[Brian Williams]

You get to pick 3 revolvers to add to the list and those 3 are your nomination and vote for what we THR's consider the top 12 most desireable, useful, pretty, handy, whatever your justification. We will look and see what comes up as the top 12.



I will start with

Colt Model P 1873 in Cavalry garb with 7.5 barrel and 45 colt

S&W M&P Pre-war, Post-war, Pre mod 10, Mod 10

Ruger OM Blackhawk in 357

[critter]

Colt SAA
Ruger SP101
Smith 29

[Ala Dan]

Smith & Wesson "Registered Magnum"

Smith & Wesson model 19

Colt Python


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[RWK]

My nominees (excluding duplications from previous posters) include:
a) Smith Model 27 (and predecessors) – Began S&W’s N Frame .357 magnum family
b) Smith Model 19 – Indicative of all K Frames
c) Early Colt Python (you pick the caliber and the barrel length) – Classic Beauty never fades

PS - My buddy Dan submitted while I was typing . . . and notice, great minds think alike.

[ReadyontheRight]

-Dan Wesson Model 15 -- Interchangable barrels from 2" to 10" = 5,5,5 guns in one.
-Ruger Single Six -- Brought Single Action and handgun hunting to the modern masses
-Colt Python -- The Colt Python of revolvers

[Bopleo]

S&W mountain gun gets my personal pick for #1.

[Pinned&Recessed]

S&W Registered Magnum
S&W .357 Combat Magnum (M19)
S&W .44 Magnum (until 1962)

[entropy]

O.K. Here they are:

1. 1860 Army Model Colt. The pinnacle of black powder beauty.


2. 1873 Colt SAA. do I need to elaborate?:D


3. The Colt Python. The pinnacle of modern revolver beauty.;)


Yes, I like Colts. No I do not hate Smiths, Dan Wessons, Taurus, etc.
I have owned Smiths, and fired them in the military. (Issue Commando models, as well as post war M10's!):cool: I know Colt has made some real stinkers. That said, I still like Colts.:D

[Preacherman]

Hmmm... interesting question! My take on this is: what revolver SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED the handgun/revolver market? What revolver had such an impact that its effect has been seen ever since?

IMHO, revolvers meeting these criteria would be:

1. Colt Paterson;

2. S&W Military & Police (which gave rise to the Model 10, the K-frame, etc.);

3. I'd vote for the Colt and S&W Models of 1917 for the third gun. These introduced moon-clips, which have remained popular, and in recent years have been growing in popularity with such guns as the S&W 625.

I would not include the S&W Model 29, because whilst this gun was undoubtedly important, as a firearm, it was basically nothing more than a strong N-frame, which had been around since the early 1900's. What made the Model 29 so popular was its cartridge, the .44 Magnum.

[fix]

S&W 681.

Rugged, dependable, powerful, only revolver I own, etc.

[BigG]

Put me on the list for the Centennial model hammerless pocket protector.

Oh yeah... and a Dirty Harry 44 MAGNUM. :D

[Sean Smith]

S&W Registered Magnum - Historical significance and just plain coolness should be obvious.
Colt Python - It's the Python. :D
J-frame S&W - how many pockets have one of these in 'em?

[Jim March]

S&Ws that "must" go into such a list: original M&P, original registered magnum 357, original 44Mag.

Colts: PATTERSON, above all. Then the SAA.

[Gordon]

the Colt SAA in .44-40 or .45 Colt, the S&W N frame triple Lock .44 and it's children, the M&P and it's children.;)

[uglygun]

The N-framed guns ofcourse...


But of the tons of various models out there, notably the Model 27 and the 1917 along with the 45ACP revolvers it inspired.

Moon clip 45ACP wheel guns are just darned fine guns.

[popbang]

Any of the older Colt designs should fit as well as the early S&W offerings. To me one that fits is the Ruger Blackhawk as its strength has spawned many absolute nuclear loadings. The shear strength of the action makes a candidate. I guess if you wont accept the Blackhawk maybe the Redhawk

[Brian Williams]

