Shrek Of The Arctic
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- May 22, 2019
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"Classic" is a difficult terminology for me to assimilate. Alot of my affinity for the old S&W revolvers is based on family stories and nostalgia. My Father was one of the guys who returned from Vietnam and ended up going straight to a Police Department for awhile. I think at the time, that's just...what he was mentally equipped for at that time. I remember the story of him approaching a very drunk man with a 1911 in hand that was shooting up a bar and challenged him to a "Quick Draw" while eying the Model 10 on my Father's hip. The drunken gun fighter accused him of cheating when he reached in his pocket for a Model 60 J frame and knocked his teeth out with the barrel as he drew.
I once got a beautiful, but out of time Model 10-5 Heavy Barrel .38 Special. The whole time I was working on it my dad was working on me. Offering to trade me everything short of the kitchen sink for it. He REALLY wanted it. It was my intention to give it to him for either Father's Day or his Birthday (Both are really close) and it was hard to hold him off. When I finally had it squared away and presented it to him, he got misty eyed on me. Started saying how the Model 10-5 with that heavy barrel was the perfect fighting handgun. The Model 19 always got the adjustable sight broken off during a wrestling match. The thinner tapered barrel Model 10 bent too easily if you whacked someone on the head with it. But the 10-5 with the heavy barrel...combat perfection. Law enforcing sure was different back in them days, eh?
Then my L frame 586...My Grandpappy taught me more about shooting than anyone else. The 586 was likely the first centerfire handgun I ever fired, and it was the last gun I ever fired with him. When he passed, we had a white trash family bonanza of people coming for his tools, truck, etc. I got that 586, the knife he carried throughout WWII and the American flag that was on his casket. To me, priceless.
I remember the 25-5 N frame that was a police department trade in from one of the North Georgia PDs my Father brought home for the princely sum of $250. All the nights hanging out at the range with him and the grown ups, shooting, trying different handloads, debating the S&W Vs Colt and them inferior cast frame Rugers. Us kids were busy running the woods and catching lightning bugs most of the time, but man, it was special when we got called to the firing line to shoot one of Daddy's big guns. When my dad and I were first in Alaska on vacation, he let me carry that gun. I felt ten foot tall and bullet proof with that awesome responsibility! I was so proud that I was entrusted with that gun!
So....I'm sure you can see....I've tried to paint a picture with the various frame sizes. So...it's a tough call.
But for me...One of my grail guns is a 25-5. As it turns out, I got one this last Fall. Beautiful condition, and it has been blessed by the very hand of Hamilton Bowen! I continue to carry my 625 Mountain Gun as a working revolver. my 25-5 just gets petted, goes to the range sometimes, and might get loaded up and hang out in the nightstand.
#2 would be a clean Model 27 with a 4" barrel. I got a story about that too, but I won't bore you with it. As much as anything, I just really, really enjoy the feel of an old N frame .357, and there just ain't much out there classier to my eyes than the Model 27. It's a gun with trememdous history and nostalgia that remains as capable now as it ever was.
Those are both a bit of a reach for most of us, but not absolutely unattainable.
Sorry if I'm a bit long winded there...
I once got a beautiful, but out of time Model 10-5 Heavy Barrel .38 Special. The whole time I was working on it my dad was working on me. Offering to trade me everything short of the kitchen sink for it. He REALLY wanted it. It was my intention to give it to him for either Father's Day or his Birthday (Both are really close) and it was hard to hold him off. When I finally had it squared away and presented it to him, he got misty eyed on me. Started saying how the Model 10-5 with that heavy barrel was the perfect fighting handgun. The Model 19 always got the adjustable sight broken off during a wrestling match. The thinner tapered barrel Model 10 bent too easily if you whacked someone on the head with it. But the 10-5 with the heavy barrel...combat perfection. Law enforcing sure was different back in them days, eh?
Then my L frame 586...My Grandpappy taught me more about shooting than anyone else. The 586 was likely the first centerfire handgun I ever fired, and it was the last gun I ever fired with him. When he passed, we had a white trash family bonanza of people coming for his tools, truck, etc. I got that 586, the knife he carried throughout WWII and the American flag that was on his casket. To me, priceless.
I remember the 25-5 N frame that was a police department trade in from one of the North Georgia PDs my Father brought home for the princely sum of $250. All the nights hanging out at the range with him and the grown ups, shooting, trying different handloads, debating the S&W Vs Colt and them inferior cast frame Rugers. Us kids were busy running the woods and catching lightning bugs most of the time, but man, it was special when we got called to the firing line to shoot one of Daddy's big guns. When my dad and I were first in Alaska on vacation, he let me carry that gun. I felt ten foot tall and bullet proof with that awesome responsibility! I was so proud that I was entrusted with that gun!
So....I'm sure you can see....I've tried to paint a picture with the various frame sizes. So...it's a tough call.
But for me...One of my grail guns is a 25-5. As it turns out, I got one this last Fall. Beautiful condition, and it has been blessed by the very hand of Hamilton Bowen! I continue to carry my 625 Mountain Gun as a working revolver. my 25-5 just gets petted, goes to the range sometimes, and might get loaded up and hang out in the nightstand.
#2 would be a clean Model 27 with a 4" barrel. I got a story about that too, but I won't bore you with it. As much as anything, I just really, really enjoy the feel of an old N frame .357, and there just ain't much out there classier to my eyes than the Model 27. It's a gun with trememdous history and nostalgia that remains as capable now as it ever was.
Those are both a bit of a reach for most of us, but not absolutely unattainable.
Sorry if I'm a bit long winded there...
