Collector Or Accumulator

[tlay]

I have been a S&W accumulator for apx. 40 years. I have always had Smiths to carry and shoot but never thought about collecting. About halfway through 2008 I lost one of my legs due to an accident from flying a number of years ago.
I have accumulated different Smiths and would like to concentrate on only a couple of types. I presently have:
Pre 24 with 4" barrel, nickel
Pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman, Blue, 6.5"
Pre 27 nickel, 3.5"
Pre 27 blue, 5"
Post war 38/44 engraved, blue, 4"
Post war 38/44 blue, transitional, 4"
Pre 17 blue, 6"
Pre 17 blue, 4 screw, 6"
1905 4th ch., nickel, 4"
M&P post war trans. blue, 6"
1917 blue, 5.5"
Model 36 blue, 2"
Model 27-2 blue, 8 3/8"
Model 14-4 blue, 6"
Model 10-7 nickel, 2"
Model 60-9 St. St., 2 1/8"
Model 38 blue, 1 7/8"
Model 66-2 St. St, 2.5"

My question is which group should I focus on? I will probably sell the others. Thanks.

 

[wbraswell]

You know that we will just advise you to sell the ones we want to buy, right? I see at least 4 I'm wanting now.

 

[doublesharp]

Keep them all is the obvious answer but it looks like a natural dividing spot is the pre model guns vs the model # marked guns. I'd keep the pre-model guns for sure but I wouldn't let a 66-2, 2 1/2" go without a nice stack of benjamins in exchange.

 

[tlay]

I would like to keep the 66 and 38 for concealed carry. Not concerned with the other marked models.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Cosh, with a nice collection like yours I don't think I would sell any of them. Depending on your financial position I would keep the earlier ones as they gain monetary value better. I had S&W's back to 1858 to the newer 44 Mags. Got rid of most to family members.

 

[chief38]

That's strictly a personal choice and no one here can tell you what to like. You'll figure it out, I'm sure.

 

[Stick895]

You need to decide which ones you like the most. Nothing says you have to have all pre-#, or N-, K-, etc. frames. Of course, I'm sorry to see you've wasted your money on that Pre 24 with 4" barrel, nickel. I will take it off your hands and save you the aggro of having to decide on that one. No, no need to thank me!

 

[DCWilson]

Lay them out randomly on a bed or dinner table surface. Step back and squint at them so they aren't really in good focus. About five or six will seem to glow or somehow catch your interest. Those are the ones you should NOT sell. Take them away and repeat the experiment. If one or two more tend to stand out, save them too.

The rest are candidates for sale or trade.

The items you collect should never be collected in response to some presumed theory of value or general appeal. Collect the ones that matter to you, let the other ones go, and everything will be fine.

 

[Rpg]

I have been a S&W accumulator for apx. 40 years. I have always had Smiths to carry and shoot but never thought about collecting. About halfway through 2008 I lost one of my legs due to an accident from flying a number of years ago.
I have accumulated different Smiths and would like to concentrate on only a couple of types. I presently have:
Pre 24 with 4" barrel, nickel
Pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman, Blue, 6.5"
Pre 27 nickel, 3.5"
Pre 27 blue, 5"
Post war 38/44 engraved, blue, 4"
Post war 38/44 blue, transitional, 4"
Pre 17 blue, 6"
Pre 17 blue, 4 screw, 6"
1905 4th ch., nickel, 4"
M&P post war trans. blue, 6"
1917 blue, 5.5"
Model 36 blue, 2"
Model 27-2 blue, 8 3/8"
Model 14-4 blue, 6"
Model 10-7 nickel, 2"
Model 60-9 St. St., 2 1/8"
Model 38 blue, 1 7/8"
Model 66-2 St. St, 2.5"

My question is which group should I focus on? I will probably sell the others. Thanks.

Sell 'em all, buy 'black' guns and develop a close, personal relationship with S&W customer service.

What a great accumulation!

 

[Nframecollector]

Sell them all and start collecting something else! How about Questar telescopes?

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

"Collector or accumulator?" - the absence of S&W 41, 46, 52s indicates an accumulator. Switch over to these and become a collector for sure!!!!!!!!!

Yes - have fun whatever you decide.

 

[loeman]

tlay, It seems your story is similar to mine. I began my "accumulation" in 1977. I NEVER considered myself a collector, just a person who appreciated a fine handgun in great condition.

Now, thanks to this S&W Forum, my perspective has changed. The wonderful collections that are presented here everyday have fired my COLLECTOR passion. I always go to the homepage every day and spend time going through the photo albums presented there (maybe I shouldn't do this).

