What is it With the Three Inch 357 Mag's...?

[JK-linux]

For carrying a wheel gun in .357 concealed or not on a duty belt, 3" really seems to be a sweet spot, at least for me. A 4"is by no means a problem to tote in the right holster, but a 3" really does seem to carry easier in just about any holster style. I shoot a 3" and 4" exactly the same (accuracy wise in any conditions other than slow fire at 25 yards at a range). A 2" hides better, and Airweights are much lighter and less bulky, and I carry them quite a bit, but danged if I ever shoot my 442 as well as my Colt Commander (and I do fire my 65-3 3" that well).

All that "sensible" stuff said, something about the proportions, the balance, the final product presentation of a 3" Smith... something hard to define about how it just "looks right". I've made more "questionable" budgetary choices related to acquiring 3" Smiths over the years than just about any other gun.

 

[SmithNut]

............With the front sight, my 3" 66 reminds me of my 3.5" original .357 Magnum (which also has a patridge front sight).

See the resemblance...?

1935 357 Magnum:



..........

Absolutely see the resemblance, one of the finest revolver configurations of all time, but just a little more betta with the hump back hammer.. . !!!!

 

[Walter Rego]

I call these two Salt & Pepper. Regarding RKMesa's gun, I have long wanted to have a custom "Baby Model 27 Snubby" made. I would start with a 4" Model 19, have it cut to 3", install a Patridge front sight with McGivern bead and have the topstrap & rib checkered like on a Model 27.

 

[SmithNut]

3" K frame 357 Magnums...

PC or standard factory, makes no matter, they are all great.

 

[RKmesa]

PC or standard factory, makes no matter, they are all great.

WOW... What a GREAT Collection - and I LOVE the custom wood on a bunch of those beauties!!!

Smithnut - I need to share your post with my wife, as support that I don't have "that many". Also, did those blued bobbed hammer beauties come that way from the factory (tell me their story, if you would not mind)?

Here are a few more of my P&R 3"ers:

Non-model numbered Combat Magnum - the bluing is a little "splotchy" and it got a little "scratched up" over at Alvin White's Shop, but it may be the earliest 3" K-Frame .357 Magnum off the Factory line... (full spread on the gun here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...-4-screw-alvin-white-engraved-model-19-a.html):





Model 65-2 with some Ahrends Round to Square Grips:





After following this thread, I will be on the look out for a few more to fill in the many holes in my 3" collection (or at least a couple more, until my wallet breaks, or is ripped out of my hands by my usually accomodating wife)

Thanks to everyone for sharing their beautiful 3"ers!!!

 

[snowman.45]

...Maybe it is because they did not make a whole lot of them... Maybe it is because they are still long enough to have a full length ejector rod... But maybe, just maybe it is because they are a the perfect length to be functional as a snubbie...

I had a bunch of my "more modern" 3" K and L frames out the other day for a photo shoot and found a renewed desire to head out to the desert for some shooting pleasure...

One of the primary causes - this 3" Model 66-2:





I'm normally a "pinned and recessed" kind of 357 guy, but about 8 years ago, I picked up this beauty. It sports as set of finger-groove Aharends, and has been to Nelson Ford's for his trigger package. While it was at Nelson's I had him put a McGivern front sight on it (just because they are way cool and all business and make that front sight very easy to pick up in a hurry). IT SHOOTS LIKE A DREAM and is kind of photogenic to boot:









I'd love to see your favorite 3" K/L Frame 357 Mag lead slingers...

Thanks for letting me share,

Except the front sight and the grip panels, it is a twin for mine. I have Pachmyers on mine at the moment. At some point, I'm going to get something a little nicer, as I'll not be likely to carry this gun much.....too pretty.

 

[SeamasterSig]

S&W made 500 of these things and you've got 3 of them? I think I know why this picture drives Bam-Bam nuts

 

[TAROMAN]

A picture says it all:

 

[SeamasterSig]

Hands down, my most versatile handgun is a 3" .357mag, but mine is a Mod 60 J-frame.

It gives up little to my 4" Mod 66 K-frame except 10-12 ounces of unnecessary weight and bulk.

Unnecessary... until you pull the trigger, that is

 

[bwelch47]

Scratched

WOW... What a GREAT Collection - and I LOVE the custom wood on a bunch of those beauties!!!

Smithnut - I need to share your post with my wife, as support that I don't have "that many". Also, did those blued bobbed hammer beauties come that way from the factory (tell me their story, if you would not mind)?

