies/markets.

After sighing and studying hopefully you can arrive at an answer that will leave you wanting to become saturated, regain passion, and reignite your mojo. A lot of things in life arrive unexpectedly so keep your eyes peeled and your mind open.

Take care,
John

 

[Fishslayer]

It's sort of sad, really. A man needs goals, something to strive for to keep his mind active and his spirits up. But with S&Ws, I may be done.

Buck up, ol' chap!

Ya know... a myriad of makers produce 1911s in a plethora of features/materials combinations. You could collect for quite some time without duplication!