My wife always tells me I have a collection of collections......
What makes a S&W collector?
- Thread starter peterdeb
- Start date
I’ve never really thought about what I call myself. I tell people I’m a firearms collector. But “accumulator” or “enthusiast” is probably more accurate. I don’t own a gun I wouldn’t shoot, and I treat the claim of “never fired” the same as I do when I see Corvette owners claiming, “Never driven in the rain”.
I also will sell a gun in a heartbeat. In over 50 years I’ve probably owned several hundred firearms with probably over 100 being S&W handguns. I want to try every model out and I can’t afford to keep them all. So I go though them like crazy. Luckily, I live in a state where buying and selling guns is drama free.
One thing I do believe is that “old” is not necessarily “collectable”. I’ve seen a lot of guns that have a big price tag because they are old. But they are in very rough condition. I wouldn’t think that was much of a collectable.
Something I saw for the first time the other day was a guy selling a gun that he thought was worth more because it had a 1970’s date. That made me smile. Man…the years go by quick.
I also will sell a gun in a heartbeat. In over 50 years I’ve probably owned several hundred firearms with probably over 100 being S&W handguns. I want to try every model out and I can’t afford to keep them all. So I go though them like crazy. Luckily, I live in a state where buying and selling guns is drama free.
One thing I do believe is that “old” is not necessarily “collectable”. I’ve seen a lot of guns that have a big price tag because they are old. But they are in very rough condition. I wouldn’t think that was much of a collectable.
Something I saw for the first time the other day was a guy selling a gun that he thought was worth more because it had a 1970’s date. That made me smile. Man…the years go by quick.
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A friend that tells you that after you have so many S&W's in your gun collection, you are now a S&W collector 
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I guess all the labels fit me. I have been owning and shooting S&W's since my high school days (early 70's). A lot of them came and went as I couldn't afford to keep them all if I wanted the next one. I really begin to focus on an area or niche back around 2000, when I begin to appreciate prewar, target sighted revolvers. I add those whenever I can, some are shooters and others are not. That said, I also buy about any good, pre-lock one I come across if the funds are present. So I guess I collect, shoot and caretake. The thing is, it's all fun and as Modified mentioned above, there are great people you meet along the way that share this passion. So enjoy it in any fashion you choose to participate. You'll never own it all, nor should you try. Just appreciate and feel some satisfaction in what you find along the way.
Ownership of Four (4) or more S&W handguns.
obsession or pleasure?
Unfortunately there are two opposite sides of collecting.
A virus that I am irremediably infected by.
One positive and fascinating and they are the research, the history, the beauty and the knowledge of the objects you collect and that you share with other enthusiasts. The collector if serious and evolved always tries to write a story and make it.
I did it with Ducati motorcycles with Nikon reflex cameras and more.
I'm trying to do that with Smith & Wesson revolvers since 1980, it's beautiful and gratifying but it also has a dark side that of always wanting to move forward, it seems that what you have is not enough for you, it seems that you are insatiable
Seems the obsession of the extra piece, the perennial dissatisfaction with what you have and the search for more because what you have is not enough for you...
I am constantly searching, I never have enough, if I find a NIB I buy it even if I already have the same ones, even more than one. Of some models I have 4 or 5 identical examples in barrel length, variant, characteristics and period.
And once I have acquired them I no longer sell them, they go to keep each other company in the safe. I don't shoot the Smith in the collection, not even a single shot, they could be nailed and I wouldn't find out! I have some used ones and some stainless steel ones for shooting.
But own this multitude of Smith & Wesson revolvers makes me happy.
The best thing was meeting the association and the forum...
Being part of it mitigates the negative aspects, I feel at ease and it is a source of admiration and knowledge. The next step will be to come to the Symposium.
Unfortunately there are two opposite sides of collecting.
A virus that I am irremediably infected by.
One positive and fascinating and they are the research, the history, the beauty and the knowledge of the objects you collect and that you share with other enthusiasts. The collector if serious and evolved always tries to write a story and make it.
I did it with Ducati motorcycles with Nikon reflex cameras and more.
I'm trying to do that with Smith & Wesson revolvers since 1980, it's beautiful and gratifying but it also has a dark side that of always wanting to move forward, it seems that what you have is not enough for you, it seems that you are insatiable
Seems the obsession of the extra piece, the perennial dissatisfaction with what you have and the search for more because what you have is not enough for you...
I am constantly searching, I never have enough, if I find a NIB I buy it even if I already have the same ones, even more than one. Of some models I have 4 or 5 identical examples in barrel length, variant, characteristics and period.
And once I have acquired them I no longer sell them, they go to keep each other company in the safe. I don't shoot the Smith in the collection, not even a single shot, they could be nailed and I wouldn't find out! I have some used ones and some stainless steel ones for shooting.
But own this multitude of Smith & Wesson revolvers makes me happy.
The best thing was meeting the association and the forum...
Being part of it mitigates the negative aspects, I feel at ease and it is a source of admiration and knowledge. The next step will be to come to the Symposium.
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As you can see by the logos next to my screen name, I am a collector. There is no negative side to this title. I buy what I want, and sometimes that changes. It could be I-frames for a while, and suddenly it could be Ks, or N-frames, or maybe even an old 1911. I've shot a lot of my guns, no problem with that. I've never come back from the range, thinking that I've devalued one of my guns. When I clean them up, they look just as good as before. I like boxes, but I don't need them, just something else to keep up with. If you tell someone that you aren't a collector, but they know you have several guns, they might refer to you as an arms hoarder, or having an arsenal. These aren't endearing terms to those who don't know or understand firearms enthusiasts. If you are chatting with those who are possibly negative about guns, don't even go into any details, or about how much ammo you have.
