Working Man Revolver

Looking at my old records, I bought my 6" blued Ruger GP100 brand new in 1993 for $315.00.

That meant I was a 28 year old machine operator making maybe $400 gross pay per week, if I wasn't working overtime.

Edit to add:
One of my neighbor friends from across the street was a couple years younger than me and he bought a Ruger SP101 in .357 magnum at about the same time. He was an up and coming salesman manager and he had a wife and kid to protect. His brother and friend rented rooms from me in my first house during that time as I was an "evil landlord" to help pay my first mortgage.

I paid $335 for my King Cobra in 1990. I was making about $6.50 an hour then.

ColtPythonElite said:

I paid $335 for my King Cobra in 1990. I was making about $6.50 an hour then.

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Looking at my old 1994 Guns and Ammo Annual, retail for a GP100 was $397 to $446.50 and a King Cobra retailed for $409.95 to $469.95. Depending on blued, stainless, and barrel length, of course.

Same book has the S&W 19 retail price range from $388 to $447.

I paid the extra 30 bucks for the bright finish stainless over the matte

If the working man has to buy new, definitely a GP100, SP101, or a 586/686.

If used is an option, the same models also apply (plus maybe some nicer models picked up at good used prices). It also opens up the Security/Speed/Service six series from Ruger. Decent revolvers. The first revolver I bought was a 6” Security Six. Built like a tank but the trigger isn’t superb.

If .38 only is acceptable, early model 10s and pre 10s are still available at decent prices. I just picked one up for $360. It has a good bit of holster wear on the finish, but it’s a shooter. I dumped 4 cylinders today at a target at 10 yards and got one ragged 2.5” hole with 3 flyers less than an inch from the edge of that hole. Also Colt Official Police models can be picked up occasionally in the same sub $400 price range.

Those are my ideas of a working mans revolver. The snake guns from colt, as much respect as I have for them, are just too high priced to be a working mans gun.

GP100, Taurus 66, 627, 692, or Smith 686, would be my choices. Im REALLY happy with both my GP.44 special and Taurus 692 9mm/38/357mag.
I honestly think the GPs a big bloody revolver for a .357, but I'm sure it would be a really smooth shooter.

Working man or woman,
Retired man or woman,
Leisure man or woman,
Trust fund man or woman?
Looking for a utility revolver ?
Echo comments from others to consider a S&W M10?
Pragmatic choice, very shootable.

Mr. Mosin said:

Thoughts on a "working man's" belt revolver ?

along the lines of a S&W Model 19

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Give me one with a 3" barrel in a holster at 4:00 and i'll be set. Maybe toss a slim set of grips on it to hide the profile if you need to conceal.

Find an earlier halved lug GP:



Carries and handles better and easier, about as well as a Single Six and will last a lifetime of full house magnums. Rugged reliable fixed sights for durability in the field.

Corpral_Agarn said:

I'm thinking a k frame or L frame.
38 or 357.
3" barrel.

Model 10, 65, 19, 66, 586, 686 (you get the idea)

Of these I think a 3" 65 would be my pick. Adjustable sights haven't really been a benefit to my shooting (IME) so may as well go simpler/smoother.

Now an L frame with +1 cylinder would be nice.

When I think "revolver" I think old timey...
When I think "old timey" + "working man"... For some reason I'm thinking gumshoe.

Old school detective revolver...
IE Peter Gun and the like...

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Peter Gunn carried a Chiefs Special. His father, Pop Gunn, carried a Metropolitan Police and his eldest boy, Sonofa Gunn, carried a Model 27.

IF I was going to lug a full sized 357 around with me all day, (I don't) it would be my S&W Model 19-9. I know...I know...It's got all the dreaded features. MIM parts, two piece barrel, frame mounted firing pin, and (gasp) "the lock" . In spite of those things, it's a fine revolver that can take as much pounding as I'd ever even imagine giving it. I love the old guns, but while there might be such a things as a "beater" Model 19, I haven't seen one in, I don't know how long. Every one I see (and I own three of them, and have owned a dozen others) are too nice for me to stick in a holster and bang around with. The old girls get a place of honor in the safe and taken out pretty much to get waxed and such. I shoot the -9. It's tough as nails, and if something does happen to it, I can send it back to S&W and get it fixed. An old one...not so much.

I think it looks pretty darn good too.



and for those who say "Nobody ever shows the side with the lock."

CajunBass said:

IF I was going to lug a full sized 357 around with me all day, (I don't) it would be my S&W Model 19-9. I know...I know...It's got all the dreaded features. MIM parts, two piece barrel, frame mounted firing pin, and (gasp) "the lock" . In spite of those things, it's a fine revolver that can take as much pounding as I'd ever even imagine giving it.]

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Can you kindly post the weight of that beautiful revolver as it is carried? The catalog weights are sometimes not listed accurately.

Thank you.

Kevin

Sometime around 1990ish this working man bought this Taurus 669 to use during Illinois antlerless only 'late season'.
Wow, there were many hunting stories that came from the 'handgun only late season'
This 669 was an excellent shooter with the best factory trigger i ever felt. I bought it new.
I had another Taurus that was no good, but this one was a good one.

3" is my idea of a working man's revolver. Short enough to conceal...long enough to shoot accurately.