So far: / = 1 vote
///// Colt SAA or Model P 1873 in Cavalry garb with 7.5 barrel and 45 colt
///// Colt Python
//// S&W M&P Pre-war, Post-war, Pre mod 10, Mod 10
//// Smith 29
//// Smith & Wesson "Registered Magnum"
/// Smith & Wesson model 19
// Smith Model 27
// Colt Paterson
// Colt and S&W Models of1917
/ Ruger OM Blackhawk in 357
/ Ruger SP101
/ Dan Wesson Model 15
/ Ruger Single Six
/ S&W mountain gun
/ 1860 Army Model Colt
/ S&W 681
/ Centennial model hammerless pocket protector.
/ J-frame S&W - how many pockets have one of these in 'em?
/ the S&W N frame triple Lock .44
/ Ruger Blackhawk
/ Ruger Redhawk

[Peter M. Eick]

1) S&W Registered Magnum ( I will be shooting mine tomorrow!)
2) Colt Python (I will be shooting it tomorrow also)
3) Colt SAA

It will be a fun day!

[Marko Kloos]

My top three:

1. Smith & Wesson Model 19...the ultimate in balance, pointability, and power.

2. Smith & Wesson J-frame...the quintessential civilian CCW and LEO backup gun

3. Smith & Wesson Model 29...representative of the big-bore N-frames.

[Josey]

First multiple barrel pistol was Merwin & Hulbert in 44-40. A Army with skullcrusher butt would be my choice. The 44-40 was the round that provided a centerfire match of rifles and pistols. Second choice would be the Webley Mark series in 455. A service standard big bore has to be appreciated. Third choice would be the Colt New Service. The Pythons, Troopers and 1917s were developed from this platform.

[dfariswheel]

The most influential:

The Colt Walker/First Model Dragoon. The first really practical revolving pistols, which made all other pistols AND the sword obsolete. These convinced the world's military's that the revolver was practical.

The 1851 Colt Navy. This really generated the wide acceptance of the revolver. With the '51, the revolver became a truly portable personal weapon that could be comfortably worn on the person.
The first true "pistol fighters" used the '51 Navy.

The Colt SAA. There were other cartridge pistols, but none were more wide spread, and like the '51 Navy, gained acceptance for cartridge revolvers.

The Colt Model 1889 Navy. This was the world's first swing-out cylinder revolver, which every revolver since has basically copied.

The Colt Army Special/Official Police and the S&W Military and Police.
These made the swing-out cylinder revolver THE police firearm.

The Colt Detective Special. From 1927 until at least the mid-60's, if you were a detective, undercover, or off duty cop, you carried a "Dick" Special. S&W didn't even try to offer an alternative until the Chief's Special of 1950.

The Colt Python. The heavy lugged barrel has been copied as closely as possible by every revolver maker since. You have to search for a revolver that DOESN'T have a Python-like barrel.

The Colt Trooper Mark III. The worlds first revolver made with molded steel parts, and intended to be "machine" fitted instead of hand fitted, and the first modern revolver to use the transfer bar ignition.
All revolvers designed since use the same production methods and use virtual copies of Colt's transfer bar system.

The S&W Model 27 .357 Magnum. While really nothing but a slightly modified standard S&W revolver, it was the idea of a very high powered cartridge in a handgun that changed the revolver forever.

The Colt .357. The world's first mid-framed Magnum revolver. Before this, all .357's were large frame revolvers. For the first time, a Magnum revolver was small enough, and light enough for every-day carry.
Also introduced the idea of a factory fitted pair of "Target" grips on a service firearm.

The S&W Model 19/66 Again, just a slightly modified standard S&W, but this became THE police handgun for 3 generations of police officers.
For a considerable time, if you were an American cop, you carried a Model 19/66.
The Model 66 convinced the world that stainless steel was the wave of the future.

The S&W Model 29. Yet again, just a modified standard S&W , but introduced the world to the idea of a truly powerful "hand cannon" with enough power to bring down bigger game.

The Ruger Super Blackhawk. There were other large bore magnum hunting revolvers before, but it was the Super Blackhawk that made the "hand cannon" hunting revolver available to the general public.

[tiberius]

Walker Colt
Colt SAA
S&W 29

and I don't own any of them :banghead:

P.S. 3's not enough. I'd like to add:
Colt Detective Spl
S&W Chief's Special (and j frame derivatives)
S&W M&P
Ruger Blackhawk

[Cactus]

Colt Patterson - the first practical revolver
Colt SAA - no explanation needed
S&W Registered Magnum - started the high pressured revolver trend

[schromf]

Most historically important handguns:

Colt Patterson-first revolver
Colt Walker-First magnum, and practical battle revolver
Colt M1889 first swing out revolver
Model 1900-first auto pistol
Colt 1911

My top for desireability:

Colt Python- agrueably the finest production revolver ever produced. In a 41 Magnum, but the 357 gets honorable mention

Colt 1911- For me the high water mark is a depression area National Match, all came together on this the best fit and finish Colt ever produced, Accurate, and mature design. There are other Colts that are desirable, but not all the pieces came together to achieve a total package like the NM 1911 of this era ( commercial models not the military )

Smith and Wesson- registered Magnum, Old pinned and recessed N Frames fall right behind this.