Collector = more dollars than sense.
Not at all. The crazy ones collect Rugers, Taurus' & the like.
My dose of insanity comes with collecting H&Ks as well as Smith revolvers.
I think that buying nice classic firearms makes more sense than buying fancy cars, living in fancy neighborhoods, and paying all those fancy taxes. Whatever floats your boat, and I sure don't have one of those either.
A collector is one whose accumulation illustrates history---and tells a story. I started off in 1957 to "collect" S&W target guns----S&W's because they're better looking than Colts---targets because they make sense, and the alternative does not. Alas, after about 30 years and 135 guns in the pile, I came to the realization I didn't have a collection---simply an accumulation of guns with target sights---which did not illustrate history worth a damn ----------and told no story-----or perhaps too many stories----with none particularly related to another.
At that point, I stopped dead, sold damn near all the guns, and started over----------this time with REAL target guns. This time the definition was guns a serious competitor might choose to take to an important match. Needless to say, I allowed myself a little latitude because having been brought up as a Bullseye shooter, I'd only have two guns---a .22 Automatic and a .45 Automatic---with a spare for each at the outside. As an aside, having been brought up shooting revolvers, I can tell you that's not the hot set-up when it comes time for timed and rapid fire. It's doable, but A LOT of work---and not so effective when it comes time to add up your scores. I settled for guns that at least looked like target guns, and that was a big help when it came to justifying my N frames----'cause I'd seldom seen an N frame at any match---and I'm fond of N frames.
I ended up with 65 guns this time around.
So this time around I collected REAL target guns starting at the beginning, and ending at the end of the five screws, and did a fine job of illustrating history and telling a story.
The term "an investment collector" appears up above---also the opinion "The crazy ones collect Rugers." I collected Rugers over a seven year dry spell (2000-2007) when the S&W's I sought were seldom seen---put together all the "3 screw" single actions. I didn't keep track, but figure I spent maybe $20,000 on 34 guns. The Rugers went away when I ran out of room in my display case----packed 'em up, and headed for David Carroll's. He in turn did his thing, put 'em on Gun Broker, and came back with $55,000 and change. I'd never thought about making money on the deal---just making room in the display case. I ended up with both---and was flabbergasted---AND a happy camper!! Fast forward to maybe five years ago when I'd reached an age way past a normal expiration date, I decided it'd be best to leave behind a pile of money rather than a pile of guns, and did the same thing with my S&W collection----only he came here and packed everything up. This time was about the same as with the Rugers, only having no clue how much I'd spent on 65 S&W target guns. I can tell you how much I'd spent on maybe 8 or 10 of the "special" guns, and it took a whole lot longer than if he'd dumped all of them on Gun Broker, but he came back with A PILE of money------and I'd never even thought about being an "investment collector"----------it just happened. If you want to know how, it's simple: Buy good stuff, and take good care of it.
Oh, and when the time comes to dump all of it, call somebody who knows how to do it, and who to do it with-----and you too might very well decide you were an "investment collector"---never mind the thought had never entered your head!
Ralph Tremaine
At that point, I stopped dead, sold damn near all the guns, and started over----------this time with REAL target guns. This time the definition was guns a serious competitor might choose to take to an important match. Needless to say, I allowed myself a little latitude because having been brought up as a Bullseye shooter, I'd only have two guns---a .22 Automatic and a .45 Automatic---with a spare for each at the outside. As an aside, having been brought up shooting revolvers, I can tell you that's not the hot set-up when it comes time for timed and rapid fire. It's doable, but A LOT of work---and not so effective when it comes time to add up your scores. I settled for guns that at least looked like target guns, and that was a big help when it came to justifying my N frames----'cause I'd seldom seen an N frame at any match---and I'm fond of N frames.
I ended up with 65 guns this time around.
So this time around I collected REAL target guns starting at the beginning, and ending at the end of the five screws, and did a fine job of illustrating history and telling a story.
The term "an investment collector" appears up above---also the opinion "The crazy ones collect Rugers." I collected Rugers over a seven year dry spell (2000-2007) when the S&W's I sought were seldom seen---put together all the "3 screw" single actions. I didn't keep track, but figure I spent maybe $20,000 on 34 guns. The Rugers went away when I ran out of room in my display case----packed 'em up, and headed for David Carroll's. He in turn did his thing, put 'em on Gun Broker, and came back with $55,000 and change. I'd never thought about making money on the deal---just making room in the display case. I ended up with both---and was flabbergasted---AND a happy camper!! Fast forward to maybe five years ago when I'd reached an age way past a normal expiration date, I decided it'd be best to leave behind a pile of money rather than a pile of guns, and did the same thing with my S&W collection----only he came here and packed everything up. This time was about the same as with the Rugers, only having no clue how much I'd spent on 65 S&W target guns. I can tell you how much I'd spent on maybe 8 or 10 of the "special" guns, and it took a whole lot longer than if he'd dumped all of them on Gun Broker, but he came back with A PILE of money------and I'd never even thought about being an "investment collector"----------it just happened. If you want to know how, it's simple: Buy good stuff, and take good care of it.
Oh, and when the time comes to dump all of it, call somebody who knows how to do it, and who to do it with-----and you too might very well decide you were an "investment collector"---never mind the thought had never entered your head!
Ralph Tremaine
Repeater
Member
Or...usually broke because he has no sense and keeps buying "just one more."
I have a bunch of guns- more than lots of folks probably. Some shooters, some safe queens and everything in between. Honestly I’ve never considered myself a collector per se, but a constant accumulator.
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