Handguns you cherish

[357smallbore]

I'm interested in what the members here consider their top 3 and only 3 favorite handguns they currently own. I'm a wheel gun guy myself. I do have a few semi autos, but my heart is ingrained in the revolver.
My list is;
1. 1985 Ruger Redhawk 357 magnum sporting a 5.5 bbl
2. 1984 Smith and Wesson 686 (no dash) 357 with a 4 bbl
3. 1980 Smith and Wesson model 29-2 blued 44 magnum 4 bbl
I treasure these as my favorites and they will one day be my sons. I know when people get a safe or two full of weapons, sometimes it can be a challenge to pick what are the best of the best in your collection are. For me it was that way. But I know these are the right ones for me.
What are your favorites

 

[ms6852]

My 1983 or 1984 686, and the two pythons my brother gave. My EDC is the 686+ with 3" barrel.

 

[LocoGringo]

I have a Smith and Wesson 686+ 6" I inherited from my dad, a Dan Wesson Specialist Commander in 9mm that shoots absolutely lights out and my competition STI Marauder in 9mm. I'll never get rid of those.

 

[1911JAS]

All of them.

 

[nettlle]

1954 Smith and Wesson K22 given to me my dear late father-in law.

 

[rabid wombat]

@Mark_Mark ’s……

 

[Shawn Dodson]

My late father's 9mm Browning Hi Power, which he bought at at the PX on Camp Pendleton in the early 1970s, when the PX sold guns.

He brought it home, proudly showed it to me and said, "Shhhh..., don't tell your mother!" I was honored back then that he trusted me that much to keep a secret.

 

[rabid wombat]

1954 Smith and Wesson K22 given to me my dear late father-in law.

The one Dad passed down was almost identical to yours including the ‘rust spot’ on the muzzle….

 

[nettlle]

It was left in a in a gun cabinet stored in a leather holster for decades. My father-in-law was not a gun person. He didn't really know what a K22 was but I did. He could tell how excited I was when I first saw it and not long after that gave it to me.

 

[Riomouse911]

I only have one handgun that I inherited, a 1940’s era S&W M&P .38 Spl. My Great Uncle carried it as a LVPD patrolman from 1945-1965.

While it is still awfully tight, I did have the bluing restored. It had a lot of dusty rust on the grip and holster wear from 20 years of sweaty desert carry.



The sterling silver and copper grip panels were on the gun for ages, they’re visible when he had his retirement badge presented to him by the former Chief on his last day in uniform.

All the other handguns I have are just that, handguns.

Stay safe.

 

[rabid wombat]

It was left in a in a gun cabinet stored in a leather holster for decades. My father-in-law was not a gun person. He didn't really know what a K22 was but I did. He could tell how excited I was when I first saw it and not long after that gave it to me.

Dad used his to ‘poach’ pheasant so he could eat . It sat in a shearling lined leather case - like the leather holster…

something about the age…

One of two handguns my two brothers and I learned to shoot with as kids, the other was the 1911 Dad brought back….

 

[nettlle]

Many decades, and many 22 revolvers later, there is a choice of several 22's I could take out to the barns to dispatch a pest. The K22 is always the one I pick up. Not a bad testimony for a 71 year old forearm design.

 

[Flat Rock]

My Granddads pistol

 

[small town life]

44mag in a 629 and any non-1911 10mm.......well, most 10's that way!

 

[Mark_Mark]

@Mark_Mark ’s……

my Gun Shop in Seattle!

 

[Slamfire]

no text

 

[Armored farmer]

 

[red rick]

I really only have one that I put in that category . It is the first handgun that I bought , a 686-3 .

 

[WestKentucky]

It’s not even a thoughtful list, it’s just an easy and instant answer.

#1. Blued TC contender. I have 4 barrels currently but the 10” 7-30 waters with 3x fixed scope lives on the frame.

#2. Stainless TC contender. The trigger isn’t quite as nice as the blued gun. This one stays braced with a 14” 30-30 barrel. My daughter used it to get her first deer this past year.

#3. Grandmas RG in 32long. She carried the little snubby in a cigarette pouch hanging from her cane. I bought it from her a couple years before she passed so that she could give all the grandkids a little gift for Christmas. I also have her Sportsman 999 but the little German junk gun has the memories.

Runners up are a smith 30-1 I got for anniversary #1 and a 10mm RIA 1911 I got for 10th anniversary. I have a couple other guns from folks I loved like family too.

 

[tubeshooter]

Well - as the OP stated, the more you have the harder it is to answer.
But I'll play along today...

1) Beater K-22 I picked up. It is a laser and a joy to shoot.
2) 3" GP-100 with small Lett grips. A relatively recent purchase and a low round count, but very versatile.
3) No-lock 642. It was what I had the two times I had a real situation, so that has to count for something...


I could add another 3 for 2nd-string and then another 3 for 3rd-string if I wanted. Which only really means that I (probably) have too much stuff at the end of the day. As a few have said - I guess I "like" all the ones I still have, even if "cherish" is too strong a word maybe.

 

[Pat Riot]

All of them.

I’m going to have to go with this as well. ^^^^

Over the past couple of years I have whittled away at my accumulation of guns to get to the guns that I truly like, or “cherish”, as @357smallbore said.

The 3 that immediately came to mind when I read the OP were my S&W 327 Night Guard, S&W 10-7 C&E and S&W 442 - a gift from my wife.
But, I have other handguns and rifles that I truly don’t ever want to part with. I can see my new Sig Sauers, the P226 Mk25 and P229 M11A1 becoming “top of the list” favorite and cherished firearms.

I was never lucky enough to be bequeathed a family heirloom revolver or a firearm owned by a loved one or mentor, so my favorite and cherished firearms became that way through use and good memories that come back to me every time I look at them or handle them.

Here are the 3 that immediately came to mind when I read the OP

S&W 327 NG


S&W 10-7 C&E


S&W 442-1

 

[Tallball]

K22 Masterpiece 6", Super Blackhawk 7.5", Model 28 6"

Smith And Wesson K22

• Tallball
• Jul 30, 2018

Super Blackhawk

• Tallball
• Nov 23, 2017

Smith And Wesson Model 28

• Tallball
• Mar 15, 2019

 

[bigpower491]

I reckon in order it would be dad's single six, my first revolver I bought myself, a Ruger Super Blackhawk, and my Freedom 83, 357 magnum

 

[PzGren]

The first Korth I bought comes first to mind.


The Nowlin in 9mm pops up next because it is easy to shoot well.


Number three favorite is not set in stone and changing occasionally but the SIG P210-4 qualifies now.

 

[skoro]

I'm a revolver guy, but my all time favorite is a mid 70's Colt Lightweight Commander.