Between these early years which revolver is the most sought after?

With all the talk about this one and that one what's the most popular one that everyone wants? I GOTS to know?

Reg mag, followed by in caliber in the 44 HE Triple Lock and 3rd model.


Charlie

It's always the one you don't have.

As a whole the Registered Magnum is likely the single most desired S&W. But of course each person has his own preferences. Some guys collect 38/44s. Some collect Triple Locks. But overall, I think the RM is on more want lists than anything else. Takes big financial resources to be a serious RM collector.

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No life story has happy end.

Guns are like cars and women. Different tastes reign. However
the consensus will include one , some , or all of these. 5 screw guns that are popular of course are reg mags but they are expensive and not enough of them. So collections include
pre 29's. heavy duties, triple locks, pre 27's and then you have
the Outdoorsman, model of 1950 and 1955's, model of 1926,
model 1917. The N frames lead the pack followed by the K and
then your J frames.
Happy Hunting!!!

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Gun Control= Using Both Hands

It all depends on your financial means and your desire for more than 1 of the revolver or not. I went with a collection of 29-2's and 27-2's in all barrel lengths and once completed except for the elusive 6.5 inch 27-2. I enjoyed owning them for about 4 years and then sold them off.

To me a Registered Magnum would be the holy grail but I couldn't get myself to pony up the money.

In the end, it's the one you don't have.

Registered Magnums top most people's lists, but Triple Locks, Lady Smiths, Models of 1899, K32s, 3rd Model .44s, Humpback Hammered 38/44s, Pre-War Kit Guns, Pre-29s, 27s, 19s, not to mention Model 3s all deserve their place in the "Most Sought After" category.

S&W has made a very large variety of very special guns in their history, all of them are well worth seeking and owning in their own right. One of the wonderful things about S&Ws is that you can be a sort of generalist collector, but still just stay within S&Ws, simply because they produced so many for so long and they were always such high quality.

A man could be happy for a lifetime just collecting fixed sight .38 Special revolvers I expect. Once you had one example of every variation there is every barrel length, then you have other trigger/hammer options, grip shapes, grips themselves, and if you somehow got all of those variations you could easily move onto historic and interesting guns. Like police guns, or guns owned by specific people.

The cherry on top for me to all this S&W collecting is the fine target shooting modifications and accessories from places like Roper and King. That's a deep rabbit hole.

For me personally the most sought after would be any S&W modified by King or with fine pre-war target stocks.

You have 2 different questions there, most sought after and most popular. Most sought after are usually those with lowest production numbers, so Registered Magnums would rate high on the list. The most popular would be the 38 Military & Police revolvers, since so many were manufactured.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Start w/9mm bottom feeder.

It's all up from there.

Let's not forget there were somewhat fewer pre-WWII NON-Registered Magnums made than registered ones.

For me, it would be
1. Triple Locks (don't have any! )
2. RMs (only a dream at present)
3. M1917s (Finally! Something I do own, even if most of mine seem to have a Portuguese accent! )

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You're shy a few manners.

For me, it was the RM and Triple Lock. I assumed I would never afford a Reg Mag. Then I sold a number of other guns I had and covered the price of a lovely RM that turned up at our local gun show. And now, via another forum member I have an unaltered 455 TL. 3rd Model 44's (1926 or Wolf & Klar) are also favorites. One was my first pre-war S&W before I even knew what it was... I just liked it.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Without a doubt, the Hand Ejector First Model (a.k.a., 'Triple Lock').

Interesting thread - I have the pre 29 five screw and really don't care for a RM. I see no mention of Baby Chiefs so I am throwing my vote for them; have three including a half moon sight, 3-digit serial number. Still looking for the smooth ramped sight Baby Chief.

I've always put the Registered Magnum up there as No. 1 but will admit that I do not own one. I could never justify spending the REALLY BIG BUCKS on one in the past but NOW I do regret it as what was big bucks back 20 - 30 years ago is a bargain now! I should have "pulled the trigger" on one years ago and still might if I found one I just fell in love with.

In light of the unbelievable recent sale, maybe pre-WWII round-butt M&P snubbies should be on the list.

For me I take a different path, It has to have a feel in my hands ,the steel has to have smooth curves to it, the hammer has to have a crisp snap when drawn back. The trigger fit just right ,and smooth to my skin. The grips need to be a work of art in their own way, but stick to my hand like there is tape on them.The caliber must not be offensive but just right, it could be .45 acp or 9mm or .38 you will know its perfect with that first shot. Right now that perfect gun does not have much value in the collecting circles or in demand world but for me its a 625 PC. From the crown to the grips its a tool a work or art and maybe even a lifesaver?

For me, one I would personally really like to have, and have never seen, is the post-WWII "Mexican Model" .38 K-frame target revolver. I think I would rather have a nice example of one than a RM.

In spite of those arms obviously scarce I think some buy hoping for a historical find possibly supported by a Jenks letter. It's another fifty simoleons in perhaps being able to tie-in w/celebrity famous or infamous, geographical spot on the map and/or a certain time frame.

You probably have a better shot at winning a lottery, yet you can come up w/shipping date along w/location as a starting point. Kind of like pulling the arm on an eighteen hundred era slot machine. You cannot help but wonder who else stood in front taking a chance to dance w/lady luck.