Collecting Themes
- Thread starter Robert L Wells
- Start date
I have a master plan for rebuilding my collection. I want a representative assortment of Smith models, types and barrel lengths, but I have to stay within a budget. So I have decided to stay with .38 special and .357 magnum calibers (that way I'll only have to keep one box of ammo around the house.
So I want blue, nickel and stainless guns; N, K and J frames; 6", 5", 4", 3", 2" barrels; target and magna stocks; diamond and modern stocks; round and square butt; pinned, pinned & recessed and non-pinned; 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's.
Finally, because I am a Smith nut (and I don't believe in an overly foolish consistency), I will also find another Model 25-5 blue 6" (my favorite to shoot, and because it says Colt on the barrel) and I've already found a like new Model 59 9mm (because it was one of Smith's true innovations).
That's my collecting manifesto, for now at least. Discounting the last two, I can pull it off with just five or six guns. For the 3" I'm hoping to find a Model 13 round butt "FBI" gun, but a Model 65 3" round butt or a Model 36 3" square butt would work. I already have a Model 640-1 from 1996 (I wanted a 1990's gun).
Does anyone else have a collecting "theme" or strategy that they're working on?
Well, You left out 2 1/2" and 3 1/'2" and 6 1/2". Now you want blue and nickel.
Frankly I do not see how you are going to get past M27's with 6 pieces, and that is just 1 frame size. You need a bigger safe already
The safe, along with a wife who will leave if I buy any more guns, is what saves me from the exploding collecting themes I'm reading about here. I have one small safe that will fit 5-6 guns and the wife thinks it has one gun in it. She doesn't know the combination, so I'm good for now, but bring in another safe so I can expand?
Happy New Year everyone, and thanks for making me feel so welcome here. I'm old, but new.
The safe, along with a wife who will leave if I buy any more guns, is what saves me from the exploding collecting themes I'm reading about here. I have one small safe that will fit 5-6 guns and the wife thinks it has one gun in it. She doesn't know the combination, so I'm good for now, but bring in another safe so I can expand?
Happy New Year everyone, and thanks for making me feel so welcome here. I'm old, but new.
This is a good place to be!! Happy New Year to you as well.
Every collecting plan, or strategy I ever tried went out the door in short fashion once I began searching. I'd run into something that was outside my parameters, but so cool, or reasonable that I bought it. Then that opened the door to a larger theme and I scrapped my original plan.
mod57
Member
I love the N frames, but I only have 3. One is a nickle 8 3/8 model 57-1 which is my favorite. Another is a blue 6 inch model 25-5. These are the only S&W revolvers that I purchased new. I have all boxes and papers. My last is a 6 inch, blue model 28-2 that I purchased from a member here. Nice gun, cleaned up nice and with a set of real nice target stocks she is a nice example of a working N frame. That's when I noticed a pattern. All of my S&W revolvers, save a British victory model, have adjustable sights and and target items. Target triggers, hammers and stocks. My theme developed without my actually planning it. Now I need a 586/686 and ...
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OP
Robert L Wells
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I'm Baack
Well, I vanished for five months. I got interested in other things, including self-publishing and promoting two books. But I kept working on the S&W collecting theme I described when I started this thread.
The idea was to memorialize my shooting and collecting days (I'm disabled now). Having given away and sold most of my collection, I wanted to rebuild a small collection of revolvers that captured some of the variety of features, sizes and finishes that Smith offers ... in one caliber (because total cost was a factor). Here it is.
Model 37 2" .38, J, Blue, Aluminum, Rnd. Butt
Model 65-5 3" .357, K, Stainless, Rnd. Butt
Model 10-8 4" .38, K, Blue, Sq. Butt, PC Magnas
Model 27-2 5" .357, N, Nickel, Sq. Butt, Boughman Sight, Football Targets
Model 14-1 6" .38, K, Blue, Sq. Butt, Patridge Sight, Diamond Targets
-----------------
Model 25-5 6" .45, N, Blue, TS, TT, TH, WO, RR, Football Targets
The years range from 1961 to 1988. The Model 25-5 is there because it was my favorite Smith of all to shoot. The Model 65-5 is not actually in my hands yet. We are in the process of concluding the deal. I've covered barrel lengths, finishes, frames and stocks. Not all of them certainly, but if you look closely and think about it there are quite a few smith configurations or features represented in one way or other on one gun or other.
Well, I vanished for five months. I got interested in other things, including self-publishing and promoting two books. But I kept working on the S&W collecting theme I described when I started this thread.
The idea was to memorialize my shooting and collecting days (I'm disabled now). Having given away and sold most of my collection, I wanted to rebuild a small collection of revolvers that captured some of the variety of features, sizes and finishes that Smith offers ... in one caliber (because total cost was a factor). Here it is.
