IDEA: Distributor-Like Revolver Group Buy???

[HarrishMasher]

You know how S&W does a special run of a revolver that Lew Horton, Camfour, or Talo requests. They make like 500 to a 1000 of them.

Why can't the "S&W Revolvers 1980 to Present Forum" place a special distributor style order with S&W? We could create two or three model options and take a vote and get 500 to 1000 members to choose and order a style.

We would choose:
-A Caliber
-Frame Material (i.e., steel or scandium)
-Cylinder Material (i.e., steel or scandium)
-Color (i.e., black or silver)
-Frame type (i.e., J,K,L, or N)
-Type of sights (i.e., XS Big Dot, C&S U Notch extreme duty)
-Misc (hammer type, trigger type, no internal lock, etc)

Put two or three of these revolver concepts together and vote to choose one.

Another option could be to resurrect a discontinued model like a 65 LadySmith, or a 396 Night Guard?

Another option...choose a current model with special features/options?

Another option...resurrect a discontinued model with a different frame type, like a Thunder Ranch 22 45ACP with a scandium frame?


Would a distributor style order for 500 to 1000 revolvers be possible? Would S&W accommodate this? Don't they do special runs for agencies domestic and abroad? Wouldn't this be exactly the same type of situation?

I would think S&W would do this. The hardest part I would imagine would be coming up with a choice that everyone could agree on. What do you guys think? I am willing to help organize this in a significant way.

 

[robertrwalsh]

It would work. A union I was with before I retired did a commemorative batch of Model 10s. They were offered in 2", 3" and 4", nickle or blue, square or round butt. The total order was about 4,000 pieces, the largest private party purchase Smith had ever contracted for at that time. As I recall they wanted significant front money. I think it is a good idea in general, though the specifics might be a bear to work out. I would guess they will still do it, for a firm order with a significant down payment. Business is business and revolvers are still politically correct.

 

[PatriotX]

Sounds like a neat idea.

A cool L or N frame would fit in my collection nicely.

 

[bobf]

I would participate. Maybe S/N prefix SWF for S&W Forum or something similar.


Bob

 

[qballwill]

From what I have read, they do custom orders with a minimum of 500 pieces.
Other than the obvious issue of gettin 500 people to agree on a particular gun for this buy, I think payment would be another issue. I would imagine S&W would want the money from a single entity rather than 500 individuals. You would probably need to set up a single bank account and have the participants money put there so it comes from one place, but who would be in charge of it?

Now if you could overcome those obstacles, I think it is a great idea.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I like it.

If we didn't get too, too over the top fancy the gun might be affordable for a lot of people, too.

The key is the distribution. The union that did this, as noted above, likely had a member with an FFL to handle distribution - that's a key ingredient.

Suppose, after a successful thread on the subject, we have 1000 Forum members who agree to buy this one gun. Let's suppose we ask S&W to make a run of 3" HB Model 10s, either as +P guns or even .357 Magnum guns (remember, they did do that once, in a 4" version), just as one example. Then what?

That's a 1000 gun order - how do we organize paying for it? Let's suppose the gun is going to be sold at a distributor price to all of us. Do we send money to S&W or to one FFL holder in the group? Then he delivers the money to S&W, S&W delivers the guns to him, and he ships them out across the country? I'm pretty sure that's how Lew Horton would do it, or Talo, right?

That takes a lot of time, organization, and manpower. If someone has the ability to organize that, well, then we've got a special order coming that will get its own chapter in the next SCSW. Maybe the gun even comes with special markings, like:

Smith & Wesson Forum - 2014

With serial numbers from SWF0001 through SWF1000.

Very cool.

***GRJ***

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Ha! I se as I typed that that I was not alone in my thinking. Good job, guys!

***GRJ***

 

[HarrishMasher]

From what I have read, they do custom orders with a minimum of 500 pieces.
Other than the obvious issue of gettin 500 people to agree on a particular gun for this buy, I think payment would be another issue. I would imagine S&W would want the money from a single entity rather than 500 individuals. You would probably need to set up a single bank account and have the participants money put there so it comes from one place, but who would be in charge of it?

Now if you could overcome those obstacles, I think it is a great idea.

These are clearly the obstacles. But I think they can be overcome. It would be a fun project to work on. I have seen similar things done on other gun forums. Quite a few times on AR15.com and others. But ARs are a lot easier to put together and customize. Creating a revolver is much more of an art than slapping together a modular rifle.

