Not really interested if they are Blued, Stainless or Chromed but rather model numbers and barrel lengths..........not interested in future value (investment pieces) but pure shooters. If you could only own 5 S&W revolvers.....what would they be. Can't wait to hear the opinions.

Rick T.

S&W model 10
S&W model 36
S&W model 624 44 special
S&W 24-3 4" bbl in 44 special
S&W 24-3 3" bbl lew horton 44 special.
Guess you can say my favorite cartridge
is the 44 special Frank

My favorite 5 would be:

625-5 in 45 colt (not ACP) 5" Barrel
28-2 4" Barrel
66-1 4" Barrel
29 no dash 6" Barrel
686-1 6" Barrel

__________________
NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

This thread should be interesting because of the diverse number of S&W collectors and shooters up here. For me the 5 S&W revolvers that are a must have are:

1. Model K22/Model 17 P&R revolver with a 6 inch barrel because it's a blast to shoot and the ammo is cheap and is a must have in my book.
2. Model 27-2 357 Magnum with 5 inch barrel which I believe is the best balanced 27-2 N frame period and the best looking S&W revolver.
3. Model 29-2 44 Magnum with a 4 inch barrel or if you are a Dirty Harry want to be a 6.5 inch barrel because everyone needs one 44 Magnum S&W revolver.
4. Model K38/Model 14 38 special with a 6 inch pinned barrel because it was once used by competition shooters in the 50's and 60's and weighs exactly the same as the K22.
5. Model 28-2 with a 4 inch barrel because it is a solid shooter and a no nonsense N frame revolver used be LEO's back in the day.

By the way I've have all of these and in some cases multiples so I must be serious or really sick.
I'm sure this is an old school look at S&W revolvers and so most other opinions will be different as they should be.

Model 629 6" .44 Mg/.44 Spl
Model of 1950 Target 6.5" .44 Spl
Model of 1950 Target 4" .44 Spl
Model of 1955 Target 6.5" .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim
Model 66 4" .357 Mg/.38 Spl

__________________
Dave
SWCA #2465

My S&W dream List

K22 Master piece model 17 6" Barrel (already own)
K32 Master piece model 16 6" Barrel
K38 Master piece model 14 6" Barrel (already own)
M629 Classic .44mag 6.5" Barrel
M500 500mag 8 3/8" Barrel

Cheers
Pete

I've got five, but not much variety:
442/642, 38 Spl+P Anywhere, anytime gun
22/32 KitGun 22lr,4 RB Balances and carries nicely/craftsmanship
317 22 lr 3" Hi-Viz 'Cause I can see the front sight
36 38Spl, RB, 3" 'Cause it works for me
Pre-30/Pre-32 RB, 2" 'Cause they fit my hands, either is great
Maybe if I'd had or shot some of the other calibers, I'd want more.
These'll work for me, if I never get another one.
TACC1

Rick,
As far as I am concerned you have asked two totally different questions in your posting.

Your title says "What would you consider to be the top 5, must have, S&W revolvers"

But the text of your message says "pure shooters. If you could only own 5 S&W revolvers.....what would they be"

Those are not the same lists. Further you limit the shooters to revolvers. Two of my five shooters would be semi autos. The model 41 and the model 845.

If I could only have 5 S&W revolvers and they all had to be shooters it would be:
6" K22 of any engineering revision
6" Model 57 of any engineering revision
2 1/8" Model 60 Magnum Chiefs Special
5" Model 627PC
5" Model 500

Now the top 5 must have S&W revolvers would be:
K22
K38
Model 19 Combat Magnum
Model 27
Model 29

The truth is I could never have just 5. Too many wonderful S&W products would have to be ignored.

model 27 4 inch classic in nickel
model 638 shrouded hammer
model 60 357 magnum
model 351pd 22 magnum just for kicks
model 327 nightguard 8 shot 357 magnum for serious business

K-22
Mod. 15 +Have 4"
Mod. 19 +Have 4"
Mod. 586 +Have 4"& 6"
Mod. 29
if it was 6 a Chief's Spl +Have 340PD

+ Guns I have

__________________
20 years Mil, 18 yrs Sac P.D.

Here she goes:

Model 66-2 3" barrel
Model 657 3" barrel
Model 27 3.5" barrel
Model 34 2" snub
Model 17 6" barrel

If all handguns were allowed:

Model 66-2 3" barrel
Model 657 3" barrel
Model 34 2" snub
Springer 1911 5". Lightly modified
Colt Combat Commander. Lightly modified

Both 1911's in .45 ACP. Original caliber and still the finest for a fight on this platform IMO. Best darn fighting handgun ever invented and my go to weapons stoked full of 230 gr. Speer Gold Dots.

