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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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Or should we consider some to be semi-classics? Is it enough that they don't make them anymore? For example, there are the true classics, the pre-WWI revolvers, the Triple Locks and such. But, how far can you go towards the present production S&W and still call it a classic? I mean, would you say that anything pre-MIM is a category of semi-classic? How about pre-lock? Or would you start it at pinned barrels, which ended in the early 1980's? So, what's a classic S&W revolver in your book?
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2005
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Pre-lock,old style thumb latch,tapered barrel,no full lug barrel.
I go along with early '80s & older.
JMO YMMV
Mike
Always talk to the old guys , they know stuff.
Jerry Miculek
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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Pre-lock,old style thumb latch,tapered barrel,no full lug barrel.
I go along with early '80s & older.
JMO YMMV
Mike I'll go with that, but then what would you call the post pinned barrel revolvers that are still pre-MIM and pre-lock? Semi-classic?
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I'm pretty content with pinned and recessed.
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2005
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At the risk of making some people miffed,... the latest generation of S&W revolvers are so ugly that soon you're going to see premium price tags attached to any of the Smith revolvers made in the traditional style.
I plan on picking up a few of the K and N frames before everybody else catches on.
Model 10's and 15's are still reasonable and you can still sneak up on a model 28 every now and then.
I've always liked model 10's and have owned them in 4,5 and 6" barrel lengths.
I oughtta have my butt kicked for getting rid of that 5" example.
For that matter,.. I oughtta have my butt kicked for getting rid of any of them.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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I'm pretty content with pinned and recessed. Me too. I think that's a major dividing line in quality, but so was the much earlier transition from five screw.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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At the risk of making some people miffed,... the latest generation of S&W revolvers are so ugly that soon you're going to see premium price tags attached to any of the Smith revolvers made in the traditional style.
I plan on picking up a few of the K and N frames before everybody else catches on.
Model 10's and 15's are still reasonable and you can still sneak up on a model 28 every now and then.
I've always liked model 10's and have owned them in 4,5 and 6" barrel lengths.
I oughtta have my butt kicked for getting rid of that 5" example.
For that matter,.. I oughtta have my butt kicked for getting rid of any of them. I have a pinned and recessed Model 18, but my Combat Masterpiece .38 was made just a couple of years after they dropped the pinned barrels. I should look for a pinned and recessed example while they can still be found for a reasonable price.
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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I've mentioned my fondness for them before,.. but if you like old Smith revolvers, you should keep an eye out for one of the pre war I frame .32 long hand ejectors with the 4 1/4 inch barrels.
They've as finely fitted as any pre war Smith and can be had for very reasonable prices.
They've very smooth, accurate little revolvers,.. and they look for all the world like a scaled down 5" K frame model 10 from that period.
They're slightly smaller than a J frame but have 6 shot cylinders (in .32 long) and use a flat mainspring instead of the coil which the J frame incorporates,.. which gives them the smooth action.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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[/quote]I'll go with that, but then what would you call the post pinned barrel revolvers that are still pre-MIM and pre-lock? Semi-classic? [/quote]
Semi-classic ? I guess so , really hadn't considered that. I had to go look & 3 out of 9 that I have are not pinned.
Mike
Always talk to the old guys , they know stuff.
Jerry Miculek
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Joined: May 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
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I had a '71 Dodge Dart Swinger (318) when I was a kid. Not much of a car, really. My kid tells me now that car is a "classic" and a "muscle car". Go figure!  I think I'm with Bristoe on this. With the advent of the "safety zit" - anything without it is going to be viewed as a "classic", although maybe not yet a "collectible".
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
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With the advent of the "safety zit" - anything without it is going to be viewed as a "classic", W/out reading the entire thread, the above comment sums it up for me. The 'zit' ruins its looks for me, and no I just can't ignore it.
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2005
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One thing that I really don't like on the latest S&W revolvers is the electro etched, decal looking names.
The fine roll engraved text on Smith revolvers are one of small touches that gives them the look of a finely crafted, precision tool,... which is exactly what they are.
S&W revolvers aren't the only firearms which have the roll engraved markings,.. but they executed it very well, and I hate to see them eliminate it.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
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Ok guys, which of the contemporary Smiths are good quality and have the "traditional, correct looks", in your eyes, in a 45 LC but in a 4 5/8" barrel. I see only one model but in a longer barrel.
Gdv
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
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One thing that I really don't like on the latest S&W revolvers is the electro etched, decal looking names.
The fine roll engraved text on Smith revolvers are one of small touches that gives them the look of a finely crafted, precision tool,... which is exactly what they are.
S&W revolvers aren't the only firearms which have the roll engraved markings,.. but they executed it very well, and I hate to see them eliminate it. I'm with you on that. I hope it hasn't gone the way of forged steel triggers, hammers and sears.
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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Ok guys, which of the contemporary Smiths are good quality and have the "traditional, correct looks", in your eyes, in a 45 LC but in a 4 5/8" barrel. I see only one model but in a longer barrel.
Gdv
Nothing they currently make fits that description. Buy a used one. They all have MIM parts and a keyhole in the side now. Lots of good old guns still out there, though, and for reasonable prices. PS Actually, they are making one pretty good revolver now, but it's far from traditinal in appearance. It's on the cover of the current American Handgunner, i.e., the Thunder Ranch .45 Defensive Revolver. Just for this one, they went back to the forged steel parts, but they did retain the key lock, which for some is a deal breaker.
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I like the old S&W's before they had Model numbers like 10-8, 19-4 etc...lol... Back in the good ole days like the Handejector .455 or .45 Long Colt, or the 1917 in .45ACP... or the 38/44 for the heavy .38 Spl loads before the .357 Mag.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Hawkeye-
Which models would you look for or were made in 45 LC and in a 4 and 5/8" inch or 3" barrel?
Gdv
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jul 2004
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Hawkeye-
Which models would you look for or were made in 45 LC and in a 4 and 5/8" inch or 3" barrel?
Gdv
Not Hawkeye, but I don't think they ever made a 45 LC in a 4" barrel or a 3" unless it was a Lew Horton special run. This is the closest thing I can remember: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=92959065A good smith could bob the barrel back for you.
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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Hawkeye-
Which models would you look for or were made in 45 LC and in a 4 and 5/8" inch or 3" barrel?
Gdv
Not Hawkeye, but I don't think they ever made a 45 LC in a 4" barrel or a 3" unless it was a Lew Horton special run. This is the closest thing I can remember: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=92959065A good smith could bob the barrel back for you. That's a real nice one. Would be a shame to have a 'smith make any alterations to it.
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