Dog N Gun,
I'm not sure what you mean by real collectors when asking your question. There are many types and many levels of collectors. If you collect the old guns to shoot, then finish doesn't mean much. Most collectors will try to clean their guns up if it won't impact the surrounding finish. $150 is a great price to me for any working S&W safety hammerless. I wouldn't be so eager though to pay $300 for one if the finish is rough at all. They won't shoot any better than the $ 150 dollar one, and to me they aren't really collector grade.
If your asking what each of us who reply would do with the guns you mention, I can tell you how I approach it.
I don't buy the old top breaks or tip ups to shoot. I have several that are well messaged that I shoot occasionally, but I don't consider them collector grade. To me it really depends on the scarcity and condition of the gun. With the exception of the 1st model 32 double action top break (30 produced by the factory) most top break 32s were made in such large numbers that unless they have some special feature or are special order or engraved, I don't even consider them for my safe if they have small spots of rust or corrosion. For some reason though, I really like early serial numbered guns and will pay a premium for an early 1st year of production top break even if it has some wear. Some people don't think early serial number guns are any thing special. Really it is what ever floats your boat.
I have more of the old lemon squeezers than any normal person (read that non gun person) would consider sane. I have stopped buying them though except for the afore mentioned early production guns, 1st model 38s, and special order and engraved guns. They made to many of the standard cataloged type for me to own them all, so I just gave up. I have learned to set myself specific goals and unless there is a special feature to a gun I ignore the more common variations.
Everyone collects for a differant reason and with differant goals. I do belive that most people who collect the old revolvers go through differant phases though and kind of evolve and change their goals as they work their way through the old guns. Most figure out what really interests them before too long.
As an example, I really like collecting the boxes to go with my old Smith and Wesson antiques. I pick out certain ones and hunt for them as eagerly as I do for the guns that go in them. For quite a while now I have been looking for one of the old wooden boxes that Smith & Wesson sold as an accessory with the 1st model 32 single action centerfires, also I'd like to obtain an early 38 double action box. I know there are some out there, and eventually I'll find them. It is sort of like a treasure hunt. For me, approaching it like that means that I don't get tired of collecting, I always have something to look for.
I didn't set out to write all of that when I started my reply. Oh well, If it was too long winded I apologise, but you probably should have quit before you got this far.
Mark
