What would you consider to be the top 5, must have, S&W revolvers.............

[therick]

Not really interested if they are Blued, Stainless or Chromed but rather model numbers and barrel lengths..........not interested in future value (investment pieces) but pure shooters. If you could only own 5 S&W revolvers.....what would they be. Can't wait to hear the opinions.

Rick T.

 

[Frank46]

S&W model 10
S&W model 36
S&W model 624 44 special
S&W 24-3 4" bbl in 44 special
S&W 24-3 3" bbl lew horton 44 special.
Guess you can say my favorite cartridge
is the 44 special Frank

 

[Stu1205]

My favorite 5 would be:

625-5 in 45 colt (not ACP) 5" Barrel
28-2 4" Barrel
66-1 4" Barrel
29 no dash 6" Barrel
686-1 6" Barrel

 

[fyimo]

This thread should be interesting because of the diverse number of S&W collectors and shooters up here. For me the 5 S&W revolvers that are a must have are:

1. Model K22/Model 17 P&R revolver with a 6 inch barrel because it's a blast to shoot and the ammo is cheap and is a must have in my book.
2. Model 27-2 357 Magnum with 5 inch barrel which I believe is the best balanced 27-2 N frame period and the best looking S&W revolver.
3. Model 29-2 44 Magnum with a 4 inch barrel or if you are a Dirty Harry want to be a 6.5 inch barrel because everyone needs one 44 Magnum S&W revolver.
4. Model K38/Model 14 38 special with a 6 inch pinned barrel because it was once used by competition shooters in the 50's and 60's and weighs exactly the same as the K22.
5. Model 28-2 with a 4 inch barrel because it is a solid shooter and a no nonsense N frame revolver used be LEO's back in the day.

By the way I've have all of these and in some cases multiples so I must be serious or really sick.
I'm sure this is an old school look at S&W revolvers and so most other opinions will be different as they should be.

 

[S&W HE]

Model 629 6" .44 Mg/.44 Spl
Model of 1950 Target 6.5" .44 Spl
Model of 1950 Target 4" .44 Spl
Model of 1955 Target 6.5" .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim
Model 66 4" .357 Mg/.38 Spl

 

[P38]

My S&W dream List

K22 Master piece model 17 6" Barrel (already own)
K32 Master piece model 16 6" Barrel
K38 Master piece model 14 6" Barrel (already own)
M629 Classic .44mag 6.5" Barrel
M500 500mag 8 3/8" Barrel

Cheers
Pete

 

[TACC1]

I'm Feeling Deprived....

I've got five, but not much variety:
442/642, 38 Spl+P Anywhere, anytime gun
22/32 KitGun 22lr,4 RB Balances and carries nicely/craftsmanship
317 22 lr 3" Hi-Viz 'Cause I can see the front sight
36 38Spl, RB, 3" 'Cause it works for me
Pre-30/Pre-32 RB, 2" 'Cause they fit my hands, either is great
Maybe if I'd had or shot some of the other calibers, I'd want more.
These'll work for me, if I never get another one.
TACC1

 

[colt_saa]

Rick,
As far as I am concerned you have asked two totally different questions in your posting.

Your title says "What would you consider to be the top 5, must have, S&W revolvers"

But the text of your message says "pure shooters. If you could only own 5 S&W revolvers.....what would they be"

Those are not the same lists. Further you limit the shooters to revolvers. Two of my five shooters would be semi autos. The model 41 and the model 845.

If I could only have 5 S&W revolvers and they all had to be shooters it would be:
6" K22 of any engineering revision
6" Model 57 of any engineering revision
2 1/8" Model 60 Magnum Chiefs Special
5" Model 627PC
5" Model 500

Now the top 5 must have S&W revolvers would be:
K22
K38
Model 19 Combat Magnum
Model 27
Model 29

The truth is I could never have just 5. Too many wonderful S&W products would have to be ignored.

