Flagship Revolvers

[Lower]

Dear revolver specialists,

can you help me establish which revolver is the flagship revolver of these SD revolver makers? Only ones currently being produced, please. Need this for an article.

What is a "flagship"? To quote/paraphrase a wise man from below: "In general naval terms, it is the ship from which the commanding admiral of a fleet flies his personal flag. When one is present, this is historically a battleship (since WWII it can also be an aircraft carrier). In civilian shipping, the flagship is the most impressive, the top of the line. In cruise ships, it is the fanciest, most well equipped, often the biggest and fastest as well. It is the model with the most "features"."

So, basically, if I were to buy one revolver from each of these companies, and had unlimited funds, would I be making the right choice by going for:

Manurhin = MR-73
Smith & Wesson = Model 27, Model 29
Freedom Arms = Model 83 Premier Grade
Ruger = Redhawk
Taurus = M94
Armscor/Rock Island Armory = M200
EAA/Weihrauch/Arminius (Germany) = Windicator
Dan Wesson = 715
Colt = SAA The Peacemaker
Magnum Research = BFR (.44 Magnum?)
NAA = short barrel .22 LR
Korth = Classic 3 Zoll
Rossi = R97206
Charter Arms = Special Bulldog .44
Chiappa (Italy) = Rhino
Cobra = The Shadow

[jrothWA]

Colt = New Service from the 20's
Charter Arms = the Bulldog .44
S&W= the 1950's .22, .32& .38Spl Masterpiece, all three weighed the same when loaded.
Ruger= Security six

[skizzums]

Ruger would be the GP100 i guess. Taurus is the M94. Chiappa Rhino. Rossi 85104. Charter, most definetely the Bulldog. i dont know of cobra making revolvers, at least not currently. Armscor M200. EAA Windicator

not to disagree with the above, but you said "currentl being produced"

[hAkron]

Dan Wesson - 715 (only model currently being produced)
Colt - I think they are only producing the SAA
Ruger - Blackhawk or vaquero

[HighValleyRanch]

Chappia would have to go to the innovative and expensive Rhino
for the unique low bore axis.

The Taurus PT92 is a revolver??

[Sevens]

Smith & Wesson has made a SLEW of iconic different model revolvers and so many are noteworthy in many ways.

Even still...
It would be simply ludicrous to suggest any S&W revolver better fits the term of flagship than the Model 10.

Depending on just how much energy the combatants have, I would also suggest that no revolver in the history of man is more a flagship revolver than the Model 10.

[44 AMP]

It would be simply ludicrous to suggest any S&W revolver better fits the term of flagship than the Model 10.

OK, I'm simply ludicrous, but the model 10 is not the flagship revolver, as I understand the term.

I don't think the OP is looking for our opinions of what we consider the best, or the most popular or the most produced. I think he is looking for what the company claims, or we (the shooting public, including gunwriters) acclaim as the flagship model.

What is a flagship? In general naval terms, it is the ship from which the commanding admiral of a fleet flies his personal flag.

When one is present, this is historically a battleship (since WWII it can also be an aircraft carrier). It is the biggest, most powerful ship in the fleet.

In civilian shipping, the flagship is the biggest, most impressive, carries the most cargo, the top of the line. In cruise ships, it is the fanciest, most well equipped, usually the biggest and fastest as well. It is the model with the most "features".

For Smith & Wesson, between 1935 and 1956-7 it was the Registered Magnum. Then it became the Model 29. The biggest, and most fancy finished model. Today? The X frames are certainly the biggest, but they are still fairly new, and I'm unsure if the flag has been "officially" transferred to them.

Referring to the model 29 (or a variant) as the S&W flagship model for the last 40+ years won't get many objections.

The Model 10 is an iconic part of history, but its not a flagship, more like a cruiser, actually. (and in .38SPL, its not even a heavy cruiser)

For Colt, without question it WAS the Python. Today I think the only revolver coming from Colt is the SAA out of the custom shop.

