S&W 38spc snubby
I would like to hear opinions as to which pre-1983 model S&W in 38 special 2.5in barrel or less is considered to be the nicest and or most collectable.Thank You.
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Model 60 is my favorite carry gun. 0 -
It will be hard to beat the S&W model 36 in blue, or the model 60 S&W's in stainless. They ARE the GOLDEN STANDARD.
If you are going for the most collectable, it would have to say Colt on it, and would be a Detective Special, or their upper tier Diamondback. The Diamondback 's are very nice...but costly.
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I don't know about "nicest" but for "useful", I find myself going to the old Bodyguard Airweight M38.
Collectable would mean a M50 (adjustable sight Chief) or an airweight Airweight Chief or M&P (aluminum cylinder, rare but NOT a shooter.) An early 2.5" M19 would get oohs and aahs, too.0 -
Add a 2.5" model 66 to that list [;)] 0 -
As already mentioned the Smith & Wesson models 60 and 66 in .357mag/.38sp are good choices... However while these are 1990 dom I personally prefer the Smith & Wesson 640 (DAO) and 649 (Shrouded Hammer) both 5 shot .357mag/.38sp stainless with 2.125" barrels but can be coat/stained to whatever.
Regards0 -
quote:I would like to hear opinions as to which pre-1983 model S&W in 38 special 2.5in barrel or less is considered to be the nicest and or most collectable.Thank You.
Nicest is entirely subjective. IMO they're ALL pretty nice! [;)]
"Most collectible". . .its hard to know what you mean by that.
Do you mean the one that's likely to appreciate the most over time?
The RAREST snubnose Smith?
The one that "no collection is complete without"?
If its the first thing, I agree with TSR. In general, Colts are "more collectible" than Smiths in the sense that there are just a lot fewer of them out there, and they're not going to be making any more of them.
Which one has the greatest potential for appreciation is going to be largely a factor of how sweet a deal you get when you buy it. A common gun that you get a "steal" deal on may well appreciate more on resale on a percentage basis than a coveted rare gun that you have to pay a premium for.
If you mean the last thing, well, the blue J-frame model 36 is THE classic Smith concealable snubnose, and you can't really be a collector of snubnose guns without one.
Ideally you'd want one like-new-in-box with original paperwork AND "flat latch". Probably the square butt versions are most "collectible" since those aren't even being made anymore. Factory nickel Smiths are generally more "collectible" than blued guns.
Model 60 would be the equivalent stainless steel gun. And there are other variants like the shrouded hammer model 49, the various alloy-frame "airweight" guns, etc.
quote:Originally posted by dcs shooters
Add a 2.5" model 66 to that list [;)]
Not to quibble, but that's a .357, not a .38. If you're bringing up that one, an older blued model 2.5" model 19 might be more "collectible". (When you're a collector, older is generally better). If you're bringing up .357 guns, a 2.5" model 586 might be of some interest, since they're relatively unusual.
For a true .38, you'd want a 2.5" [Edit actually 2"] model 10, 14, or 15. All of these exist, but they're rarer than the 4" versions. 2" models 14 or 15 have got to be rarer than any ordinary variant of a 36 and more collectible.
Edit: Dfletcher, you're right; the snubbie models 14 and 15 have 2" tubes. I just got stuck on 2.5" in response to the post on snubbie models 66.0 -
For "collectable" I would suggest the 2.5" M-19 or the 2" M-15 they were the top-of-the-line for snubbies when I was starting out in LE. The old salts still carried Colts, but the S&Ws shot better and were smoother in operation, especially on reloads. If you stretch the tube a bit more the 3" FBI models are quite desirable, especially with department stampings. 0 -
I think the nicest and most collectible would be a Model 49 with a 3" barrel. That doesn't meet the 2.5" or shorter criteria but the rarity makes up for it, I think. There's also the very rare all alloy USAF models too.
Early 60's made Model 12 are hard to find too.0 -
I've shot a 36 with some pretty snappy loads, and it was a joy to shoot. Nice workmanship, and very easy to shoot accurately. Pricing on them seems to make them very affordable compared to some of the scarcer models. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
For a true .38, you'd want a 2.5" model 10, 14, or 15. All of these exist, but they're rarer than the 4" versions. 2.5" model 14 or 15 have got to be rarer than any ordinary variant of a 36 and more collectible.
I have been collecting Smiths for years and have never seen a 2.5" model 10 14 or 15. They made the models 10 & 15 with 2" barrels, but I have not seen them in 2 1/2". Where have you seen these guns?0 -
Thank you all for the interesting comments.Plenty of food for thought. 0
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