What Do You Believe The Greatest Duty Revolver Was?

[davidh5000]

In this age of the latest and greatest"Plastic Fantastic" guns that magazines which will hold 14 rounds and beyond, it seems so easy to forget about our humble service revolver, that was carried for so many years.Personally I think it is the Smith and Wesson Heavy Duty. It's historical significance as to why it was created, and leading to the .357 magnum alone would put it high on the list, that and it's just a great gun!!!

So what is everyone else's opinions?

 

[BSA1]

S&W K-Frame series.

Chambered in 22 RF through .357 Magnum.

Made with fixed and adjustable sights, blue, nickel plate and stainless steel.

Carried by thousands of LEO's in America. Issued to service members in W.W.II such as Navy pilots.
Who knows how many have been sold and given to foreign countries.

Competition target grade accuracy.

Grip size and weight of gun makes it a good choice for the majority of shooters.

 

[UncleEd]

BSA1 has said it all. No need for further comment.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

S&W K-Frame series

Agreed

 

[Coyote3855]

I suppose it may depend on the definition of "greatest" and maybe "duty." In terms of the sheer numbers carried in harms way by law enforcement and the military, the K frame hand ejector in its various iterations (M&P, Victory, Model 10, Model 15, Model 64, etc.) would take the prize with millions in service over the years. So I'm with BSA1 on this one.

 

[BullRunBear]

Can't argue with the S&W K frames, especially the Model 10.

As a BP shooter, the only others that come close would be the Colt C&B revolvers. They were made in huge numbers for that time and influenced the design for cartridge revolvers.

Jeff

 

[roaddog28]

My answer would be the Colt Official Police, S&W Military & Police , S&W model 10,15 and lastly the S&W model 19.
Howard

 

[.455_Hunter]

If we can lump military use with "duty", then I promote the Colt Model 1909 "New Service" in .45 Colt as the greatest American service revolver. If just LEO, then I also like the S&W "Heavy Duty" and its hot .38-44 ammo.

 

[UncleEd]

Hunter, even allowing for the big bores, I'd challenged the comment about the Colt New Service. Before and with WWI, Smith was in the game too with what I think a much more manageable, better gun both to dimensions and trigger.

I doubt when it comes to the .38/44 that not more than a few handful of
LEOs carried it or knew about it. I like the gun but......it ain't a K-frame.

 

[Barry the Bear]

I'm going to have to agree with the K frames, followed by the N frames and lastly just for nostalgia sake the Colt SAA.

 

[MIL-DOT]

The K-frames are great and all, but I'm gonna have to vote for the (N-framed) Model 28 Highway Patrolman. I once traded into and then out of, an older one with 4" barrel that was a bit scruffy with kinda loose lock-up, and it was still an awesome shooter that I still miss.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Oh, I do like the the big bore DA S&W's, but other than the emergency M1917 series, they were never in military service. The Colt at least had "official" status for a couple of years with a proper rimmed cartridge before the 1911s came on line. Actually, I kinda forgot about the 3rd Model .44 Hand Ejectors (the Wolf and Klar special). They might beat out the Heavy Duty for best LEO duty gun.

 

[Waveski]

I concur with BSA ---the K Frame !!!

 

[joem1945]

Model 10 for me. I have a 10-5 that I shoot almost every week. Shoots POA. Friend and I were shooting on a dueling tree. He accused my of showing off with my 10.

 

[bannockburn]

Have to agree with all those in favor of the S&W K frame revolvers. A true workhorse in terms of being a dependable and versatile service revolver.

 

[Jimster]

1873 saa

 

[gotboostvr]

If I were to carry a revolver for duty today, it'd very likely be a 627 with 8 rounds of 357 mag on tap.

Before that? I'd like a 686, all the strength of the N frames but without all the heft.

Before that? I'd take a M19

Earlier than that, I'd probably like a M1917 S&W 45acp.

Before even that, probably a Colt SAA.

What era of duty revolver we talking about here?

 

[Rio Laxas]

Actually, I kinda forgot about the 3rd Model .44 Hand Ejectors (the Wolf and Klar special). They might beat out the Heavy Duty for best LEO duty gun.

I agree, though I'd have to nominate the 1st Model Hand Ejector "Triple Lock" also. All subsequent N frames are a refinement of that exceptional revolver, of which the 3rd Model is definitely one of the best.

 

[X-Rap]

K Frame with the M 19 being my pick for top honors but I do wonder what the old timers who really were BTDT would pick today.

 

[CraigC]

The M&P is obviously the most prolific but IMHO, a far better combat revolver would be a 4" fixed sight N-frame .44Spl or .45ACP.

 

[BobWright]

As far as a law enforcement sidearm, both the S&W Military & Police Model (Model 10, to newbies) and the Colt Official Police Model were the predominant arm seen in police holsters. Both models were fitted with the slender barrel, and with bull barrels. For some reason, the Colt seemed more popular here in the South, and at one time was the arm of the US Border Patrol. I don't remember seeing any police revolver with adjustable sights until the latter era of the service revolver.

During the Korean War, Navy and Marine Corps pilots favored the Combat Masterpiece (Model 15) which may have begun the tendency toward adjustable sighted revolvers.

For a long time, most urban police departments prohibited the use of .357 Magnum revolvers, citing a possible threat to bystanders. In fact, the Memphis Police issued Hollow Point SWC ammunition on the basis that it tended to less of a threat from richocheting.

Not mention, but certainly worthy of mention is the British Webley revolvers.


Bob Wright

 

[horsemen61]

4 inch 586 loaded with 125 grain jhp

 

[Oldman11]

Smith Wesson K frames,none no better, I have the K22,K32,K38 masterpiece and a 38 combat masterpiece,also a model 19-1 masterpiece. I have found the k models to be no.1 in almost everything.

 

[longknife12]

If you were on foot....M19 Smith...in car, M28...
Dan

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

BSA nailed it.

/Thread.