So, I've gone through my "accumulation" and identified numerous items (all non S&W) that will soon move on to new owners. What remains will now be called MY COLLECTION! The departed ones will help fund the quest for fine S&W handguns. However I won't turn my back on a fine Colt or an early Sig P210.

 

[pawncop]

I am an accumulator. Accordingly, I do not focus on a particular caliber, action, brand, finish, etc, etc, etc.

Every so often, I think about selling or trading and I am not ready to do that now. Perhaps someday, when true need arises or I decide it is time to reduce the herd. Today ain't that day.

I know they are "things" but they are MY things and I want them.

Perhaps not the most mature approach, but I sure am having fun getting new stuff.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Your choice buddy. Take then all out and look them over. Ask yourself if you really want to get rid of any of them and buy something you want more. Then ask yourself how difficult it would be to replace the one's you would consider getting rid of.

When the joy and pleasure of owning any one gun go away, maybe it's time for it to go. Don't have just to have. Make it mean something to you.

 

[finesse_r]

I Really Should Sleep Later on Saturdays

At first I thought this was another movie thread. “The Accumulator”! staring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman. A bold adventure of a man and a woman in head to head competition to ACCUMULATE as many deadly high capacity weapons as possible. Also a love story gone awry.

Or

“The Collector” staring Ed Asner, Russell Crowe, and Kim Bassinger. A bold adventure story of how three people managed to gain a world wide monopoly on Smith and Wesson N-frame revolvers by pretending to be COLLECTORS and changed the economy of the free world. Also a kinky triangular love story of betrayal and lust.

 

[Kanewpadle]

At first I thought this was another movie thread. “The Accumulator”! staring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman. A bold adventure of a man and a woman in head to head competition to ACCUMULATE as many deadly high capacity weapons as possible. Also a love story gone awry.

Or

“The Collector” staring Ed Asner, Russell Crowe, and Kim Bassinger. A bold adventure story of how three people managed to gain a world wide monopoly on Smith and Wesson N-frame revolvers by pretending to be COLLECTORS and changed the economy of the free world. Also a kinky triangular love story of betrayal and lust.

You're right, you shoulda slept in!

 

[Wee Hooker]

I have been a S&W accumulator for apx. 40 years. I have always had Smiths to carry and shoot but never thought about collecting. About halfway through 2008 I lost one of my legs due to an accident from flying a number of years ago.
I have accumulated different Smiths and would like to concentrate on only a couple of types. I presently have:
Pre 24 with 4" barrel, nickel
Pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman, Blue, 6.5"
Pre 27 nickel, 3.5"
Pre 27 blue, 5"
Post war 38/44 engraved, blue, 4"
Post war 38/44 blue, transitional, 4"
Pre 17 blue, 6"
Pre 17 blue, 4 screw, 6"
1905 4th ch., nickel, 4"
M&P post war trans. blue, 6"
1917 blue, 5.5"
Model 36 blue, 2"
Model 27-2 blue, 8 3/8"
Model 14-4 blue, 6"
Model 10-7 nickel, 2"
Model 60-9 St. St., 2 1/8"
Model 38 blue, 1 7/8"
Model 66-2 St. St, 2.5"

My question is which group should I focus on? I will probably sell the others. Thanks.

Blonds or Brunets??

Collecting is a personal choice. It can also be driven by finances. Certain collection goals are just going to cost you more.
My advice: Go in whatever direction your heart tells you.
I once focused on post war S&W 38 spl and .22 rimfire revolvers. Had a specimen of darn near every model made. In many cases in every barrel length and dash numbers. Once I got there, I got bored ( and broke ) as many were too nice to shoot and all were packed tightly away. I sold most off when we needed a new handicap van for my son.
Now I keep mainly what I shoot and a couple dozen essential leftovers

 

[Mickey D]

I had a nice accumulation of collectible firearms. The were all lost in a tragic boating accident.

 

[Naples22]

There's a simple solution to this issue. You have far too many fine S&W's, you do need to focus on a smaller group. As a favor to you, send me all your S&W's, wait a few months. Decide on the guns you miss the most, then call me, and I'll send you back 3 or 4 of the ones you really long for.

 

[oldter]

MY PSYCOLOGY ON GUNS?

I am an accumulator,collector,repairer and keeper of used equipment(pistols) as long as it hasn't got a cracked frame or a cracked slide and someone is saying it dosnt work anymore and it is junk I --HAVE-- to have it to try to bring it back to its operational and noisy glory,then I cant let it go for fear of it being mistreated again ,thusly they all have a personality and if it displeases you IT must be removed from your presence. OR, just sayin iffin you like it ,keep it,iffin you don't,sell it!!!;