Are "S" serial guns really better than "N" serial guns?

[Bald1]

If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

For me there's no real difference between S and N serial numbered, three screw guns. I do, however, prefer guns that are old enough to have come with Diamond grips, which could be S or early N guns, but it's not a deal breaker.

Lol, I get it. They are a mechanical work of art. My only point was its a "big" gun for a .357.

 

[A10]

Also, if while inspecting the serial number inside the frame it happens to say 28-1, it is clearly defective. Send it to me and I will properly dispose of it......

 

[LostintheOzone]

Err, pretty sure the highway patrolman started in the mid 1950s.

Should be nearly 15 years of production of them with diamond grips.

Read my post again. The N series 28 didn't start in the mid 50's.

 

[LostintheOzone]

my 6" S-serial 28-2 came with diamond targets.

So did my S series 28-2. What's your point?

 

[G-Mac]

So did my S series 28-2. What's your point?

That it didn't come with diamond magnas. Which I would think are more common to a Highway Patrolman. But, since I bought it at a gun show, no box or other goodies, I have no idea how it came originally.

 

[SuperMan]

I'll third what Doc said.....that said...

I didn't live far from the factory in the 1960s and 70s... Back then one could bring your gun right up to the front door and a very very nice LONG time employee would take your gun, analyze the problem and might just ask you to wait for it to be taken care of.

Had several conversations with the gentleman and a few of the things I remember were that:

Many of the long time craftsmen were starting to retire

Because of federal contracts, the company was under pressure to hire as many minorities as possible...some of whom were not trainable...

Under Bangor Punta, which acquired S&W from the S&W family in 1965, the push for quantity over quality was taking over...

Had these conversations with the gentleman in the early to mid-1970s. By the mid 70s the CS area had been moved out of the main building to a building outside the main gated area because of government security requirements according to the gentleman. The last time I was there was in 1976 and he had retired.

Have owned several dozen blue and nickel K and N frame Smiths made from the early 1950s to the mid-1980s... Although from a distance they look the same, set a mid 1960s K or N frame down next to a mid-1970s gun and you will see the difference in the finish...

Bob

 

[DixieRanger]

An old saying comes to mind..."i'm from the government and I'm here to help." Thank you for your first hand experience with S&W of old.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[El Juero]

The concept, or question, of "better" and "more desirable" are separate questions which may or may not be mutually exclusive. The question you posed is based on deductive reasoning that generally an S model is "better", (which is not well defined) and would thus impact your evaluation that your S Model 28 is "better" than your N model.

The flaw in this deductive reasoning logic is that within the generalization of either S or N models are that any specific specimen could range from higher or lower criteria standards within their respective populations. The word "generally" means to "generalize" that the "analysis/opinion" of the group will apply to all of the specimens within the group, which is always a problem. Does the most perfectly completed N model rate better than one of the poorer executed S models? As well, criteria for evaluation such as does the exterior finish outweigh the internal fitting of parts and components complicate defining the analysis as "better". What about barrel manufacture and potential accuracy of each of the barrels? Where does that go?

The S model is "more desirable" suffers from some of the same deductive reasoning errors as to which is "better". Perhaps this is even more complicated since aethetics can now enter the discussion which is never agreed upon or well defined.

A more scientific analysis would be to look at both of the two models you possess and evaluate which of the two possess the qualities/criteria that you most desire. Keep the one that meets those criteria and sell the other. Anything else is an emotional decision, which you will most likely later regret. As others have suggested, if emotion is involved in decision making then keep both. If you need to make a decision to sell, then make a reasoned decision about qualities that can be well defined.

 

[LostintheOzone]

That it didn't come with diamond magnas. Which I would think are more common to a Highway Patrolman. But, since I bought it at a gun show, no box or other goodies, I have no idea how it came originally.

My apologies. I thought we were discussing factory diamond grips, I have the box, docs and tools that came with mine and the grips match the SN. The grips are Magna. I missed the target grip in your post.

 

[DixieRanger]

Oh my...[emoji3061]

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[DR505]

The S serials sure have nice bluing jobs...S serial 27-2 on left, 27-3 on right.

 

[ron b]

The GCA of 1968 was the reason for the switch from S prefix to N.

 

[moosedog]

The quality and craftsmanship of most all firearms has progressively gone down over the years after WWII. Thats why the earlier S series revolvers are more desirable.
You have to compare apples to apples, not guns to cars or anything else.

 

[TheTinMan]

Responding to the OP, I have confidence in any S#### Smith & Wesson. If the serial number starts with N then I want to know more - starting with when in the production run.

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 would argue that the few Colt New Service and especially Colt Shooting Master revolvers chambered in 357 Magnum cast doubt upon your assertion. Speaking of Colts, I am not interested in Colt revolvers manufactured after 1960 but YMMV.

 

[Bullet99]

It's just my humble opinion but some folks like the "N" prefix because they are cheaper and more readably available. Good "S" prefix guns are getting harder to find..

 

[heeter3]

Keep em bothG-mac if you let any of them get away you will regret it...ask me how I know.

 

[alwslate]

Responding to the OP, I have confidence in any S#### Smith & Wesson. If the serial number starts with N then I want to know more - starting with when in the production run.



I would argue that the few Colt New Service and especially Colt Shooting Master revolvers chambered in 357 Magnum cast doubt upon your assertion. Speaking of Colts, I am not interested in Colt revolvers manufactured after 1960 but YMMV.

The large frame of the Colts does not automatically result in strength or durability. The revolver blow up tests in the early 70s done by the HP White labs showed that it was nearly impossible to blow up the N frame S&W .357s. And the old style lockwork of the Colts pales in comparison to the Smith's.

 

[Capt. F.]

6" or 4" they're both still needlessly big N frames for a 357. Never saw the attraction to the 27 & 28.

You have to own 'em to understand!

 

[DixieRanger]

Reading the N & S thoughts interesting. My '60 29-0's a big honkin' revolver but i love it. Long ago deer hunting from a tree stand took the 29 but no shot. Sure woulda liked to take a whitetail with it.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[charlie sherrill]

I've had a lot of N frame .357's over the years. My last experience with them was I owned a stock 28-2 4" three screw. Nothing fancy about it. It was a pretty good revolver that I occasionally shot. I had a friend that had been after me for several years to sell it to him. I found a 28-0 4" Four screw with the "S" serial number with a smooth .400 trigger, .500 hammer, white front sight insert and a very good action job with original magma grips numbered to the gun. I bought it and after shooting it some I sold the 28-2 to my friend for what I paid for the four screw. That four screw is one fine shooter. A month or two after I bought the four screw a friend of mine from Louisiana came over to burn a few .357's with me at my little pistol range. He had a 28-2 that had the exact same work done on it as my 28-0. We each shot both of them and could not tell any difference in the performance. I think the alterations on each 28 may hurt their collectible value a little but both of us bought them to shoot, not collect. The alterations were apparently identical and most likely done by the same person, who was probably tricking out revolvers for LEO's sometime back in the 60's, or maybe S&W did it, I don't know. To answer the original question, I think the "S" revolvers are probably worth more to a collector, but not necessarily to the shooter.