I look back on this list and it truelly pains me to leave some guns out, and some would probably question why a couple even made my list, ex: a Model 1900 auto over a Colt SAA. In my opinion while I would rather own the Old Colt SAA, the M1900 ushered in a whole new generation ( still being used today) of firearm design. The 1911 really was the important gun in this development but the M1900 was first and influenced all future auto firearm designs. From the historical perspective it was impossible to hold this to 3 guns but I left off many that should be listed. Dfariswheels list has several of those important revolver milestones, but I feel although he covered the wheel guns well, auto pistols are histoically significant.

On my desireable list there are several other guns that should be on the list but I held my choices to three which means hard choices of what I want most, from both beauty and functional standpoints.

[patentnonsense]

Some great posts here! I'd ignorantly add:

the first double-lock production revolvers to go above .44 in power - Freedom Arms preceded Taurus, but the Raging Bull really broke this market segment open.

And the new X-frame - it ain't my cuppa, but it's interesting, fun to shoot once, and does tend to energize things! John Ross has an interesting paean to it on his web site.

[Mike Irwin]

S&W Model 19

S&W Triple Lock

S&W .22 Kit Gun.

[schromf]

Ireread this post this morning and noticed the word revolver where I had handgun in my tired brain. I am not going to change the historical handguns and take the auto from the list, but it I suppose it requires to pull the 1911 NM from the desirable list and replace it with a wheel gun.

So strike the the 1911 NM and replace it with 1st generation Colt SAA in 38-40 or 44-40.

And others that don't offically make the three cutoff would be a .44 Hand Ejector, a .38/44 N frame, and .45 ACP Model 1917

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

Well, this thread is decidedly American-flavored. Nothing wrong with that per se, but it's doing a dis-service to some fine guns from Forn Parts.

The Webley, in all forms be they -Green or -Pryse or & Scott or whatever. DA big-bore world-beater with an undeniably successful track record. Ushered in the speed-loader with the Prideaux Quick-Loader back in 18??. The British SAA with concurrent listing to the admirable Colt, and arguably a better gun.

The S&W #3 Russian Contract revolver. Shares simutaneous ejection with the Webley. Of American origin, but not American issue, this gun, with it's .44 Russian inside-lubed-bullet cartridge put paid to the woefully inaccurate Colt heeled bullet line. Father of the mighty .44 Special.

The Lemat. Forn-bred by virtue of a cool name. Listed by virtue of just being a rather fantastic idea, to wit: 9 .44-caliber chambers rotating around a stubby shotgun barrel. Not a great success, very expensive, comparitively only a few ever made, and of debatable efficacy due to the bullet's recoil tending to unseat the shotload. Before the advent of cartridges, the muzzle-loading Assualt Weapon of the Civil War.


Honorable mentions to the Paterson, the 1860 Army, the S&W #1, all those British Bulldogs made by everybody but the British but based faithfully on the R.I.C. revolver, and the latest version of the concept, the Ruger DA. Couldn't make the cut onnaccounta they jest tain't Fern' enuf.

Hmmm. I should post less when I have a cold. Delerium makes for some strange rationals. ;)

[L-Frame]

S&W 686+ mountain gun-

with 7 shots, L-frame strength, weight of a k-frame, and no full lug (for the full lug haters), S&W smoothness and quality, it is the finest COMBAT revolver of all time. No, it doesn't have the elegance of a python, (but not far behind) or the strength of a model 27 (but not far off, and in a much handier package), but when all is added up, it comes out on top for me.

Ruger GP100 (fixed sight)-

simple, strong gun in an excellent design. Fixed sights have a slightly smaller grip frame and slightly more rounded frame in general that makes them fit my had like a glove and makes them very carryable for me. And I think Ruger's GP100 factory grips are the finest factory grips ever made in terms of ergonomics.

