Previous posters have covered the differences but put me down for the S guns all other things being equal. Hard to beat those early 1950s guns in terms of fit and finish.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Are "S" serial guns really better than "N" serial guns?
- Thread starter G-Mac
- Start date
The big tough model 27s and 28s are undoubtably the best .357 revolvers ever made by S&W or anyone else. And as far as S&W only selling a few of them....better do your home work before posting
The two guns simply manifest the two philosophies extant among ALL of the world's manufacturers.
One is "We will be successful if we build the best possible product for the price.".
The other is "We will be successful if we build the product at the lowest possible cost."
There are no other applicable philosophies.
Many, I dare say most all observers will say S&W started off with the first philosophy, and stuck with it well into the 20th century. Then they decided to change.
It's up to the consumer to decide to decide which resultant products they like the best---and spend their money accordingly.
It's then up to each of the manufacturers to decide if they're on the right path.
It's as simple as that!
Ralph Tremaine
One is "We will be successful if we build the best possible product for the price.".
The other is "We will be successful if we build the product at the lowest possible cost."
There are no other applicable philosophies.
Many, I dare say most all observers will say S&W started off with the first philosophy, and stuck with it well into the 20th century. Then they decided to change.
It's up to the consumer to decide to decide which resultant products they like the best---and spend their money accordingly.
It's then up to each of the manufacturers to decide if they're on the right path.
It's as simple as that!
Ralph Tremaine
Last edited:
The big tough model 27s and 28s are undoubtably the best .357 revolvers ever made by S&W or anyone else. And as far as S&W only selling a few of them....better do your home work before posting
I think he was just being sarcastic when he said they only sold a few. Personally I'm a K or L frame guy. If I'm toting an N frame make mine a 29 or 629.
luvsmiths
Member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2016
- Messages
- 1,135
- Reaction score
- 2,185
I was being sarcastic!!!!! Other than the 29, those two were HUGE sellers!!!!!!
I certainly didn't need to think Id have to clarify THAT one!
StrawHat
Member
To me, the main reason for the small bore N frames is to convert them into larger bores. Like this N frame 45 ACP.
Kevin
Generally I think the earlier guns had a better finish. Some of the pre-model HPs were polished almost as much as the pre-27s. As far as "better", I don't know what that means. As others have said, it's pretty much personal preference.
Diamond grip
I believe the diamond grips were discontinued about the time the N series model 28 started, around 1968.
Yea, right. You funny GI.
To me, the main reason for the small bore N frames is to convert them into larger bores. Like this N frame 45 ACP.
Kevin
Like the 44 special M28 as well.
Modified
Member
Err, pretty sure the highway patrolman started in the mid 1950s.
Should be nearly 15 years of production of them with diamond grips.
Mythalogically, of course older is better than newer.
There are lots of emotional reasons. . . .They don't make them like that any more. . . .The company started going to heck when they changed/deleted/added ???????. . . .Etc.
Is number S333454 better than N1? Of course not (I do not know the models or embellishments of either number, so one might be worth more). Just like number 4321 is not better than number 5234. S and N were just digits in the serial serial number, not an announcement of a production/design/feature change of any kind
Now might era "A" be better than era "B" . . . Yes, but generally that is not designated by the day a serial number change was implemented
Much of the reason that buyers think that old is better than new is because the old ones do not have problems. Well there was no Internet in 1957 we passed the stories around the water cooler, over a coffee or a beer. 10 million people did not get to hear one customer yelling that he was wronged. Of course the old ones had problems. The things that were wrong with that 1950s revolver had been fixed by the Factory years before many of us were born. So we see them as trouble free.
That being said, I love serial numbers and would be thrilled to own either S333454 or N1
As others have said you already made the case to keep both firearms.
If you do not need the cash or have no place to put the money to grow, Keep both.
5 years down the road both will be worth more than they are today and they will have appreciated more than a savings account would have paid you plus you get to enjoy them in the meantime
OP
my 6" S-serial 28-2 came with diamond targets.
BKLooney
Member
Don't slaughter one of the herd unless you have to do so to eat! 
Modified
Member
I think it is worth noting that "emotion" is pretty much why we have these guns at all isn't it?
The only two guns I actually "use" is a J-Frame for concealed carry, and I upgraded my outdoor carry from a revolver to an HK running .45 Super.
It's not that I couldn't hike with my nice S&Ws, but I don't. They see range time, but are nothing other than pleasurable luxuries at this point.
As such, why not have the guns you find you have the largest emotional connection to? If a gun doesn't "Spark Joy" (as my wife's TV show lady says), it goes on the chopping block to make way for a gun that does. BUT. The key there is the second line. Sometimes I wish I had some guns that are gone, but then I look at the guns that they made way for and that feeling evaporates.
In this case, if I am going to weigh in on thinning the herd: Only part with the 4" if it's for the express purpose of acquiring a gun you like more. If the S pleases you, don't part with it unless its in pursuit of a 4" S.
Or unless you are gearing up for the big jump to something like a 3.5" or 5" Model 27, or a Registered Magnum.
This is an excellent point that feeds into the current mythology around the S Range guns.
The service department was excellent, and a gun repaired by them may very well be extra nice. My experience with their work (honestly the main thing I look for in old Smiths now), has been phenomenal.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
There is 15 years of HP production prior to 1968, but the guns had an "S" prefix. LostintheOzone clarified his statement saying the "N" prefix started in '68.
I only have two "S" prefix N frames (both near the end of the series, 1967 and 1968), their finish seems about equal to the "N" prefix guns I have that were made in the '70s. The absolute best finish gun I own is a blued M27-2 from 1977 (shipped 2/78) . To me, the "S" prefix is just another feature to look for, along with P&R, lazy ampersand, 4 or 5 screw, diamond stocks, etc., that signify a particular era. I do believe, however, that the pinnacle of S&W quality was from the late 1950's to the early 1980's.
jay72
Member
For the model 29's that I have owned, the S prefix
were superior than the N prefix guns.
were superior than the N prefix guns.
I gravitate toward pre-1969 S-prefix N frames with factory diamond magna or target stocks. But I do have one N-prefix, a 1974-ish 3.5" Model 27 shooter wearing Bear Hug stocks.
PauldL
Member
Bingo!
I have very little experience but, I would certainly echo what Doc says
Two very good examples of the 27-2 I have that one being an N & the other an S
To me, it's just exactly what Doc said.
The polish on my S is better than my N
But, that's in no way at all saying the N isn't good
They're both incredibly nice and it's hard to tell the difference unless you really look
3.5" S
6" N
http://[url=https://postimg.cc/mzhtZL1T]
[/URL]
Similar threads
