What’s the most sought after 357 revolver.?

M19?
Pre model 27?
38/44? Reamed to 357?
Registered magnum?
Other?

I gots to know?

With almost 11,000 posts I've have figured you'd know a .38/44 isn't a .357.

The RM is obviously the most collectible, the one I'd take to a gunfight would be a 627PC 5" 8 shooter, and a pre 27 or 27-2 is IMO the best range gun.

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Psalm 27:2

I would say:

Registered Magnum
Pre M27
M27
Pre M28
M28
Pre M19
M19
M66
M686

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

In today's market?

Probably any Python

IMHO, "best" meaning for actual use, would probably be a 586. Early 586's were well fit and finished, stronger and more durable than the 19, better DA trigger than the Colt's, and used a K frame sized grip, which fit those with smaller hands better than an N frame.

Larry

I'll bring a .44 to my gunfight rather than a .36 caliber if that's ok with everybody. On second thought, with my .44 Spl, I don't actually need anyone else's approval. Don't worry folks, I'm here all week. Thank you & sorry for butting into this conversation.

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Jeb

It saddens me to admit I know what these "pre" things are, but that aside, I see a recurring theme here-----------older is better.

You got THAT right!!

Ralph Tremaine

In view of the seemingly inexplicable fact many folks don't know the proper names of these "pre" things---and many of those who do know don't use them, I shall tell you what these "pre" things were known as-----in olden days------pre-"pre". A "Pre M27" is a 357 Magnum. A "Pre M28" is a Highway Patrolman. A "Pre M19" is a Combat Magnum. And as an aside, a Registered Magnum I guess should be called a PRE-PRE M27---or maybe a PRE-PRE-PRE M27 to acknowledge the Non-Registered Magnum. Kind of makes your teeth hurt, doesn't it?!!

Older guns..Registered Magnums

Newer guns..686 Mountain Gun and 3" 66s/19s/65s

Everybody loves...5" 27s no matter when they were made

Most sought after? IMO they would be the 28-1, the Non-registered Magnum and the Registered Magnum, at least for me. Best and most sought after aren't necessarily the same.

J. Edgar Hoover's RM!

For many collectors, I believe the most sought after is a 1950 and later .357 Magnum with a 3 1/2-inch barrel. Registered Magnums may be highly sought after, but with today's prices for guns of collector grade quality, most collectors cannot or will not add one to their collection.

Bill

"Best .357 magnum revolver"....... for all around duty/utility use ..... IMHO is a ......... 4 inch 686...... followed by the 4" 28 if they fit your hand. For a concealed carry gun the 3" 65.

Most "Sought after" as a collectible......has to be the

Registered Magnums........... Like Doc44 said price (and supply) is an issue for most...... but everyone would "like" to find that overlooked/miss-marked RM in a LGS......... for a grand or less!!!!!

Honorable mentions; IMO .................go to

Pre- 27s........shorter barrels to longer & 4 inch 27-2s

Pinned and recessed guns........

Really nice/+95%; 19s and 66s (lots out there,but most were Police duty guns..... showing lots of wear.) Again shorter barrels to longer.....

66-nuttins with the stainless sights and 3" 66 -2,-3,-4s

interest in 581s seems to be growing

I carry a Smith&Wesson model 60 stainless 2.1"barrel in 357 mag, 5 rounds.
The frame is a little larger than a J frame.
Love it, love the caliber because 38 +P cartridges are my favorite as full load 357's are a true handful, for this old Officer.
+P rounds are just fine, and my ears don't "ring"!!

The RM, without a doubt! The most sought after, though difficult to acquire.

Since the OP is specific to caliber rather than manufacture I would go with the Dan Wesson SuperMag 357 Maximum w/ barrel pac.

Now that right there is a man with lofty ambitions----and it reminds me of a sign over the door of a famous race engine shop: "THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS---BRING MONEY!"

While I don't know the truth of it (but accept as fact), I'm told the owners of J. Edgar's RM #1 declined an offer of $200,000 for it. I'm also told they followed that up with a declination of another offer of $250,000.

Like the sign said-------------------------

Ralph Tremaine

The S&W N-frame .357 Magnum is one of the finest revolvers ever made, but it is heavy and a bit bulky - which makes it a pleasure to shoot. The K-frame Combat Magnum is a beautifully balanced .357 that shaved off a lot of weight and therefore was one that was carried more after its introduction. I don't know enough about the L-frame .357s to have a strong opinion (I only have a few of them). And, to me the new lightweight alloy .357s are un-shootable - way too light for the power of the caliber...

