Do you have a Favorite Revolver?

Pretty happy with my 70s snub 357 in stainless. I actually took my CC test with it years ago. My instructor made fun of me until I proved to be pretty accurate with it. LOL. It does shoot fire tho!

 

A M19-3 isn't old by most standards, unless you're younger than the gun is. The '60s and '70s guns are what I like best, but anything pre 1980 or pre-lock will do. It's now difficult to say which my favorite revolver that I own is, because I've found a couple more since I posted the M19-3 picture. My favorite one now is whichever one I pull from the safe to take to the range. I suppose they're also "old iron" since they are about the same age. I added a M28-2 Highway Patrolman from around 1970 and a M57 no-dash .41 Magnum from 1968 to the group.

 

Oh, and one more, that I picked up Thursday. Model 29 S&W .44 Magnum. NCHP 50th Anniversary Commemorative. Issued in 1979:

 

Good looking piece right there.

 

Bad ass..

 

I don't know if "favorite" applies, since it's my only one, but I just got a S&W 460V (5"). I kind of got to thinking I should have at least one revolver, and then decided that I might as well "go big" (also, I had a couple boxes of 45LC that I accidentally bought which now don't have to go to waste). Now that I'm into the wheel-gun world, maybe I'll get a 357 to go with it (leaning toward a 686 or GP100, but I have to wait a month at least thanks to the local politicians).

Not very practical in my area since the only deer, elk, or brown bears around are in the zoo. There's apparently some coyotes around the area and the neighborhood has a few raccoons that sleep in the storm sewers until garbage night rolls around, but I'm pretty sure a 9mm hollow point would be overkill for those, let alone a 454 casull or 460 mag. It is kind of fun to see it breathing fire at the range, but 20 rounds of hot loads is about all my wrists can take in one session.

 

Excellent

 

A friend has a 357 66-1 recessed cylinder 6" barrel for $750+ship if anyone interested send me PM.
*updated

 

Favorite is my S&W 36-1 Chiefs Special

 

That's not a Model 686.
The 686 is an L-frame gun and has a full length ejector shroud. The M686-2 was also manufactured in 1987, so it would not have a pinned barrel.

The revolver you show has a pinned barrel, so it should also have a recessed cylinder. That would make it a Model 66, a much earlier model .357 Magnum, made on the K frame; that is essentially a stainless steel version of the model 19. If, indeed it is a model 66, it must be either a no-dash, or a dash 1, to have the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder.

Finally, if it is indeed a Model 66 no-dash or dash-1, it's definitely worth $700 or more.

 

Hmm ok ill let him know. I just posted what he said it was thanks!

 

Updated it was indeed a 66-1 recessed barrel

 

Currently digging my Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman .357 Mag. VZ grips.

 

I'm digging it, too. I love the shorter barrel. I have a M28-2 with a 6" barrel, as shown a few posts above.

 

Uber cool ! That gun dates to around 1977-1982. I'd rather have one of that era than a brand new one. I love the pinned and recessed guns, I have 4 of them.

 

Some beautiful wheel guns in this thread! I’d have a hard time picking a favorite amongst these, and they all get carried, although the 4” 625JM is usually a winter carry. I have tried various wooden combat grips on all of these, but have found that as they are shooters and not safe queens I get a much better grip, particularly in wet or slippery conditions, with the hogue type rubber grips. Perhaps not as pretty but definitely more utile. YMMV
S&W 625JM .45 acp
S&W 325 Nightguard .45 acp
Ruger GP100 3” .357

 

I know someone that has one of those. He has mentioned selling it. If you don’t mind me asking, how much $ did you give for that one?

 

I gave $1225 for it. The asking price was $1350, but the gun was so dirty I was worried the finish was bad. I asked what the least he would take for it was, and he came back with $1300 out the door, which included 7% sales tax and a $15 FFL transfer fee. I felt it was a pretty good deal, he had 3 other M29's in the store about the same age and wanted more for them than this one. It's less than I paid for my M57 no-dash (.41 Magnum). While researching the one I bought, I found old sale ads from armslist and another site where they sold for as much as $1500 in unfired condition.

If you're interested in one of these commemoratives, here are some details on the series.
No more than 1200 were made; they all have an issue number stamped on the left side of the frame below the cylinder. Mine is NCHP 0835. They also have the regular S&W serial number in the usual locations.
This was the first S&W commemorative to use the Model 29, this is a dash-2 gun, made around 1978. All guns in this commemorative are nickel plated. The NCHP did not issue M29's to its Troopers; this model was chosen because the NCHP was established in 1929.
This was the first, and only, time that S&W used acid etching to decorate the gun. That will affect any refinishing that ever needs to be done to the barrel or right side plate.
The guns were issued with either a 6-1/2 inch or 6 inch barrel. S&W discontinued the 6-1/2" barrel in early 1979 and the last of their stock was used on these guns. There isn't an issue number cutoff for the 6-1/2" barrel, I've found some early numbers that had 6" barrels and a few later than mine with a 6-1/2" barrel.

Apparently, these guns were not test-fired by S&W, because the cylinder face doesn't have the characteristic burn marks on three alternate chambers. If you find a gun that none of the owners have ever fired, you have a truly unfired gun. Mine has been fired, but I don't believe more than a few rounds, the cylinder face was very clean and mostly free of any powder burn, and the forcing cone and bore are in perfect condition. I don't mind that mine has been fired, because I plan to shoot it a little, just to feel the power of the .44 Magnum. I shoot my .41 quite a bit, and since it isn't a special issue, it'll be my range gun when I want a cannon.

At the initial release, only current NCHP Troopers were eligible to purchase the guns, along with some retirees. So, finding one for sale means it was once owned by a NC Highway Patrol Trooper. I don't know who was the initial owner of my gun, or how many owners it's had. If you go to the S&W gun forum, you can get information how to get a "letter of authenticity" from the S&W Historical Foundation, which can give some provenance to the gun. The letter costs $100; it used to be issued by S&W factory, but they no longer do it. I sent for a letter, hoping to learn who the original purchaser was, plus any other info the Foundation might have.

 

Thanks. Very good info, you have obviously done your research. I’ve never discussed price with my guy, was just getting a ball park value.