 

[1jimmy]

model 27 4 inch classic in nickel
model 638 shrouded hammer
model 60 357 magnum
model 351pd 22 magnum just for kicks
model 327 nightguard 8 shot 357 magnum for serious business

 

[armsmaster270]

K-22
Mod. 15 +Have 4"
Mod. 19 +Have 4"
Mod. 586 +Have 4"& 6"
Mod. 29
if it was 6 a Chief's Spl +Have 340PD

+ Guns I have

 

[Sportsterguy]

Here she goes:

Model 66-2 3" barrel
Model 657 3" barrel
Model 27 3.5" barrel
Model 34 2" snub
Model 17 6" barrel

If all handguns were allowed:

Model 66-2 3" barrel
Model 657 3" barrel
Model 34 2" snub
Springer 1911 5". Lightly modified
Colt Combat Commander. Lightly modified

Both 1911's in .45 ACP. Original caliber and still the finest for a fight on this platform IMO. Best darn fighting handgun ever invented and my go to weapons stoked full of 230 gr. Speer Gold Dots.

 

[ARMinSC]

My must have S&W Models, if I could only have 5 and they were my only 5 guns:
M10 HB, 3" or 4"
M640 .357mag
M686, 4"
M29-2, 6.5"
M22-4, 4"

 

[CajunBass]

I know one thing. They'd all have two digit model numbers and be blue steel.

M17 22 LR, 6" barrel.
M19 .357, 4" barrel
M15 38 Special 4" barrel
M10 38 Special 4" barrel
M27 .357, 5" barrel.

 

[pennlineman]

15, 17, 19, 27, 29.

 

[David LaPell]

Model 25 (not Mountain Gun) .45 colt in 4-inch
27-2 5-inch
28-2 4-inch
Heavy Duty 4-inch
19 2 3/4 inch

 

[JCS&W]

Ok, here are the "must have" 5 in my book.

29-2 4"
28-2 4"
27-2 4"
25-2 6"
19-2 or 3 snubbie
An alternate would be a 15-3 or 4, 4"
Truthfully, I would hate to narrow it down to five.

 

[samandglove1]

My turn

I'm only including revolvers that I actually own. I can't give an opinion on guns that I don't have any experience shooting with.

Here's my five:

1) K22 Masterpiece with 6" barrel
2) Model 27-2 with 3 1/2" barrel
3) Model 36 or Chiefs Special with 2" barrel
4) Model 66 with 2 1/2" barrel
5) Model 28-2 with 4" barrel


Ash

 

[ldp4570]

1. K22/K-17 .22lr
2. K38/K-14 .38spl
3.67-1 4" .38spl
4.640ND .38spl
5. 66-2 2.5" .357
Sorry had to go with six
6. 624 3" .44spl

 

[rburg]

I shore don't know where you guys get yer crazy ideas. I've got friends who'd feel nekkid if they left their house with only 5 guns. Now the darn'd liberal edu-macations have otherwise sensible folks feelin' 5 is a reasonable number to limit a feller to. Then to make matters worse, most of the young guy's answerin the questions are talkin' in "model numbers'. Back in the golden era, guns had names (you know, back before WWII when Lee was a young adult.) Oops, I might add when he worked for a livin', too.

So tiptoe'n around the question, I didn't see a single mention of a Triple Lock. Nor anyone sayin' a 357 Magnum (no, not the postwar junk.) Saw a few K22s mentioned, but not the 1940 model, the top of the art form.

Settin' here a thinkin' about something worthy made in the last 60 or so years. Maybe a 44 Magnum (1956 sounds good, with none of that model number confusion. I'm even surprised no one suggested the Jet.

 

[LazyKB]

My five

How do you answer that question and keep it to five?

You have to have a .22 to play with at low cost. Make mine a 17-3, 6"

You have to have a summer carry gun, J frame. Make mine a 642, no hammer to snag in the pocket and sweat resistant finish. Still must wipe down daily.

You have to have a big bore. .41 does it for me. Six inch probably works for target and hunting. (So why are mine 8 3/8, and 4?)

You have to have a winter carry gun. This is the wild card for me. I think a 2", 19 or 66 would work well, also some other or same models in 3" or maybe 4".

You have to have a .357 mag. to shoot the snot out of. You just have to. Make mine a model 28-2.

Others you have to have just because you have to have them;

Model 58, no dash; it's a cult thing.
Model 27-2, 3.5" or 5". When you see one you will know why.
Model 10, because everyone should experience the fun of shooting a model 10. Make mine a 4" heavy barrel.
And if you have more money than you know what to do with, a model 24-3, 4".

Ain't it fun?