The 12 Revolvers

I have the "Outnumbered" 27-5 myself. I didn't buy it for a collectible, but rather as a very reasonably priced shooter. I got it unfired off GB for $700 plus shipping with box and tools. It also has a recessed cylinder, which I find to be much more aesthetically pleasing than the non-recessed cylinder with that big ugly gap between cylinder and recoil shield. It shoots like a dream and I also love the gold bead patridge sight on it and I've actually bought 2 of them for my 629-3 Classic and my 627 Pro which have the quick change sight system.

If you can get a good deal on them, they are worth buying. But don't go into them thinking of them as an investment because I just can't see it happening.
 
I guess they did this before concealed carry really took off, not one snubby, J-frame or kit gun in the group. I cannot think of many people who would be interested in picking up a dozen new full size revolvers.
 
Desirable guns all - at the right price, but I don't think many folks will buy the "set". When was the last time that you bought 12 revolvers in a transaction. If there were a market, why would it have stopped after 1990?
 
Word is maybe 200 complete sets of 12 were produced.. A seller broke

up a set and sold them individually on Auction Arms last year l think

They were all unfired... The Wood grips impressed me the most...

Memory says all went for between $700-$800... l don't remember any

bidder winning more than one
 
clang444 said:
There's something about laser engraving that reminds me of pressed wood checkering.
Click to expand...

exactly - not as crisp lines, a little bit "off" is the best way to describe it... and laser engraving in 1990 is not what it is now either..
 
Gdogman said:
LMAO!!!! that is my other problem, wanting to fire everything I buy when some are NIB........uggghhhh



Yes I was doing the same math....
Click to expand...



Precisely why I don't want collectible guns.

Gimme a shooter grade.
 
The S&W 12 'Set', was made by S&W, sold to Only to, Ellett Bros out of SC. (who distributed them) At that time, E.B. Only sold to B&M Stores, Not, 'kitchen table dealers'. Their were 500 of each made. I Bought a, 'set' one by one. (I had a Brick & Mortar store then, and they came direct from E.B.) They came, sometimes, 3 a month, and sometimes several months. It took 1.5 years to get a, 'set'.

They sat in the safe, (Well at first a cabinet), Never fired. Paid 4,000.00 for the set.
The, 'sets' were, 'sets', sold to the same dealers, up to, about 240-260, (out of the 500) Then E.B. started listing them individually. (As I am sure they were committed to 500 x 12 guns)

How many Dealers, got, 'Sets', then broke them up, to sell individually, Don't know, but perhaps, their are only 150 - 175, 'sets', (All the same number) left. Lots of the 12's put together, but all the same number of 500 ????
( I would be highly suspicious of a, 'set', that all had a number higher than 250, of 500)

I sold mine as a 'set', but had the MOST, requests for the, 'Revolver', the ONLY, .22 17, Nickel Plated 8.3/8" S&W made. and the next was the , 'Mountain Lion'.

But I kept it as a UN-fired 'set', then sold it, about 12 years ago, for 7,000.00

Regrets ? Well 3, (maybe 4), of them.

Today, 10,000.00 for a, 'set' all the same number. Un-fired.
For guns to look at, and not fire. Probably not.

I have 3, of the same models, probably have less than 2 into them, and I shoot them.

It was like the, 'Set', Colt & Win made.
A Peacemaker & a 94, in .44-40.
Listed at, $4,440.00, First Dealer cost was 2,220.00. I bought 3 NIB sets, at 1,200.00, (cause no one bought them), sold ONE, as a 'set', the other two I broke up.

Now, the 44-40 Peacemakers, those I regret.
(Not the Win 94's)
 
12 revolvers

Mnspring......................thanks for your very informative post, as seen from a dealer perceptive as well. The set I was looking at was 252 of 500 and as you can see from the picture I posted, all the boxes had 252 written on them, but who knows until you actually get them.

Based on my gut feelings, that validated by input here, I have moved on and decided it would be better to adopt individual family members instead of 12 kids all at once.

I still have empty beds for a 25, a 57, a 581, a 640, a 657 and a 686 plus so back to the adoption agency (SW Forum)

I think the most surprising comment for me was the idea that the popularity of collecting revolvers was on the decrease. I am really new into it and can't seem to find the ones I want.......