Mr. Mosin said:

Thoughts on a "working man's" belt revolver ?

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First thing that popped into my mind after reading the @SUBJ was was the first handgun that I ever bought, a few months after my 21st birthday (1973): 4" blue .357 Ruger Security Six.

Solidly engineered & built, accurate, reliable, decent sights, comfortable and tough.

I prefer this S&W PC 357.
It shoots well and being ported, recoil is manageable
.

LoonWulf said:

I honestly think the GPs a big bloody revolver for a .357, but I'm sure it would be a really smooth shooter.

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I can't recall anyone developing a flinch while shooting my GP100.

In the present day whatever 4"-6" double-action revolver in .38/.357 he finds used locally that's in good working shape. This will almost certainly be a S&W or Ruger, but he might come across something else. Good working shape is the critical factor here.

My first guns were bought on a security guard's wages so price was *always* a primary consideration. I never bought junk, but I didn't buy new very often. Got lucky with my Model 28 back in the day. Decent price, great gun. I guess N-frames weren't popular just then. Wish I had bought a Model 10 back when they were more common on the used market as well.

Mr. Mosin said:

Thoughts on a "working man's" belt revolver ?

I'm thinking perhaps a 4" barreled .357 Magnum, double action; along the lines of a S&W Model 19 or a Ruger GP100/Smith 686. Utilitarian, common manufacturer, easy service and parts, along with plentiful aftermarket upgrades.

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Well, I guess it really depends on what the man works at. Beat cop, detective - private or municipal, mercenary, Wichita Lineman, Starbucks barista... ???

I'm an office worker. My employer forbids weapons in the workplace, permit or no. I can't carry concealed 90% of my waking hours during the week and don't bother the rest of the time - at home you can't turn around without being in arm's reach of a revolver or shotgun. I do carry a "pocket knife" around with me typically and I'm pretty good with it. When I'm outside - which is where I am when NOT at work - I'm carrying a belt knife and sometimes a side-arm, typically a single-action .357 of some flavor. Solid, reliable, easy to operate, accurate, powerful. Not much to complain about.

So the question is: What's your work and what kinds of dangers are you preparing for?

Not sure what "working man" means. I don't know anybody with money who didn't work for it. For me, a mid frame .357 is never my first choice. Much prefer a moderately loaded big bore over anything possible in the .357.

However, there's still a few in the stable. The Old Model Blackhawk was the original "working man's gun", according to Bill Ruger.


Or the Super Blackhawk.


This is the Carryhawk but something like a basic blued .45 Blackhawk convertible is affordable, lightweight, versatile and potent.


A short barreled Bisley Vaquero .44Mag is mighty fine too.


Or a factory New Model .44 Special.


Nothing wrong with an SAA replica either, like these Cimarron .44 Specials.


Another .44 Special option.


I was making a whopping $10/hr when I had my first custom built, over 20yrs ago.

Mr. Mosin said:

None, and I don't plan on owning any. Far better things to do than spend $1500 on a .357 Magnum with a shotgun rib and well known timing issues.

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We all have our priorities.

Bo said:

I prefer this S&W PC 357...

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Every time I see a pic of a 7-shooter cylinder like that, it triggers a brief brain-pausing double-take in me.

... but I like both the look and, especially, the i-de-a of such 7-shooters.

Gp100. Easier to service, costs less. Sold by a company that will actually provide cs if needed. Ruger is king of common folks guns. Sw is like a European car, slick, smooth and good looking but kind of dainty , harder to service and I doubt many would call them robust - I don't.
Depends on your plans though . I'm hard on everything and don't baby my gear. SW guns did poorly for me, ymmv

Obturation said:

Gp100. Easier to service, costs less. Sold by a company that will actually provide cs if needed. Ruger is king of common folks guns. Sw is like a European car, slick, smooth and good looking but kind of dainty , harder to service and I doubt many would call them robust - I don't.
Depends on your plans though . I'm hard on everything and don't baby my gear. SW guns did poorly for me, ymmv

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Big Ugly here has been through some stuff since 1917 and is still on the job.

CraigC said:

Not sure what "working man" means. I don't know anybody with money who didn't work for it. For me, a mid frame .357 is never my first choice. Much prefer a moderately loaded big bore over anything possible in the .357.

However, there's still a few in the stable. The Old Model Blackhawk was the original "working man's gun", according to Bill Ruger.
View attachment 973246

Or the Super Blackhawk.
View attachment 973247

This is the Carryhawk but something like a basic blued .45 Blackhawk convertible is affordable, lightweight, versatile and potent.
View attachment 973248

A short barreled Bisley Vaquero .44Mag is mighty fine too.
View attachment 973249

Or a factory New Model .44 Special.
View attachment 973250

Nothing wrong with an SAA replica either, like these Cimarron .44 Specials.
View attachment 973251

Another .44 Special option.
View attachment 973252

I was making a whopping $10/hr when I had my first custom built, over 20yrs ago.
View attachment 973253



We all have our priorities.

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I really like the feel of the Ruger Dragoon grip. It looks good on that shorter-barreled Super. Typically only see it on the 7.5" and longer.

.38 vs. 44 is an old debate and comes down to personal taste. My answer is: all of the above.