the most beautiful ever built

[JH1951]

.......... I love them all.
But some are special.
They know how to speak directly to my soul, addressing it on a first-name basis.
Tastes evolve and the essence of some special object is captured, because you understand that it is not just forged steel, but has a history and a soul, the soul of those who built it, conceived it, invented it.
Choose just one, and make the effort to tell me which one is the most beautiful Smith & Wesson ever built. ..........

As I said earlier, plain and simple is my preference, but I was in conversation with another member tonight that made me think a bit more. I have a pre-war nickel Terrier that is very plain, but it has history, talks to my soul, and has the beauty of superior craftsmanship that newer offerings, in my eyes, just don't have.
Here is a 1939 rendition of a S&W Terrier with a nickel finish that just makes me smile each time I see it. It letters as being shipped to Lou Eppinger on March 20, 1939. If you do much fishing, you may recognize Lou's name as being a manufacturer of fishing lures.

 

[mrcvs]

In reference to the title of your thread, “the most beautiful ever built”, well, that’s unlikely to be in private hands, unless really wealthy ones. So, I think what you mean is the most beautiful Smith & Wesson one might own that one has in their collection.

So, a few subjective statements, that might prove controversial.

First, the finish of early Smith & Wesson revolvers, especially those from the mid to late 19th Century cannot be beat. Even Roy Jinks stated this once in a thread a few years ago that he didn’t understand the relative lack of interest in the earlier stuff as the craftsmanship cannot he surpassed.

And, beauty is created by the addition of engraving by a quality engraver, and ivory stocks enhances this. And so, here’s my “most beautiful” Smith & Wesson revolver, shipped September 1866.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Wow, what a great thread!

Honestly though, I don’t know what to choose. If no one has said it yet, let me be the first, “How do you choose from among the stars in the sky?”

Thanks to everyone for the great photos and write ups.

Roger AKA Mr. Wonderful

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

In reference to the title of your thread, “the most beautiful ever built”, well, that’s unlikely to be in private hands, unless really wealthy ones. So, I think what you mean is the most beautiful Smith & Wesson one might own that one has in their collection.

So, a few subjective statements, that might prove controversial.

First, the finish of early Smith & Wesson revolvers, especially those from the mid to late 19th Century cannot be beat. Even Roy Jinks stated this once in a thread a few years ago that he didn’t understand the relative lack of interest in the earlier stuff as the craftsmanship cannot he surpassed.

And, beauty is created by the addition of engraving by a quality engraver, and ivory stocks enhances this. And so, here’s my “most beautiful” Smith & Wesson revolver, shipped September 1866.

That's not really what I meant,
I chose as "the most beautiful ever built", a gun I don't own, but that if I'll be lucky I'll have.
It's not just a question of wallet, in my case it's pure luck, because here in Italy some specimens are very rare.
But the beauty of collecting is precisely this: desiring and searching... searching... and then if fate wants it will be FINDING!

 

[mrcvs]

That's not really what I meant,
I chose as "the most beautiful ever built", a gun I don't own, but that if I'll be lucky I'll have.
It's not just a question of wallet, in my case it's pure luck, because here in Italy some specimens are very rare.
But the beauty of collecting is precisely this: desiring and searching... searching... and then if fate wants it will be FINDING!

Yes, what you mean is true: The fun is in the thrill of the chase.

 

[bruce5781]

For me, the pre-war M&P with a 2" barrel is one of the most aesthetically pleasing guns ever built.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[rct269]

My knee-jerk response to the question is the Registered Magnum, but only because of my initial knowledge S&W's top 2 or 3 polishers were assigned to RM production.

Later on, when I had at least one each of all the regularly produced pre-war target grade N frames to sit and stare at side by side, I couldn't tell a dime's worth of difference between any of them.

One exception was a first year, 7 1/2" Triple Lock Target, but it was the most beautiful inside---under the sideplate-----where it's not often seen. (A later example was essentially the same as all the rest, and I decided maybe whoever was working on the first gun had some extra time on his hands---and he was just showing off.)

Ralph Tremaine

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Sold my favorite I bought over my head, to buy a Benelli Super Black Eagle II to hunt geese with two of my friends.
It was a K-22 Outdoorsman. It was perfect, looking brand new in the box. Grips were awesome. While I wish I still had it, it was a step above my collection and no regrets. Had some great hunts with my friends, shooting my first eagle head blue goose and my first Specklebelliy geese.

 

[bigmoose]

Great thread, Marcello. I just love the look and feel of this heavily optioned Model 16-3 K32.

Rome is my favorite European city, I hope to return there soon.

 

[Truckman]

Rome is my favorite European city, I hope to return there soon.

My last (and only) visit was over 50 years ago...It is a beautiful city with a lot of history, some good, some bad, but all of great interest...I'd love to return, but my chances are somewhere between zilch and nothing...

Further south in Naples I encountered and somehow survived the worst drivers I've ever seen on public roads...I would hope they've improved a bit since then...North of Naples they were all tolerable......Ben

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

My last (and only) visit was over 50 years ago...It is a beautiful city with a lot of history, some good, some bad, but all of great interest...I'd love to return, but my chances are somewhere between zilch and nothing...

Further south in Naples I encountered and somehow survived the worst drivers I've ever seen on public roads...I would hope they've improved a bit since then...North of Naples they were all tolerable......Ben

Ben,
the surviving television reality should be filmed in Naples traffic, not in Canada or Alaska against bears.
But I have to tell you the truth, in Naples I feel very comfortable driving in traffic, because probably those born here in central southern Italy have DNA with a shape that is particularly well suited to these situations... Some say that Rome is worse, but I've lived here for 65 years and driven for 47 years for me is as a two steps in the park.

Well,
in 1996 I was in Dallas for the Shot Show, and outside the building where the event was taking place I saw a couple around 65/70 years old, he was driving a family car that must have been 7 or 8 meters long, he had to park the car in an enormous space but it was between two cars and he really didn't know what to do...
Here the cars are usually 4 meters long and you have to park in places 4 meters and 5 centimeters long, you spend 5 minutes maneuvering but in the end you stick the car in. Necessity makes virtue

Everyone develops the qualities that are necessary for them to live,
if I met some cattle also without the bull I would feel lost and scared, instead the old couple in the story would have governed them and taken them to safety in the corral without batting an eye.

 

[Truckman]

Marcello, if you drove in Dallas traffic, and survived, Naples should be nothing more than a casual stroll in the park for you......Ben

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Marcello, if you drove in Dallas traffic, and survived, Naples should be nothing more than a casual stroll in the park for you......Ben

Jokes aside
I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable driving there in USA right now, as I get older I don't feel so safe behind the wheel. In the chaos and anarchy of our city traffic, Naples and Rome it's easier to get by for me, all at a low speed. I don't think I would be calm today in another context.
I think the memory of driving your streets in 1996 today is not comparable and I was 30 years youger!!!!

 

[Truckman]

I think the memory of driving your streets in 1996 today is not comparable

True, I equip my truck with a little extra on those days I'm forced to drive in Houston traffic......Ben