choosing a smith and wesson for a farm hand

[mg357]

dear smith and wesson forum i am an amateur writer and im working on a short story about a farm hand one of the many tools that this young farm hand carries is a smith and wesson handgun. the gun will be used for concealed carry and personal defense on the farm where he works the story takes place in current history and it will be carried in a saddle tan leather belt holster any and all help with this would be greatly appreciated sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the smith and wesson forum

 

[snw19_357]

When does your story take place?

 

[mr.magnum]

can't go wrong with a 44 mag. i don't know where your farm will be located, but it is more than powerful enough to handle anything a farmhand may encounter. the model 29 with a 4" barrel can be concealed- maybe not as easily as some other guns but it is still possible. plus big guns are more fun to read about. nobody wants the hero to blow the bad guy away with a .17 hmr.

 

[Smith357]

A farm hand would want a good solid common sense tool and since this is in the 1980+ forum how about a 4" 686 or 629 mountain gun. Or a good tool with just a bit of off beat flair would be a 657 .41 magnum.

 

[SWID]

.357, like everybody else. A four inch 28 that he got in a pawn shop.

 

[Dragon88]

A 4" 357 or 44mag are good choices. For a little more interest and originality, I would do a 44 special handed down from Grandpappy whoever. A couple chambers might be loaded with shot shells for dealing with snakes.

 

[Iggy]

If he is a farm hand, he will need a simple, secure and tough holster that keeps the gun tucked in tight against his body. The tighter and snugger the better. He is in more danger from getting it tangled up in his equipment, fences, etc. than any other thing. A pancake holster from Simply Rugged or something similar would be worth looking at. http://www.simplyrugged.com/store/index.htmlhttp://www.simplyrugged.com/index.html

The simpler and tougher it is the better, because you can guarantee it's gonna get scuffed and scraped.

A J frame .38 or .357 Mag will take care of anything he is likely to encounter on a real farm.

If he is a real hand, he will probably find that packin' a gun during work is a pain in the ass both literally and figuratively. It won't be long until he is really thinking hard if packin' that damn thing is worth it or not.

Don't ask me how I know......*G*

Until I wised up, I carried a Ruger Single Six .22 in a Hunter holster on a Hunter bullet loop belt.

 

[Culina]

I would go for something special, maybe a 1917 or a .44 special 2nd or 1926

 

[cubguy]

4" Mod. 19?

 

[NE450No2]

Well it depends on what year your story is taking place...

But for a farm hand I would think either a 357 Mag in a 4" mod 19/66 or a 4 " 44 Mag. If they were common durring the years of your story.

I do know for Me the 44 Mag would be my choice.

If the story takes place Way, Way, back in the day I would have hem armed with a 44 Special, a reloader, and be a reader of Elmer Keith.

Or if the above could not apply, then have him carry the 38/44 Outdoorsman.

 

[Ron H.]

If he is a real hand, he will probably find that packin' a gun during work is a pain in the ass both literally and figuratively. It won't be long until he is really thinking hard if packin' that damn thing is worth it or not.

Don't ask me how I know......*G*

Sir, I might add that farm hands make almost no money, so expensive guns are out. Think used and cheap, maybe a ratty old Model 10 or the like.

FWIW, what farms I've been on, handguns of any kind were rare. Mainly what you'd find would be some kind of .22 rifle, .30-30 lever-action, and a 20- or 12-gauge shotgun.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[zercool]

Sir, I might add that farm hands make almost no money, so expensive guns are out. Think used and cheap, maybe a ratty old Model 10 or the like.

FWIW, what farms I've been on, handguns of any kind were rare. Mainly what you'd find would be some kind of .22 rifle, .30-30 lever-action, and a 20- or 12-gauge shotgun.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

Precisely my thinking, Ron. A beat-up Model 10 was the first thing that came to mind. Worn out finish, scarred grips, etc.

And yes, in my experience, most farm guns are long guns. A Winchester 94, Mossberg 500/Remington 870/Ithaca 37, or maybe a Nylon 66. Nothing fancy, just plain useful.

 

[44wheelman]

I was thinking mil surp 1917 too. One his daddy picked up from another farmer for helping run his pigs into town. One just like his great uncle used in the war.... They used to be really cheap and usually not in the greatest condition.

My aunt has a double barrel Colt shotgun on her mantle that her father got in such a manner.

 

[Jst1mr]

Hows about a K22...beat up .22's are common on farms and would have been a good carry on a trapline...

 

[senecaap]

I would second the beat up Model 10. Cheap gun, cheap ammo. I've never seen the prosperous farm hand. A .41/.44/Model 27 et all would be well out of their reach. Something that could be had for the $200-300 range would be more appropriate. Give the Foreman a .44.

 

[jimmyj]

A much used Ruger Single-Six .22 in a used Buchemir holster with a Hunter .22 cartridge belt.

 

[mtheo]

The only holster I wore while farming was one I had a local harness maker make for a pair of 5" vise grips and a small handled 1/4" flat blade screw driver. I did keep a single shot .22 rifle wrapped in a canvas behind the seat of my pickup though. Wearing a handgun while doing the farm things would be a nuisance. I must say though.....my part of Indiana isn't known for having puma, bear, and rattlers around and most of the thugs stay in the cities.

 

[ADP3]

The Model 28 Highway Patrolman was a good solid no frills .357 for more than 30 years. They were reasonably priced when new and a steal at gun shows or in pawn shops. They were always less expensive than other N-frames and the Model 19 as well. The 4" version was highly concealable if you had a good gun belt (they weigh 44 oz). They were built like a tank. Any farm hand from Florida to Idaho would have found it an excellent tool for finishing off stock, hunting or taking care of everything from feral dogs to mountain lions.

