Need Your Knowledge

[Anchor44]

I'm new to the forum and to revolvers but have been shooting and collecting semiautos for fifty years.
I recently was at a friends house and he showd me a 15-3 that he has not fired since the seventies. It had the best bluing I have ever seen on any gun. I was so impressed I started researching S&Ws on line and have fallen in love with them.
Yesterday I went to a gun show and bought a 19-4, blue, 4" that is about 98% overall. Can't wait to shoot it and my friends 15-3 tomorrow when the range opens.
I've been eying gunbroker and see a lot of guns I'd like to have. I am not interested in the newer guns because it's easy to see they're just not he same as the older ones.
I think I can learn a Lot from you experienced guys, so my first question is this, if you could only have one S&W, to fire a little bit and fondle a lot, which one would you choose?

 

[OKFC05]

My favorite S&Ws begin and end in the medium (K/L) frames, but I've a friend who is delerious about N frames, and we both carry J frames.
So, you prefer blondes, brunettes, or redheads?

 

[weatherby]

A Pre Model 27 with 3 1/2 inch barrel would be one of my choices.
You have lots of choices perharps too many.
A nice K22 would work
A 4" 5 screw pre 29 with cokes would be hard to put down.

 

[GerSan69]

It's an old saying on this forum, but "You can't stop at just one!"

 

[paplinker]

Your model 19 is a great pick. It looks great,4"Bbl length feels balanced in your hand, two calibers to pick from on the same gun.Model 19-3 was my first S&W and hooked me good. Wait until you lay eyes on a nickel one for a set.

 

[H Richard]

Oh My God! Only ONE S&W? That's a hard choice, but I would lean toward the 3 1/2" Mod 27 as one of the finest revolvers ever produced, but they are getting hard to find and a little pricey. Especially nice ones like Weatherby shows.
This one is a Pre-27 without all that expensive engraving on it, and the original walnut grips.

 

[snubbyfan]

I guess I'd have to say my 442. It's my daily carry gun and I like to shoot and fondle it.

 

[Art Doc]

Purely hypothetical as I can't imagine having only one S&W.

Let's just say my all time favorite would be a Model 27 with a 5" barrel. I would make it nickel because I like the shiny guns.

 

[smithnframe]

A model 25-2!

 

[kdailey]

I would have to agree on a Model 27 3.5" or 5". Make it a pinned and recessed 27-2 or earlier and you wont regret it.

 

[ar33]

For me it would be my Pre 27, but my Transitional HD isn't far behind.
Pre 27

HD

 

[sw282]

Boy thats a hard one.. Maybe a Mod 28-2 HP

 

[sierra255]

In most cases, this question is sometimes hard to answer because most of us have several choices to choose from and all belong in the favorites catagory. However, it is a very easy choice for me because my favorite is my K frame model 66-1 2.5" hands down.

 

[feralmerril]

It`s hard to choose but this 5" 29-2 would be up there.

 

[Bert Man]

I'm most partial to K frames and if I only had one it would be a 4 inch
Mod. 19-3 or a Mod. 66-1. I also love the Mod. 17/18.

 

[cellllman]

Like everyone else can't imagine having just one S&W! But easy to answer: my 27-2 blue 6"!

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I'd say go old school with a Model 36 in nickel. It's a J-frame snub and still one of the best carry guns.

 

[weatherby]

Oh My God! Only ONE S&W? That's a hard choice, but I would lean toward the 3 1/2" Mod 27 as one of the finest revolvers ever produced, but they are getting hard to find and a little pricey. Especially nice ones like Weatherby shows.
This one is a Pre-27 without all that expensive engraving on it, and the original walnut grips.

Thanks my friend but it was always missing something.
This is how one of the boys will get it and the oldest knows the story

 

[chud333]

All good choices so far and you can't go wrong
with a pre-lock. Your choice of a model 19 is
gonna be hard to beat. My first Smith also a
Nickle 6" 19. Shot the heck out of that gun with
full house magnum loads "only" and it never
gave me a lick of trouble. Welcome and enjoy.
Get as many different models as you can and
try them for yourself.

