Forgive me father for I have sinned!
- Thread starter brendonjames65
- Start date
Welcome into the light. The light has just recently illuminated my path to these wonderful revolvers.
I bought a M29-2 in 1974 on the coat tails of Dirty Harry. I shot it quite a bit but always with full magnum loads. Time drifted by and it got used less and less. I wandered towards M12's, Belgium Browning A5's then Parker and Fox shotguns. I bought a Parker double trap and after a while those 1 1/8 oz loads became unpleasant so it followed the path of the M29.
I've come to enjoy the 3/4 oz load in my classic SXS and the 12's are once again fun to shoot. I've taken this path with the Smith's. A light load in the 44's and 41's make them fun to shoot again. Wadcutters in the M19's and 27's are pure joy. This of course leads to the purchase of more Smith's. Like the elusive perfect grouse gun there is no perfect Smith.
Follow the light it will lead you to your next Smith.
I bought a M29-2 in 1974 on the coat tails of Dirty Harry. I shot it quite a bit but always with full magnum loads. Time drifted by and it got used less and less. I wandered towards M12's, Belgium Browning A5's then Parker and Fox shotguns. I bought a Parker double trap and after a while those 1 1/8 oz loads became unpleasant so it followed the path of the M29.
I've come to enjoy the 3/4 oz load in my classic SXS and the 12's are once again fun to shoot. I've taken this path with the Smith's. A light load in the 44's and 41's make them fun to shoot again. Wadcutters in the M19's and 27's are pure joy. This of course leads to the purchase of more Smith's. Like the elusive perfect grouse gun there is no perfect Smith.
Follow the light it will lead you to your next Smith.
Haha, I did the exact opposite.
I've been a S&W wheelgun guy since I was a teenager. Still am. But I thought that S&W semiautomatic pistols were inferior to the European ones (minus the 52 and 41).
Fast forward to 2020. Epiphany. Now I own 11 of them.
PS - Smith handguns are like potato chips. You can't just have one.
I've been a S&W wheelgun guy since I was a teenager. Still am. But I thought that S&W semiautomatic pistols were inferior to the European ones (minus the 52 and 41).
Fast forward to 2020. Epiphany. Now I own 11 of them.
PS - Smith handguns are like potato chips. You can't just have one.
Birdhunter6
Member
Congrats on coming to your senses!
Obtaining them is only half the joy of those beauties. Take 'em to the range and tell us about it!
Obtaining them is only half the joy of those beauties. Take 'em to the range and tell us about it!
mdf9183
US Veteran
Welcome from Bastrop, Texas. When I started as a LEO in 1969 the revolver we carried was S&W 38/44 then the Mod. 27 and when i went to plain clothes a Mod. 19. When the rest of dept. went to autos. I still carried that Mod 19 until I retired. Once a wheel gunner always a wheel gunner.
OP
brendonjames65
US Veteran
Sorry, I must apologize for not posting pics! How dare I! In my defense, I had some unexpected health issues immediately after posting, we're currently renovating a cabin and making repairs to our current home plus trying to get better so I can get out there and bow hunt elk & deer!
My collection of S&W revolvers is quite modest mind you, a total of 7 and 14 total revolvers of different makes. I'd say all but 2 were acquired within the past 5-6 years. Of course I have varied interests and have always been first and foremost a rifleman, enjoy archery hunting and collecting guns off all types really.
Like many, if I wanted a gun, I had to sell a gun for most of my adult life, which thank God I no longer practice but with my late arrival to collecting S&W revolvers, varied gun interests, family and bills, this was the best I could do! Of course I got what I could from the pawnshop (almost all the older revolvers were "off roster" handguns and could only be sold to law enforcement officers in CA, not to the general public).
My brother has all the 38/44 outdoorsman's and heavy duties, which I'd love to have! At the time, while beautiful revolvers, I just didn't see the sense in owning an oversized 38 special! I curse myself now of course! Someday I hope he'll post pics but he'd need a drone!
My list of current revolvers:
S&W 29-3, 28-2, 686-3 Midnight black, 686PC, 581 no dash nickel, 581-1 blue, & model 15-3 department issue.
Non S&W: New model Colt Python, Taurus 992, Ruger Toklat, security six agency commemorative, speed six, LCR, bisley vacquero.
I may own more than some and probably quite a few less than others, but nevertheless it's a start! I won't part with them and will only add to the collection when I'm able and regardless, it's still fun to read and learn about S&W revolvers whether I'm able to acquire them or not (like a registered magnum I recently got on my brother's behalf which was another post of mine and I damn near kept it for myself!)
Attachments
OP
brendonjames65
US Veteran
"Now I'm retired and a die hard collector of these beautiful revolvers that almost speak out to me and the countless enjoyable hours studying the history of them, quite enjoyable."
We need proof..... where's the pictures?
Posted bottom of thread! Sorry!
You did good!
Just a sorta-random thought: the media would say you have an "arsenal" there.
On the other hand, here we would call it "a good start."
Your story is so familiar! Selling to finance my latest gotta-have-that or trading up to the next one. The turning point for me was 2012, when I spent the year on desk duty while I had a series of 5 surgeries. I had one of those AFLAC-style policies that paid me a ton of money for the year, tax-free. Did I use it for bills? Did I gift it to the Mrs. for her household agenda? Heh. NO. I spent 90% on guns and ammo! I have zero regrets, too, other than the usual "Geez, I should have bought that one when I had thee chance!"
Take care!
On the other hand, here we would call it "a good start."
Your story is so familiar! Selling to finance my latest gotta-have-that or trading up to the next one. The turning point for me was 2012, when I spent the year on desk duty while I had a series of 5 surgeries. I had one of those AFLAC-style policies that paid me a ton of money for the year, tax-free. Did I use it for bills? Did I gift it to the Mrs. for her household agenda? Heh. NO. I spent 90% on guns and ammo! I have zero regrets, too, other than the usual "Geez, I should have bought that one when I had thee chance!"
Take care!
Last edited:
Welcome to the group
Enjoy your retirement and your search for the beloved revolver, now consider joining the S&W Collectors Association and really see some rare and special revolvers and meet some really nice folks. Congratulations!
Enjoy your retirement and your search for the beloved revolver, now consider joining the S&W Collectors Association and really see some rare and special revolvers and meet some really nice folks. Congratulations!
I'm better with revolvers than I am with semi-autos. Yet this guy on the now-defunct Kansas forum insisted that that was not true, even though he never met me. Anyone who carried anything other than a Striker-Fired pistol was a fudd, not serious about self-defense, mediocre, or a hobbyist.
Last edited:
Baltimoreed11754
Member
Welcome to the asylum? I am more of a collector of shooters as opposed to a collector of collectibles so if I had the chance to buy a pristine Model ? and a used but not abused Model ? I would get the shooter. I've looked at pistols real hard and put them back down with the thought 'it's too nice.' I do have a couple safe queen's but the rest get shot.
Pretty much the same with me. I am fond of the 32 cartridge and also the Colt Police Positive Special, so in the mid-1990s, I went to Kansas City from Wichita to look at one.
The shopkeeper showed me one of 1965 (by the SN) vintage and it was brand-new in the box. He said that the previous owner had bought the gun new in the 1960s due to the race riots that were happening, stuck it and a single box of 32 S&W in a dresser drawer, and forgot about it for the next 30 years.
When I say brand new, I mean the cylinder had never been turned on it. I wasn't about to shoot that one but I was still wanting a 32 shooter, so I looked around and saw this one at a Wichita pawn shop.
This 1958 model is a shooter; it has an action so smooth, it will put a Python to shame. I also think that it is the best-looking handgun Colt ever made