I am enamored with all of the N-Frames and have collected a bunch of each pinned and recessed model. I also have acquired several of those newer 8-shot 627s that are way fun to shoot! But I also went through a phase when I collected almost every variation of the pinned and recessed Combat Magnum... So with that in mind "Most sought after..." for me - Today it would be in this order:

1. Any factory engraved or factory two-toned N-Frame .357 Magnums from the 1950s. These are always my favorites and although I already have a bunch of them, I always seem to want more.

2. 5-screw 1950s .357s - I am specifically seeking one with a 5" barrel in as new condition with the box, tools and paperwork, but I would also be interested in a reasonably priced 5"er with tons of holster wear.

3. An 8.375" Transitional .357 Magnum and any 1950s 4-screw non-model marked .357 - blued in pristine condition (it would probably have "Julian Hatcher" engraved on the side... or maybe it would measure at 8.5" and have some funky target grips...)

4. An 8.375" Highway Patrolman - I have seen a photo or two of one, but never one live or one available for sale.

All the other ones are lower on my priority list as I have been lucky enough to wrangle one or two into my collection.

WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE SAID, I agree with Bill and think that for the most of us, the 3.5" N-framed 357 is the "most sought after" .357 magnum today, because of its: 1) beautiful finish, 2) classic lines, 3) shootability, 4) relative affordability, and 5) the crazy high rating on the "cool meter".

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I'm not very familiar with the older and "more desirable" S&W revolvers however IMHO all S&W revolvers are desirable.

But if I was heading to a gunfight, since all my handguns are revolvers, it would have to be my 4" Model 10 38 special when in reality it really ought to be a Glock 22. lol..

But hey, staying on track I'd say the best 357 magnums would be either a 4" 586 or 686. Both are the same except ones stainless and the others blued. Pick your poison. The reason why I say the 585 or 686 is because i see them from a working gun's perspective. Either model would be a great choice for duty/home/field/plinking. But from a collectors standpoint then I think most guys commenting above have already pointed those models out.

Me personally, the older models, I kinda like the model 27

The N frame is a bit to big for my hands, the K frame supposedly will not hold up to repeated high pressure rounds so I like the L frame. The grip of a K frame with a larger frame to allow for beefier barrel/forcing cone.
If I was truly worried about prolonged use very high powered round, please forgive me, Ruger Redhawk.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

Nuff said:

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Collectible variant or not, it's pinned & recessed N-Frame for me, no matter what conventional wisdom says about the matter.

Followed by the great totin' and fine shootin' K-Frame models.

Sorry I left out the other manufacturers.

Ruger Redhawk 357
Colt Python 357

That’s ok you don’t have a 357 magnum( yet?) or just don’t feel a need for it. My first revolvers were a 357 mag and a 44 mag. With the 44 mag I didn’t feel the need for anything else for a while. I didn’t ever feel out gunned even today. It’s ok to speak up I never gave the 44 special much thought, I guess there are a lot of 44 special shooters out there?

I would have to say Registered Magnum.

I thought that you included those under "OTHER"

Thread Title asks Best .357

1st post asks Most Sought????

Best and most sought IMO = 2 1/2" and 3" 686-4

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Python? are you kidding! Muzzle heavy old clunkers. Absolutely no art
at all.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Not kidding at all. His first post did not ask for the most artful 357. It did not even ask for our favorite

He said :
I have recently sold off a few of my Pythons at about 10x what I purchased them for only a decade or so ago.

I have turned down a 20x profit on my 2 1/2" Ultimate Stainless Python, because I love the revolver and do not need the money

I can not recall another 357 whose demand has caused prices to skyrocket so fast in such a short time frame. With the possible exception of a few Unicorns like RM#1

[QUOTE=colt_saa;
I can not recall another 357 whose demand has caused prices to skyrocket so fast in such a short time frame. With the possible exception of a few Unicorns like RM#1[/QUOTE]

15-20 years ago I bought a holster worn 3" Python for $350 and my wife threw a fit. She's gone, still have the Colt

For me?

Any pre-war .357

also, I would someday like to own a Medusa modified 586 or 686. I handled one once before I knew what they were and regret not buying it to this day.

For me, I favor 28-2's in 4", 686's also 4", a 4" 65, Ruger 2-3/4" Speed-Six's, and Ruger O.M. 4-5/8" Blackhawks...in that order...not crazy about Pythons or Reg mags as they're out of reach and those I mentioned all give me joy...

Well I'll jump in, worth the most money or the longest lasting without problems with full power loads? Colt Trooper MKIII, Ruger, 586/686. Worth the most the S&W RM..

I seek whatever RKmesa has in the engraved version.

I have carried several during my time.

