Smith & Wesson's best revolver?

[05CarbonDRZ]

Registered Magnum,Hands down.I had read about how smooth the action was before I bought one and could not see how they could be THAT much better.I must say the first time I cocked the hammer on my RM I had a grin from ear to ear.I have no idea how they did it,but they did!

 

[MIKELUVR]

The .357 Magnum/Model 27, no contest. Nothing else had a checkered top strap (except some 627's and they're later).

Ditto - how could you have not added this gun to your orig. 3 ??????????

 

[RonS]

.38 Chief's Special. How many people went home to their families, or took their families home in one piece, because of one? Still defines the pocket revolver genre when so many other designs have been dropped or changed beyond recognition.

 

[G-Mac]

The best S&W revolver has to be the one that sold the most....

So...McDonald's makes the best hamburger?

 

[LTC]

I have to lean towards the 4" N frames that start with a .4.

LTC

 

[heeter3]

I like the 19 it outshoots my python.

 

[Green Frog]

Most elegant and artistic? Registered Magnum and other pre-War 357 Magnums.

Best built for strength and quality? The early 44 magnums (pre-1958 or so) while they were still being built as something truly special.

If I had to pick only one S&W to be my "forever gun?" A Model 66-1 with 6" barrel. I could do more with it than whatever use I could get out of the preceding two. JMHO, YMMV!

Froggie

 

[Harrison]

None of the above. A fixed sight L frame. no dash or -1 or -2, blued or SS makes no difference.

 

[ikor]

"I choose the "357 Magnum" including pre-27 to 27-2. The checkered top strap signifies that this was the S&W top revolver."

This^^^ no contest.

 

[sunnyd]

I think its unanimous all of the J, K, and N frames! So, best to have several of each.

 

[Oyeboteb]

In almost every discussion I've heard, most people identify one of these three revolvers as Smith & Wesson's "best":

Model 15
Model 19
Model 29

Of course, they are different guns for different uses, but if you had to choose one revolver as Smith and Wesson's "best," which would you choose, and why? I know it is kind of an apples/oranges/unfair question.

I guess I'd choose the 19 due to versatility and balance.

This is an impossible question!

Lol...

Unless narrowed down to have some particular situational application, there is no way to say.


What would have been the best S & W Revolver for me to CCW with when I was 8? Probably, the Safety Hammerless aka New Departure, 2 inch Barrel, in .38 S & W.

I could and did handle my Dad's ex WWI m1917 very well then, but, it was a little large for me to do DA without some awkwardness.

Or a nice pre-War 'Terrier' in the same Chambering would have been a fine choice for me back then ( heck, I even carry my Terrier once in a while now! ).


Is my Model 58 perfect or ideal or 'the best' for the actual particulars of some conditions, situations? Yes!

And well, so are many of the one's in-be-tween!


My daily carry for quite a while now, has been an early 1930s S & W 'M&P' 2 Inch which to me is perfect for daily life CCW.

If out Hiking or walking in the Woods and so on, my 2nd Model Hand Ejector in ( or converted nicely enough to ) .45 Colt, is what I would bring.


So...like that...it is conditional to the particulars of who and where and with what probable contingencies.

 

[Stroupdr]

29-2 5" with Cokes

 

[EdF702]

I'm tempted to vote for the Triple Lock but, I have to go with the registered magnum.

Or maybe it's "older cousin?"

 

[keithherrington]

I have trouble picking only one because I don't really believe in one size fits all or "do it all" handguns. For target (Bullseye) I like the 625-4 Model of 1989 (45ACP) and for hunting I prefer the 625-5 Classic in 45 Colt. Here is a picture, both with Nill grips.



For carry there is only one choice for me, the Model 58.

Keith

 

[trap4570]

For me it would be any triple lock.

 

[1blindref]

Or maybe it's "older cousin?"

I would call the 38/44's its' Father

 

[CScott]

Outdoorsman

I recently brought home an Outdoorsman S/N 40xxx. It is without a doubt the finest revolver of my modest assortment which includes some 20 other S&W's. Fit, finish, slick action, accuracy, balance, looks. Just truly awsome.
Scott

 

[saemetric]

In overall looks , to me the best is the Model 15 with 4" bbl.

 

[Dave T]

To me the best S&W has to come from the 20th Century. Nothing made after 2000 deserves consideration.

In the early part of the Century the title of "best" has to go to the magnificent First Model 44 Hand Ejector, the Triple Lock.

Later in the Century the best gun spans a number of years but are all the N-framed 357 Magnum, from the Registered version to the model marked M27-2, pre Bangor Punta.

And a third candidate has to be recognized in the middle of the above 357 span of years. The early five-screw and 4-screw 44 Magnums are works of art and should be included.

As for the best S&W to me, it's any of the 45 ACP revolvers I have.

Dave

 

[mikeruns]

I was gonna say model 58....and maybe it is, but recently a mountain gun model 29 is my favoite to shoot.... :->