In almost every discussion I've heard, most people identify one of these three revolvers as Smith & Wesson's "best":

Model 15
Model 19
Model 29

Of course, they are different guns for different uses, but if you had to choose one revolver as Smith and Wesson's "best," which would you choose, and why? I know it is kind of an apples/oranges/unfair question.

I guess I'd choose the 19 due to versatility and balance.

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Aaron Terry

The .357 Magnum/Model 27, no contest. Nothing else had a checkered top strap (except some 627's and they're later).

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"I also cook."

Actually, early Model 41s had checkered top straps, too...

But, I'd have to agree that the .357 Magnum was the defining achievement of the Company for many years.

'SMITH & WESSON 357 MAGNUM'

Hands Down.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Well the best is the 44 magnum HE of course

Depends entirely on your definition of "best." If it means the finest revolver they have ever built, my vote goes to the original .357 Magnum and its offspring, the Model 27, NOT including the strange PC variations and odd looking "creations" of late.

If your definition means best for defense, then that is probably the Combat Magnum - small enough to carry, even concealed and can shoot 38s mostly and magnums when you need them.

If best is the one you carry most, then the J frame Airweight, such as the 642 or the Chief's Special Model 37 get the nod.

If best means most accurate, then the Model 17 gets the nod (I would have specified the Model 41, but you limited your question to revolvers).

If best means cutting edge technology, then the scandium/titanium J frames get the nod.

If best means most famous, then the Model 29 in "Dirty Harry" guise wins.

Let's face it - it is nearly impossible to pick just one S&W, whether it be for personal use, or in a list like this.

The RM's also had checkered top straps

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Gary Grace
S&WCA #1837

another vote for the model 27. The first Magnum!

That was the original ".357" Magnum Revolver.

But mine doesn't have a cylinder.

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"I also cook."

It's just according to which one I'm shooting or carrying that day. It is either a 3" J-frame .38, or a 6" K-38, or a 4" K-22 Combat Masterpiece. Then, there is the Model 63. Or the Model-10, but the Model-15 is so sweet. A few years back, it was definitely the .45 Mountain Gun.

I'll get back to you on that.

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Georgia On My Mind

The best S&W revolver has to be the one that sold the most, and made the company what it is.
It clearly owes its success to the K-frame line, and within that line, to the .38 Military &
Police models. Hands down, they have made and sold more of those , than any other model. No
other model comes even close.

The model survives to this day, after more than 100 years. The current versions are
the models 10, 14, and 15 .

Later, Mike Priwer

There is a strong argument that the 642 is the best pocket pistol ever, and in its size category, the best ccw.

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Aaron Terry

One could also vote for the K22 as the best

I think I have to go with the K frame M&P models and the model 10. From it all sorts of models were conceived. Personally, I have a long love affair with the mdl66.

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Nothing to see here,move along

THE BEST S&W REVOLVERS ARE THE ONES I OWN

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M.J.Hanna

My favorite for looks is the Model 27-2 but for plain shooting pleasure it's a Model K22 and K38.

Probably the 19, well maybe the 29, or the 36, or the K22, or the 27, or the 28....

It's a tough call between the early 44 Magnums, with their Coke Bottle Stocks and all, and the the "357 Magnum".

I choose the "357 Magnum" including pre-27 to 27-2. The checkered top strap signifies that this was the S&W top revolver.

Rod

I'd have to say, all the 5" N-frames in Doc44's collection. I love 5" N's.

The original M27s have my vote!
BB

Well now, let's say that you're favorite purveyor of S&W's has temporarily lost his/her sanity and has laid out his entire assortment of pristine RM's, K32's, pre-29's, K22's, M19's, M10's and all the others for sale for 1 hour only and you've got only one measly grand in your pocket. Let's continue the fantasy and say that he's offering any one of them to you for your measly grand. Now which one is the greatest? Me, I think I'd take the Volcanic, or the Revolving Rifle, or Teddy Roosevelt's New Model Three that he's got tucked away under the counter. I guess for me, the greatest S&W would be the one that had the greatest value to me at the time. For S&W, it may well have been the Victory (after Dunkirk and the Light Rifle debacle).

Within my own paltry assortment of S&W's, the "best" is probably an old K38 Combat Masterpiece that my Dad gave me, that one day, God willing, I'll pass along to one of my grand kids. -S2

I'd take the pre-29 over all of them

I specialize in Model 10 snubbies, but my favorites (best) are M-27 and M-28 .357's.

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I will move firewood every day

5" Triple Lock Target, .44 Spl.

Of course, they made some pretty nice guns after 1911, too.

1. Pre 27 or 2. Pre 29

5" 27 EOS

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CST 147

S&Ws Best Revolver IMO??
That would be my M19 Combat Magnum..
No RMs Here..

Hk's S&W 4" M19-5 w Factory Combats

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

The Military & Police .38 Special is the best in my opinion as all the others were its offspring.

My favorite would be the early 4" .44 Magnum. The .44 Magnum was the pinnacle of Smith & Wesson when looking at the history of the company. Although, it wouldn't take too much arm twisting to convince me the Registered Magnum was at the top. Can we have two pinnacles?

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Centennial Every Day

Model 27, pick the barrel length of your choice!
Gary

For all around use, carry, home protection, target, concealed carry one could name just about
any K-frame, or if need be an L-frame (get rid of the barrel lug), but I'd pick a Combat Masterpiece or the Combat Magnum with 4-inch barrels.

