For those age 60 or under (Gen X or later generations…)

[Eddie Southgate]

Good points. Nice to see a post that doesn't put apostrophes in year decades and plurals.

Why ?

 

[TheHobbyist]

41 years old. Been collecting for 20 years.

Hobby has changed a lot just in my time, which really is nothing in the bigger picture…but noteworthy given the extent of change.

FWIW, I always viewed pre-war as collectible curiosities…owned several…none would really stick around and be sold to buy post war.

Be it interest, having guidance, lack of in person accessibility, substantial housing and other costs rising—it is really a bit of a nuanced ask, isn't it? A niche of a niche.

I get it.

The only way to really get the word out is to get the word out and see if you are able to connect with other gun or militaria collectors who can develop an appreciation. My opinions of course.

 

[Monstermuley24]

34 and searching for the guys who are hoarding all the nice 357 magnums (pre 27's) that might want to do some trading haha. My favorite revolver by a wide margin, probably because the reg mag is out of reach.

My interest are primarily S&W and colt revolvers. I won't pass up a nice pre-64 model 70 (factory original or custom) I really enjoy the custom wood and metal work from the gunsmiths past and present

 

[mrcvs]

Not sure what you mean by a "softening in the sales process". In my area older S&W revolvers don't last long if they ever do show up in local gun shops. Not seeing any noticeable price reductions either. At the gun shows and in more than few gun shops sales of ALL guns (new or old) seem to have slowed down but I think that is more due to the effects of inflation and a slowly recovering economy. Many people have less money to spend on things like hobbies and collectibles. There is still a demand and those who have the funds are still buying. Perhaps you're looking at the effect of fewer people being able to afford spending the money on their hobby at this time?

I was referring to hammer prices at auction. Gunbroker, the national auction houses, etc. Spell check decided to use process where I meant to say prices. I will correct that.

 

[Lex_Ordo]

53 YO. Been collecting different guns over the past 30+ years. At this point in life I have dwindled down to a couple Colt 3rd Gen SAA .45 revolvers, a S&W 640-2 .38, and a Colt Official Police .38. I have one semi-auto 9mm Glock 19, and also become extremely selective on anything vintage because of price. I want to be able to carry everything with me God forbid I had to evacuate my home for any number of reasons. I won't leave anything behind.

 

[Wickerboots]

Most of what I have goes to my spawn under 5 at this point. I have just enough in the budget for ammo components (100 rounds a week) and modest reloading setup. Would love to add a threaded lever action (so not older), and a few handfuls of revolvers new/old/projects.

 

[Lance Boyle]

I'm 65, but all the Smiths I collected were when I was in my 40's and 50's.

I like them but am guarded on buying them. Many are priced as collectible guns now if not thoroughly roached.

Last old .32 I looked at a bent ejector rod and possibly the crane. $600 and the fellow said I could easily get the replacement parts at Numrich.

My buddy bought a really nice vintage Colt Official Police and it was a dandy shooter.

Nice shooter grades are creeping up in price.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I WILL NOT..........Be classified with a letter or number..........I'm just me.

 

[Lance Boyle]

I'm 56 and I have a deep appreciation for the history of the older revolvers but I have no real interest in owning any since I don't consider myself to be a collector. The "new" guns may have some teething issues that need to be addressed but they run with modern ammo and I don't feel bad taking them to the range / match / using them hard.

This is true. My ideal S&W manufacturing time period is the 70-80's. Peak design features. I like that styling.

I have one 50's K22. The rest of my S&Ws are all model numbered guns.

Oh and mid Gen X.

 

[desi2358]

I was referring to hammer prices at auction. Gunbroker, the national auction houses, etc. Spell check decided to use process where I meant to say prices. I will correct that.

Okay, thanks for the clarification. I don't buy or sell online or use auction houses so I haven't kept track of what is or isn't moving there. Maybe the effects of the last few years on the economy is causing more people to hold off on bidding or being more cautious to avoid getting a case of auction fever? I mainly do area gun shows, in particular OGCA and Tri-State collectors and some of the general public shows. I set up at the shows selling old and odd caliber ammo but also looking for guns I like. There are also a couple gun shops I regularly deal with. What I see and hear is that in general, gun sales are down for everything. Good quality older guns still seem to move fairly quickly unless priced insanely high, whether in a local shop or at a gun show. If I find something I like and don't buy it I rarely get a second chance.

 

[406lawdawg]

I'm 75, sorry. Went to the range with all 22 long rifle pistols. A victory, 6022, 41 pro, browning 1911 & Walther PP. The 6022 preformed best. Loved them all thou.

