Love S&W, but carry Colt?

[BAM-BAM]

Early carry guns were 2" Colt Detective Special or a 4"Colt Diamondback.

Transitioned to a 2 1/2" S&W model 19 and have never looked back.... that said I have my Dad's DS and .357 New Service in the safe!

 

[chief38]

I am a huge S&W fan (pre 1994 guns that is) however I also own just as many Colts. A Dick Spl. is actually easier to shoot with +P ammo and only marginally larger & heavier. The bonus for the extra size is the extra shot. While most of my life I used to carry a M60 Chief's Spl. I also carried a Colt DS when belt carrying.

Now my EDC choice is a Sig P365 in 9mm. At 17.6 ounces, better sights, 11 rounds on board, flatter profile and ease of reloading a fresh mag, to me it's a natural. My Chief's Special, Colt DS and similar are now in retirement mode - as EDC guns.

 

[Data]

While I am a huge Colt fan, I would never carry one. In a nutshell, they are pretty much a collector's status symbol. I consider all Colt products collector pieces.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I know that a ton of people on these forums carry something other than a Smith. Several carry the P365 and Seecamp is another carry option many trust. While I lug around my 4¨ 686, I see no reason why others here would have anything negative to say about someone choosing something other than Smith.

The Colt Detective Special is a legendary gun, nothing wrong at all with choosing that over a J Frame if that is what you trust. Carry what you trust to save your loved ones or yourself if things come to that. Everything else is secondary...

 

[Ingramite]

On my first day at the academy the armorer told us that we could choose between a Colt or a S&W model 10.....but no one here will choose the Colt.

I didn't know enough to make an informed decision, so I was sort of relieved that my mind was made up for me.

Over the years I've held a Colt revolver in my hand with money in my pocket and couldn't bring myself to buy it. I would lay it back down and buy something else.
Every time.

I really don't have a good reason for things shaking out like this.

Now, 1911s are another story. I like mine Colt.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Thanks to the movies and television...the exposed ejector rod Colt Dick Special is the quintessential detective gun. While revolvers are certainly still capable of doing the job not too many will carry one now...a self-loading pistol is the choice of today...and lots of choices there are.

 

[3S16]

I collect S&W revolvers. Love them, and carried them professionally. Over a 32 year law enforcement career, I've carried a Colt Commander, S&W 39, 4" S&W 66, S&W 2 1/2" 66, Sig P226, and Glock 17 on the job. All but the Colt CC and G17 were issued and mandated by my Department.
After I retired, I wanted "smaller and lighter" in my EDC. I started with a Glock 27. Then a Sig P239, an S&W 3913, an S&W CS-9, then an S&W Shield.
Then the micro nines arrived! Really "smaller and lighter"! I bought a Springfield Armory Hellcat and was very satisfied. Tiny, with lots of 124 gr. HST rounds. Then my 74 year old eye sight caught up with me, so I bought another Hellcat and mounted an SMSc red dot on it - Perfect!
Until I shot a Sig P365. Better trigger and the grip just felt better. Still tiny and lots of rounds. I bought one in "coyote" finish, mounted another SMSc red dot on it. Now I'm done until my E.O.W. - I think.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have a 2-inch nickel and a 3-inch blue Cobra and I carry one of them a little more often than my 3-inch S&W Model 60.

 

[Buford57]

In uniform I carried a M28 with either a Lawman MKIII or Agent as backup. As a detective the Lawman and later a M39 was paired with a Cobra. Worked for me.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I own and admire old Colts, but carry S&Ws.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

One Cobra, one Police Positive Special (32-20), two Colt Commanders (45 & 38 Super.) (I've never sold a Colt!)

49 no dash, 36-1, Regulation Police, 34-1, Model 10-7, Model 12 no dash, model 15-2 2" & 4", 17-3 6", 1917 BC, 28-2, 29-? 8 3/8", 629-10, 625-3 5", 422 4" & M&P 9c (I've sold/traded about 70 S&Ws)

4 Colts vs 16 S&Ws with the 49 as my EDC.

Ivan

 

[hardluk1]

I like olt and s&w to but with different limits - I carry a Colt lw commander series 70 in 45auto or other 1911's for CC over the last 37 years and 10 more for shooting .

Also carried s&w M&P 4.25 40sw for the last 11 years . My old snub nose is a taurus 85ss that was a limited use handgun till a kahr cw9 replaced it as a at work carry many years ago .

MY full size revolver with several barrels I bought back in '76 DW 15-2 . I used for it hunting for all but the last 2 years when I changed from the 8" barrel to a 4" .

 

[biku324]

Colt cylinders are broken - they turn backward. Even the latch is backward.

 

[Greyman50]

Colt cylinders are broken - they turn backward. Even the latch is backward.

LOL! Have to blame Ole Sam Colt.

 

[old tanker]

Colt cylinders are broken - they turn backward. Even the latch is backward.

Not all of them...

 

[John Patrick]

I have three Colt's, a 4" 38spl Diamondback, a 2" Agent and a 3" 357 King Cobra. I carry the King Cobra frequently when deer hunting. It's a little smaller and a little lighter than a 3" K frame and so a bit easier to carry.

I have 30 something S&Ws, from J through N frames. I have three scandium L frame 357s and one scandium K frame 38. When working at the gun shop or range I'll usually carry one of the scandium revolvers. Lately a M386PD, a 19oz, seven shot L frame.

For real world carry it's an Sig P365x AIWB, with a tuckable holster. If wearing slacks and a blazer or a suit it's the original, 10 round P365 because it's shorter butt is easier to hide under a dress shirt.

 

[Grayfox]

I love S&Ws and own a bunch of 'em.
However, my first legal carry gun was a 1974 Colt 3rd Issue Detective Special. Being slightly bigger, heavier and with an extra round over the J-frames, I can shoot it much better than the small S&Ws. I believe its the ideal snubby.
But its too valuable these days for carry. So now I use a S&W 642.
BTW: my primary EDC is another Colt. 1959 Lt Wt Commander in .45.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have carried a J frame as a back-up, but I was fortunate enough to be issued a nickel Colt Cobra by my PD. It was my ankle gun until I retired. Tried to buy it from the PD, but was told no.

I found a nice Colt Agent and carried it as my EDC. About 4 years ago, I picked up a Ruger EC9s 9mm and it became my companion. I do stick the Agent in my pocket every now and then.

I gave my wife a M60 and that is her EDC.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I've long felt a bit strange about this. Who else is in this boat?

I'm a huge S&W fan. My all-time favorite handgun is an old 4 screw K-38 6". And I've shot a ton of ammo through various Model 15s and 19s. I dote on my 6 1/2" pre-Model 24 in .44 Special.

But what is the no-joke, serious, daily carry, always within arm's reach, potentially life-saving handgun? Either an old Colt Detective Special or an early 1950s Colt Agent. The J-frames just don't do it for me when it comes to a shootable snub. So I love S&W for fun, but carry the Colts.

That's what FREEDOM is..........You can do what you want.

 

[Shibadog]

I've toted various J frames a lot of miles. Have tried ( and continue to try) others but eventually wind up back with the Smith just because it totes so easy in a pocket. I've a Sig P938 that carry's well, and I'm trying hard to find a comfortable iwb carry for my EMP. I'm still hunting that unicorn that carry's like an airweight, recoils like a full size.22 and hits like a 29. (When you find one let me kno). Meantime I'll keep looking and carrying the J