I would grab a 5 or 6" RM, with magna grips, a grip adaptor and a humpback hammer and never look back. The RM's were not really revolvers but works of art!

J frame model 36
K frame model 19
N frame model 29

My favorite 4" mdl 19

everyone has a good idea. i like them all. don

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"Don't worry be happy"

I'd have to go along with the .357 Magnum as well.

Id vote for the 29.

I'd say the five inch model post war pre-twenty sevens for fit,finish,beauty,smooth action,accuracy,and packablity. This was a hard addmission on my part because the gun I love above all others is the post war pre-twenty four with a five inch barrel.

For me it has to be the "N" frame guns. First would have to be the early 25-2 with the 6 1/2 inch barrel. I suppose because I can use the 45 ACP round in the revolvers as well as my Colt autos. Next up would have to be the model 29 with the 6 1/2 inch barrel, because the 44 special load is just so accurate and pleasent to shoot. And in my opinion the model 27-2 is one of the best crafted revolvers S&W ever made, and you just can't beat that 38 special load. I did own a registered mag. a while back and it had the absolute best action I have ever held in my hands. Well thats what I like and I'm sticking to it. Its really fun to see all these different post and likes.

All are children of the M&P/M-10. Without them S&W would be a footnote in firarms history. Haveing said that, I love em all!

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Stay safe people!

My best shooter is my pre-15 combat masterpiece. I also have two model 10s and a 686-3. Also a couple Ruger Secuity Sixes. I like all of them but the combat masterpiece has the best trigger and feel. Other than the older long action M&P the combat masterpiece is the best revolver.
Only opinion

The 'Best' revolver ever produced by Smith and Wesson. My opinion. Hmmm.

The 357 Magnum,built on the N frame. Pre war preferred, but any post war right into the model numbered 27s,
and -2 versions. I have yet to see one that suffered as a matter of lack of quality control.
Granted, they did not sustain the company as the M.&P. did. But we're just discussing 'Best".

It's no coincidence for me that there are 9 of varying configurations in the collection spanning the years
1936 to 1989.

Then , any 4" N frame in a major caliber will do. The N frame set Smith apart from all the competition.


My .02$ Regards ,,,,AlleN-Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Allen-Frame, that is one beautiful lineup you have there..

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Aaron Terry

As another poster pointed out, it depends on what the criterion for "best" is: best-shooting, best-looking, most powerful, best-carrying, most accurate, most popular, most valuable, etc. But as Mike Priwer pointed out, the M&P series made the company what it is, so the 38 M&P gets my vote. If I had to pick just one version, I'd say the 4" 10-5 with PC magnas, but I dearly love all of the variations from the first model of 1899 to the early M&P targets, to the 14 and 15, and other K frame variations (though the current production HB Model 10 with goodyears and lock might be the last gun I would buy, and only if it was the only one I needed to complete my collection!). -Donald

Gotta vote for the K-frame platform. Most versatile and prolific revolver that's been getting the job done since the turn of the last century

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Rough waters ahead.

I'm siding with the Model 27 crowd, but I'm not parting with my 624 or 629.

Without a doubt, the 357 Magnum/Model 27. I've often referred to it as the crown jewel of the Smith & Wesson lineup. Here's a couple of mine:

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

While it would be very difficult to argue with the logic of the 'N' frame 357's, 27-2 or earlier, I believe the Model 29's (or 629's for that matter) are the 'best' revolvers in the lineup. Beside the quality and incredible asthetics, the calber makes it the best. All N frames are excellent handling but the 44 caliber puts it over the top. The 44 special is a near perfect round in every way. Clearly accurate, soft shooting or powerful with Keith type loads, or the 44 magnum, which can about do it all yet is still controllable. Easy to reload (I use 44 mag brass even for my target loads), relatively cheap, and bottom line, pure fun. As for overall beauty, I prefer the straight barrel of the 29 over the tapered 27, but that is just my opinion. While I own nine 29/629's in all barrel lengths, one would be hard pressed to find a more perfectly balanced model than the old 6 1/2". While I have two 27-2's in mahagony, 3t's, with 5" and 8 3/8" and would not part with them, it is my 29's that are my favorites for the above reasons......Enjoy hearing about all your 'best' choices and logic behind your views.

For me its's an N-frame 357, with the 6-1/2" 27 at the top of the list.You gotta love the fit and finish and the checkered top strap. You can load it from mild to wild, and find grips to fit almost any hand size. Also felt recoil is minimal. Second would be an old 6" K-22, the ultimate plinking revolver.

That realy is not a hard question,it's the
model 10 of course.
Dick

This was a rigged question when I posted it, of course

After all, how do you define best? But the safest answer is probably the M&P/Model 10. It is the most successful (and I'm pretty sure) widely-produced revolver (and maybe handgun of any kind) of all time.

All of the other wonderful guns that have been mentioned, the 27, the 29, the 19, etc., all sprang from this original masterpiece.

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Aaron Terry

Which is the best restaurant?
Which is the best motor vehicle?
Which is the best airplane?
Who is the most beautiful movie actress?
Who is the best race car driver?
Who is the greatest general?
ad nauseum..... Have fun!
Mike