The S&W Revolver sought after like the Colt Python...?

[Katty]

The Smith sought after like the Python...?

Ok, so the Python is a big winner for Colt. (Along with others...)
What is the Smith & Wesson gun of choise that everyone would like to own and doesn't have a bad word to say about? Revolver form.
Ya know, one that pretty much stands alone in quality and a good gun you don't mind putting a little money in?

 

[Chuck Perry]

I'd say the Registered Combat Magnum is one of the most sought after Smiths out there.

 

[Katty]

Talking about a Model 19?
I would imagine the olest ones are worth the $$$'s?
Made them from 1957 - 1982 I think?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd say the Registered Combat Magnum is one of the most sought after Smiths out there.

Yep. It's the holy grail of Smith & Wessons. It's still not a Python, but it's a fairly impressive gun.

 

[Ala Dan]

Gosh guy's, Colts Python just doesn't fit me very well; not even close to
what those Smith K, L, or even N frames do for me~! With that said,
give'me an old Smith K or N frame every time; and I will be a very happy
camper~!

 

[earplug]

44 spl Triple Lock. I'm sure someone will fill in the model and manufactored dates.

 

[Katty]

ok, still not clear, are you guys talking about a registered M19 or the registered 686? And what do you mean by registered?
Sorry for the confusion

 

[joneb]

I find the S&W 27 with a 3.5' barrel very appealing.

 

[Husker1911]

The Smith .38/44 Heavy Duty Revolver is fairly highly prized and sought.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Gosh guy's, Colts Python just doesn't fit me very well

If Pythons didn't fit me well, I'd cut off my hands and get new ones.

 

[zinj]

ok, still not clear, are you guys talking about a registered M19 or the registered 686? And what do you mean by registered?
Sorry for the confusion

They mean neither of those. They are talking about the first handgun chambered in .357 magnum; it would eventually evolve into the Model 27. Each gun was individually registered, so it picked up the name of "Registered Magnum."

 

[PzGren]

For me the equivalent to the Python would be the Model 27. But that would be merely from a collectors standpoint. Just like for Ala Dan, the Python does not do anything for me what a S&W cannot do. This is merely a personal peference but I think we have good company, like a certain J. Miculek

 

[Katty]

Already have the Python and I have NEVER seen a better revolver I'd rather have. (Other than some of the way old Colt SAA that is)
Now years back I have felt some real nice triggers and over all feel on some Smiths.
Some did have close to the feel of the Python. If so, I'm interested.

 

[ugaarguy]

Katty you need to look for a pre WWII era Smith & Wesson. Shortly after WWII S&W switched from a long action trigger stroke to a shorter pull, shorter reset stroke. These are the really sweet S&Ws. I really like my S prefix "transitional" M&P (Pre Model 10). The S prefix serial number guns were built right after WWII in '47 and '48 and are considered the best of both worlds by many. They have the pre-war long action trigger combined with the metallurgy & safety improvements that were phased in on the Victory models built for the war effort.

If you're at all interested in getting into S&W revolvers I cannot recommend strongly enough that you pick up a copy of The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edtion by Supica & Nahas. It covers the history quite well, and really helps when trying to ID & sort out the numerous models & changes produced by S&W over the years.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i am a hugh fan of the python...and own 3...but the only smith i've owned that i feel the same way about is my M-27

mine is pinned and recessed with an 8.375" barrel...but i think the classic would be the 5" barrel

 

[Oro]

To make a direct link of the "holy grail" .357 of each manufacturer, and focusing on .357, the Python Equivalent of the S&W line is the 27. High finish, no-holds barred flagship gun until discontinued in - uh, '94 I think.

The "Registered Magnum" is just the pre-war limited edition model. Uber-collectible. The more pedestrian but functionally equivalent model is the 28, the less-highly finished but mechanically and dimensionally identical .357.

But a direct, head-to-head gun is the 586/686 - dimensionally very similar to the Python, same weight, frame size, etc. It would take an action job to make it quite as smooth as the Python, but after that it is more robust. Generally not as highly finished as the Python, but with the extra $500 in your pocket after the purchase and action job, you can get that fixed.

So, that aside, to address your question in parts:

1) a Revolver you don't mind putting a little money in? A 27. $800 to $1100, but they ain't going to loose that value. Want to make money? A 28 or early 686 - not making them like that any more, either. I can't do a thousand for a 27 right now, but I have one each of a pretty 28 and 686.

2) Not a bad word to say about? All of the above. There are no weak points to the 27/28, or 586/686. There are to the 19 and 66.

Now, you want to go REALLY holy grail, we talk about the .44 special Triple Lock like like earplug mentioned. Now that's a "Holy Grail" gun. I have a 1916 variant in .45LC, w/o the yoke latch. Otherwise identical, but not the "Holy Grail," alas.

 

[Feanaro]

The "Registered Magnum" is just the pre-war limited edition model.

Bah, you only say that because otherwise we'd all have to admit that the Registered Magnums are grail-ier than the more common, by comparison, Python.

 

[Oro]

He he. I think I get your joke. Yeah. let's be honest, it's nothing different than a pre-27 or an early 27, or any dash 27. But what a master-stroke of marketing to "register" the owners and create a cult. Brilliant.

Now the triple lock, that's a different story...

 

[strangelittleman]

I don't know about everybody else, but to me the 3.5" bbl M27, the 3" bbl M686 CS-1 and old N-frame 520 are very desirable....

 

[earplug]

I have owned and shot three Pythons in 4 and 6 inch lengths, Sold or traded the last of them off over twenty years ago.
Now I only deal in Smith & Wesson. Pythons are nice to look at, I can't recall the last time I saw one shot.
The early handgun writers, Kieth, Skelton, Jordan, Cooper had more articles and stories on S&W DA revolvers then DA Colt.
They shot them more.

 

[Brian Williams]

I modified the title a bit,
the S&W that folks hold up like the Colt Python would be a Model 27.

 

[Ala Dan]

Used- But Niot Abused

We have a blue, 4" Colt Python in stock right now as we speak. This firearm
would most likely grade out as a 95 per center, with only a minor blemish
in front of the trigger guard and NO box or doc's. Sale price = $995 U.S.
dollars~!

Simmons Sporting Goods
2001-2nd Ave North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PX: (205) 425-4720 or (205) 426-0490

Ask for Dale Smith, please as I won't be in until Friday, March 14th~!

 

[SaxonPig]

"Registered Combat Magnum" is mixing terms.

The Registered Magnum is a name bestowed by collectors on the original 357 S&Ws made 1935-1939 (when the "registration" part was dropped and the model became a standard production item) while the Combat Magnum refers to the K frame 357 Made 1955-57 when it became the Model 19.

Any S&W model will have its following among collectors but in recent years the two models that have been the most popular and have seen the fastest rise in value are the Model 58s and the 3.5" Model 27s and variants.

 

[LeonCarr]

I would say the most sought after would be Registered Magnum #1, which I believe was given to J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI. From what I have read, when J. Edgar died, they never found the handgun.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I think a 3.5 inch S&W model 27 .357 fits that catagory...cheaper though