Decisions Is Hard! (Pick BBQ Gun base?)

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I don't have many neat S&W revolvers, but I do have enough to have many specific designations filled. Home defense, wilderness protection, all around/kick around, range toys, etc. A designation I'm lacking is the famed "BBQ gun" designation. I want a flat beautiful, near perfect gun, just for sheer enjoyment. After much thought, I'm down to four, and just can't decide.

Of the ones shown:

625-9 Mountain Gun. Pluses are that it's already well polished, a neat caliber, and I don't have to worry about a blued finish. Oh, and I already have a nice set of stag grips for it. Downer is that it's post lock. Even with the plug in it, that sticks out a mile away.

65-4 .357. This is my favorite all arounder. It shoots and carries super well. It can be polished prettily, no worries of blueing. Downside is that with it's fixed sights and lack of a shroud, it's mighty plain by nature

28-2 4 screw- I love this gun. I believe this probly rolled out super close to the fabled 28-1. It's in amazingly good condition, shoots great, and a joy to look at and handle. It's unique. Downside is finish becoming more of a consideration, and the fact that even though it's complete blueing....it's still a 28....

Finally...586 no dash. Darn good finish. Beautiful. High sentimental value. First "man's pistol" I ever shot, and the last one my Grandpappy and I shot together. I rarely shoot it, and honestly don't like the 586/686 that much, special though this one is to me.

So....help me decide...Which one would you pursue for this project and why? Steel can be polished, grips upgraded, holsters acquired. I just can't decide the base to start on. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

 

[oink]

Why does it have to be one of those and not something new to you?

 

[Ingramite]

Mountain Gun

 

[jdlii]

The Mountain Gun looks great with the stags!

 

[rwadley1]

The 586 with combats would be my choice, but I could be swayed to the mountain gun with stags.

 

[Invictus357]

Get all of them.

 

[Rodan]

I believe it's more about character than polish. I'd find a nice set of stocks for the 28, and a vintage, or custom holster and call it good.

My #1 BBQ gun is my 27-2 3.5", but I certainly wouldn't feel 'underdressed' with my well-worn pre-War 38/44HD...

 

[stanmerrell]

To me a barbeque gun is going to be from another earlier generation, but should still shoot a respectable cartridge. I'd say you need to start looking around. The 28 would do in a pinch, but I'd say you need to keep your eye out for something older but still capable. Something with a story.

 

[SLT223]

MG with stags all the way

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Of all those you listed it would be the 28 for me without hesitation.

 

[ADP3]

A nice nickel model 27 would be my preference in a carved El Paso Saddlery holster.
Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The view from my saddle is easy - you pick any gun that you like, get a fancy holster, and put some kind of fancy stocks on it. The gun is not supposed to be played with in a crowd, not really, and unloaded, and the sole time that I literally wore guns to an event only one person handled them and she was a champion shooter in her own right. See Vaqueros below.

I guess I'm missing something - your pictures include a fifth gun, stainless steel with stag grips. That's everything you need and nothing you don't in a barbecue gun. Get some nice leather and VOILA! You're good to go.

Examples:

That's really all it takes to have a barbecue gun.

 

[oldman10mm]

your pictures include a fifth gun, stainless steel with stag grips.

That 5th one looks like a mountain gun, round butt, chamfered cylinder, not full lug, mountain gun-like barrel. That one or the 28.

 

[gfors]

OP, of the guns you've posted, (all very nice pieces, btw!) I would choose the 28-2, because it has panache. I would slap on some elk stags, find a cool holster, and call it my "BBQ rig". Here's my birth year (1959)4-screw 28 ND. It's not pristine, but it's pretty nice, and after swapping out hammer and rebound springs, and adding some shims, in the right places, this has become the pride and joy of my collection. It's smooth as butter, a wonderful shooter, that I love to ogle and fondle.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Perhaps to clarify, the one with the stag grips is the exact same 625-9 as the one with the pachmayr grips. I just tossed it in as a visual aid for the direction I'm considering for it. It's amazing how much a set of stocks can entirely change a guns character, eh?

I'm glad I started this thread. Y'all have posted some real beautiful revolvers, and made some good suggestions. Thank you!

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Oh...older gun....I've got guns with stories and history. I've got one that I was threatened with. As far as visually older....I got a 1917 I'm trying to get ironed out?
The 64 Snubby is the one my Father in Law threatened me with on the one occasion his daughter and I weren't up to anything back in our dating days.

That 64 has the exact set of grips that are on the 625. I got no idea how they fit both a K frame and an N frame well.

 

[GeorgeD]

BBQ

My vote is for the 28. I have a 67 vintage that left the factory with target everything and is probably 90-95% on finish. I have 2 safes with guns that were custom builds or have trigger jobs and the 28 has the best trigger of all. It is the only used gun I have bought and will be the last to go.

 

[mikerjf]

Have the 64 engraved with scenes of damsels in distress. There's your story gun right there.

 

[BAM-BAM]

BBQ guns IMHO should be blue or nickel .... and I'm not a nickel fan!
Family history can also play a roll on why you carry one over another.

Mine is a 586-5 factory round butt wearing a set of Spegel Extended Boot grips in Birdseye maple. So you can guess my vote.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

As of today....I'm narrowing it down to the N frames. The 65 is just too darn useful to not keep shooting and carrying it regularly. The N frames have the advantage of being able to share holsters for the gun and speedloader, thus allowing for a bit of indecision. Of course, the 625 does get used as well, but...grips change easily and ir can easily be re-polished. 28 seems to be gaining ground. Even with it's lackluster finish for it's time, it still looks great next to modern weapon finishes...

Or maybe this is my excuse for my next gun. A model 21,22,25,27 or....a Model 19....Hmm....