One in every finish in every barrel length….

[walter o]

A set of 3,4,5,6,6.5 44 magnum's
A set of 9mm,40,45 chief specials in stainless and black
A set of 2.5,3,4,5,6 model 19 all blue
A set of 3different type of sight stiles of baby chiefs
A set of 3.5,4,5,6 mod 27s
I also have the disease

 

[AlHunt]

A set of 3,4,5,6,6.5 44 magnum's
A set of 9mm,40,45 chief specials in stainless and black
A set of 2.5,3,4,5,6 model 19 all blue
A set of 3different type of sight stiles of baby chiefs
A set of 3.5,4,5,6 mod 27s
I also have the disease

That's not even 2 dozen. You are not doing your part to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals!

Well, me neither, actually. For my part I just have a rambling accumulation of whatever interests me at the moment.

 

[pasound]

I have 5 made before I was born. Three have been shot, two are still safe queens. All the rest made since 1950 are the "which do I shoot next" group. Even if some are pushing 50 years old.

 

[BC38]

Is this a thing that gets most of you guys?
For me it started with Model 29-2 6.5.. had to have a Dirty Harry.
Then, “Well, I always loved the 19 cops gun! Would love that.
Wow, ammo ain’t cheap except 22 LR. Better get a 22… ah. 17 will do it. Cool.
Wait.. there’s a 357 big N frame? Invented before the 19? Oh, I need one of those. Those stainless look cool too. 66 would pair up with my 19 nicely. The 5” 27 looks great though.. got to have a Nickel too. What? A model 25… ACP and 45 colt. Haven’t got a 4” yet. Gotta have this.. I’ll be needing spare grips for that.. and some presentation cases will look cool.. “
And on it goes.
Is this generally how it went with you guys?
There’s an element of OCD.. but also the investment, historical education, definitely a fascination with manufacturing. A massive rabbit hole.
Definitely started with the movies.
Actually going to the range is maybe 15% of the enjoyment for me. I’m too old to really learn new skills and can’t afford the ammo it would take. To get good… it’d take 2-3 hours a day blowing through multiple boxes of centerfield every day.
Thinking out loud and wondering about how the rest of you got into this?

Yeah, no matter what your specific area of interest happens to be, S&W's are addicting.
I started at the opposite end of the S&W spectrum from you.

My first S&W was a Model 36 that I bought from my landlord back in 2013. I joined this forum just to learn more about it.

But in short order I found myself hooked on all things S&W. And here I am, just 11 years later and around 60% of all the guns I own are S&W revolvers or semi-auto pistols.

They are an addiction that will suck you in before you even understand what is happening!

 

[Model29-26.5]

Yeah, no matter what your specific area of interest happens to be, S&W's are addicting.
I started at the opposite end of the S&W spectrum from you.

My first S&W was a Model 36 that I bought from my landlord back in 2013. I joined this forum just to learn more about it.

But in short order I found myself hooked on all things S&W. And here I am, just 11 years later and around 60% of all the guns I own are S&W revolvers or semi-auto pistols.

They are an addiction that will suck you in before you even understand what is happening!

It happened very quickly. I am generally a tight wad and hate spending $$ on stuff I don’t need and will save $$ where I can.
So I’m now spending thousands and thousands on guns.
BUT… they’re worth prettt much why you paid if they’re well looked after.
There’s always one you don’t have…. And when you have already got your priority guns, you want what you don’t have.

 

[bob richardson]

S&W OCD Accumulator

I too have the disease that started with a 29-2 in 1976 or so.Now with 2 safes full and each barrel length ( almost) in 19's,66's,66-1s,27's & 29's.Sold most of the Glocks,Sigs,Rugers,etc...to purchase more Smiths.Just added this month a 327 PC and a 1911SC E-series.The disease can not be cured!

 

[RKmesa]

My addiction started with a Model 19-4. I wanted a Combat Magnum in every barrel length and every engineering configuration and every finish - I never got there, because I discovered the N-Frame 357s! I have always loved the K-22s. Now I primarily focus on 357s (mostly the N-Framed ones), some 38 Spls (Outdoorsmans, K-38 Masterpieces, and Chief Specials), and K-22s... and of course most any well-engraved S&W (especially if it is one of the above) ...

For fun, an engraved long one...





... it is definitely a sickness...

[edited to tame down the illustration]

 

[Model29-26.5]

A absolute supreme collection!! Love it.

 

[Truckman]

I am not sick...I feel just fine...I'll feel even better after I find my next S&W......Ben

 

[BC38]

Is this a thing that gets most of you guys?
For me it started with Model 29-2 6.5.. had to have a Dirty Harry.
Then, “Well, I always loved the 19 cops gun! Would love that.
Wow, ammo ain’t cheap except 22 LR. Better get a 22… ah. 17 will do it. Cool.
Wait.. there’s a 357 big N frame? Invented before the 19? Oh, I need one of those. Those stainless look cool too. 66 would pair up with my 19 nicely. The 5” 27 looks great though.. got to have a Nickel too. What? A model 25… ACP and 45 colt. Haven’t got a 4” yet. Gotta have this.. I’ll be needing spare grips for that.. and some presentation cases will look cool.. “
And on it goes.
Is this generally how it went with you guys?
There’s an element of OCD.. but also the investment, historical education, definitely a fascination with manufacturing. A massive rabbit hole.
Definitely started with the movies.
Actually going to the range is maybe 15% of the enjoyment for me. I’m too old to really learn new skills and can’t afford the ammo it would take. To get good… it’d take 2-3 hours a day blowing through multiple boxes of centerfield every day.
Thinking out loud and wondering about how the rest of you got into this?

