Cloudhunter
Member
I've been a member for a few years here, mostly for Lurking the SW history. What a great site for Smith Wesson info, history and serious hobbyists. I haven't posted much but thought I'd share the following.
I retired from LE in 2016, and like many of you, started my interest in firearms in the 70's. One of my summer college jobs was selling guns at a western Michigan sporting goods store. Over the 3 summers I worked there, I remember getting large shipments of guns (40 to 60) that we had to log in and place out on display. We were like kids on Christmas morning. Shipment of pistols were always the best, S & W's and Colt's were most fun.
Remember, in those times, Python's were top dogs, followed by Model 27's (at least for revolvers). Colt Governments and Commanders were it along with Browning High Powers while Model 39s and 59s were gaining in popularity (mostly because they were starting to be issued by a few PDs. Also, 6" barrels were the norm. Anything less was thought of as less accurate. Shows what we knew.
I was in my late teens at the time (for context), and here's what I remember of my thoughts, at that time (by Model), as we unpacked the boxes.:
Model 10's and 12's - I can't believe the number of 10s we sold. It was the Glock 19 of it's time. Everyone bought one. If you wanted a gun at the time, you bought a Model 10. I remember selling 2" and 4" most. We sold pencil barrels and heavy barrels. I never could understand it.
Model 14's and 17's - Those were, and still are beautiful pieces of accuracy. I could never understand (then) why those guns came it with service triggers and hammers with service stocks. Those were thought of as range guns for accuracy.
Model 19's - generally ruled. Model 13's sold as a bargain, fixed sighted version, if you couldn't afford the 19. If my history is correct, by the time I was working, the -4's had replaced the -3's and they were no longer pinned and recessed. Only the N frames were still P & R, but 19's were still the most popular sellers. Full target versions (as they were called then) would always go first like anything with all the "bells and whistles."
Model 27's - Again, 6" were all the craze, 4"ers were for LE, it seemed no one else bought them. In fact, the most popular barrel length among police officers I sold to was the 5" Model 27. Today, I hold that up against a Glock 17 or 19 and laugh. I distinctly remember selling a 3.5" Model 27 and wondered, "what the hell do they want that for?" Clearly, my crystal ball didn't work. We loved unboxing those 27's that came in the big boxes that contained the walnut display case and the corresponding shell box for the pistol. If only......
Model 28's - We sold tons of those, mostly 6"ers. I may get some challenges to this point, but I remember selling at least one brushed stainless version. I could be wrong, but I thought for sure we had one or two over those periods. Also, my memory was that they would sometimes come in with target stocks and sometimes target hammers (never on the same gun) but NOT target triggers. This was something I could never get my head around. It was like the assemblers would put together whatever parts were available.
Model 29's - OMG, when those came in, it was like the holy grail had come into the store. Customers flocked around it and they would never last more that a day. Again, almost all were 6" or 8 3/8s, rarely a 4" but regardless, they would not last more than a day, never a full weekend.
Model 57's and 58's were a curiosity. They sold, but like now, they were always a niche item. I could never understand the 58 (then), but love it now. Again, who knew.
Stainless pistols had established a foothold and had taken over in popularity. 66's always sold before 19's. I don't remember L frames, not until later, and only to compete with Pythons. Being of that era, I hated stainless pistols, even though I understood their place. But, if they were not deep blued and wearing Goncalo Alves, they weren't guns.
Today I laugh at my thoughts then. All I ever wanted was a Model 28 6" and a Browning High Power. I own both today.
Just thought I'd share.
Dan
I retired from LE in 2016, and like many of you, started my interest in firearms in the 70's. One of my summer college jobs was selling guns at a western Michigan sporting goods store. Over the 3 summers I worked there, I remember getting large shipments of guns (40 to 60) that we had to log in and place out on display. We were like kids on Christmas morning. Shipment of pistols were always the best, S & W's and Colt's were most fun.
Remember, in those times, Python's were top dogs, followed by Model 27's (at least for revolvers). Colt Governments and Commanders were it along with Browning High Powers while Model 39s and 59s were gaining in popularity (mostly because they were starting to be issued by a few PDs. Also, 6" barrels were the norm. Anything less was thought of as less accurate. Shows what we knew.
I was in my late teens at the time (for context), and here's what I remember of my thoughts, at that time (by Model), as we unpacked the boxes.:
Model 10's and 12's - I can't believe the number of 10s we sold. It was the Glock 19 of it's time. Everyone bought one. If you wanted a gun at the time, you bought a Model 10. I remember selling 2" and 4" most. We sold pencil barrels and heavy barrels. I never could understand it.
Model 14's and 17's - Those were, and still are beautiful pieces of accuracy. I could never understand (then) why those guns came it with service triggers and hammers with service stocks. Those were thought of as range guns for accuracy.
Model 19's - generally ruled. Model 13's sold as a bargain, fixed sighted version, if you couldn't afford the 19. If my history is correct, by the time I was working, the -4's had replaced the -3's and they were no longer pinned and recessed. Only the N frames were still P & R, but 19's were still the most popular sellers. Full target versions (as they were called then) would always go first like anything with all the "bells and whistles."
Model 27's - Again, 6" were all the craze, 4"ers were for LE, it seemed no one else bought them. In fact, the most popular barrel length among police officers I sold to was the 5" Model 27. Today, I hold that up against a Glock 17 or 19 and laugh. I distinctly remember selling a 3.5" Model 27 and wondered, "what the hell do they want that for?" Clearly, my crystal ball didn't work. We loved unboxing those 27's that came in the big boxes that contained the walnut display case and the corresponding shell box for the pistol. If only......
Model 28's - We sold tons of those, mostly 6"ers. I may get some challenges to this point, but I remember selling at least one brushed stainless version. I could be wrong, but I thought for sure we had one or two over those periods. Also, my memory was that they would sometimes come in with target stocks and sometimes target hammers (never on the same gun) but NOT target triggers. This was something I could never get my head around. It was like the assemblers would put together whatever parts were available.
Model 29's - OMG, when those came in, it was like the holy grail had come into the store. Customers flocked around it and they would never last more that a day. Again, almost all were 6" or 8 3/8s, rarely a 4" but regardless, they would not last more than a day, never a full weekend.
Model 57's and 58's were a curiosity. They sold, but like now, they were always a niche item. I could never understand the 58 (then), but love it now. Again, who knew.
Stainless pistols had established a foothold and had taken over in popularity. 66's always sold before 19's. I don't remember L frames, not until later, and only to compete with Pythons. Being of that era, I hated stainless pistols, even though I understood their place. But, if they were not deep blued and wearing Goncalo Alves, they weren't guns.
Today I laugh at my thoughts then. All I ever wanted was a Model 28 6" and a Browning High Power. I own both today.
Just thought I'd share.
Dan
