I started collecting Smiths in the last couple of years. I have a model 18-no dash, pre-27, model 19-3, model 34-1. The pre-27 has the nicest fit and finish by far and is my favorite to shoot. However, the prewar guns that I have handled look to have the finest craftsmanship I have yet to see. For my next purchase, should I be looking for a prewar gun?
Should I get a prewar revolver?
- Thread starter petehm
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I can't tell you what to buy. You have to decide what appeals to you.
So far your collection sounds pretty eclectic, not concentrated on any one particular model or era. It seems like you want a bit of everything. Nothing wrong with that.
Buy what you desire. It's America, dammit. You don't need anyone's approval to get what makes you happy nor do you need to defend your choices.
So far your collection sounds pretty eclectic, not concentrated on any one particular model or era. It seems like you want a bit of everything. Nothing wrong with that.
Buy what you desire. It's America, dammit. You don't need anyone's approval to get what makes you happy nor do you need to defend your choices.
peepaw
Member
Since you are already looking and admiring a few, I would guess that inside you already want one. Good thing about some of the older guns they can be had in excellent condition for a lot less than some of the later models.
I say get at least one, maybe five.
I say get at least one, maybe five.
Maximumbob54
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
- Messages
- 7,202
- Reaction score
- 1,928
There has been a .357 Magnum for sale near me for a while now, but I think they want too much for it. Soooo.... I have asked myself the same question for the same reason. If it doesn't move and money starts growing in my pocket at some point it may come home with me, but not until then. But it sure is an instant reminder of the amazing work that gave S&W their good name.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I started off collecting the surplus military rifles and handguns. I did get my C&RFFL03 collectors license. For $30 for 3 years its the best thing i ever did but not good for my wallet or charge card.(kidding).
As my surplus rifle collection has rounded out with a few goodies to shoot and play with. Next the C&R handguns caught my eye. Now after a longtime not buying anything with the new grandson arriving i began picking up the turn of the century (late 1800's to early 1900's) 22cal pump rifles. Then i got into the falling block and rolling block single shot 22 rifles plus the bolt actions too. I'm liking the turn of the century guns now more and more lately. I may grab a few older revolvers next.
My point is we only pass this way once and don't get a second chance so go for the gusto now. There's plenty of the older revolvers out there still. Wether you want the black powder stuff or the early center fire ones. I like seeing the older ones together to see how they evolved thru the many years too.
Go with your gut feeling and get what you like. Bill
BTW; I'm still after the new S&W N frame revolvers too I want them all.
Plus we can't really put a price on the older stuff too because there not being manufactured anymore. If the price is reasonable and it looks good its mine. If you see it and want it buy it right away before someone else does. Go by your first gut feeling. If i second guess it i pass. Remember with the older stuff its price vs condition too. The bore and the cylinder timing is the most important thing to me and the finish is last. If its in good condition and a looker buy it.
As my surplus rifle collection has rounded out with a few goodies to shoot and play with. Next the C&R handguns caught my eye. Now after a longtime not buying anything with the new grandson arriving i began picking up the turn of the century (late 1800's to early 1900's) 22cal pump rifles. Then i got into the falling block and rolling block single shot 22 rifles plus the bolt actions too. I'm liking the turn of the century guns now more and more lately. I may grab a few older revolvers next.
My point is we only pass this way once and don't get a second chance so go for the gusto now. There's plenty of the older revolvers out there still. Wether you want the black powder stuff or the early center fire ones. I like seeing the older ones together to see how they evolved thru the many years too.
Go with your gut feeling and get what you like. Bill
BTW; I'm still after the new S&W N frame revolvers too I want them all.
Plus we can't really put a price on the older stuff too because there not being manufactured anymore. If the price is reasonable and it looks good its mine. If you see it and want it buy it right away before someone else does. Go by your first gut feeling. If i second guess it i pass. Remember with the older stuff its price vs condition too. The bore and the cylinder timing is the most important thing to me and the finish is last. If its in good condition and a looker buy it.
Last edited:
M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
In a way you might call this model 1917 a post/pre-war, since it was made in 1919. They are getting hard to find, but look through the threads and you'll see there's some great examples still around. There's a lot of amazing examples, but for me, no collection would be complete, even in it's beginning stage without a model 1917. The fact that S&W now makes a retro model should tell you something, and every time you hear someone laugh about the idea of auto cartridges working in revolvers, you can show them a ninety four year old designed S&W that is still popular, works extremely well and still made (albeit in an altered form) even today. My 1917, even ninety two years later, shoots and performs as well as my newest, although it looks a little rough. Even the Brazilians are great collectibles, but all are getting harder to find, as few want to get rid of them. For instance, I will never sell mine!
Attachments
Big Lou
Member
Yes....They're not making them anymore.
Museum grade or shooter grade. It doesn't matter if the price is right.
Plus they ain't going get any cheaper.
Go for it.
Vulcan Bob
Member
I would say yes, along with fine craftsmanship you just cant beat the feel of a well used old S&W, can you say smooth?!
A nice old long-action pre-war) Military & Police revolver can often be found in mint or near condition for not too much money if you have time and patience. They may not be a sexy target model but are beautifully fitted and finished and fun to shoot occasionally if the one you find isn't TOO nice. A 5" one is particularly sweet.
And I sometimes see 38/44 Heavy Dutys from before the war reasonably priced ('tho not so much recently).
Good luck.
And I sometimes see 38/44 Heavy Dutys from before the war reasonably priced ('tho not so much recently).
Good luck.
scott625b
Member
Which war are you referring to? Civil War, WWI or WWII. Each era has its own unique traits. If you are a member of the Nonmimlock tribe, then any revolver made by S&W before 1985 may be what you need.