Pretty much how my brain as worked ever since I caught "the S&W bug".

But I try really hard to temper it with "is this purchase a good VALUE". That helps me be patient enough to wait for a good buy, rather than buying everything I want RIGHT NOW regardless of price.

For me it started very young. Dads 4” 10-5 hooked me early (like 5 yrs old early). I’m more of an accumulator than collector. I like all things 44 magnum. I’m a bargain hunter. If the price is right I’ll buy most anything.

Same here. My S&Ws outnumber all the other brands combined, but I can't pass up a bargain, regardless of brand or caliber!

 

[BC38]

Mi addiction started with a Model 19-4. Then I discovered the N-Frame 357s and I have always loved the K-22s. Now I primarily focus on 357s (mostly the N-Framed ones), 38 Spls (Outdoorsmans, K-38 Masterpieces, and Chief Specials), and K-22s... and of course most any well-engraved S&W (especially if it is one of the above) ...

Long .357's:



Short .357s:



... and some K-22s



... and for fun, an engraved long one that did not make the above photo...






... it is definitely a sickness...

DUDE! I stand in AWE!

 

[.455_Hunter]

What are you folks planning on happening with your large collections when the time comes? Do you expect your family to want 50 N-frames and 50 K-frames?

 

[Model29-26.5]

I figure they should be prepped and general value of SW types.
Told to check Gunbroker and true value for current trends on value.
The items will be theirs to sell, and over time they might either enjoy selling them, or upon having to deal with looking up values, on different models different finishes and barrel lengths and maybe having a quiet little visit or two to the range before they say goodbye to these items, they either enjoy selling and getting top dollar or maybe even get the SW bug themselves and become a curator/collector?
I would love to think that my wife might come to enjoy them but as of now, she’s more “Really?? Guns, Richard?? They were made to KILL!!”
I’d hope she might eventually come to realize that they are functional art and hardly even get to the range if at all and finally understand why they hold value.

 

[Model29-26.5]

I am not sick...I feel just fine...I'll feel even better after I find my next S&W......Ben

Beautiful collection, Ben. Classic era!
A man after my own heart!

 

[Truckman]

What are you folks planning on happening with your large collections when the time comes? Do you expect your family to want 50 N-frames and 50 K-frames?

Decide who the most suitable caretaker will be now, and make provisions in your will...I did......Ben

 

[jcelect]

Mi addiction started with a Model 19-4. Then I discovered the N-Frame 357s and I have always loved the K-22s. Now I primarily focus on 357s (mostly the N-Framed ones), 38 Spls (Outdoorsmans, K-38 Masterpieces, and Chief Specials), and K-22s... and of course most any well-engraved S&W (especially if it is one of the above) ...

Long .357's:



Short .357s:



... and some K-22s



... and for fun, an engraved long one that did not make the above photo...






... it is definitely a sickness...

I bet the front door to his house is a vault door!

 

[raljr1]

What are you folks planning on happening with your large collections when the time comes? Do you expect your family to want 50 N-frames and 50 K-frames?

Rkmesa and I have discussed this, and while my collection pales in comparison, we both have made sure that our families know the value and also know that you can't dump these all on the market at the same time. Richard's collection would take years to sell at maximum value. Mine, a couple months

 

[jcelect]

Collections?

For those of us with a sizeable collection and in the old age group, a possible solution is to take all your firearms and put them into a Trust Fund! In doing this you are able to control the disposition of your collection after you are gone and it allows you to buy, sell, and trade while you are still on the right side of the sod! My Trust Fund is set up with the chain of succession of the executors and multiple suggestion for the sale and or gifts of the collection!
jcelect

 

[BC38]

What are you folks planning on happening with your large collections when the time comes? Do you expect your family to want 50 N-frames and 50 K-frames?

As I see it there are two possible answers to this question.
1) I'm dead and I no longer care, or
2) I want my heirs to get the most they can out of what I left them as an inheritance

In reality, option #1 is absolutely and objectively true.
When you've left this mortal existence, whatever your heirs do with your "stuff" is beyond your control and something you will no longer care about.

As I see it, option #2, is certainly a noble desire, BUT, it is just that - a desire. We all want our heirs to get the maximum benefit from what we accumulated during our lifetimes. But, they may not. They may choose to sell off what we treasured cheaply.

That choice is up to them. We can try to spell out our desires in our wills, but ultimately, what happens to the wealth we accumulated in our lifetimes isn't up to us. It is up to those who follow us.

But at least we will be beyond caring about it at that point.

JMO....

 

[dbracin]

As I get more “experienced “, I am at that place where I need to decide what to do with those things that I care about that I am afraid my family doesn’t feel the same way about. While not as large a collection as above, but still large enough to raise eyebrows, what is next is the question we all must ask ourselves.