Sometimes it is the safe queens that get all of the lime light, while the work horses are kept in our holsters and range bags each time we go to the range. Here is the chance to post photos of your favorite vintage N Frame revolver that is always in your hands when you want the best groupings...

Mine's an 8.375" barreled 5-screw 357 that came to me well broke in with lots of holster wear, edge wear on every high point, and some pinpoint pitting on the trigger guard and front sides of the barrel. The checkered rear sight had been replaced with a later grooved sight (no checkering) and a new hole was drilled in the top strap to fit the later front screw placement. Somewhere in its life it was fitted with a target trigger and target hammer with a trigger stop screw in the rear of the trigger. Since coming into my possession, it received a Nelson Ford action job, smoothing of the trigger edges, the inserting of a gold McGivern bead in the front sight and the addition of a 1960's set of smooth presentation target stocks that I traded a 5" 27-2 barrel for.

She is the finest shooting revolver in my stable and everyone who shoots her falls in love with her. So... last week she got a glamour photo shoot opportunity and here she is:













I'm looking forward to seeing your vintage N-Frames range time shooters...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

You start the best threads, Richard!


Lemme get my popcorn for this one....

Model 29-2 shipped in 1977. For shooting in a smaller caliber, the 28-2 with Herrett's does nicely. click on the photos for a better look

Bill

I only have 1 that falls in this time frame. It was my 1st G.B. purchase. Similar to many others stories, I was looking for a 27. Couldn't find 1. So, I settled for my 28 no dash from 1960. I don't regret it one bit. The next time I post pics of it, will be with diamond targets on it. The Herretts do feel quite good! Bob

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This one goes to the range every time I do.
Shipped September 1, 1915.

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I carry and shoot this'n purty often,

Sometimes jest for the memories....







.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

N frames are my favorite, despite my small hands and some difficulty shooting them with standard target grips.

As I am still a reserve law enforcement officer, after retiring with over thirty years of full time service, I am required to qualify with all my carry guns, so they are by definition "shooters." I have several other N frames that I hunt with or just shoot for fun. I have a bunch of N's that I don't shoot. Just haven't gotten around to shooting them yet.

First up: Model 25-2 Jovino. Qualified with this in October.





Model 27-2 Nickel. Qualified with .38 +P ammo. It is a joy to shoot.



Model 325 Night Guard. I retired this one when I got the Jovino






This is my deer hunting companion. Pre Model 29, 6.5 inch. I had to pay $425 for this one.



Model 25-6, .45 Colt Mountain Gun. I have used this one to dispatch several wounded deer.





I haven't gotten around to photographing my 3 7/8 inch, 610, 10MM, which I usually shoot with .40 ammo.

I also haven't gotten around to photographing my newest and favorite carry gun and shooter (and perhaps my most valuable gun) the 629-3 Lew Horton Carry Comp (or Mag Comp as they were called both), three inch, compensated barrel with fixed sights. To me this is the best revolver S&W ever produced.

A registered Magnum shipped to Kansas City, MO. P.D. in 1939 refinished how many times ?
I use either 38 special 158 grain round nose or 148 grain wad cutters .

this one: 38-44 from 1955.



rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

Whenever I go shooting these two are always with me!

38/44 King Super Police





38/44 Prewar Outdoorsman

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Paul
SWCA #2864

I shot this old war horse a few months back and was very impressed.

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Get off my lawn!

I have several thousand rounds through this Model 29-2. It's my favourite "shooter" revolver.

Great thread topic Richard. N-frames are my favorite S&W's to collect and shoot. Here are a few of my favorite ones that I like to get dirty.

I love taking this 1917 to the range every now and then. When I shoot it, I always wonder if it saw any action and saved any of our guys butts.





This 4.5" RM was a Kentucky Highway Patrol training gun and out of all of my Smiths it has one of the sweetest triggers. It's been well loved and I'm continuing making it feel that way, but only with 38 specials.





This 1932 38-44 Outdoorsman goes to the range with me when I want to feel good about my shooting ability. It's laser beam accurate and an absolute pleasure to shoot. A set of KB Ropers makes it fit my hands perfectly. She's very close to being a safe queen, but too much fun to shoot to keep her locked up in the safe.