__________________
V/R
Roger / SG

My must have S&W Models, if I could only have 5 and they were my only 5 guns:
M10 HB, 3" or 4"
M640 .357mag
M686, 4"
M29-2, 6.5"
M22-4, 4"

I know one thing. They'd all have two digit model numbers and be blue steel.

M17 22 LR, 6" barrel.
M19 .357, 4" barrel
M15 38 Special 4" barrel
M10 38 Special 4" barrel
M27 .357, 5" barrel.

__________________
John 3:16 .

15, 17, 19, 27, 29.

Model 25 (not Mountain Gun) .45 colt in 4-inch
27-2 5-inch
28-2 4-inch
Heavy Duty 4-inch
19 2 3/4 inch

__________________
Vaya con Dios

Ok, here are the "must have" 5 in my book.

29-2 4"
28-2 4"
27-2 4"
25-2 6"
19-2 or 3 snubbie
An alternate would be a 15-3 or 4, 4"
Truthfully, I would hate to narrow it down to five.

I'm only including revolvers that I actually own. I can't give an opinion on guns that I don't have any experience shooting with.

Here's my five:

1) K22 Masterpiece with 6" barrel
2) Model 27-2 with 3 1/2" barrel
3) Model 36 or Chiefs Special with 2" barrel
4) Model 66 with 2 1/2" barrel
5) Model 28-2 with 4" barrel


Ash

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Ash

1. K22/K-17 .22lr
2. K38/K-14 .38spl
3.67-1 4" .38spl
4.640ND .38spl
5. 66-2 2.5" .357
Sorry had to go with six
6. 624 3" .44spl

I shore don't know where you guys get yer crazy ideas. I've got friends who'd feel nekkid if they left their house with only 5 guns. Now the darn'd liberal edu-macations have otherwise sensible folks feelin' 5 is a reasonable number to limit a feller to. Then to make matters worse, most of the young guy's answerin the questions are talkin' in "model numbers'. Back in the golden era, guns had names (you know, back before WWII when Lee was a young adult.) Oops, I might add when he worked for a livin', too.

So tiptoe'n around the question, I didn't see a single mention of a Triple Lock. Nor anyone sayin' a 357 Magnum (no, not the postwar junk.) Saw a few K22s mentioned, but not the 1940 model, the top of the art form.

Settin' here a thinkin' about something worthy made in the last 60 or so years. Maybe a 44 Magnum (1956 sounds good, with none of that model number confusion. I'm even surprised no one suggested the Jet.

__________________
Dick Burg

How do you answer that question and keep it to five?

You have to have a .22 to play with at low cost. Make mine a 17-3, 6"

You have to have a summer carry gun, J frame. Make mine a 642, no hammer to snag in the pocket and sweat resistant finish. Still must wipe down daily.

You have to have a big bore. .41 does it for me. Six inch probably works for target and hunting. (So why are mine 8 3/8, and 4?)

You have to have a winter carry gun. This is the wild card for me. I think a 2", 19 or 66 would work well, also some other or same models in 3" or maybe 4".

You have to have a .357 mag. to shoot the snot out of. You just have to. Make mine a model 28-2.

Others you have to have just because you have to have them;

Model 58, no dash; it's a cult thing.
Model 27-2, 3.5" or 5". When you see one you will know why.
Model 10, because everyone should experience the fun of shooting a model 10. Make mine a 4" heavy barrel.
And if you have more money than you know what to do with, a model 24-3, 4".

Ain't it fun?

M17 (Have) (Plinking, small game, training, fun)
M15 4" (Have) (House gun, IWB carry, jack of all trades)
M25-2 Jovino Special 2.5" (Go to for daily carry)
M28-2 6" (Have) (Because a .357 really shines at 6" plus)
M29-2 6.5" (Deer/black bear and when you really want to hear ka-boom)


All blue except the Jovino, which would have that hard dark-stainless finish we used to put on our M19s when M66s were impossible to get in the 70s. Armalloy? (Suffering from CRS this morning). That's my story and I'm stickin' with it!

* This is the "retirement" list. If I were to get back to looking for trouble on a daily basis the 28 or 29 would be replaced by my 642 (no lock) as BUG to the Jovino.

