Lady Smith

C

Cards_fan

Inactive
I recently went to my LGS and after perusing the trade in section I found what seemed to be a very good looking Smith and Wesson model 36. The rosewood grips and finish were in excellent condition with only a very faint turn ring on the cylinder. I asked the gentleman working the counter for a closer look and he chuckled a bit and asked if I was shopping for my girlfriend. Sure enough as I glanced at the other side "Lady Smith" was embossed in gold script under the cylinder. It seems to me that there is no difference between this revolver and a standard Chief's Special beyond the script are the improved grips. Are there any substantial differences or is this more of a marketing tool? Also is there a stigma about buying an otherwise fine pistol because it is intended for a woman to own. I would think that it was that bothersome you could get the script removed. Anyway I am strongly considering going back for it because it was definitely priced to sell and a model 36 has been on my list for while. Just thought I would ask for some second opinions
 
Are there any substantial differences...
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Nope.

...or is this more of a marketing tool?
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Yup.

I have one too, a Model 60 with a 1 7/8" barrel, and it's exactly the same as the other Model 60s I have, except it came with longer rosewood grips and it says "Ladysmith" on the frame.
Nothing at all different in materials, construction, trigger action or sights.
 
Are there any substantial differences or is this more of a marketing tool?
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I read somewhere ("On the Internet", so you know it's true. That's sarcasm, BTW.) that Lady Smith grips are different. Who cares? Grips are easy to swap out.

Also is there a stigma about buying an otherwise fine pistol because it is intended for a woman to own.
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Go for it.

(Personally, I'm "secure enough in my masculinity". Whatever. I'd get a lavender gun, if the price was right.)

I would think that it was that bothersome you could get the script removed.
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:rolleyes:
 
The grips are simply a rosewood combat boot grip. They are very handsome grips. Similar grips available here and here. The Lady Smith frame may be a bit more polished than a normal Model 60.

I wouldn't let the Lady Smith name get in the way of buying it. I purchased SW's semi-auto 3913 Lady Smith and have never regretted it -- but then I also wore a pink shirt on occasion when I was a young man. I've always been comfortable in my own manhood and never have worried about such things. :D
 
I would jump at the chance to purchase a Ladysmith for a good price. I've always liked them, I like how S&W purposefully made them a little classier for the ladies...I can even deal with the "ladysmith" logo without angst.
If it bothers you, it more than makes up for any "ladylike" impressions it gives by the fact that.....its a gun.
 
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Since I'm a looooong way past caring what others think of me, I'd glom onto whatever I liked - marked "Lady" or not.


.
 
Have one of my own. Love the way it shoots.

Too, knew a few male LEO's that carried them as well. Why...cause they could hit with them.
 
I regret selling mine,,,

She was a 3" Model 36 LadySmith,,,

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I only paid $325 + shipping + transfer for her,,,
I made a small profit selling her to a lady friend of mine,,,
But as soon as she drove off with the gun I had major sellers remorse.

I would have no problem carrying a LadySmith handgun,,,

Aarond

.
 
I don't think anyone on the receiving end of the barrel is going to be laughing because you're carrying a LadySmith.
 
No stigma attached they are very nice, if I could find a 3" model 36 id get one.

I passed up a 98 percent model 60 that I wished would have followed me home.
 
I bought one that looked exactly like the one seen in Aarond's post. It now has Crimson Trace lasergrips and resides in an old fanny pack next to my side of the bed, loaded with Hornady 110 gr. FTX. While the "Ladysmith" marking did cause me to stop and think, it did not take long to realize that this is still a M36 with a 3" barrel - one of the must-haves on my list.
 
Howdy

Those things are not Ladysmiths. This is a Ladysmith.

MHG212SmithampWessonLadysmith-Web_2_zpsf18d6b61.jpg


It kills me that S&W is recycling the name Ladysmith, just like they are recycling the name M&P.
 
Well I went back today and decided to bring her home. I even was able to brave the weather and put a few rounds through it before sunset. The action is very crisp and I think I prefer these grips to the ones that come standard. Not only are the rosewood grips attractive I find they are quite comfortable as well.

The fact of it being a Lady Smith doesn't bother me in the slightest but just based on the reaction of the store clerk I didn't know if there was some sort of unspoken taboo against it. In fact after mentioning it during the haggling he actually knocked a little off which didn't bother me either.

I don't much care for Smith and Wesson repurposing names such as Lady Smith and M&P either. It's just going to give all sorts of headaches to collectors 50 years down the road lol
 
I think you did VERY well Cards.

At one time after the LadySmith (your revolver not the other LadySmith handguns) had been on the market for a while, I was thinking there might be some kind of stigma attached to the name and I might be able to get one cheap. I kept an eye open for a real deal on one but never ran across one. At the time I would have snapped one up if I had found it.

Driftwood, I appreciated your historical note.
 
A further historical note about the original Ladysmith revolvers. They were the smallest side swing revolvers ever made by S&W. Built on the tiny M frame, they were seven shooters. They were chambered for the 22 Long cartridge, not the 22 Long Rifle. They should never be fired with modern ammunition, they were not built for it.

Now here is a fun story that has been going around in S&W circles for years. The story goes that Mr Wesson was shocked to discover that many of the purchasers of the tiny, easy to conceal Ladysmiths were Ladies of the Evening. Being a stern old, puritanical New Englander, Mr Wesson ordered production of the Ladysmith models to end. True? Probably not since Mr Wesson died in 1906 and the Ladysmiths continued to be produced until 1921. But it makes a great story.
 
REAL men don't let things like that bother them . . . . :D

The only difference that I can see is that maybe you have to feed it prettier bullets? :eek:

That on the side of it wouldn't stop me at all from buying one . . first off, if it's in a holster, who is going to see it? Second, out of the holster, who is going to make fun of a guy who is holding a loaded handgun?

I came very close to buying a Model 60 Lady Smith about a year ago but ran across a pristine Model 36. I love the Model 36 (snub) and I wouldn't care if it was painted pink - it's a good little shooter and my primary carry gun now. :)
 
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