 

[drumminor2nd]

Last old .32 I looked at a bent ejector rod and possibly the crane. $600 and the fellow said I could easily get the replacement parts at Numrich.

"If it's so easy, bub, why didn't YOU fix it?" Oh, it's because the parts aren't easy and/or cheap to source ... I hate sellers like that.

 

[Kal.38]

I'm 48 and started collecting when I was really young. Military/LE and hunting family.
I had already owned a .22 rifle, BB gun, 20ga, and 30-06 by age 12. I had been using the .22 and BB guns on my own since about 8 or 9 with permission of course. The 20ga and 30-06 got hauled out and used for hunting every season.
Around age 13 my life changed forever. I was given an old S&W 1899 top break 32 safety hammerless. No firing pin, no star extractor, and barrel filled with lead.
My oldest is a second model hand eject 1918 converted to 45lc. I mainly focused on 50s to 80s J, K, and N frames.

 

[45NUTT]

I was born the last year of the baby boomer crowd, so I'm 63 and just a tad beyond the parameters of this thread, but having been bitten by the pre WWII S&W bug about 18 months ago, I feel like chiming in. I started my S&W journey with a single 19-4 and it has bloomed, blossomed, blown up, degraded, digressed (?) into this horrid fascination with top breaks, Hand Ejectors of 1903 & 1905 in calibers from 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32WCF, 38 Special, 44 Special & 45 ACP. I just added a very nice 1917 and intend to add a Victory in 38 Special. I would love a Wolf & Klar but so far don't have enough juice to get it done. Instead, I bought a 4" RB nickel 21-4 to satisfy that craving. I want a 38-44 and think the RM are cool but waaaaaaaaaaaaay above my pay grade.

What I'm saying is your accumulation will change as you age. My main collecting goal was SAAs and lever actions not even considering that cowboys carried DA S&Ws after the 1900's too.

 

[chuck17]

I am 66 and my S&W interests have evolved over time. When I first saw a pair beautiful blued S&W revolvers in my youth, I was smitten. I started collecting N-frames, because who doesn't love a big old honking piece of blued precious metal? I also collected some J, K, and L frames. As a shooter, for me the N-frames are just too big, so about 10 years ago I let go of most of them and have refocused on J and K frames. The older I get, the smaller the guns I want to shoot... I like the 38 specials and 32 S&W Longs, and 22LRs. My ideas on barrel length have also changed... I used to like the long barrels, now I prefer 2-4 inch. I seriously thought about going stainless for the lower maintenance, but the blue guns are just too beautiful to give them up. I still lust in my heart for big ol' N-frames, but I am contented with J's and K's.

 

[The Kid]

I'm 38, bought my first S&W when I was 18.
I have S&Ws from every decade from the 1910s through the 1990s. I shoot and even hunt with almost all of them.

Some of the prewar guns I find very interesting and I would buy an example of in a heartbeat if the price wasn't out of line and it fit my criteria. The fact that I live in a historically "poor" part of the country makes what were, at the time of their manufacture expensive luxury items, quite scarce. My personal criteria of only buying original finish guns and with a strong bent towards adjustable sights makes it even rarer for me to run across one for sale locally.

For shooting I prefer the newer short action guns, and that's important to me because as I said above I shoot all of them. I think one of the best eras for quality, technology, and features/models available is the late 1980s and early 1990s.

And like everyone else my age I'm waiting for someone's RegMag collection to be for sale dirt cheap at an estate or yard sale. But I'm not holding my breath.

 

[gjamison]

I'm 52. My collection is mostly pre war and early post war S&Ws.

 

[Oldtimer1]

I'm 52. My collection is mostly pre war and early post war S&Ws.

You have great taste on guns, much the same as mine. I pick up a older Smith and wonder where it has been in the past fifty years? How did it loose that chip in the grip, Did a previous owner drop and give it that scar on the barrel? We both realize that the quality of an early Model 10 is hard to beat. Old guns have a history and a beauty of their own.

 

[Smith391]

57 here ...

Most of my S&Ws are 1960's models or newer, but I wouldn't mind picking up a nice Smith & Wesson "bicycle revolver" if I could find a real nice one at a reasonable price. Just for the "cool" factor, if nothing else...

https://www.ammoland.com/2020/12/barks-bullets-the-story-of-sws-bicycle-guns/

 

[mrcvs]

57 here ...

Most of my S&Ws are 1960's models or newer, but I wouldn't mind picking up a nice Smith & Wesson "bicycle revolver" if I could find a real nice one at a reasonable price. Just for the "cool" factor, if nothing else...

View attachment 781109

https://www.ammoland.com/2020/12/barks-bullets-the-story-of-sws-bicycle-guns/

This one cost me $747.50 in May.