I shoot this pre model 26 in my gun clubs steel plate matches. There's nothing like ringing steel with a 45, and this gun gets it done! I added a set of relieved diamond targets to fill my hands.





This 3.5" 27-2 is my shooter Model 27. It keeps the miles off of my pre 27's. A nice set of targets makes it look and feel just right.





This 3" 625-3 is a blast to shoot and it gets dirty quite often. I've shot it in steel plate matches, and I've used it a few times as a CCW in a R.Grizzle holster.





And of course my wedding / BBQ gun, a 1939 factory nickel 38-44 Heavy Duty with a humpback hammer and jig bone grips in a custom made floral rig crafted by American Gun Leather (05CarbonDRZ). It shoots as good as it looks

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Rick
SWCA #2727 , SWHF #435

OK, I'll play.

I believe the correct description (let me know if I'm wrong) would be model of 1950 44 Special (a.k.a. Pre-24) from 1956. It's been cut down from 6" to 4-1/2" but it is one sweet shootin' 44.

This photo was taken at the LGS where I bought it.

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Like most here I have J, K, L, and N frame revolvers but the N frames hold a special place in my heart. They never fail to make me look good and put a smile on my face.
Here's my old beat up Triple Lock, and a 25-2 converted to .45 Colt.

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Then there's a few Model 28s and my Stealth Hunter I call Big Ugly.

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Then a couple more .45 Colts and a .44 Magnum.

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Here's a fun shooter...

That's gorgeous!

My favs are a reliable old Transition HD, a weathered and worn Transition .44, a spiffy 24-3, and a big ol' 29-5 Classic.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Hii
Here is one of about 5 that I shoot at least 3 times a week. this is a Triple lock 44/40 king super Target.
the other 4 are
6 1/2 King Triple lock Target in 44 special
7 1/2 inch Triple lock 44/40 Target
model 24-3 with a 5 inch barrel 44 special
7 1/2 inch Triple lock Target in 44 special
Between the 5 I have shot over 500 rounds in the last 2 months.
as you can see they are all 44 cal.
Jim Fisher

As my eyes begin to age, I find this 6" pre-27 (also tuned by Nelson Ford) is finding more and more range time...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

My shooting "lineup" of N frames includes;

- Pre War 38/44 Outdoorsman (shown with stags, now wears custom targets)
- 1955 Target with custom NR Targets by Steve Jessee
- Late S Prefix 29-2 6.5"
- Post War 6.5" 38/44 Heavy Duty

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Well that's easy. I only have one so it's hard to pick a favorite

Mdl 28 circa 1965

Off all my N-frames thisun gets the most use

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Sheriff Russell Cottle. ret

All my guns get shot. Can never pick a favorite on anything. Maybe my HD shipped in 1960 is most fun to shoot because the 38 Special is such a puttycat in the N frame platform.

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No life story has happy end.

I like those moon clip holders.. Never seen anything like that before.

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Eccentric old coot

I'd have to say it'd be my 4" TL. Figure it was shipped in 1909. Mean to get a letter for it as soon as I can. It isn't mint, but it sure is pretty and lots of character.

My 28-2 Highway Patrolman is my best 38/357 magnum shooter.

The guy I bought it from said it was from a retired CHP officer.

It looks like an police officer's gun as it's got a lot of "honest" holster wear, but no scratches, rust, or other abuse.

And it's very tight, has a great trigger, and shoots well. Probably was carried more than shot in it's earlier life.

The gun now lives with me in it's retirement and is a range gun, but I'm thinking of competing this summer in some matches at my local club -- or perhaps ICORE.

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Iggy, Rob Leahy, Simply Rugged, made them for me. Not as bulky under a jacket as some. Bet Ol' Dave could turn out something similar.

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Sheriff Russell Cottle. ret

This gets shot more than any other of my N Frames. 6" M-57. After that, its my 4" S prefix 28-2.

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Kris - that's a LOT of "horsepower" for rabbit hunting... What did the other side of the head look like?

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

That's easy when they're all shooters. They all get to play and the toughest part is keeping ammo loaded.