__________________
I need ammo, not a ride.

All 3 K models, a 29/629 and a 586/686, no locks. You can shoot just about anything you need to from one of these.

642 no dash 2"
624 3"
29-2 4"
27-2 6"
57 no dash 8-3/8"

M25 .45 Colt 4"
M24/624 .44 Special 4"
M696 .44 Special 3"
M38/638 .38 Special 2"
M19/66 .357 Magnum 4"

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

K-22 6" for target shooting/plinking
K-32 6" for target shooting
27-2 5" for BIG target shooting
686 4" for versitility
632 2" for pocket carry

12-3 2 inch barrel
19-4 4 inch barrel
37 1 7/8 barrel
36 1 7/8 barrel
29 4 inch barrel

I see your point but what I was trying to get across was that I wasn't looking for guns that was going to be safe queens for possible future investment. I was just curious to see what the favorites were going to be as shooters and carry pieces. I guess I was also looking for guns that the everyday collector/user could find. I wasn't looking for someone to put their five down and then find out that they were "1 of 10" or incredibly ornate and $10,000 guns. Thanks for your observations. Also, I intentionally didn't mention the semi-autos because it's my personal preference for revolvers. I like the semi's but wheel guns are my favorites and this is kind of a way for me to see what other, more knowledgeable collectors like and for me to seek some of these out and shoot 'em. The fun part so far is that some are really diverse and in some you can start to see a pattern of favorites.

Rick T.

29-2 Nickel 6" cased. Gift From my dad.
29-2 Blue 6" cased. My first 29, unfired.
29-2 Blue 4" cased. My first 4" N Frame, 1971 mfg.
27-2 Blue 3.5" cased. Only 3.5 and was hard to find.
24-3 Blue 3" boxed. Beautiful gun with all extras.
I am a retired fire chief (public servant), and don't have the resources to buy everything that I see or like. Those listed above aren't the only ones that I have, but they are, for whatever reasons, my five favorites!
DLB

__________________
Be Kind! John 3:16,14:27

My observations at this point.........

1) Really kind of surprised at how popular the 22 cal. model are. they seem to come up in quite a few of the top 5.

2) surprised that the Model 19 combat magnum doesn't come up more often. Also the 686, model 66 and 65.

3) There seems to be no love for snubbies? A few of you have mentioned that they would have one for CCW but many of you left them out all together.

4) The hammerless models seem to show up quite a bit. Surprising to me as they are not my favorite (just a personal preference) and I think the humpbacks are hard to look at.

1. model 27
2. model 29
3. model 19
4. model 17
5. model 57

and one to grow on model 36

Model 10 four inch
Model 17or 18 six inch
Model 29 six inch
Model 57 six inch
model 66 four inch

pre 17
reg mag 3 1/2"
1953 22/32 2"
mod 60 2"
mod 29 6 1/2"

I will not include my 3" mod 13 Rb, or my mod 58, but I'm not getting rid of them either.


Charlie

The poster asked what we thought the must have S&W revolvers were for shooting in our collections. I listed the 5 that had to be in my collection and I also own a whole bunch more. Heres a few like the pre Model 36 snub nose, 64 no dash with 2 inch barrel, 686 with 6 inch barrel, Model 10 with 6 inch barrel, 25-2 with 6.5 inch barrel and yes I have 6 S&W 22LR revolvers because next to model 27-2's they are my favorites. I'm sure many of us up here have way more then 5 S&W revolvers and couldn't image only owning 5 so we stated what were our must have revolvers.

It's because we all have the S&W sickness you see.

My list is very much like most of the others....

- M17 6"
- M629 5"
- M28-2 4"
- M625 (.45ACP)
- M66 2.5"

I haven't researched allot of Sw revolvers But I did shoot a NICE one at my local gun range. Couldn't tell you what model but I believe I would want to own at least 2
1 6" 357 and 1 either 4" or a snubby featherlight. I think these are all a must have.

