chose a S&W 357 over a Colt 1911 did I make a mistake?

C

coldbeer

Moderator
To make a long story short my father is very sick (Alzheimer's), he called me last night to say happy Easter and such then he said he wants to give me and my brother his handguns. He's giving me first pick between a S&W 357 and a Colt 1911. I'm never going to sell the gun I choose but I think the 45 is worth alot more, on the otherhand I really like the 357 and would enjoy it more since I'm a rifle guy and like target shooting. It's a really tough choice but I think I'm going to go with the 357 am I making a big mistake? I keep going back and forth unable to make up my mind.
2mmv4hu.jpg
vsewsn.jpg


Sorry for the enourmous pics
 
Monetary value is irrelevant in this case. Just pick whichever you will enjoy more. If that is the 357, then it is a good choice.
 
It's a gun from your Dad. Worth more isn't a consideration. Which gun means more to you?

On another note, that is one mean looking 357. It has a Dirty Harry air to it.
 
I like semi auto's over revolvers so I would pick the colt 1911, but like others have said its a gun from your dad that hopefully one day you will pass onto your kids. I wouldn't care if all I got was my dads beat up old Browning T-bolt, its something I can hangonto for years to come.
 
Sorry to hear about his illness.../ and I think its a tossup on which gun is worth more ...

Its nice that he gave you a choice...and you were able to pick which one you wanted...
 
There is no wrong choice and no mistake to make. It is a gift to you that you do not plan to sell so "worth more" should not be a consideration. Choose the one you figure you can get more enjoyment from in the long run and that appeals to you.

There is a way that cost can be a factor; if you fancy both guns choose the most expensive, the Colt by 100-200. bucks, and get the S&W with your own cash down the line, cheap, but a consideration.

You can always find another S&W or Colt on the gun market down the road and buy it in a few months or a few years. Both are common guns. But only the ones he is offering are your father's guns. You can always choose the one that he liked best.

Talk to your brother about it. If he really wants one over the other and you can't make up your mind, let him have the one he wants. Better to have peace in the family and good memories of a gift given with love, than resentment for years over a few hundred bucks.

tipoc
 
Have you talked to your brother? Does he have a preference, maybe strongly in one direction or the other? This is a case where there is no loser, only two winners. Both guns are extremely nice, and they both were handed down from Dad. I would talk it over with your bro, and decide which wants one or the other more, and the other takes whichever gun is left. I dont think there is a big difference between the two, either one is awesome. Im glad your Dad has enough sense to offer the guns to you two kids. If I got that beautiful Smith handed down from my father, I would considder it the finest firearm on the planet. Material posessions mean nothing without the story behind them. Being a revolver fan, I would be beyone exstatic to get that Smith, or the Colt, it wouldnt matter which, but I would prefer the revolver.
 
While I'd prefer the 1911 for shooting still the S&W will do fine for target shooting (kind of a LONG barrel!)

Either one is fine.

Pass it down to future generations.

Deaf
 
I would choose the 1911 over the wheel gun everyday of the week and twice on Sunday but that is not relevant in this case, there was no wrong choice so be happy with the one you made. Sorry to hear about your dad.

I had something similar happen to me 15 years ago when my Grandfather died. My uncle got most of the guns but he left one each to my brother and me, my brother got a nice blued S&W .357 and I got a.....Llama .22 revolver! And I thought my Grandpops liked me! All kidding aside, I asked my uncle about it several years later and he said that my Grandfather had done that because he thought I already owned a defensive handgun (he knew I owned a 1911) and could use a target pistol, and he knew my brother didn't own any guns and could use a defensive handgun. Either way, it is a legacy from my Grandpa, and even thought I never shoot it (it is a little squirrelly, needs some work), it is still special to me.
 
Thanks, he's to the point where he's having a hard time talking and it's really sad watching him struggle to finish a sentence. We used to shoot these guns when I was a teenager before my brother was old enough to shoot with us. Then one day his house was robbed in broad daylight. luckily no one was home, but they stole all his guns except for these two. He put them in a safe deposit box the next day and left them there for almost 25 years. So I had no idea he still had these. I'm goinng to take the 357 because I like target shooting and plinking and I remember the 357 being the more accurate of the two and just plain fun to shoot. My little brother on the other hand likes the Colt alot, you'd think he won the lottery when I called him and told him he's getting a Colt 1911.
 
I'd have to vote for the .357 Revolver... it's a very cool gun and I bet you'll have a lot of interesting conversations with folks when you whip that thing out at the range.
 
Take the one that you want the most... Unless your brother can't be trusted with mechanical devices, in which case take the 1911 so he is ever so slightly less likely to kill himself or someone else.
 
Sorry about your pops. Researchers are making a lot of advancements in treatments of the disease but I'm sure you've read and heard about it all...

Between the two, I would pick the 1911 but your not just choosing a gun but the memories that go with them. If I was on the fence, I might just asked my father which was his favorite and choose that one. If your brother plans on keeping the guns and taking good care of them, you can take comfort in the fact that they are in the family. I hope your fathers condition improves and you enjoy the gun you choose.
 
Sorry to hear of your fathers illness, it's a terrible disease.

You can't go wrong with either choice. Value is irrelevant here. Like I tell the tax assessor (when the housing market was so inflated) ... there is no value if you're not planning to sell it.

Choose which ever you like the most and most importantly, which one has the most sentimental value to you ... choose carefully there. Pick which one will help you remember your father and maybe times you spent together. They're both great guns so you really can't go wrong IMO.
 
Sorry to hear of your dad's problems.

Take him with you and let him share the joy you have when you shoot the gun he gave you. You can borrow your brother's 1911, too.

Best,

Will
 
Last edited:
I also echo the sentiments about your Dad...

As for a 'mistake'; you can not make a mistake when honoring your Father by accepting his generous gift...

Shoot the hell out of it, and think of him every time you line up the sights...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top