[ceestand]

S&W Model 10
Colt Python
Mateba 6 Unica

[L-Frame]

2 revolvers that I have never seen in person, or shot (obviously), but I think must be included in any list of top revolvers of all time are the Korth from Germany and the Manhurin MR-73 from France. Over the years I've read many reviews in many publications and heard reports from friends, that they are magnificent in every respect. The fact that the MR-73 cannot be touched for under $1500 and the Korth for under $4000 means that I will probably never get to test my entrants.

[Brian Dale]

the top 12 most desireable, useful, pretty, handy, whatever your justificationI'll pick three real icons that I like:
1873 Colt Model P: in .45 LC or .44-40, with a 4 3/4" or 5 1/2" bbl. Pick the one that looks and feels best to you; there's no wrong answer.
Colt Detective Special: 2nd model, blued steel and walnut;
the 6-inch Python just squeaks past the 4-inch Model 19. Again, blued steel and walnut, please.

I've written before that we big burly guys get to choose things just 'cause they're 'pretty;' we don't have to prove our masculinity. :neener:

[Brian Williams]

So far: / = 1 vote
//////// Colt SAA or Model P 1873 in Cavalry garb with 7.5 barrel and 45 colt
//////// Colt Python
////// S&W 29
////// Smith & Wesson "Registered Magnum"
////// Smith & Wesson model 19
///// S&W M&P Pre-war, Post-war, Pre mod 10, Mod 10
////Colt Patterson
/// Colt Walker
/// Colt and S&W Models of1917 .45 ACP
// Smith Model 27
/ Ruger OM Blackhawk in 357
/ Ruger SP101
/ Dan Wesson Model 15
/ Ruger Single Six
/ S&W mountain gun
/ 1860 Army Model Colt
/ S&W 681
/ Centennial model hammerless pocket protector.
/ J-frame S&W - how many pockets have one of these in 'em?
/ the S&W N frame triple Lock .44
/ Ruger Blackhawk
/ Ruger Redhawk
/ Colt Detective Special
/ Korth
/ Manhurin MR-73
/ Mateba 6 Unica
/ S&W 686+ mountain gun
/ Ruger GP100
/ Webley
/ S&W #3 Russian
/ The Lemat
/ .44 Hand Ejector,
/.38/44 N frame,
/ S&W Triple Lock
/ S&W .22 Kit Gun.
/ Freedom Arms
/ Raging Bull
/ X-frame
/ Colt M1889 first swing out revolver

[Johnny Guest]

- - But I am forced to nit-pick just a little. Josey wrote: Third choice would be the Colt New Service. The Pythons, Troopers and 1917s were developed from this platform. Well, the Pythons and Troopers were direct descendants of the Colt 1889 Navy model revolver, which, as pointed out, was the first successful swing-out cylinder revolver. This is what became called "the .41 frame" by Colt, though by far most were chambered for one or another of the .38 carteridges. The 1889 begat the Army Special, which became the Official Police, which gave rise to a fine series of target handguns - - The Officers Model Match, the OM Special, the Camp Perry, and probably a couple of others. The Colt Trooper (in .38 Special) and Three-Fifty-Seven models, were the direct ancestors of the Python, all from the same .41 frame. This frame, however, was just not large enough for the big .44 and .45 cartridges.

The Colt New Service was built on an entirely different frame. It was chambered in .45 Colt and the WCF line (at least .38-40 and .44-40) as well as some English cartridges. My only NS is one marked ".44 Special and Russian." This frame was the basis for the U.S. Military Colt 1917 model and the target-sighted Colt Shooting Master. The NS was also the first Colt DA chambered for the .357 Magnum ctg. The SAA was, too, but I don't have the dates at hand.

The .41 frame and the New Service: Two fine Colts, but distinctly different formats. :)

Best,
Johnny

[Flying V]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 1851 Adams. Surely the first double-action revolver has great historical significance.

[fallingblock]

As an example of a rugged and well-designed modern revolver, the GP-100
stands out. :D

The S&W Centennial, particularly since 1995 gave us a .357 example, is probably near the top of the list for all time best pocket revolvers.:)

The Walker Colt ought to have a mention....

The Colt New Service was a fine large frame .45

And the Peacemaker.....

The Webley RIC was a trend-setter.....

The Adams provided the first D.A. handgun, and a good one at that.

The Ruger Old Army is the finest cap and ball ever produced....