Since I have a bias toward five-screw revolvers (prewar and postwar up to 1957), I would certainly recommend that you consider an older revolver. But I think the proper way to do it is to evaluate your collection, determine what caliber and barrel length you would like to add, and see if something like that is available from prewar production. I don't know if you would want to add a .44 or .45 to your collection, but if you do the suggestion of a 1917 is a good one. You should also keep your eye out for a .44 Hand Ejector, either second model or third. (I'm not excluding the First Model, or Triple Lock, but they are potentially more expensive than the other two.)
If you would like another .38 or .22, there are certainly some fine options available for the .38 in K and N frames, and for a .22 in I and K frames. Your current .22s have shorter barrels, and this could be an opportunity for you to pick up a K-22 Outdoorsman (mfd. 1931-1939) with a six-inch barrel.
If you are at all interested in .32s, the I-frame .32 Hand Ejectors and Regulation Police models are still affordable compared to other old guns. K-frame .32-20s are available at reasonable prices, but K-frames in .32 Long are pearls beyond price.
In summary, my advice is not to buy any prewar gun just because of its age. Decide what type of gun you'd like next, then go find a prewar version of it.
If you would like another .38 or .22, there are certainly some fine options available for the .38 in K and N frames, and for a .22 in I and K frames. Your current .22s have shorter barrels, and this could be an opportunity for you to pick up a K-22 Outdoorsman (mfd. 1931-1939) with a six-inch barrel.
If you are at all interested in .32s, the I-frame .32 Hand Ejectors and Regulation Police models are still affordable compared to other old guns. K-frame .32-20s are available at reasonable prices, but K-frames in .32 Long are pearls beyond price.
In summary, my advice is not to buy any prewar gun just because of its age. Decide what type of gun you'd like next, then go find a prewar version of it.
do NOT buy a pre-war Smith & Wesson... okay?
Okay, stop your sniveling and wipe your nose... I suppose one more collector out there won't be that big a deal.
But you owe me one, big time.
No. Not under any circumstances. Absolutely not. I've just started collecting pre-war N-frame revolvers, and there is already way to much competition out there. There are a lot of other things you could collect, like... uh... well... um...
Okay, stop your sniveling and wipe your nose... I suppose one more collector out there won't be that big a deal.
But you owe me one, big time.
And so my fellow S&W Forum members:
. . . Ask not whether you should get a Pre-War revolver. . .
. . . Ask what Pre-War revolver you should get
Last edited:
Charlie Foxtrott
Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2009
- Messages
- 1,260
- Reaction score
- 2,109
If you are asking the question.
Then the answer may come to you in short order.
Then the answer may come to you in short order.
keith44spl
Member
Wells, if'n I had it to do all over again...
I would not start at the bottom of the entry level, oh no.
I'd go ahead and bite the bullet and get myself a really nice shooter grade mid 30s Registered Magnum
and enjoy ownin/shootin it the rest of my days.
When ya have the very best of the pre-war S&Ws...It holds back the wantin for some thing else.
If'n I had only taken this same advise 40 years ago...I would not have missed out on all those decades of enjoyment.
Su Amigo,
Dave
I would not start at the bottom of the entry level, oh no.
I'd go ahead and bite the bullet and get myself a really nice shooter grade mid 30s Registered Magnum
and enjoy ownin/shootin it the rest of my days.
When ya have the very best of the pre-war S&Ws...It holds back the wantin for some thing else.
If'n I had only taken this same advise 40 years ago...I would not have missed out on all those decades of enjoyment.
Su Amigo,
Dave
Last edited:
rburg
Member
Why do you want a gun? You've already got more than you need. The new guns cost a bundle, but the old ones are getting really expensive. Of course history has shown the old ones just keep going up in value, while new production guns tend to go down in value for the first 10 or 20 years.
So say you're old like me or my fellow collectors. If you keep the gun for 10 or more years, the old one will probably go up in value starting immediately. But its your choice. I'd prefer less competition, so I don't mind you not buying one.
So say you're old like me or my fellow collectors. If you keep the gun for 10 or more years, the old one will probably go up in value starting immediately. But its your choice. I'd prefer less competition, so I don't mind you not buying one.
Well heck yeah, you should get a prewar revolver. I didn't start out collecting S&W's, it just happened that after accumulating three examples over many years - 640-1, 29-6 Classic, pre-27 - I got the bug. Since then I've been in the hunt for late prewar, transitional, and early premodel N frames.
What floats my boat on prewar N frames is the rich carbona blue, tapered barrels, huge medallions on magna stocks, humpback hammers, and the detent in the crane that requires a little extra push to unlock the cylinder. And "Made in U.S.A." of course. These features all come together to elevate the prewar N frame to a level of industrial art and quality of craftsmanship seldom seen in modern production firearms.
So, yes, get a prewar S&W, get a couple. One to shoot and one to admire and show.
What floats my boat on prewar N frames is the rich carbona blue, tapered barrels, huge medallions on magna stocks, humpback hammers, and the detent in the crane that requires a little extra push to unlock the cylinder. And "Made in U.S.A." of course. These features all come together to elevate the prewar N frame to a level of industrial art and quality of craftsmanship seldom seen in modern production firearms.
So, yes, get a prewar S&W, get a couple. One to shoot and one to admire and show.
OP
Thanks for all the replies!
From all the examples I've handled, their actions feel like custom jobs, just smooth as silk. Also, the quality of the revolvers from the 30s and early 40s seem to represent S&Ws best manufacturing.
I'm on the hunt for a K22 Outdoorsman!
From all the examples I've handled, their actions feel like custom jobs, just smooth as silk. Also, the quality of the revolvers from the 30s and early 40s seem to represent S&Ws best manufacturing.
I'm on the hunt for a K22 Outdoorsman!
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