Here are a few more of my P&R 3"ers:

Non-model numbered Combat Magnum - the bluing is a little "splotchy" and it got a little "scratched up" over at Alvin White's Shop, but it may be the earliest 3" K-Frame off the Factory line... (full spread on the gun here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...-screw-alvin-white-engraved-model-19-a.html):





Model 65-2 with some Ahrends Round to Square Grips:





After following this thread, I will be on the look out for a few more to fill in the many holes in my 3" collection (or at least a couple more, until my wallet breaks, or is ripped out of my hands by my usually accomodating wife)

Thanks to everyone for sharing their beautiful 3"ers!!!

Wow on that White scratched up!!!!!!!

 

[rwsmith]

Same here....

The world is filled with snubs and long barrel guns. How about some barrels between 3-5". When you find one it commands a premium, simply because there's so few out there. People that have them don't want to sell them.

 

[Nedroe]

More 3 Inch Joy...

It is the best barrel length by far. Here's my Lady Smith & CS-1

Home grown 19-7 3"

More home grown goodness, a 13-3 with a 3" 19 barrel

and a 681 3"

Here is a 3" model 66-4

3" K FRAMES RULE!!! Even if they are just 22lr like this 617-1

or this 17-8

No end to the HOME GROWN goodness around here!!

Ned

 

[s2harry]

Three Four?

there is a 3 inch hiding in my Four inch?

 

[4306]

http://i52.tinypic.com/10o2y4g.jpg

 

[deputy584]

I only have one, I'm hoping to change that soon

 

[shotguntom]

WOW... What a GREAT Collection - and I LOVE the custom wood on a bunch of those beauties!!!

Smithnut - I need to share your post with my wife, as support that I don't have "that many". Also, did those blued bobbed hammer beauties come that way from the factory (tell me their story, if you would not mind)?

Here are a few more of my P&R 3"ers:

Non-model numbered Combat Magnum - the bluing is a little "splotchy" and it got a little "scratched up" over at Alvin White's Shop, but it may be the earliest 3" K-Frame .357 Magnum off the Factory line... (full spread on the gun here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...-screw-alvin-white-engraved-model-19-a.html):





Model 65-2 with some Ahrends Round to Square Grips:





After following this thread, I will be on the look out for a few more to fill in the many holes in my 3" collection (or at least a couple more, until my wallet breaks, or is ripped out of my hands by my usually accomodating wife)

Thanks to everyone for sharing their beautiful 3"ers!!!

I have a 3 inch 65-5. Wish it had the orange ramp front sight like your gun. Did that come from the factory with it?

 

[vigil617]

PC or standard factory, makes no matter, they are all great.

Unicorn sighting! One of 138 Super K models, a Lew Horton's special from 1997, and this one with great-looking Spegels instead of the white, S&W-medallioned stocks from the Performance Center!

Way nicely done, sir!

 

[BAM-BAM]

I've loved 3" K-frames since my first 65 in about 1985 or 86.....and have accumulated more than a couple........ but I never understood why the PC had to maga-port or put expansion chamber on all those otherwise neat 3 inch K-frames in the late 90s.......

just cus you "can" do something doesn't mean you should do it.........

I'm guessing I walked away from at least 5 or 6 three inch PC guns because they were "ported".

 

[SmithNut]

.............. Also, did those blued bobbed hammer beauties come that way from the factory (tell me their story, if you would not mind)?

The two models with those cool bobbed hammers are both early factory PC offerings. In fact, these are the only two models I've ever seen that hammer used on.

The first is a M19, made for Lew Horton before the PC started using their own product codes. I cannot put my hands on my notes at the moment, but as I recall that gun's product code was from a standard production 2 1/2" M19. The serial prefix is LHAxxxx. One of our members owns (or did own) the first one, LHA0001, a s/n that Lew Horton reserved for his collection, but a few years back sold many of them, including this model.

The other model(s) shown are the PC13 quad port guns. The two I show are actually different product codes due to the location of the quad porting, the very first was on the round part of the barrel, the second model, which surfaced only a short time later has the ports on the barrel rib. The two product codes are 170059 and 170063. This model was marketed as "A very serious carry revolver".

Other than the aftermarket grips I have on mine, the M19 also has a Patridge front sight, I purchased it used and the black ramp was "scored" from a fair amount of shooting, the flame through the ports did remove much of the blueing on the sight sides. I do like Patridge sights, so changing that one was destined to happen the minute I saw it when picking it up.

If you have not seen my 3" Pictorial posts, here they are, including the 38 Special and 9mm models....

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...3-inch-k-frames-part-1-38-special-models.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-inch-k-frames-part-2-9mm-357-mag-models.html

Enjoy

 

[RKmesa]

I have a 3 inch 65-5. Wish it had the orange ramp front sight like your gun. Did that come from the factory with it?

I don't really know if it came with the red insert from the factory. I've never lettered it. However, it came that way when I bought it used and it is very well done (factory quality) and I too like it very much.