History of the Talo Series 3-5-7

[Jalopiejoe]

I am trying to find the history of my 3-5-7 to see if it was issued as a Talo Edition?
I know that after a few years Smith and Wesson and Talo ended their relationship!
I believe the Talo 3-5-7 Series started in 2010.
Mine was manufactured in July 2012, serial #CTE3384
model #150853 3" barrel.
I believe the only things special about the Talo Series is the unfluted cylinder, the black/silver 3-5-7 grips
and the 3", 5" or7" barrel length.
The Talo Series proved to be popular and Smith and Wesson continues to produce this gun today dropping the Talo relationship!
I'm trying to find out if my particular gun is early enough to qualify as a
Talo Edition!
Thanks for your help!

 

[oldman10mm]

The Smith & Wesson/Talo partnership ended at the end of 2016.

 

[scruffy]

You have a TALO. Mine is a S&W. Same gun. Love mine, but changed the grips to a Pac Compac Pro.

 

[Jalopiejoe]

Are the Smith and Wesson/Talo
blue boxes marked as Talo??
Or are they the standard box?

 

[oldman10mm]

I'm curious too. If someone has a pre-2016 686+ Talo with the box, post up a pic of the label.

 

[reddogs]

The seven inch model must be rare never ran across one.

 

[oldman10mm]

I've seen all 3 versions at the gun shows here in Ohio.
The 5" is popular because of the balance of the 5". They typically go at a slight premium in price, +50-100 over list.
The 3" commands the highest premium, +200-300, because of the 3".
The 7" because very few people desire them sell at near list price.

I had a Talo 5", great shooter.

 

[Jalopiejoe]

I'm curious too. If someone has a pre-2016 686+ Talo with the box, post up a pic of the label.

I can't seem to post a picture!
But, the box says nothing about Talo and this box is from 2012!

 

[oldman10mm]

The current SKUs' are 3" 150853, 5" 150854, 7" 150855. What's the SKU on your box ?

 

[scruffy]

Mine was in a plain S&W blue plastic box with SKU 150853. Shoots great with 3.75 lb trigger pull in single action and smooth as silk DA. OP, you're gonna love it.

 

[Jalopiejoe]

The current SKUs' are 3" 150853, 5" 150854, 7" 150855. What's the SKU on your box ?

150853 for 3" in 2012!
I don't think the SKUs' ever changed, I just posted a thumbnail of my box label!

 

[oldman10mm]

They didn't change the SKU number, why change a good thing. 3" & 5" & 7" 686+ 7 shot with unfluted cylinders were unusual runs for S&W. They would make them for Talo and I guess they were selling well. 686+ 7 shot were typically 4" and 6" so they had a customer base that wanted 686+ 7 shot in 3", 5", & 7". S&W built the guns for Talo, sold to Talo at distributor pricing,so S&W made some money(profit) and Talo made some money(profit). Reasons unknown why the Talo relationship ended.

 

[Jalopiejoe]

They didn't change the SKU number, why change a good thing. 3" & 5" & 7" 686+ 7 shot with unfluted cylinders were unusual runs for S&W. They would make them for Talo and I guess they were selling well. 686+ 7 shot were typically 4" and 6" so they had a customer base that wanted 686+ 7 shot in 3", 5", & 7". S&W built the guns for Talo, sold to Talo at distributor pricing,so S&W made some money(profit) and Talo made some money(profit). Reasons unknown why the Talo relationship ended.

Thanks! Good to know!
But, I would still like to know if my gun made in July of 2012 is a Talo Edition of this gun?
I think so?

 

[oldman10mm]

It is, there were no other 686+ 7 shot unfluted cylinder made other than for Talo.
The 'Talo' version does not command much of an additional premium price compared to 'after Talo' versions, only to someone that wants a Talo. Other than serial numbers, they're identical. What S&W made for Talo they now make for S&W. I can't speak of QC of the 'after Talo' versions compared to Talo versions.

 

[Jalopiejoe]

It is, there were no other 686+ 7 shot unfluted cylinder made other than for Talo.
The 'Talo' version does not command much of an additional premium price compared to 'after Talo' versions, only to someone that wants a Talo. Other than serial numbers, they're identical. What S&W made for Talo they now make for S&W. I can't speak of QC of the 'after Talo' versions compared to Talo versions.

So you are saying the 'after Talo' version came to be at the end of 2016?
My 2012 Talo has a superb fit and finish but the trigger wasn't so good. My Gunsmith took care of that, it's smooth and crisp now!

 

[lihpster]

From Talo's website with a copyright of 2014.
"Any of these S&W models produced in the last 3 years are not official Talo models."

 

[oldman10mm]

here's from another site.
Smith & Wesson Re-Labels TALO Edition Firearms as Their Own -The Firearm Blog

 

[Jalopiejoe]

I'm still confused by lihpster's post!
That makes it sound like 2011 was the cutoff for the Talo 3-5-7?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I'm still confused by lihpster's post!

Yes, me, too, but I think my 3" 686+ is just that and not a Talo. Same for my 2.5" and 4".

 

[lihpster]

I'm still confused by lihpster's post!

Yeah. I'm not sure whether that copyright date is for that statement or the website as a whole. Just putting it out there as information. Whether it's helpful information, I don't know. If it is for that statement, then it would appear they were only "official" for one year and that doesn't sound right. But I'm just a heavily armed redneck, what do I know?
I just ordered a 150853. Pick it up on the 9TH. I don't care one whit that it's not a Talo. I'm just happy as a clam to own one.