Chuck

 

[seabeesbob]

My model 65 with 3 inch barrel k frame created in 1990

 

[jaymoore]

... so my first question is this, if you could only have one S&W, to fire a little bit and fondle a lot, which one would you choose?

Today's answer:

Early Model 67. But not for any practical reason. It's accurate, well sculpted, built and balanced, but it's neither a great everyday concealed carry gun, nor all that good for hunting.

Tomorrow, the answer's likely to be wildly different.

 

[Sealevel]

Welcome to the forum Anchor44! Squids are abundant here, but more is better.

You asked essentially the same question I did some fifteen months ago after I purchased my first Smith; a Model 15-3, which was also my first handgun. I received lots of good advice from the learned members of this forum. Their advice resulted in my acquisition of another sixteen S&W revolvers - blue, stainless and nickel finishes. I purchased only older revolvers in really good to excellent condition of various barrel lengths to shoot a little and fondle a lot as you put it. In my late sixties I have no intention of being a collector, but I did wish to acquire enough different models to enjoy the shooting experience. I have enough now; actually more than I want as several get shot so infrequently that I don't feel in touch with that gun.

My "shooter's group" consists of just .22LR, .22 Mag, .38 special and .357 Mag. calibers. I found anything more powerful than .357 not to my liking. I also found the larger N frames not to my liking. My favorites are the 4" K frames (10-6, 13-3, 15-3 & 66-3). I have several 2" J snubs, a couple of 3" K's and some "6" (1905 chg.3, 14 ND, 17-3, 48-2, 19-3) plus a couple of L frames (586 6" and 686 4").

Since you already have what in my opinion are two of the best, in the 15 & 19, I would recommend at least one more - a Model 17 or K22. But, the other members will encourage you to go further. It's fun - the gathering as well as shooting and fondling. (I hope to soon be proficient in posting pictures which many here also enjoy.)

 

[66Park]

Tough question! If I were to only have one that I didn't shoot much, I would want it to be a 3.5 inch M27. If I were going to shoot it a lot, I'd want a K22.

 

[410bore]

I vote for either a K22 or a Model 29/Pre 29

 

[old bear]

S&W, to fire a little bit and fondle a lot, which one would you choose?

\

To carry a lot and shoot a little, my choice would be my M-19, K frame. Now to have one to shoot a lot, it would be my M-586, L frame.

 

[DGT]

Welcome from Oklahoma. In answer to your question, I would have to say, if I could have only one, it would have to be the pre-27. In my mind, it represents the pinnacle of revolver building and... they're a joy to shoot.

 

[kenjen]

that's a tough question to answer but i think i would be content with my 4'' 586. or maybe my 6'' 686 or my 6'' m28-2, no my 8'' m29-2, but i have to have my 6'' m 17 and i can't live without my 6'' python ?????????

 

[Lenny_D]

You are just fooling yourself. You are on the slope and there's nothing to stop the slide.
If I absolutely could only have one I feel that the 44 caliber is the most versatile round and you've got a myriad of loads readily availiable so it would have to be a 29. It would be any of the variations that are P&R'd. This is just my opinion and and has and will vary according to the model S&W in my hands!

 

[Anchor44]

I took the 19-4 to the range today along with the friend and his 15-3.
We both shot .38 special ammo and I was blown away!
I fired about 24 rds at 10 yards and just massacred the 10 ring. Then I switched to double action and shot well but the action is definately different.
I was surprised at the cost of ammo, since I'm used to 9mm and .45 acp prices, but no regrets. I really love the gun and I've already bid on a 27 stainless. You guys showed some beautiful guns. Makes me want more!
When I was cleaning the gun today, my wife looked at it and said, that is prettier than those other guns you bought. Those "other" guns, are Wilson combats, Ed Browns, Les Baers and Nighthawks, lol. I knew she had good taste!

 

[Doug M.]

A K38 or K22 has a lot appeal as an all around shooter. Even in mediocre condition one would out shoot me. The 4" 19 you have is a great all around gun.