I was thinking about this because I see the term used up here often and I wondered what is your holy grail gun and why. I would assume that they can be different guns to different people as in the photo treads there are people who collect all kinds of S&W revolvers.

If you own your grail gun post a picture. Mine is a 27-2 and I'm chosing the unfired Nickel with 6 inch barrel because it would be the last to go if I had to give them up.

I was thinking about this because I see the term used up here often and I wondered what is your holy grail gun and why. I would assume that they can be different guns to different people as in the photo treads there are people who collect all kinds of S&W revolvers.

If you own your grail gun post a picture. Mine is a 27-2 and I'm chosing the unfired Nickel with 6 inch barrel because it would be the last to go if I had to give them up.

Hi Art!
My grail gun is without a doubt a 5" 29, either a very early one, or one of the few 29-2's.

I have a couple different 5" N frames in different calibers and I love that length! It balances better than any other, while giving a good sight radius and tube length for velocity.

Its hard to narrow it down to just one. One of the ones that has been at the top of my list has been a really clean M15 2". After looking many years I came across one at a local gunshop in the used case last week. It had just been put out for sale right before I went in the shop. It is LNIB with everything it came from the factory with and it was $350. I thought that was a very fair price and took about 5 seconds to think about it before putting it on layaway. Its always exciting when something like that happens!

A mint Model 51 in nickel...

I have a number of revolvers that I am attached to but for the past year is has been my two 625's, both in .45 ACP. I am much more oriented in performance rather than pretty (but I can sure admire the Nickel 27 AND the photography, Art! Nice work in BOTH cases. Here's my 625-6 (5"). I'm rather sad, tho' - it doesn't have a lock. LOL!!



It has no wear, but it is VERY hard to keep it clean as it is shot, a LOT, year 'round.

Dale53

Mine would be the one I just got, an early 57. I have been looking for one for a long time. Why? Because I could not afford one in 1965.

EQGuy-I'll trade you a slightly used set of Hogues for those cokes.... well you might have to cough up another $5.

Thanks for the most generous offer but I have gotten kind of attached to them so I will have to pass.

Mine are:

38/44 both in HD and Outdoorsman.

Model 58.

Model 27 with 3.5" barrel.

Don't see much if any of those in my area.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

My holy grail is whichever one I don't have yet. Currently a nickel 3&1/2" 27-2 or earlier.

Nickel is my preference as well. I think it would go great with my 6" 27-2.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

The Holy Grail is something ultimately desirable yet utterly unobtainable. If you have it, it can't be the Holy Grail, which is something you don't have and likely never will despite wanting it very badly.

My HG would be a Model 45. Have no idea why I am so fascinated with having one, but I never will as I can't justify spending the money it would take to buy one.

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No life story has happy end.

My current grail gun is a 520. I got very, very lucky this years and snagged several personal "grail guns":

-547 9mm
-627-0
-2.5" 19-3
-blued 5" and 6" 27-2, both with presentation cases
-581

...but the 520 seems most elusive. Made in the least numbers, and has a real following to it.

--Neill

Mine was a 4" blue 1950 Target but I now have one. It would be a 3.5" and a 5" pre-27 in blue.

Tom

An Elmer Keith commemorative model 29.

If you're talking about the 4" with all the gold inlay, one of those was just for sale here on the forum. For a long time too. He may still have it, you just need to dig back a ways.

I have a couple, two of them I've wanted for years, and searched for them just as long.

M16-4... bought this new when they first came out, had no idea that their value would climb as high as they have and attain "Grail" status:



586 San Francisco BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Police commemorative... a blued revolver with a nickel side plate (pinto) that's laser engraved with the BART PD emblem:



M53 Jet, with the .22 LR aux cylinder, box, papers & tools... something "vintage", out of the ordinary, and just cool to have:



And my most recent "Grail Gun", a M24-3 Lew Horton. I've wanted one of these from the day that I picked up that 1984 issue of Guns & Ammo while grocery shopping, I love the .44 Spl.



On the auto pistol front... Performance Center 945-1:



Currently on my hunting list... a 5" barrel M27 or pre-27.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

1. Pre 27 or 27 3.5" nickel.
2. "S" serial # 57 4" nickel (do they exist-I've never seen one?)
3. 4" Transition Heavy Duty in nickel
These are all scarce, if not rare, variations of classic models that are increasingly difficult to find. The search is half the fun.

686-4+ 3 inch

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Sure you did

Four-inch .45ACP Highway Patrolman.

If I had to choose a S&W Holy Grail, it would have to be some type of prototype or test sample. I love the model 27 so, maybe a first try at the Registered Magnum. A sample or test revolver from the very beginning of the best S&W revolver ever to be produced. Now that would be a holy grail.
Sorry, but I'm reaching pretty darn high.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

All I want is a model 625 4 inch JM

A .38-40 Triple Lock.

I have 3:
model 16-4
model 18
6 1/2" model 24-3

(Gunhacker) "And my most recent "Grail Gun", a M24-3 Lew Horton. I've wanted one of these from the day that I picked up that 1984 issue of Guns & Ammo while grocery shopping, I love the .44 Spl."


I have that G/A issue also, it came out right after I got my 24-3 LH. I first saw the 24-3 in the Shotgun News and ordered one immediately. Currently, I just want as many early model 29's as I can get, but Doc44 has 'em all!

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Tony

I agree with SaxonPig on this one !

I came very close to getting my Grail Gun a few years ago but flinched at the wrong time !

Himmelwright's personal .44 Target Triple Lock

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

What year was that up for sale Jerry? Do you know what it sold for?

