Why do people say "no dash?"

Art Doc

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I think we can all figure out that if you say Model 19 or Model 10 or Model 36 that's what it is and not a 19-2 or a 10-5 or a 36-1 since if it was that's what it is you would have said so.

Am I the only one irritated by the no dash syndrome?

And please don't start talking about your no dash pencil barrel.
 
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I'm not exactly an expert, but I prefer the "no dash" added on. If someone tells me they have a Model 29 for sale, am I to assume it's a no dash? Could be a big, and expensive, mistake. I've inquired about a few guns on GB where it was listed as a simple model number. When I asked if it was a no dash, I was told it was a -3, -7, whatever. IMHO, no-dash is good. It tells me just what it is, instead of leaving me to assume. And we all know what happens when we assume! +1 for no dash!
 
Sax,

I have no idea...................

But along the same line here's another one that bugs some people, it's the old "new to me" phrase when describing their newest gun.

as in I just got home from picking up my "new to me" model 19 no dash

If it's a model 19 no dash, people should be able to figure that out, while the gun is not new, it is new to you, they don't need to be told.

When I get a new gun, I call it my new model xxx, even if it is 40 years old.

(you'll notice I used a no dash model 19 in my example to help you make your point)
 
I must agree with Gunlovingirl (whom I intend to marry if I ever grow up--Only growing old so far !). I have a model 66 no-dash and I see that as full indentifying information, just as significant as an actual dash number. Too many folks omit the dash information when describing their items of pride and joy..

I have only been a member a short while and I appreciate all of input from everyone. You have collectively been a wealth of S&W information and have contributed to my feeling of pride in ownership of the few I have (less than a dozen)!
 
To my way of thinking the importance of the dashes is something that has come along in more recent times. It used to not be so critical to tack a suffix numeral onto a model number reference. I suppose it is convenient. Perhaps the dashes are a measure of how old I'm becoming.

It's that "pencil barrel" reference to the M&P/Model 10 that is grating to me. Standard barrel or perhaps tapered barrel, ok, but the "pencil barrel" or "skinny barrel" as a descriptive term is beneath the dignity of a great revolver. It's heard more as a verbal reference in gun shops and gun shows rather than shows up in print or in forums.
 
I agree with gunlovingirl's answer. Many folks know the model of their guns, but usually, it is only us S&W nuts that know all of the dash numbers.

The M10s are really hard to keep up with, at least for me. Why should a heavy barrel have a specific dsah number as opposed to a PENCIL barrel?
 
Hah Muley, there you go, proving me wrong.

I'll bet that our posts overlaped.
 
I think we can all figure out that if you say Model 19 or Model 10 or Model 36 that's what it is and not a 19-2 or a 10-5 or a 36-1 since if it was that's what it is you would have said so.

Sax, if you say "Model 19," we know what you mean, but I don't think we can make the same assumption about everyone. I have on at least two occasions on another forum s&s emailed people and found that what they had advertised as a "Model 10" was actually a 10-5 or a 10-7.

Regretfully, I guess, it is probably necessary.
 
I'll start a new trend. If my next purchase is, for instance, a Model 36-1, I'll list it as such. Otherwise, I'll list it as a "Model 36 (no dash)." Maybe the parentheses will help? ;)
 
I can see gungirl's point. However,I dont even use the dash when describing a gun I just say model 15 or 36 or 629 To describe gun to someone. There are so darn many -1,-2,-........ it would seem it doesnt much matter Smith made so many minute changes and so ongoing. But maybe to a hard core historian and collector,the dash is important.
If I was putting gun up for sale, I would list the dash for gungirl's reasoning though and i would probably say no dash to emphasize I knew about possible significance of dash.
Now, does the dash number really have some bearing on price???Could it mean a hundred dollars difference in some cases? Do buyers care about it?
Now I am curious.
 
Now, does the dash number really have some bearing on price???Could it mean a hundred dollars difference in some cases? Do buyers care about it?
Now I am curious.

Don't have a real answer to your first 2 questions, but as a buyer, I care. It helps me research date in case they don't post S/N and also changes S&W made to the different dash models. I like to research as much as possible before I shoot an email to the seller to ask any unanswered questions.
 
Now, does the dash number really have some bearing on price???Could it mean a hundred dollars difference in some cases? Do buyers care about it?
Now I am curious.

You better believe it makes a difference. You can buy a 10-3 or -5 around these parts for about $300 or so. For a 10-4 you had better be willing to shell out more then $1200.Another point, how about merely being able to find one and paying the price for most of the models with a -1 behind it? Better get your FAT wallet out!
 
If everybody did specify the dash no., then "no dash or dash zero" wouldn't be necessary & I would agree with you. But even my local gun shop doesn't differentiate by dash numbers ; because, they're more worried about selling Glocks. Seems to me it's just like 45 "Long Colt"; completely redundant to those in the know.
 
Count me in with glg.
It once cost me not to get it clarified before hand.
There's a big difference between a 19 and a 19-5, in my book.
 
I think most people consider just a plain model number as generic, referring to the particular breed. For example "I have a Model 29" to me means he has any of a number of Model 29s, from no-dash to Model 29-whatever. When someone says "This is a Model 29 no-dash " my ears perk up, because I now know exactly what he or she has. +1 to the comments made by Gunlovingirl. Exactly, Misty.
 
My two cents.

I want to know the dash number, as it will usually indicate to me what engineering changes it has in it. It will also help narrow down the time frame of when it was made. If I'm talking to my shooting friends who are simply shooters, and could care less about design changes and such, I leave off the dash number.

It's easy to forget when hanging out on this forum, that most shooters aren't Smith lovers specifically. They may not have a clue as to different dash numbers, and you aren't going to explain it all in a few minutes of chatting. However here on the forum, we are interested in such stuff ;).


As to the "new to me" comment, think about this. A lot of guys here are hardcore collectors and Smith lovers. They buy "40 year old" Smith's that are still new in the box, so that term is appropriate in my opinion. :)
 
Not trying to be a smart a-- but I don't know why anyone would let either phrase get under their skin. What's the big deal? It's just a little more info.
 
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