Belt Auction

taurus 38 special or smith and wesson 38 special?

im looking to by either or. And im talking about the older models. Like the Model 37 for the smith and wesson and model lower 80s for taurus. I would think that smith and wesson would be the choice. But i have found that for those models they seem to be priced the same which by observation would lead me to think that the quality would be the same? here are links for both: taurus : http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=143305365 smith and wesson: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=143767861 thanks for your input

Public Comments

1. Friends don't let friends buy taurus.
2. the tauris appears to be stainless, which is a plus. The smith may be easier sell later on just because of its name. For a few dollars more, you should be able to pick up a new ruger lcp in .380. I carried a 2" smith for years, but now carry the .380. With the right ammo the .380 has a slight edge, plus it has an extra round, is easier to reload, and is much much easier to carry. The ruger slips comfortable into the front or back pocket of a pair of jeans and the smith and taurus are much better in hoslters. Food for thought. good luck
3. When you buy a Taurus you get what you pay for. Not to say they are bad guns I own a few Taurus pistols myself. Sandw has revelvers that can hold up to eight shots like the new night guard in .357 or .38. Also smith and season is way better quality but they cost you more. I would save my money and get a smith and wesson.
4. I like the Smith. Either one will go bang.....but,the fit and finish on a Smith is a little better.
5. I'd go with the S&W Taurus is basically a copy of the S&W so why not get the original/best?
6. Well, if they were both new, I'd say pick either. The taurus has a lifetime warranty, the S&W is a great gun on its own. If you're looking into older guns, I'd go smith & wesson. Thier revolvers are practically legendary for quality and reliability. The older (more than 15 yrs old) taurus models were known to have some quality issues. The folks who mostly bash Taurus now are mostly basing thier judgment on this old reputation, and the 'mob theory' of everyone badmouths them. I still think overall the S&W is a better choice, but the Taurus is a fine choice as well. Im not going to give you the full 'buy local' speech, but let me just say that by the time youre done with shipping, FFL transfer, and finding a local store ot accept & proceess your application, they cost is likely the same as if you just purchased it local to begin with. Plus, you'll have a place to go with questions and advice, and in the rare chance of a malfunction, the local store is much easier do deal with than some guy in Peoria....
7. Either will do just fine.
8. I would pick the Smith and Wesson .38 special, why? Because of the brand name, Smith and Wesson. A used Smith and Wesson revolver will have a higher resale value than a used Taurus revolver. By the way Smith and Wesson makes very good quality firearms.
9. It really depends on your budget. If you have no problem spending the money, then get a Smith. If the cash is tighter, then go with the Taurus. As said previously, you get what you pay for. The Smith is a better fit and finish with a smoother trigger. But the Taurus will still go bang. I often carried my Taurus 85 for years and only recently upgraded to a Springfield XD sub 9mm.
10. No Contest, No Problem, its the Smith & Wesson.* That's like trying to decide whether you want a Cadillac or a Ford Escort.*
11. You should do fine with either...but why not look into .357 mag? It can fire .38 special and .357 mag (a much much better round)