I will say the post war 38/44 and the 6.5" 44 2nd are the most accurate, the cut 44 2nd's sights seem to send 'em low, and the TLT's front blade is damn hard to see.

Needless to say, they're all awesome and it's a pleasure to keep them shooting.

Russell,
Dave and I may to have a little chat about that.

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Eccentric old coot

I have many N frames.
The one that is always on is this one for target shooting.

Letters to 1923.
Does just as good as this one that cost 3 times as much and is from 2001.


Now for a hunting side arm there are two.
M21-4


M28-2

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

DANG I like this thread!

327 TRR8 30.jpg329PD CTC XtrmDuty Ports 30.jpg

625 629 29 Mountain Guns.jpgS&W 29 4-screw 30.jpg

S&W Lew Horton 29-10 30mp.jpg

The 327 TRR8 is an occasional trail gun - when I can steal it back from one of our sons.
The 329PD with Crimson Trace Hog Hunter grips, MagNaPorts and Extreme Duty tritium sights is one of my most frequent backpacking guns.
The Mountain Guns are frequent trail - day hiking guns, especially the 625 with my handloads.
The 29 4-screw came from the father of a friend after the man died. It's beautiful and I shoot it rarely. It's a better memory than a shooter.
The Lew Horton 29-10 is a cool-weather concealed-carry choice loaded with Hornady Critical Defense or Federal Hydra Shok or Vital Shok.
Not shown is my 627-5PC that the whole family agrees is a fabulous shooter. My 627-5 Pro Series is almost as nice.
Seems I need to take more pictures.

27-5 with 5" barrel for .357
25-5 with 4" barrel for 45 colt
24-3 with 3" barrel for 44 spl

Matching holsters, of course.

I only have a few.
Model 29-2 with a 6 1/2 inch barrel.


Model 28-2 with a 6 inch barrel.


Model 27-8 with a 5 inch barrel.

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USAF AMMO

My favorite to shoot is my 1955 Target. I've shown it before, but here it is again:









My other N-frame that goes to the range regularly is my 5" Triple Lock, which also has been shown here.








The KB Ropers make these pure luxury!

Model 625-3 45ACP



Model 57-1 41 Mag



Both great shooters

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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

These are getting the most use. The ones on the left (my carry pieces) more than the ones on the right, at least until I get the grip adapters on them. All are 45 ACP.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I like that photo. It makes me think of a similar photo of me hamming it up with a bunch of my full moon clips:





Just love a 1955 Target!

All of mine are shooters and I'm always looking for more. Nothing as nice or old as some of the others here. But that's why I keep looking.

6 inch 29-3:


3 inch 624:


4 inch 629-3:


4 inch 629-4:

...............

And this is another one.

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LEX ET ORDO

While my carry gun is either a Model 586 L-Comp (pre-lock) or a 2.5" Model 686 (also pre-lock), my passion in handguns are my N frames. Over the years I've culled my collection of safe-queens till now all that I have left are my favorite shooters, shown below:

Model 625-6 Mountain Gun in 45 Colt. Very accurate with my handload - 1" groups at 25 yards.


Model 25-5 in 45 Colt that I just had recylindered by the Performance Center. Now it shoots 2" groups at 25 yards with my handload. It's wearing Culina Checkered Classic grips in Ziricote.


Model 625-5 in 45 Colt. Also very accurate with my handloads.


My custom Model 28-2 done by David Sams, wearing Culina Classic Checkered grips.


My box stock Model 27-2, also wearing Culina Roper grips with ribbon checkering in French Walnut. This gun shoots Winchester Silvertip like a laser.


My latest N frame acquisition, a Jerry Miculek Special in 45 ACP.

If'n itsa dress up affair, I might tote a 629-4 ina floral '120'



For those 'dinner on the grounds' meetins I might sport thisun



a 625PC in onea Dave's Jockstrap rigs.

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Sheriff Russell Cottle. ret

Well, I don't have any safe queens, anyway.

I shoot this one every now and then. Model 28-2 from 1964.

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Great pics

Now that's some pretty leather. I like the "big floral" style of carving.