The Holy Grail Smith

[Beemerguy53]

Everyone has a different standard for what constitutes a "Holy Grail Gun".

For years, I wanted a Victory Model. They were out there, of course, some of them quite inexpensive, but considering the history of the Victory Model, and how most of them were used and carried, finding one in good original, unaltered condition was very challenging.

Some years ago, a Forum member posted this beauty for sale. It's unfired and all original, which has to make it very rare indeed, and I responded that I would take it the instant I saw it. It was priced at almost twice the going rate for a Victory Model at that time -- but today I wouldn't sell for ten times what I paid for it.

The only other S&W I want nearly as much would be a Registered Magnum...but I doubt I'll ever get one of those.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

info

It depends on what you call a grail gun, because it is a very rare model, or historically rare due to it's first owner? Shown first is a 6 inch barrel, 32 S&W 1st Model of 91 single shot, an 8 inch barreled 4th model DA, Dr. R H Sayres [captain of the first 4 U S Olympic pistol & revolver teams] 1st Model of 91 single shot with an H M Pope sleeved left hand twist barrel, or Victor H Wesson's 3rd model single shot with Olympic chamber & Gagne target grips.

 

[StrawHat]

I would like one of the preproduction New Century Models submitted for the 1907 Army Trials, chambered for the 45 S&W Special. I want that enough I am willing to settle for building a replica!

Kevin

 

[Dieseltech56]

How about a model 57 silhouette. That would be one I'd like to see, I believe there were 4 produced.

 

[orbruce]

My Holy Grail gun is the one I do not own! Since there are so many S&W's out there I'm always looking for that one special S&W.

B Mower

 

[deadin]

My Holy Grail gun is the one I do not own!

Bruce,
I thought you already owned most of them!!

 

[raljr1]

Original Schofield in good condition...

Robert

 

[Bullet Bob]

The Registered Magnum in .22 long rifle.

 

[first-model]

For me, it's the Model 1, 1st Issue, 1st Variant. I was very, very lucky to add my "grail gun" to my collection this year.

Mike

 

[mmaher94087]

My take on a Grail Gun is one that has become almost impossible to acquire today. This Grail is either not manufactured in quantity or has not survived in numbers large enough for them to be found in normal commerce.

I hold no malice to those that wish to own a Modern Smith but, in my thinking, a revolver made 100 years before I was born is more difficult to acquire than, say, a Registered Magnum. The latter, in my opinion, was a used gun as I grew up and can be bought readily on today's market if one has the cash.

A Grail Gun is what one wants to own based upon one's collecting interests. My Grail's are Antique.

 

[iby]

1-1-1

For me, it's the Model 1, 1st Issue, 1st Variant. I was very, very lucky to add my "grail gun" to my collection this year.

Mike

have you posted pics?

 

[merl67]

Lots of my guns I did not know I wanted until I saw one here, or somewhere else. Grail gun to me implies either a rare gun, one that for sentimental reasons is desirable, or a particular individual owned it. There could be other reasons such as for myself price is realistically out of my reach unless I find a bargain. All of us are at different collecting levels. What could be a grail gun for me might make an advanced collector yawn. Then again I might have a Grail gun in my collection to someone else. For instance I have a Colt 1900 38 Rimless one of only around 3500 made cosmetically it is challenged, but I bet to some Colt collectors even in its present condition would still be a Grail gun.

 

[deadin]

For me, it's the Model 1, 1st Issue, 1st Variant. I was very, very lucky to add my "grail gun" to my collection this year.

Mike

So, What's your new "Grail Gun"? Or are you complete and don't desire anything else?

 

[first-model]

have you posted pics?

Here she is.

New grail gun is a Volcanic.

Mike

 

[deadin]

Nice!!
Good luck on he Volcanic.....

 

[Modified]

At one point this was a grail for me, then I got it.

It's pretty awesome to own about the 150th S&W ever made.

 

[first-model]

At one point this was a grail for me, then I got it.

It's pretty awesome to own about the 150th S&W ever made.

The funny thing is, the Volcanic is somewhat peripheral to my research right now. I've had plenty of opportunities to buy one, but I've prioritized fluffing out my Model 1 collection instead.

I guess my other grail gun is a "2d Qual'ty" Model 1. I think that's one of the only variants that I don't yet own.

Mike

 

[Modified]

The funny thing is, the Volcanic is somewhat peripheral to my research right now. I've had plenty of opportunities to buy one, but I've prioritized fluffing out my Model 1 collection instead.

I guess my other grail gun is a "2d Qual'ty" Model 1. I think that's one of the only variants that I don't yet own.

Mike

I always have trouble when people talk about Volcanics. I feel like Volcanic collecting is it's own thing that may require a body to find a Smith & Wesson, but for me I only ever wanted the actual Smith & Wesson lever pistol.

My camera setup is poor right now, but here's a quick and bad shot of what I had, at one time, considered grails. Pre war .357s are a bad addiction though, I've managed 4 of them at this point.

Still just the one small frame lever gun though. S/N B54.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

My grail S&W guns are what I know I can actually afford if I find one for sale. And they are very common guns on this forum. A 6" nickel 586, an 8 3/8" nickel Model 27-2 (because they cost less than older 27s and are P&R).

 

[first-model]

I always have trouble when people talk about Volcanics. I feel like Volcanic collecting is it's own thing that may require a body to find a Smith & Wesson, but for me I only ever wanted the actual Smith & Wesson lever pistol.

My interest in the Volcanic has more to do with the similarities in the design of the Volcanic's early grip to that of the Model 1. I've long wanted to do a side-by-side comparison of the guns to see what they essentially "lifted" from the Volcanic when they designed the Model 1. I suspect there's more similarities than meets the eye, even though the guns function very differently.

That said, the Smith & Wesson that made the Volcanic is not the same company that made the Model 1 (and that still exists). It's a bit like the modern-day Cadillac Motor Company, which was founded on the ashes of the Henry Ford Company — Henry Ford's second automobile making venture that existed from 1901 to 1902. The Ford Motor Company (which still exists today) was founded in 1903, and they at least get it correct when they talk about their founding date. If they wanted to be historically correct, Smith & Wesson would stop talking about their founding in 1852 and start talking about their founding in 1856.

(all of this said in my best grumpy-old-man voice that I normally reserve for yelling at kids to get off my lawn.)

Mike