__________________
sw9ve, 24/7 pro Ds, Hs M4

I am going on the basis of S&W revolvers--shooters wheather collectables or not.
First is a list of the Calibers I want:
.22
.32
.357
.41 mag
.44 mag
I defer with this thought on three of them as they double for 2 differnt cartridges each.
My list of models---which goes into more than 5--hey, its my list--and they are all blued:
K-22--6 inch
K-32--6 inch
M28, 586-4 & 5 inch
M29--6 inch
M629--6 inch
Blessings

__________________
TEXAS, by GOD

1950 Target .44 Special 4"
M24 3"
M29 6"
K22 6"
K38 4"

This is my general purpose shooting list. If you narrowed it to a more carry oriented list, a steel J frame and a 4" M21 .44 special would replace the K22 & K38. Also a Colt 1911 5" Commercial Model would have to slip quietly in there too

I also like to keep (cash allowing)a 10/13/64/65 around as a lender/trainer gun. If you have a first time shooter or someone who just forgot to bring a gun, usually they are cheap enough you don't have to worry too much about letting someone use them. As well, they are a pleasure to shoot.

Well, I may have been wrong to assume that most collectors top 5 would be the ones that they enjoy shooting the most. I'm sure that there are other reasons why certain ones made the top 5. I am new to the "sickness" and I'll readily admit that if I don't have one, I want one! I still favor revolvers at this time and maybe later I'll get into the ACP's. I DO have a weakness for snubbys, I have a 19-2,Blued that is amazing and I also have a 686-3 stainless that is really nice. I was curious to see what the general consensus was on other models as I continue to round out my collection as others become available. I admit that I'd eventually like to have a .41 or .44 cal just for the "Big Bang Theory." Love to hear that thunder.

Rick T.
therick

Mine have a bit of diversity:

17-3: 6" bbl .22 range gun
19-3: 2 1/2" bbl .357 serious carry
29-2: 6 1/2" bbl .44 hunting and target
37: 1 7/8" bbl .38 lightweight carry
3: 6" bbl .44 Russian, a classic antique

Yep, that is kind of how I picture my first 5 or favorite 5.

You will probably get as many opinions as replies.
For whatever it`s worth, here are my 5 favorites in order.

Model 624
Model 14-2
Model 617
Model 63
Model 27-2

10
17
27
29
36

__________________
Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

As a newbie, and with a limited budget, I'm really happy with my;

36 2" no dash for carry
66-4 2.5" all purpose ccw and good shooter
64 4" - solid shooter (or my 10, 3")
686-4, Plus, RB, 4" - range gun
34-1 4" gotta have a .22!

__________________
But then, what do I know?

I'd take:

17, 6"
19, 2 1/2"
27 or 28, 4"
57, 6"
29, 6"

All obtainable for "reasonable" prices in shooter grade, depending on your point of view.

dunno 'bout the bottom four but the m&p-m10 series is the best handgun series ever@
ron farmer

Oh what the heck... I'll play.

K-22 6" (got two)
K-38 6" (should have by the end of the week)
M10 3" HB (got it)
M60 1 7/8" (got it)
M65 3" (got it)

This list is based solely on what I own; trying to keep myself out of further debt prevents me from filling in with other choices. Not bad, considering I couldn't even spell Smith & Wesson until last week!

__________________
Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

66 no dash 2.5
65 P&R 3" (don't own one yet but my holy grail)
66 no dash 6"
625 4"
Newer 617 10 round, 4 or 6 " ( got to have a rimfire)

1917,45acp
19-4,6 " 38/357
25-3, 6 1/2", 45 long colt
27-2, 6",38/357
28-2, 6",38/357 The 27 & 28 other than finish are pretty much the same.
I have the ones above so I think a 10 or 36 will be next and then a 29 and maybe a 39 or 59
Penmon

My thoughts on the top 5, "must-have" S&W revolvers:
-M10 (4", sq.butt pencil barrel preferred)
-K22 (6" bbl pre-17 preferred)
-M60-4 (3" bbl,adj.sights)
-M24 (or pre-24; 6" bbl)
-M686 (4" bbl preferred)

Now.....how about the top-5 S&W bottom feeders? Here's my selection:
-M41 5" bbl
-S&W1911
-M&P9 Pro
And I'm sure that there may be other worthy semi's, but they're just not at the top of my "keeper" list. Beyond the above three bottom feeders, I think that I'd just keep a couple more wheel guns. -S2

In order
1. Model 27 .357 Mag (I am partial to the 8 1/2 in)
2. Model 22 .45 acp (A great self defense/ range gun)
3. Model 66 .357 Mag. (A great shooter and good for carry with 4 in barrel)
4. Model 64 .38 Special Snubby (real reliable k-frame great for extended use)
5. Model 638-3 .38 Special, (my personal carry gun, extra inch of barrel turns the j-frame into an accurate concealed weapon)