There are a lot of good revolvers, aren't there?:eek:

[Black Majik]

1) Colt SSA

2) Colt Python

3) S&W M29

[Lobotomy Boy]

To be fair, when you tally the votes you should count the Model 27/Registerd Magnum as one gun, since the Model 27 was the same gun as the original Magnum (which by the time Smith started numbering its models had lost the hand checkering of the Registered Magnum).

Consider this another vote for the Registered Magnum/Model 27 for number 1.

2. Ruger Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk

3. Smith J-Frame

[cxm]

1. S&W M&P (K Frame) in all the various chamberings

2. S&W N Frame it it's various chamberings

3. Colt's P model in various chamberings

[dvnv]

Top 3 revolvers of all time...Make mine:

Colt Python (early, blued)
S&W N frame (early, you pick the caliber)
Freedom Arms in 454

The above does not take into account any historical significance and there are several close seconds. My .02, dvnv

[Dr.Rob]

1. Colt Patterson

2. Colt 1851

3. Colt 1860 Army

(I left out the Walker, while an historically interesting firearm, so few were made compared to the Colt Navy and Army models that saw world wide use, not to mention hard use in the American Civil War)

4. Colt Model P

5. Colt New Service (First Swing out model)/SW 3rd model Breaktop (Russian). I'd call these a tie for ease of reloading. Smith came out earlier.

6. SW Model M&P (the most popular revolver ever?)

7. SW/Colt 1917. (Again based on rapid production to get weapons into the hand of troops on short notice, Colt and SW produced something like 300,000 revolvers in a single year!

8. SW Registered Magnum.

9. Ruger Blackhawk. (First affordable, and durable 357 SA on the market).

10. FA .454 The pistol and cartridge that started the new handgun arms race for bigger and better.

That's my take. Picking only three is too hard. Then again, most of my revolvers are Colts or copies of Colts.

[Radagast]

If I had to pick three favourites:

5 inch model 27

4 inch model 66

2 inch centennial

Honourable mention to the ruger single six and webley top breaks.

Ken

[Gun Runners Alaska]

1) S&W Model of 1905 Military & Police:cool:

2) S&W or Colt Model of 1917:cool:

3) S&W Registered Magnum:cool:

[gulogulo1970]

1. Colt Python
2. Ruger SP-101
3. S&W 29

[Brian Williams]

Some of you guys just cannot count, read original post I said 3 not 10 or 12 or 7 but 3

Also it does not state influential or historic just your pick for your most desireable, useful, pretty, handy, whatever your justification.

We have beat historic and influential to death.

[aug e. dog]

OK, I like shooting these 3 the best, so that's what I'll go with.

S&W Model 28
Ruger Single Six
S&W Model 19

My S&W Model 10 was a close 4th, but lost out simply because I cannot shoot magnums with it.

[Cosmoline]

I'd include the

Taurus Raging Bull as the first mass-market handgun in a big bore wildcat. Until Taurus did it, the mainstream companies would not touch it. FA and custom shops were the only ones chambering for cartridges more potent than the .44 Magnum.

Taurus Titanium line. Again the Brazilians led the way.

[Neal Bloom]

S&W Highway Patrolman
S&W L Frame
S&W Model 19

[bfoster]

1. The first successful revolver is probably lost in the mists of time.

2. The first successful production revolver was the Colt Patterson.

3. The first successful production revolver having incontrovertable
stopping power was the Colt Walker.

4. The first successful production solid frame revolver was the Adams
Model 1851.

5. The first successful production revolver to take a fixed cartridge was
the S&W #1.

6. The first successful production revolver to use modern style ammunition
(not heel bullets) was the S&W #3 (Old Old Model Russian). But don't
discount the accuracy potential of centerfire heel bullets- by the time when
they gained the bad reputation they have, the revolvers that shot these had
for years had the smaller forcing cones that are needed to shoot the much
smaller diameter "inside lubricated" bullets.

7. The first successful production safe action revolver was the S&W Safety
First Model, but this was a dead end in revolver design. The first successful
safe action revoler to use a design approach that has stood the test of time
was the Iver Johnson Safety Automatic Revolver of 1892.

8. The first successful production revolver designed to shoot high pressure
ammunition was the S&W Magnum.

9. Innovative revolvers for the police market: S&W M&P and the Colt Detective
Special.

10. Innovative design for the sport shooting market: Hammerli, for setting a
high standard for accuracy, Dick Casull, for designing the first revolver
that will will stand 50kpsi loads indefinitely, and Dan Wesson for his switch
barrel design.