Model 37 2" .38, J, Blue, Aluminum, Rnd. Butt
Model 65-5 3" .357, K, Stainless, Rnd. Butt
Model 10-8 4" .38, K, Blue, Sq. Butt, PC Magnas
Model 27-2 5" .357, N, Nickel, Sq. Butt, Boughman Sight, Football Targets
Model 14-1 6" .38, K, Blue, Sq. Butt, Patridge Sight, Diamond Targets
-----------------
Model 25-5 6" .45, N, Blue, TS, TT, TH, WO, RR, Football Targets
The years range from 1961 to 1988. The Model 25-5 is there because it was my favorite Smith of all to shoot. The Model 65-5 is not actually in my hands yet. We are in the process of concluding the deal
. I've covered barrel lengths, finishes, frames and stocks. Not all of them certainly, but if you look closely and think about it there are quite a few smith configurations or features represented in one way or other on one gun or other.
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StrawHat
Member
Congratulations on rebuilding the collection. I am currently enamored with S&as 45 ACP revolvers.
I can usually stick to a theme. I have built and sold several collections as my thoughts have wandered over the years. Civil War carbines, Committee of Safety muskets, Peter White long arms, Colt 1861 and 1860s, you get the idea.
Kevin
I can usually stick to a theme. I have built and sold several collections as my thoughts have wandered over the years. Civil War carbines, Committee of Safety muskets, Peter White long arms, Colt 1861 and 1860s, you get the idea.
Kevin
Poor crazyphil only has 13 handguns. Mostly Smiths, a few Colts, etc.
So my theme is collecting holsters. Have an average of about 15 holsters
for each gun. So I can go broke slower than you gun collectors.
So my theme is collecting holsters. Have an average of about 15 holsters
for each gun. So I can go broke slower than you gun collectors.
Dieseltech56
Member
My collecting interests mostly revolve around 80s and 90s guns. Model 60s, 686, 629 and 29 . I have a few model 19s and 64/65 too. The N frame post endurance 44 mags are my favorite.
There is also stuff I will not buy, 10s, 14, 15, 25, 27, 28, 36, 66. There is some stuff I don't have because I haven't found the right one. Would like to have a nice 586 and 57
There is also stuff I will not buy, 10s, 14, 15, 25, 27, 28, 36, 66. There is some stuff I don't have because I haven't found the right one. Would like to have a nice 586 and 57
I have a few .44 Specials and within that collection I have some 5" S&Ws-a Triple Lock, a 2nd model, a 3rd model and a M27 converted to .44 Special. The other .44s are a Ruger Old Model .357 Blackhawk conversion and a 4 3/4" USFA SAA.
OP
Robert L Wells
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I have a K-22 Masterpiece, 1953, for sale in the forum Classified section if you want to check it out.
Bumpus13
Member
OLDSTER
Member
I should never have read through this thread. Now I'm wondering what to "accumulate" ( I'm not expert enough to be a legitimate collector) next. Maybe I'll "accumulate" more little .25 and .32 pocket pistols
Collecting themes ?
That'll work.
I now don't just collect guns, I collect themes.
A pre-27, for example, would fit several themes :
Post war/Pre model #
N-frame
Blued (well, mine is)
Adjustable sighted
.357
Magna stocked
I gotta rearrange the safe now to reflect the themes.
How will I ever find time to shoot ?
That'll work.
I now don't just collect guns, I collect themes.
A pre-27, for example, would fit several themes :
Post war/Pre model #
N-frame
Blued (well, mine is)
Adjustable sighted
.357
Magna stocked
I gotta rearrange the safe now to reflect the themes.
How will I ever find time to shoot ?
chiefbob81
US Veteran
Trying to get one of each model, blued. Then ill move on to different barrel lengths. Then.........
There's a Romanian proverb that says, "Time cures all things."
It's been less than a year since I said I wasn't interested in stainless steel Chiefs Specials. Now I find three in my hoard in the last four months. Hmmm.
Each one is sort of an oddball so I guess that fits my original theme. There's a 2" Model 60 square butt 1 of 600, a Model 60-1 Target (Ashland exclusive 1 of 660), and a 60-10 (I've never heard anyone put a number on those -- probably a lot more than 600). I guess I need one with the diamond grips from '65 or '66. Searching....
It's been less than a year since I said I wasn't interested in stainless steel Chiefs Specials. Now I find three in my hoard in the last four months. Hmmm.
Each one is sort of an oddball so I guess that fits my original theme. There's a 2" Model 60 square butt 1 of 600, a Model 60-1 Target (Ashland exclusive 1 of 660), and a 60-10 (I've never heard anyone put a number on those -- probably a lot more than 600). I guess I need one with the diamond grips from '65 or '66. Searching....