Let's see what kind of response we get here and maybe I will set up an email account and try to get 500+ people on board and go from there. Try to collect suggestions etc. We will see.

 

[Waywatcher]

Sounds awesome. I think .44 S&W Special would be the perfect caliber for this venture, for a variety of reasons!

 

[qballwill]

I am interested and agree that the obstacles can be overcome.
A model 25 45ACP with a 3 inch barrel. The 3" 625 is very sought after, I think a blued version would be bad ***. It looks like Lew Horton had a run of 100 of these back in 1977.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Could someone find a "Distributor" to take orders w/ down payment ..... who would then place the order with S&W?

A "Lew Horton/S&W Forum Special".........


I'd like to see a 3" Model 65 NL ( non marked Ladysmith) ..... like the 3913NL....feed our need for 3" K-Frames.

 

[Tom_R]

OK - who is in charge of collecting the first $40,000 that S&W will want as a down payment?

How do we get agreement on Caliber and Barrel length?

Which Grip manufacturer can turn around 500 - 1000 sets of nice wood grips with medallions? (Because people will want those - not GoodYears)

Not saying it can't be done. Anything can be done, but it will take A LOT of consensus building and organization.

Does the person that is in charge of this make any money for their time and effort, or do they just get to pay for a new gun and a lot of headaches?

 

[Tom_R]

Anyway, I am interested in nominating a run of a 3" 586 Round Butt with 7 Shot capability and Rosewood or Cocobolo Boot Grips with Medallions.

 

[perfectcircle1]

Since so many of us use ahrends I think they would be an obvious choice by most

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

If it was priced fairly I'd put my order in for a blued 357 Mag K frame, with 3 inch slab sided barrel, target hammer, target sights, recessed cylinder, no internal lock, and wood RB combat grip.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Would be cool. I think a 3" k or L frame with no lock and wood grips would be the easiest to agree on.

A L-frame 10mm would be nice though!

 

[HarrishMasher]

I think 3" barrel is a definite. 44 Special, 45 ACP, and 357/38 are no doubt the front runners. I'm sure we can all agree thus far.

I'm sure things will get pretty sticky after that. But I'm sure we can figure it out.

Maybe it is best to approach Lew Horton or Talo and place the order with them and send them the money individually. Let's get the price from S&W and they can mark it up 5%-10% for their effort.

I would have no problem pitiching this to Talo or someone and be the group liaison with the distributor.

 

[15Krounds]

I have yet to buy my first revolver, but I like the idea of first putting together three options to vote on. I'll vote and even if we were a few short I'm sure it wouldn't be long before we got enough people to join in with the group buy and have enough to place the order. It will be a long process, maybe years to accomplish.

Yes, much work and headaches for the organizer. I'd be willing to chip in 1-3% extra to donate for the cause. If everyone did it would buy the organizers pistol.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I have yet to buy my first revolver, but I like the idea of first putting together three options to vote on. I'll vote and even if we were a few short I'm sure it wouldn't be long before we got enough people to join in with the group buy and have enough to place the order. It will be a long process, maybe years to accomplish.

Yes, much work and headaches for the organizer. I'd be willing to chip in 1-3% extra to donate for the cause. If everyone did it would buy the organizers pistol.

Somebody works that hard, yep, I'd give him a free gun, Serial Number 0001.

***GRJ***

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Limited editions do have panache!

I think 3" barrel is a definite. 44 Special, 45 ACP, and 357/38 are no doubt the front runners. I'm sure we can all agree thus far.

It occurs to me that a Forum poll would be the way to go, maybe more than one. One for caliber, one for frame, one for barrel length (easy one there, 3" will win).

I'm sure things will get pretty sticky after that. But I'm sure we can figure it out.

That's why I think a poll would help. A lot of things can be ironed out by voting.

Maybe it is best to approach Lew Horton or Talo and place the order with them and send them the money individually. Let's get the price from S&W and they can mark it up 5%-10% for their effort.

An excellent idea - then no single person has to do the work - let professionals handle it - on one condition - okay, maybe they can't do this - but I was going to say restrict buyers to Forum folks. That might be impossible, I am not sure.

I would have no problem pitiching this to Talo or someone and be the group liaison with the distributor.

Cool.

***GRJ***