11. Excellence in craftsmanship: imagine what a SIG P210-8 or Korth revolver
would be like if a great deal of care were to be lavished on its' finish and
you'll have an idea of the standard to which the best pre-WWI revolvers were
built. I'm thinking about revolvers like the Colt New Service Target, the S&W
44 Hand Ejector Target First Model (Triplelock) and the Webley WG Models of
1894, 1896 and 1904. These are shooters, they need to be used. ;)

12. Finally, John Browning, for designing the first automatic pistols the
design of which has proven good enough to have lasted essentially unchanged,
in both centerfire and rimfire. These fine arms give us all a standard against
which we may further appreciate our revolvers.

Bob

[NoTsO cLeAn HaRoLd]

These are my favorite 3

S&W N-Frames - M29's, 24's etc.

Ruger Single Six - just too much fun!

Colt 1851 Navy - Good enough for Wild Bill Hicock

[klover]

klover is not "clover" it's K lover:

1)sw 19
2)sw 19
3)sw 19

(since I have 3 of em) course ccw is 638-2 and it is very, very accurate and smooth.

[caz223]

Ok, I'll play.
Any three to five inch N-frame smith.
Preferably older. Model 29 will suffice for now.

The ruger blackhawk.
Spawning the really, really hot load revolution.

Most of the rest of my specific suggestions fall into one of the above categories other than....

The J-frame airweight.
A super-lightweight pocket 5-shooter with power to spare, and outfitable with CT laser grips, and quick sight picture night sights.
Not exactly of historical significance, unless you value your life, and want a small "always" gun that does the things that this gun can do.
And do so nicely.
That is significant to me.

[chaim]

Top 12 revolvers of all time means you aren't asking for "favorite" but which ones made the largest impact. Well, it is hard to pick only 3 to nominate because so many were significant.

The Patterson, pretty much the first modern revolver. The Colt 1851 and 1860, and Remington 1858 which fought the Civil War and helped tame the West. The SAA goes without saying. The first S&W M&P, introduced over a hundred years ago now and still going strong (all K-frames). The first S&W .357magnums. The Chief's Special- one of the first pocket guns strong enough to actually depend upon. The Detective Special- one more round in a pocket revolver. The Python- a legend in its own time. The M29, "it can take your head off" .44mag- legend, hunting, and for many, fun. The S&W 60- the first stainless. And many many more.....It is almost too hard to choose three to nominate.

Here is my attempt to decide which are more important:

-The SAA. Other guns certainly served with it and may have given it a run for its money back in the "Old West", but none stir the imagination today as the SAA does.

-The M&P. Every K-frame you have today is a direct decendant, and the .38spl (and by extension then, the .357mag) wouldn't be what it is today without the M&P (would it have caught on, or even been developed, without this gun).

-Chief's Special- the first J-frame. Who doesn't own a J-frame or equivelent? A pocketable gun with sufficient power for defense that is still unmatched half a century later.

[Rich357]

1. S&W M19

2. Colt Python

3. S&W PC Stealth Hunter .44Mag (Green&Black Birdsong finish)

[Stainz]

Historical significance: S&W Model 3: New Model Russian (1874-78) - The original centerfire handgun cartridge, the .44 Russian of 1871, in a fast to reload top-break.

Traditional: S&W 625 or 629 Mountain Gun. Big bore N-frame with a tapered tube, partial lug, etc. Use squared grips for the 'dated' effect.

Technical: Ruger Super Redhawk .454/.480. Materials choice, features, commercial production, and excellent ergonomics for really big bore six-shooters... a step ahead, albeit towards the techno-ugly.

Stainz

[Michael Zeleny]

The Colt Walker/First Model Dragoon. The first really practical revolving pistols, which made all other pistols AND the sword obsolete. These convinced the world's military's that the revolver was practical.

The 1851 Colt Navy. This really generated the wide acceptance of the revolver. With the '51, the revolver became a truly portable personal weapon that could be comfortably worn on the person.
The first true "pistol fighters" used the '51 Navy.

The Colt SAA. There were other cartridge pistols, but none were more wide spread, and like the '51 Navy, gained acceptance for cartridge revolvers.

The Colt Model 1889 Navy. This was the world's first swing-out cylinder revolver, which every revolver since has basically copied.

The Colt Army Special/Official Police and the S&W Military and Police.
These made the swing-out cylinder revolver THE police firearm.

