Finding Collectable Smiths in Australia

[S&W_aussie]

Hi all,

I was about to post this in another thread "What's has been the hardest S&W for you to find" but I rambled on too long and thought I would give you guys a bit of an insight into collecting in Australia (not about our gunlaws as I have covered that in previous posts).

I look at GB, GI, GA, firearms auction sites and drool. In the States you guys have a massive choice when it comes to collectable guns - they are made in your country for a start! I can log on to GB and search S&W and 800-1000 guns come up!

If I was lucky enough to win one of those auctions I would still have to add on about $600 - $800 to get the gun to Australia (State Dept Export fee $250 + priority UPS $380+). I also have to get an import permit and registration at this end and the whole process takes about 5 months....so not really worth it....I have to get that $250 permit and pay the same shipping for gun parts like cylinders and barrels as well! SO a replacement barrel for a 27 might cost $100 on GB but it would cost me $800 by the time it gets here!!!

Here ins Aus we have about 5 online sites (in the GB sort of format) and there is usually only a handful of Smiths for sale. Most gunshops have websites but again they are rarely kept up to date...lol.

There are always 686, 586, 66 & 14s with slab side barrels, wings and other bits of metal hanging off them as well as newer ex police service M10s (never marked as such) for sale but we rarely see the more collectable Smiths

Colin Dobson's collection was dispersed a couple of years back but they pretty much all went to one auction in another state and will not come up for sale again

In the last 6 years I have seen:

3 x 27-2 for sale (I bought one of them)
12 x 28-2 for sale (I bought one of them)
2 x 4 screw 28 (missed one by 1 day)
18 x Victorys and M&Ps (I bought one of each)
1 x 1917 (I bought it)
2 x Triple Locks
2 x early model 41s (I bought one)
2 x M57 with long barrels

I have also looked at 7 model 29s, six of which turned out to be "frankenguns".

There is one bloke at the moment selling two "28s", both have S prefix numbers (1958 and 1963) and one has pretty banged up diamond targets. These took my interest because of the age. On closer inspection the '63 turned out to be a 27-2 with a 4" Highway Patrolman barrel. The other is a 4 screw 28 (in my list above) from 1958. This has been re blued with a matt finish, has ratty Pachmayers on it and has had the barrel replaced with a slab (I guess the original barrel is now the one on the 27!). The owner wants $675 each for these "frankenguns". I could buy both for $1335.00 and put the 28 barrel back on the 28 (seems sensible!), have it reblued and put the diamond targets back on it....then I would have 1 gun that had its original parts but was reblued at a total cost of around $1800.00!!!! This is typical of what comes up for sale in Australia.

Everytime I see an early serial M14, M10, etc it has the wrong grips, has been reblued or has a ******* slab barrel on it!

So, the search continues. My collection of Smiths consists of the guns below (some are still awaiting permits after 4 months!)...It will grow but it is not easy!

Mike

My collection so far...(I also have a 6' 66-1 that I dont have pics of yest)

27-2, 6" barrel 1972


28-2, 4' barrel 1977


17-2, 4" chopped barrel 1966


M41 1960


1943 Victory .38 Special

1940 M&P (Australian Military) .38-200 (38 S&W)

M1917 US ARMY .45 ACP

 

[Texas Star]

Good luck! Sorry about your ratty gun laws.

Maybe you can open up that pinched lanyard ring on the M-1917?

Can you buy most handgun ammo, and do they allow hollow points? I gather that self defense is a no-no, and that you can't hunt anything with sidearms?

T-Star

 

[feralmerril]

Wow! Now I dont feel so bad for my collection! I was starting to think I was overgunned. It`s hard for me to understand how your country and canada put up with such regulations. Both australia and canada are so vast of unpopulated area`s you would think it would be totaly the opposit!

 

[S&W_aussie]

Maybe you can open up that pinched lanyard ring on the M-1917?

Can you buy most handgun ammo, and do they allow hollow points? I gather that self defense is a no-no, and that you can't hunt anything with sidearms?

T-Star

Hi T-Star, yep most ammo is ok as well as hollow points - strictly no defensive carry, home defence or hunting with handguns here. The lanyard ring is on the list of repairs to the 1917 as well as a new mainspring. It is an old gun and not a pretty as some I have seen here but it has had a hell of a life I'll bet!

Hi there Feral, ....you can never be over gunned!

Mike

 

[sipowicz]

Thanks for posting the pics right side up for our part of the world...

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

S&W Aussie - interesting S&W 41 (1960-61) but appears to have had the bbl cut to 6". Any idea of the history on it?

 

[S&W_aussie]

S&W Aussie - interesting S&W 41 (1960-61) but appears to have had the bbl cut to 6". Any idea of the history on it?

Hey Tom,

I am certain it has been chopped. No idea of the history. I do know quite a few people cut the 7" barrels down to 6" instead of buying 5" barrels. I think the cut down 6" is still lighter then the 5" HB

I am far from an expert on these 41s but I thought I better have one in my collection. I missed a long barrel with muzzle brake last week which was 21 away from this in serial number...I was pretty cranky about that!

Mike

 

[Fishslayer]

Nothing really to add but "G'day" & "Nice collection."

I spent 4 years in the Lucky Country. I'd go back in a heartbeat, gun laws & all.

If I was lucky enough to win one of those auctions I would still have to add on about $600 - $800 to get the gun to Australia (State Dept Export fee $250 + priority UPS $380+). I also have to get an import permit and registration at this end and the whole process takes about 5 months....so not really worth it....I have to get that $250 permit and pay the same shipping for gun parts like cylinders and barrels as well! SO a replacement barrel for a 27 might cost $100 on GB but it would cost me $800 by the time it gets here!!!

That's better than Kalifornia. If a gun isn't on the "not unsafe approved" list (and older S&W are NOT) we don't get them at all. Many sellers won't even ship to Kalifornia...