fastbolt
Member
1955 vintage revolvers, huh?
Well, I'd think that would eliminate the M13 & M65 from consideration.
I suppose I'd just make it simple and list the S&W Registered Magnum (.357 Magnum), or the subsequent .357 Magnum and then the Model 27, in 5".
Keeping with guns in production and/or still available in 1955, the first Combat Magnum (serial-number K260,000) was presented to Bill Jordan on November 15, 1955 so it would be available within the given time frame.
I could settle for a .357 Combat Magnum (later designated Model 19), although it might not be my first choice if Magnum ammunition was going to be used for a LOT of frequent training. Maybe if I was good friends with the revolver armorer.
I suppose that if standard .38 Spl was used for the bulk of the training, and Magnum ammunition was reserved for occasional practice and normal service use, then I'd go for the lighter weight Combat Magnum. Ease of carry was the reason behind the development of the 4" Heavy Barreled K-frame .357 Magnum envisioned by Bill Jordan, after all.
If I was going to be doing a lot of shooting with Magnum ammunition, though, then I'd go for the heavier revolver.
Matter of fact, come to think of it, I'd probably just buy one of each and carry according to my desire.
I carried an issued M66 4" when I was a young cop, and then it was later replaced with the first of the M686 4L-frame revolvers. Once a couple of things were worked out in the early L-frames it became my favorite LE revolver for service use. I even carried it off-duty quite a lot.
I remember that after I got my 686 back from having the firing pin & F/P bushing replaced (under the in-field modification program) that I ran over 3,500 rounds of Magnum loads through it (and who knows how many .38 Spl +P loads) before I was finally ordered to turn it in for a 9mm 'high capacity' pistol.
I really miss that gun. I have no excuse for not ever having bought one of my own in later years. Still on my list, though. I did pick up a nice M66, however.
Well, I'd think that would eliminate the M13 & M65 from consideration.
I suppose I'd just make it simple and list the S&W Registered Magnum (.357 Magnum), or the subsequent .357 Magnum and then the Model 27, in 5".
Keeping with guns in production and/or still available in 1955, the first Combat Magnum (serial-number K260,000) was presented to Bill Jordan on November 15, 1955 so it would be available within the given time frame.
I could settle for a .357 Combat Magnum (later designated Model 19), although it might not be my first choice if Magnum ammunition was going to be used for a LOT of frequent training. Maybe if I was good friends with the revolver armorer.
I suppose that if standard .38 Spl was used for the bulk of the training, and Magnum ammunition was reserved for occasional practice and normal service use, then I'd go for the lighter weight Combat Magnum. Ease of carry was the reason behind the development of the 4" Heavy Barreled K-frame .357 Magnum envisioned by Bill Jordan, after all.
If I was going to be doing a lot of shooting with Magnum ammunition, though, then I'd go for the heavier revolver.
Matter of fact, come to think of it, I'd probably just buy one of each and carry according to my desire.
I carried an issued M66 4" when I was a young cop, and then it was later replaced with the first of the M686 4L-frame revolvers. Once a couple of things were worked out in the early L-frames it became my favorite LE revolver for service use. I even carried it off-duty quite a lot.
I remember that after I got my 686 back from having the firing pin & F/P bushing replaced (under the in-field modification program) that I ran over 3,500 rounds of Magnum loads through it (and who knows how many .38 Spl +P loads) before I was finally ordered to turn it in for a 9mm 'high capacity' pistol.
I really miss that gun. I have no excuse for not ever having bought one of my own in later years. Still on my list, though. I did pick up a nice M66, however.
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