The Colt Detective Special. From 1927 until at least the mid-60's, if you were a detective, undercover, or off duty cop, you carried a "Dick" Special. S&W didn't even try to offer an alternative until the Chief's Special of 1950.

The Colt Python. The heavy lugged barrel has been copied as closely as possible by every revolver maker since. You have to search for a revolver that DOESN'T have a Python-like barrel.

The Colt Trooper Mark III. The worlds first revolver made with molded steel parts, and intended to be "machine" fitted instead of hand fitted, and the first modern revolver to use the transfer bar ignition.
All revolvers designed since use the same production methods and use virtual copies of Colt's transfer bar system.

The S&W Model 27 .357 Magnum. While really nothing but a slightly modified standard S&W revolver, it was the idea of a very high powered cartridge in a handgun that changed the revolver forever.

The Colt .357. The world's first mid-framed Magnum revolver. Before this, all .357's were large frame revolvers. For the first time, a Magnum revolver was small enough, and light enough for every-day carry.
Also introduced the idea of a factory fitted pair of "Target" grips on a service firearm.

The S&W Model 19/66 Again, just a slightly modified standard S&W, but this became THE police handgun for 3 generations of police officers.
For a considerable time, if you were an American cop, you carried a Model 19/66.
The Model 66 convinced the world that stainless steel was the wave of the future.

The S&W Model 29. Yet again, just a modified standard S&W , but introduced the world to the idea of a truly powerful "hand cannon" with enough power to bring down bigger game.

The Ruger Super Blackhawk. There were other large bore magnum hunting revolvers before, but it was the Super Blackhawk that made the "hand cannon" hunting revolver available to the general public.

A few additions to a well-informed list:

The Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873. The most successful revolver of its time.

The Mauser 1878 Zig Zag. Historically insignificant, but very neat.

The Model 1883 Reichsrevolver. The bonus answer to revolver safety catch trivia.

The Merwin Hulbert Fourth Model. The ultimate refinement of a noteworthy design.

The Nagant Model 1895. The gas seal action makes it the only revolver to have been successfully silenced.

The Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver. Res ipsa loquitur.

The Manurhin MR-73. The most robust and accurate revolver ever made.

The 454 Casull. The first ultra magnum revolver.

The S&W 500. The last ultra magnum revolver.

[Eskimo Jim]

S&W model 17 great double action 22lr.
Ruger Single Six 22lr I bet more shooters have cut their teeth on this than any other model
S&W model 29 who hasn't wanted one?

I'm forced to stop at 3. Others have already mentioned some fantastic models and the reasons for their choice so I'd underscore the pick for K frams and a J frame/SP101 size frame.

-Jim

[ducktapehero]

My 3 votes go for

1. Paterson Colt

2. 1873 Colt Single Action Army

3. Smith and Wesson model 10

[4v50 Gary]

1) Old Colt Python - smoothest SA/DA revolver made.
2) Ruger Security Six - toughest SA/DA revolvers ever made
3) Webley-Fosbery - The waltzing gun. One step forward, two steps back and besides, it was used to kill Stan Archer. OK, more seriously, Colt Walker Dragoon. It wasn't the first revolver (and there had been revolvers in the flintlock days), but it was the revolver that made repeating firearms possible.

[G. Glock]

Colt 1860 Army


Colt SAA 1873


S&W K frame


S&W N Frame

[cleve land]

S&W no.1
Colt Patterson
S&W 357

[Chuck Jennings]

Python
K22
M&P

[tex_n_cal]

Ya'll missed one:neener:

Elmer Keith's #5 influenced the rebirth of the single action revolver in the 1950's, and helped prevent it from fading into hstory.

I will then vote for the .44 mag M29

and the Freedom Arms Casull.

[Marshall]

Only 3? Hmmm.......

OK, here we go.......


Colt SAA
Colt Python
S&W M29


Hororable mention goes to:

S&W J frame
Ruger Redhawk (started Rugers present line of RH, SRH, GP's SP's)

[Leaky Waders]

My two cents...err 3 nominations...in no particular order.

Smith and Wesson Model's: 60 Lady Smith, 686, and 25 (I can't help it I like the .45 colt).

V/R,
L.W.

Frequently Lurking...sometimes posting.

[achadwick]

I'll vote for the premier grade FA 454 Casull. Awesome power, high accuracy, precision manufacturing, and supurb fit and finish.

Also the S&W K-22 and the Walker Colt.