The “WOW” gun of your collection?

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I have people over on occasion that don’t really appreciate my level of gun ownership but express some interest. This seems to include neighbors, inlaws, co-workers, etc. Seems to really pique their interest when I bring out a gun or two - in my case, revolvers.

Which ONE do you bring out? For me, it’s the nickel 27, just has that WOW factor. What say you?

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I can't argue with you on a nice model 27, Kid. I would drag one of my 27's out to show off too.

Either this 4":


Or maybe my 6":


Or maybe my long tom:


All 3 were unfired except for the factory test rounds when I got them. They have had a few rounds through them since then, but not many.
 
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When it comes to non-gun folk, I have lots of WOW guns.

Hard to go wrong with a Model 27

I have several handguns that are kept out on display in my office. Every so often I change them around a bit.

This tends to bring up firearms conversations even from non-firearms people.

Right now the Deluxe Texas Sesquicentennial Commemorative is the only Smith and Wesson out

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Previous pieces on display in my office have been my Deluxe Texas Ranger Commemorative

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I know, but it is not just a Texas thing

My Snake Eyes have also been out

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As well as my 50th Anniversary HK

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There is my Colt Bicentennial Set which I do not have a photograph of all the drawers open at once. . . . need to shoot that one day

I also need to get a glass top display made for my Smith and Wesson Model 45 so I can put it out

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Once we get to talking, I let the conversation lead me into what is brought out next. Half the time it is my carry piece (gun folks) other times it is often a Model 27 (non-gun folks) for the nice finish and checkered top strap
 
Keeping it in the Smith family a couple of 25-5s.
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Outside the Smith family my Broomhandle and Lugers are good conversation starters.
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If these don’t grab them I then bring out The SAAs.
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Then I like to finish the conversation off with my 62 python.
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It truly depends on the audience and I must also say -- the setting.

If we are on the gun range, my Coonan tends to impress most easily. Big bark, huge ring of fire.

If it's about exclusivity, my Performance Center SD-9 or PPC-9 have that.

If it's about making the finest targets, the PC 845 Limited or the Walther GSP in .32 Wadcutter.

If it's about the precision feel, trigger and smoothness of the slide on frame, one of the S&W Model 52's has that handled.

For the "your first guess is only half right", it's a custom Bill Davis PPC gun, a 6-inch stainless Python barrel mounted to a 1982 Ruger Service Six frame.
 
I dont have much of a collection, but my 27-8 five inch is probably the one that got the most attention. If the revolver doesn't, the Culina English Walnut stocks usually do. Nobody has an 8 shot Model 27 over here, and nobody has Culina stocks over here.

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I agree with Sevens, it depends on the audience which one turns out to be a Wow factor, sometimes it is the cased guns (Model 29, Model 14). sometimes the "art works", sometimes the "working guns".

One thing I have noticed with visitors (gun and non gun folks) at my place is that as soon as the safe is open and one can see all the beautiful (to me of course) Smiths, Colts, fine blue steel and walnut shotguns, and rifles there for the grabbing.....the first, and I mean almost every single time guns that come out for handling and discussion.............are the war horses!

Invariably the first long gun is the M1 Garand, the first handgun is the Ithaca 1943.....passing up all those gorgeous Smiths, etc. I know tomorrow is Veterans Day, but this happens almost every time whether they are first time visitors to my place or my grown kids....so go figure.

A lot of times those two are the only ones that come out and the stories range from "when I was in the ..." to "I remember so and so could really shoot that piece".

So I guess it is how you want to judge the "Wow" factor whatever floats your boat doesn't matter....you just can't go wrong with whatever you chose. Those displays above are simply breath-taking.. beautiful guns..in beautiful display settings. You guys have the bug a lot worse than me...but I'm trying to catch up!

Remember the ones who didn't come home tomorrow.
 

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Definitely some 'Wow' factor guns here. I've had some beautiful guns over the years but these days most of them only wow folks that know what they're looking at and can appreciate them from the enthusiasts perspective.

The S&W revolver I have that gets the most "Wow, that's cool" comments is my Marc Krebs built .45ACP M28-2 'CROWBAR'. Krebs is best known for his 1911 and AK variant work, but back around '87 he built one custom revolver and this it. It is an example of a modern gunfighter's revolver, every modification was made with a fast draw and fast shooting in mind.
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This one also gets lots of "Wow, that's cool" remarks. It is my King's Gun Works custom 1948 Colt Commercial Gov't. It's a well preserved example not only of the postwar Colt Gov't Model but also of the custom work that shops were doing back in the 70's when names like King's, Capone, Swenson, Behlert, Hogue, and Clark were who you called for top notch custom 1911 work.
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My M1A SOCOM EBR is the one that get's the "Wow, that's bad ***" votes, it comes out when the talk turns to black guns.
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My Clark custom Meltdown Colt 1991A1 compact gets an honorable mention because it elicits the most variety of comments, from "Wow, that's beautiful" to "Wow, that's ridiculous" and all points in between.
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