My whole life I have been a 1911 guy and have my Holy Grail gun (several times over) in that style. When my Dad passed, I received all his Smiths. I had always admired the .44 Mag from the Dirty Harry movies and when a friend offered to sell me his 629 with an 8” tube, I jumped on it. As always, when I really get interested in something I researched the history. In looking into the .44 Mag, and came across Elmer Keith. From then on I had to have a M29 with a 4” tube and Magnas. This became my (current) Holy Grail gun. A few months ago, I traded my M25-5 for this M29-2 with forum member Lucky Derby. I added some Kurac mangnas and here it is. Now on to the next one!

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mark

A K22/40 shipped in 1941.
Ed

Good call Ed. I hope one of us runs into that one. It may be only one.

Let me know when you find it.

bdGreen
.
.
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My Holy Grail gun would be an original, blue finished 1936 Coast Guard .22 M&P with the six inch barrel.

Anyone help me out there?

Model 66 with 5 inch bbl & plain blue sights.
Grips to your choosing.

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Martin Co,FLA(finally made it)

Hi all this would be the one holy grail gun that i miss out on by 5 minutes and it sold for $525 Canadian. A first year 1964 Model 57 4"er pretty eh!![IMG:left] [/IMG]

My Grail gun would be the one I handled in 1979. I was traveling from Moscow, Idaho to Idaho Falls. I'd called ahead and stopped at Elmer Keith's house in Salmon to meet him. I'd love to have the 4-inch pre-model 29 of his that he was carrying and I handled that day. It was on that day that I no longer worried about holster wear on a revolver. If you totaled it all up, the one he was carrying probably only had a about one square inch of blueing left! It had his signature engraved and inlaid with gold on one side. Although there was little blueing left, the gun was in perfect condition and was obviously well cared for. Instead of having ivory stocks on it, like I've heard everyone else say they saw on Elmer's gun, this one had a set of magna style grips made of wood that had the head of a longhorn cow made of silver inlaid in the wood. These were the best feeling grips I've ever put my hand around! The longhorn head perfectly filled the hollow in my palm. I wish I knew where I could get a set of grips like this made; I'd probably buy a dozen sets.

I'll never forget Elmer taking the gun out of its Milt Sparks holster, opening the cylinder, kicking those big handloads of his out of the cylinder, and handing me that revolver. I'll never forget that gun, or that day! I have a picture of myself and my cousin (who was with me) with Elmer that is in my gun room. If I could only own that revolver...

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SWCA 2379

That's what I'm takin about now that is serious history. Sometimes I look at guns that I have handled and only wish they could talk. A friend of mine brought me a Colt 1851 Navy SAA forth Model in 36 caliber to look up in blue book and it had dings all over the butt and grips and when I asked him about them he said the story in his family was the relative was a lawman and the dings came from using the butt of the gun to nail up wanted posters. The gun may of had 10% of its blue and I wish he would sell it to me but he promised it to his grandson.

Model 19-3. It has all the attributes I want in a revolver.

My Pre model 45 Post Office revolver (.22 M&P). Finally got my hands on one of those rare revolvers. Got the factory letter on it recently (shipped July 25, 1958). I love the history of rare S&W's.

Originally posted by SaxonPig:
The Holy Grail is something ultimately desirable yet utterly unobtainable. If you have it, it can't be the Holy Grail, which is something you don't have and likely never will despite wanting it very badly.


+1 SP
With that being said, mine would undoubtedly be a Model 19, 3" round butt with fixed sights.
Also, a 53 in the box with the goodies, and last but not least a nice Triple Lock.

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Jeff
S&WCA #2132

I am still looking for a 627 5 inch, six shot, fluted cylinder. I have only seen pictures. Then there is that 1950 target, 5 inch, in .44 Special I have not found yet!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

S&W would be a model 18.
Colt would be both Diamondbacks 2.5" in .22lr and .38spl.

My "Grail" is not so much a specific gun, but to replace the remaining two S&W's I have with locks with P&R models. This may not be difficult, just a little costly. I also have two more plastic bottom feeders that need to go. My replacements will be a 4" 29-2, a 5" 27 and a Mdl. 36.

Simple enough except for today's economy.

Any one that I don't have.

Do not mean to be a smart ***** but as I accumulate more I find my addiction has no boundries. I do not have a specific model in mind but would just love to find a good Model 41, any of the K's, a 38/44, etc, etc, etc.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

629, 4", P&R.

I’d have to say a Registered Magnum (or, failing that, a Model 27-2) with a 4” to 6” tube, then a Model 610 with fluted cylinder (in both 4” and 6”).

I recently picked up a 3” satin nickel RB Model 13 and will payoff this week a 4” Model 681, two more of my very long list of wanted handguns. I would like to find a nice 4” blue Model 13 to replace the one I stupidly sold years ago (my first handgun purchase when I turned 21).

Finally, to be truly sacrilegious, I’m really jonesing for an early Python in blue (4” or 6”). But, the prices always seem to be running well ahead of my ability and desire will pay.

Matt

Your not sacrilegious at all and I'm sure there are more then just you and I that would like to get a Pyton in super shape. I would like a 6" barrled model but the prices are just way to much to justify for me. When it's two to three times the cost of a 27-2 in mint shape.

I want a Model 27-anything that's P&R. 8 3/8", in nickel plating. Shooter grade condition. 65% finish is fine if gun functions perfectly and has a good bore. This wouldn't be expensive but I can't find one here in Cal.

I have a ton of revolvers. I guess my Holy Grail would also be the Model 45 Post Office .22 cal. I am not sure why, I guess I just like .22's and I have never seen one for a reasonable price. I keep dreaming I will walk into a pawn shop one day and find one for $300.
Chop

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MSG US Army

Mine is a .38/44 Outdoorsman. Hard to find in Mexico. A model 68 woud be fine too.

I want just a nice using 5 screw pre-29

A 32-20 target would do it for me.