Best Regards,
AP3

 

[gerald mcdonald]

I was thinking mil surp 1917 too. One his daddy picked up from another farmer for helping run his pigs into town. One just like his great uncle used in the war.... They used to be really cheap and usually not in the greatest condition.

.

That aint no joke, I turned down a couple in the $100 range 20 year ago.

Depends on the farm hand, he working for daddy or kin, might could afford a nice one, other wise a surplus 1917, 1905 38 or an I frame 32 of some variety. Met a lot of farm hands, never met one to carry concealed though. Most had a 30/30 or some variety of bolt gun in some thing like 22 hornet, 223 or 22/250. Did know a ranch hand once who toted a H&R break top in 38 S&W.

 

[Ace-3]

Well how about an old police trade in model 64… you get the low cost factor, the stainless low maintenance factor, the "always felt if you can't get it done with six 38's factor." The action is smooth as silk after all these years factor. Light weight and you can put any grip on you want. You could add the slim barrel for effect. Or use a 2 or 3 inch barrel. Load it with shot shells and a 64 will take Plus P ammo. Holy Cow I want one! oh… forgot I have one,

 

[ColbyBruce]

How about a Colt Army Special with a 4.5" barrel in .41 LC? I had one like that about fifteen years ago.

 

[model70hunter]

dear smith and wesson forum i am an amateur writer and im working on a short story about a farm hand one of the many tools that this young farm hand carries is a smith and wesson handgun. the gun will be used for concealed carry and personal defense and it will be carried in a saddle tan leather belt holster any and all help with this would be greatly appreciated sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the smith and wesson forum

I think a packing farm hand question is too open ended. Please be specific as to time frame and reason for CCW. An example might be; this farm hand is 75 kliks from Normal, he lives smack dab between the state capitol and the Chi-town crooked politicians, he has to be alert after blowing the whistle on the Govenor who currently is on trial. Current time frame might dictate a Model 19 snubby if he is hiding out and has money. If no money a model 10 as many have suggested that he won in a card game would work. Perhaps he hack sawed it down to 2". Pre war or post war might be a 3.5" unregistered mag. What state? What kind of farm? What era?

 

[G.T. Smith]

It all depends on his location. If he is building fence where there are bears, or just copper heads, anything from a m65 357 mag, to a semi- auto .22 LR. I would try to give him a stainless steel handgun because of the weather resistant qualities. Are you the same guy looking for a S&W for a green beret?
Peace,
gordon

 

[maccpd]

How bout an old Ruger Blackhawk in .357 or .44 backed up by a Marlin 1894 in the same caliber sounds pretty good for a farm set up.

 

[Mule88]

For holster carry on a farm I think a 4 inch .44 would be a good choice. Hey if its good enough for Elmer Kieth, who am I to argue.

 

[Larry from Bend]

I'm a farm hand -- at least I have a small farm in NC Montana. Here's my regular, around the farm, carry gun. It's a model 60, a .38 Special.

I used to carry this 34 all the time but the varmints are getting bigger up here.

 

[H Richard]

Depending on the part of the country he lives in. Most logically a smaller, compact, very rugged, short barreled gun that will fit in a close to the body high ride holster that will protect the gun and keep it out of his way as most guns area a pain in the *** for daily wear around the farm and around machinery, (or left in his pick up). If in the East or Mid-West probably a 2 1/2" .357 such as a Mod 19. Might have loaded with a couple rounds of snake shot and the rest with +P hollow points.

Further out west where you may be more of a cattle operation and more open spaces, possibly a 4" .357 or .44, but more probably the same short barreled .357 his Mid-West relative would use, and probably carried in the cab of his pick up rather than worn

 

[Three44s]

I'm a rancher and found one gun just did not cut it.

My mainstay is the 629-4 Mountain gun ...... we have cougs and bears.

But as Iggy put it ..... getting tangled up in machinery and fences is more dangerous on a daily basis than all the "bitty scratchy" critters put together.

For CCW ..... you are not going to conceal that MG or any other large frame revolver though.

My cadre of round shooters include the MG ..... several Rugers ...... a M28 also a 4" .......

A K22, a model 48 .......

And right now, my do all without a hint of a bruin around ........

......... a Kel Tec PF-9 ...... it CCW's ....... and it busted a coyote pup a couple of days ago!

If I owned one ........ a Model 60 would be just DANDY!!!!

Three 44s

 

[feralmerril]

I am a romantic. Lets see how close I get to your script. This aint the village idiot farm hired hand. He is a sharper type on the run for sompin he didnt do. He needs to keep a low profile and hide out. He also needs to eat. He wants to keep fit and busy to keep from going mad. He knows guns, well experianced as a ex fuzz that got framed for assasinateing some child molester/killer that some other rouge cop offed and hates his old partner that stepped on him for sins years ago. The old partner rouge cop is also part of a cartel and needs to find "jake" and silence him. Jake needs to go concealed in case the cartel finds him while playing hayseed. Simple. He packs his old 2 1/2" model 19. (357) He is a lot like harrison ford or tom sellick playing jesse stone.

 

[jimmyj]

A farm hand= hard work/little pay. His worldy possession are a change of clothes and a old, old pickup.
Weapons:Iver Johnson single barrel 12ga, Stevens B/A .22 single shot, and a H&R 6" .22 solid frame revolver.