Model 28

Model 19

Model 586

Model 686

Model 640-1

Own several others, enjoy them all.

Best favorite is the one in my hand.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

How about a j frame -- 60-9.

It may not be the most sought after, but it took me a long the to find one.

The 60-10 is similar, but with a 3" barrel.

Both pre lock.

...talk about "bring money"...one just like this but with a rare peep sight in the rear just brought over $10K on GunBroker a few days ago...

...and you should write her and tell her the gun is now worth $3K+....

A 3" Model 65.

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Thread Killer.

I enjoy my model 28s in 4'' and 6'' tremendously. and I also love to find a really nice 586 and would also love a 581. I used to own a 1964 Python but do not own it anymore.

5/681, the ultimate combat magnum.

Agreed the OP is just asking for most sought after, so hands down it would clearly be a round butt, Model 19 snubbie in 357 Magnum!

After all......it depends on who the "seeker" is and in this case the FBI has been seeking this one particular gun forever.

You all know if you see it on the internet then it is real. stand to reason if you saw it on TV it has to be real too (who doubts Dirty Harry and the 44 Mag "truisms").

So check out "guns in movies" look up Danny Devitos character in the 1992 Hoffa movie, see the nice stock photo of the Model 19, arrow down to the scenes of Jack N playing Hoffa, checking the cylinder for full load of Maggies, putting it in his shoe....then DeVito coming out with the coffee, seeing the threat, reaching for his snubbie 19, grabbing nothing but air... and the rest is history!

Like I said..........still the "most sought after"

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

RK, you must mean like this.........


or like this.........


Ah, just go ahead and buy both of them and put them together in a Huey case!

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Terry Lester

Those would be "the ones". I know where both of them live, but have been unable to convince either current owner that a relocation to the Arizona sunshine would be in their best interests... As you will notice in my thread http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-han...#post138961105 that Transitional long-tube has been the elusive one for me...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

My most sought after 357 magnum is the 357 mag that shoots a 357 Maximum. Why not go ahead and get the best caliber ever along with the 357 Magnum.

Sevilles,
Dan Wesson Super Mags,
Ruger Maximums,
Lone Eagles,
T/C Contender, G2, Encore


Prescut
Most folks just look at the value in monetary terms, even if it's not their own preference.

Ok, all of you are USA citizens I suppose.
Let me say in advance that I'm a fan of S&W and Colt "revos", and I collect them (and I have a 5 screws 3 1/2" .357 magnum too).
North America is the kingdom of wheelguns, without any doubt.
BUT. But wheelguns are born in Old Europe, so here I am....
In a recent past a famous spanish factory, Astra, now out of business, produced some S&W clones of high quality, sometimes (often) at the same level of the original. Under this point of view, very desirable because of the low cost but very high finish and manifacture. By the way, actually they are only copies.
So, there are two sixguns representing an European pride, and both finish and mechanisms are, in my opinion, even better than classic guns. I mean Manurhin MR73 and Korth revolver.
The incredible level of handfitting and quality control makes rise their price to thousands-units. This is not the point, I guess.
Tactfully, having a bunch of Smiths and Colts, I think these overseas wheelguns are VERY desirable.

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Oh, they are very desirable here too, just prohibitively expensive.

There was a Korth Triplelock that a friend of mine bought, but during the process of importation lost because the importer owed someone money, and that someone sold my friend's gun to pay the importer's debt. My friend lost the gun, and his money.

The money is one thing, but a Korth triple lock, which they apparently only made to show off that they could do it? That was a treasure.

For me..........It's The Original 357 Magnum


Reg. No. 141



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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

At present I own no S&W .357s but do have a Colt 3-5-7, an original .357 Colt Trooper, and a Ruger Blackhawk. Those are enough for me, especially as I very rarely shoot anything other than .38 Special in any of them. One of the very few guns I ever bought new was a S&W Model 28, back in the early 1970s. I soon found that I did not like it at all and very quickly traded (or sold - I don't remember) it off - too bulky. As a shooter, I do not regret it. But as an investment, I should have kept it. At that time it cost me a bit over $100, as I remember.

The".357 Magnum" (pre-27) 3.5" blue, with target grips. Small enough to carry, more than enough frame for even serious Magnum loads, and the distinctive quality of the hand-fitted era. Some would say others (RMs) are more sought after; others more practical (the pre-19s or early M66s), or better suited to purpose (the 8-round modern guns.) My pre-27 will be the one I keep after all the others have left. YMMV!

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50 Years of Wish You Were Here

I Agree
This 27-2 is just fine for me

If .38 Special ammo was free I would shoot 200+ rounds each trip to the range

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