So many guns.......so little money and time.......
 
The idea of a set of iconic models is appealing, but the execution not so great.....at least from my perspective because it does not account for different barrel lengths that often add to the iconic status of the model. The model 66 should have been the snubbie version. I have a 66-2, 29-2, 24-3, 25-5, 57-1 27-2, 19-5 and 586-5 instead of a 686, and am missing some sort of .22 model and my .38 special is a model 10-5. I never was a fan of the 686 but may have to add one along with a 14 or 15 just for grins......why else would we do this if it did not bring a smile to our faces.....
 
I acquired a set of these today. All unfired and in their respective boxes with paperwork. They are #351. I would be looking to sell if someone can point me in the right direction.
 
I would almost say that a set of these would be worth having if you can find them at a decent price. It is a collectors set, which seems to drop value early on, but as time continues, I am sure the price would rise because of the low number made. Look at guns that are currently sought after. Low production offerings that were made years ago. My $.02
 
Those might be nice to have as a set for posterity and your grandchildren's inheritance. I would speculate that if you had all 12 ANIB they would be worth quite alot of money in another 20-30 years. (Maybe) That said, I would concentrate on buying individual revolvers that YOU really like and want. Parking $10K in a NIB set and leaving it for 30 years is not the best investment. More money can be had investing other ways. More fun can be had hunting that unicorn gun you really want.

Edit: I see this thread was actually started in mid 2017. So I am pretty sure the op is not still looking for advice on these...
 
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I wouldn't personally be interested in the whole set, but there are a few of the 44 Mag guns in the set I wouldn't mind owning. But, I also would not pay a crazy high price either, like a few I had seen on GB not too long ago either.

As to the Outnumbered guns like I own, I've seen 2 sell recently on GB. They had one a month or 2 ago that didn't have the laser engraving on the side (they sold some that way on sets that didn't get put together) that sold for $800 and another just like it that sold a few days ago for $861. But, neither of these unmarked guns had the gold bead front sight like my engraved version came with; just a regular patridge front sight.

This is how mine is presently dressed out with:
 
apollo99 said:
The 12 guns: model 66 357 "Critical Moment", model 14 38spl "Last Stand", model 29 44 mag "the Attack", 629 44 magnum "Mountain Lion", model 29 44 mag "Hostiles", model 27 357 "Outnumbered", model 19 357 mag "Hands Off", Model 25 45 colt" Horse Thief", Model 57 41 magnum "Last Cartridge", model 686 357 "with the wolfhounds", model 17 22lr" the Revolver", model 24 44 spl. "through the line" You can pick up a whole set for around $10,000. Not a bad price, but I'm not into special edition stuff.

,
Click to expand...

THANKS FOR THIS INFO, apollo99. I'M NOT INTO SPECIAL EDITIONS EITHER. I BUY GUNS GUNS WITH THE INTENTION OF SHOOTING THEM.......

I WOULD VENTURE THAT COLLECTOR INTEREST IN THIS SET WAS NOT GREAT, WHEN THEY WERE ISSUED. I WOULD BE HESITANT TO BUY THIS SET, AS A COLLECTOR, WITH THE EXPECTATION OF A STEADY APPRECIATION IN VALUE, AND A POOL OF WILLING BUYERS......
 
I have one of the twelve. The model 17 .22. Have kept it for years and never fired it since it is unique being a nickle model 17 with TH, TS, TT, TG. Will be selling it in the near future, and trying to determine the correct price if sold locally.
 
apollo99 said:
The 12 guns: model 66 357 "Critical Moment", model 14 38spl "Last Stand", model 29 44 mag "the Attack", 629 44 magnum "Mountain Lion", model 29 44 mag "Hostiles", model 27 357 "Outnumbered", model 19 357 mag "Hands Off", Model 25 45 colt" Horse Thief", Model 57 41 magnum "Last Cartridge", model 686 357 "with the wolfhounds", model 17 22lr" the Revolver", model 24 44 spl. "through the line" You can pick up a whole set for around $10,000. Not a bad price, but I'm not into special edition stuff.

,
Click to expand...

Solid post and informative. If I had an extra 10K I was itching to let go of I'd buy that set as a lot of them are chambered in .44Mag and at 1 .44Special. I'd love to see pics of a minty "Complete Set" for sure!
 
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