S&W's most eye-appealing full-sized DA revolvers

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UncleEd

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By eye-appealing I mean the aesthetics
of the guns and this can be a very
indvidual taste.

By full-sized I mean 4-inch barrels or
more and limited to double action models.

So here's a list of S&W's most "classic"
revolvers, all of which have tapered or
as I call them sculpted barrels:

The Model 15/67. Yeah, I know, it
was known by another designation.
Ditto a numer of other S&W
revolvers.

The Model 27/28.

The Model 24/624.

And then there's one of the most
delightful categories, namely the
Mountain Gun, which include
the .44 Special, 44 Magnum,
the 41 Magnum and the .45 Colt.

I'm sure I've forgotten some but
this is the main body of models.

And I should add the Model 10/64,
those with the slender or '"pencil"
barrels.


These compared to the bull
barreled "monsters" are just so
much more desirable.

I know many will like
heavier revolvers for taming
the beasties that are loaded into
the chambers. But I've never
looked on the handgun, including
the revolver, as a platform to
compete with rifles, carbines
and Dirty Harry.

Even the Model 19/66 looks ugly
to me with its "sewer pipe" sticking
out from the frame--apologies to
Bill Jordan.

Those that I mentioned are just
so much nicer, handier than other
makers' offerings including Colt
and Ruger with their "sewer pipe"
barrels as well as S&W's offerings.
 
Hmm, over 4” barrel. None of them.

Model 27 3 1/2” barrel is probably my favorite based on pure aesthetics. It’s an N frame so I’m pretty sure it’s full sized.

There is just something so endearing about the PC327 with the 2” barrel. Looks just like a Pug.

Let’s not forget the PC627 Blood Work gun with the 2 1/2”.
 
index.php


I’m partial to the 629 line...
 
I agree OP. I really prefer tapered barrels over “bull” or heavy barrels.
 
"Most Eye-appealing Full-size, DA Revolver".....for shear good looks, I'd pick S&W's delightful M-27 with the 5" bbl. (Skelton's favorite BTW). I have one, it's beautiful and in nearly NIB condition...a true delight to the eye and with balance in the strong hand to match.

But it's not my favorite for carry....to fill that need, I look to Smith's superlative M-19 or its SS brother-in-arms, the M-66, both with 4" bbl's. Easy to pack @ 37 oz's on the hip for a full day afield or an 8 hour's grave-yard shift till end of watch on the lower east side, with accuracy due to those superb Smith DA & SA triggers, either one would fill my holster before any others.

Best regards, Rod.....1st pic: the 5" M-27; 2nd pic: a M-19 & 66 4 inchers.

5_inch_M27.jpg

IMG-E7436.jpg ​
 
For a long time I had no use for the 8-3/8" barrel on an S&W revolver. I bought an 8-3/8" Model 25-5 to fill out my 25-5 collection( 4"and nominal 6" models) and like the way it shot. I have added a number of 8-3/8" S&W revolvers since then ( not necessarily in order of acquisition M17, M14, M686, M29, M57, M27, M460).

These are not very carry friendly but they do shoot longer range targets well.

I like shorter barrel S&W revolvers as well but I feel N-frame guns with less than 4" barrels are not very useful and do look as attractive as the longer barrel models. But, I'll agree it is a personnel preference thing.
 
UncleEd said:
By eye-appealing I mean the aesthetics
of the guns and this can be a very
indvidual taste.

These compared to the bull
barreled "monsters" are just so
much more desirable.

Even the Model 19/66 looks ugly
to me with its "sewer pipe" sticking
out from the frame--apologies to
Bill Jordan.
.
Click to expand...
Which one of these lacks "eye appeal"? Including the bull-barreled monsters or the Model 19/Model 66?
Some .357's; M28-2, M27-2, M19-3, M66-1
Revolvers S&W .357 Magnums.jpg

And what I call the "Plus 40's", that you might call bull-barreled monsters:
M25-5
M29-2
M57
M58
Revolvers S&W Over 40s.jpg
 
Two of my “Sewer Pipe” revolvers I love. ;)

Model 19-4

9DC3E7B5-4091-48A7-838D-8D9E01AD7D41.jpeg

My model 17-3

53195477-96F4-4432-8627-2A7621881F3D.jpeg

Years ago when I used to got to indoor shooting matches at a local gun range in Torrance Ca. there were a lot of police officers that would shoot these Bullseye and NRA matches. My friend and I became friendly with them and almost all of them carried S&W model 19s and they would also buy model 17s set up similar to their duty guns for cheap practice with .22s.
I thought the concept was cool, so when I bought my model 19 I started looking for a model 17 to match it. Well, as you can see they are not exact matches, but then I am not a cop in 1983 either. :D
Besides, once I had that 17-3 in my hand I wasn’t walking away from it. ;)
 
To me, the 4" barrel with the partial lug is the best-looking of the bunch.

I don't happen to own one, but that is a temporary situation. :)
 
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