S&W Revolver Bug!

Bongos17150

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In my collecting of various firearms in the last 20 or so years; I've gotten into many, I mean many different type of collecting bug. From the AWs in the 1980-90's, to the 1911s, then into Snipers Rifles, and now the old school revolvers. I've always had a small 38 special from my CCW days of South Dakota. But lately, I find myself drawn to Revolvers, it started with a S&W 460 Mag curiousity, found one at a great price a year ago, and haven't stop since. Since that time, I've acquired two S&W29-3, two S&W629-3, Colt Trooper MKIII, and S&W14-1. I find revolver just stupidly Cool. I guess, I've had enough with all the AR and Sniper rifles and needs to come back to just basics. Now that said in my years of collecting... the 1911 bug tends to return once every 5 or so years... don't know why, it just does. Well here is my Favorite, it's the S&W14-1; got it from a retired LEO, he said he didn't shoot it much and the wear is from taking it out every night to unload it, then load it morning and back in the holster it goes for duty, it shows it too, but it's tight and also the most fun to shoot. Sure I like all of my other ones which are in mint condition, but for some reason , I just like this one! Oh, I changed the grips as I like the hogue for plinking.
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welcome to the group.

collecting S&W revolvers is a weakness for which there is no cure. Just enjoy the habit and admire your revolvers.
 
S&W Bug

Bongos, I recognize what you're going through. This past July I purchased my first S&W revolver; a nice mod 15-3 with TH & TT in good shooter condition. At age 67 I thought this one revolver would satisfy my desire to own a handgun and get on the range every so often - giving me something to do when the fishing is poor. Two weeks later I found a great deal on a nickel plated Mod 10-6 with 4" heavy barrel. A couple of weeks later I see on line a fellow in Daytona Beach advertising his desire to sell FTF a truly cherry Mod 36 he carried as a backup when on the DB force. I met him and bought his little 2" J frame. By now I'm getting the urge to add a .357 and .22 - so much for the one gun. In the ensuing two months I've added a pre Mod 17 6" for a long barrel and a really nice Mod 65-3; a 3 incher for another short barrel and the sought after .357, then a Mod 14 with 8 & 3/8 barrel and just recently a Mod 586-4 with 6" barrel. Seems every time I get on this forum I get a craving.

My wife is starting to get a little concerned about addiction so I've put myself on a moratorium for additional acquisitions; at least until next year. I showed her some of the pictures I've seen on here of some most impressive collections. She thinks its silly; you can't wear 'em.

Would one of you guys please buy that beautiful Mod 681 that is for sale on the forum below.
 
Would one of you guys please buy that beautiful Mod 681 that is for sale on the forum below.

Thanks for the encouragement! I would love to buy that 681 but unfortunately, I'm in CA, so i can only buy guns which are already in the State or on an approve Handgun Roster. So basically anything newer with the lock. I try to shop for the prelocks locally, been having great luck with 1980's-1990's guns, not so much the older one, my 14-1 is the oldest from the early 1960's. I'm on the lookout for a 18, 19, 66, 586, or 686 since I've satisfied my N and X frames, I just really like the balance of the K frame of the 14.
 
Welcome to the addiction and I'm also 67 and I've been down the track a few times buying different types of firearms. I'm a hunter so my early quest was for quality rifles and shotguns. Then in 1981 I bought my first handgun a 686 no dash

with 6 inch barrel. I shot the living tar out of it and then I bought a semi auto and go the bug, then 1911 phase, then the Sig phase, and now back to the S&W revolver phase.

It's been a great ride and a lot of fun along the way meeting great people and enjoying the hobby for what it is a good ride. That said, in you quest I wish you well because with S&W there is always another one to want or even lust after. If you want a 357 magnum at 67 and I have many I think your shoulld get a Model 28 4 inch or a model 27 5 inch only because the 4 inch is fairly rare and the 3.5 inch is currently a darling getting very high prices.

The Model 18 is also a great piece as I have two of them and of my 22LR revolvers they are special. I really do love the Model 17 and 14 and my most accurate 22 is my Model 17-4 with 8 3/8 inch barrel. It thinks it's a rifle it's that accurate and I wish I was accurate as that gun is.

Anyway good luck in your S&W quest and may you find what you are looking for.
 
The cool thing about S&W revolvers are that there are SO many variations of them! Lots of caliber choices, a few different frame sizes and most all of them come in a selection of finishes and barrel lengths. I'll bet you'll find at least 2 or 3 of them that you'll really enjoy.
 
Great gun. I really enjoyed the pictures.

Paul

Thanks Paul and all for the encouragement. I kinda bought the 14-1 by shear luck, what happened was I loaded 1000 rounds of 38 spl close to the max per manual (not hard to do on a Dillon XL650), at the time, I only had my S&W airweight snubby to shoot; well, the first time out, the snubby really buckle..Recoil in a uncomfortable way.... which means I had a decision to make, disassemble 995 rounds or get a new gun like a 357 mag. The next day, I happen by chance to come across one in a craigslist add, all it said was S&W 38 Spl for $325, thinking it was another snubby, I passed on the add but a few days later with no luck looking at the gun stores for a full size gun in my price range (didnt want to pay more than $300-$400), I decided to call the add, a nice old man answered (in his 70's-80's) and said he could not find the model number but said it was a 4" 38 spl S&W revolver, I said how old is it, he told me it was his duty weapon back in the 60's. Anywho, he said if i meet his price he will throw in some ammo. We met at the store and for the paperwork, though it says 14-1, I can see why it was hard for the man to read it as it was very small, and a 6" barrel to boot, he gave a couple of boxes of police issued Winchester Super-X 148gr WC ammo, even has his name written on the box (I guess from that Era). The gun had extensive holster wear, but since I was looking for a full size shooter, I didn't care, plus he was a nice guy whom can really use the money.

When I took it out for a go, at 35yards it was dead on, 50 yards with slight elevation of the front sight to compensate.. no problems on the 12" plates (2 out of 6 on the 4" targets), I even lob a few at the 100 yard pig and was tagging it 3-4 out of 6 rounds, I havent group it yet but plan on doing it soon.

I was thinking of re-blueing it but since it's a shooter, the character kinda looks cool!
 
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Welcome to S&W revolver therapy 101.

My problem is I have an early Smith, Ruger SA and Colt SA addiction all going on at the same time! And anything else that 'hooks' me in!
 
Collecting S&W revolvers is a lot like eating potato chips. You can never stop at just one. Welcome to the club!
 
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