For Ruger, it gest a little weird, but then, so is Ruger. Ruger doesn't have different finish/feature levels for its revolvers. (and no, I don't think stainless/blued counts.) Unlike S&W, or Colt, Ruger didn't make a "high end" gun and a cheaper "service model" with a lesser finish & features. All the Rugers are the same, in each model. You might consider the Super Blackhawk as the flagship of the Blackhawk line. Finish is the same, but it does have "special" features the Blackhawk doesn't (steel grip frame, unfluted cylinder dragoon triggerguard, different hammer spur, grooved trigger, etc)

as for the rest of the list, I have no idea
The only revolver I recall being associated with Magnum Research was the BFR, but I don't know if its in current production.

Seecamp???? does/did Seecamp ever make a revolver???

[SaxonPig]

Criteria? With S&W if deluxe qualities determine "flagship status" then it's the Registered Magnum/357/Model27 lineage. If sales then the M&P/Model 10 wins.

To me "flagship" denotes the top of the line deluxe item. Colt: Python. S&W: RM/27. Ruger: All equally ugly to me. All other: Don't care.

[Sevens]

I was under the impression that "flagship" meant "the product that identifies the brand". I can easily agree that the Model 10 was at no point ever supposed to be the top of the line or most 'deluxe.'

[Elkins45]

Unlike S&W, or Colt, Ruger didn't make a "high end" gun and a cheaper "service model" with a lesser finish & features.

They sorta did prior to the GP100. Service Six vs Speed Six.

[dyl]

S&W: Are the model 10 and the others still being produced?

While I have and like the M27, I thought their more recent incarnation would be the 686.

NAA: that's a hard one since not sure if the 22LR, 22 mag, or black widow is more popular. Just not the sidewinder or wasp, or their long barreled ones - those are probably great but I think most just buy the short barrel 22 LR or 22 Mag

[Jim March]

Ruger doesn't have different finish/feature levels for its revolvers.

They do now! GP100 Match Champion.

[tallball]

As for Taurus, isn't the Model 94 a 22?

[44 AMP]

They sorta did prior to the GP100. Service Six vs Speed Six.

Ok, yes, sort of. Speed Six I don't recall exactly anymore, sorry. What was it exactly? Service Six (is that the Speed Six? do I have the name confused?) was the fixed sight version of the Security Six. Yes, a few dollars cheaper (sights), but IIRC finish was the same.

With S&W, you had the models 27 and 28, and the 57 and 58. 27 & 57 were the deluxe, had high luster blue, topstraps were grooved to reduce glare, target trigger and hammer, and the red ramp front white outline rear sights (when introduced).

The 28 and 58 were service guns, with "Satin Blue" finishes (which I actually think looks better,), topstraps were bead blasted, standard hammer & trigger, and plain black sights. As far as I know, there never was a service grade model 29.

[skizzums]

i am with the above poster that a flagship product s the one that "defines the brand". car companies are usually vocal about which model is the "flagship" car and it isn't the biggest and most powerful, but generally their biggest seller and the one they put the most resources behind. the model that makes the company

i guess we need to see what the OP wants, biggest/most powerful would make this thread alot easier

actual definition
the best or most important thing owned or produced by a particular organization.

[Dragline45]

You cant go by the maritime definition of a flagship. A flagship product is what a company is known for. When people think of a particular company, what product of theirs comes to mind. We touched on this when I took marketing courses in college. Perfect example is Colt with the SAA. When most people think of Colt, they go back to all the westerns they watched growing up and that iconic Colt SAA revolver. When people think of Beretta, its the M9/92.

By maritime definition, Colt and Beretta could come out with gold plated jewel encrusted handguns chambered in the most powerful load possible and that would automatically become their flagship product. Even with all that, it still wouldn't replace the SAA or M9 as their flagship models. The meaning doesn't transfer over.

Here are a couple definitions.


Flagship Product - A primary product of a company, which is typically why the company was founded and/or what made it well known. For example, MS-DOS, Windows and the Microsoft Office suite have been flagship products of Microsoft. CorelDRAW is a flagship product of Corel Corporation.


As well as this one

What's a flagship product?

A flagship product is a product or service that you and your business becomes identified with. It's something that communicates a concept or solution that people automatically and favorably associate with you.



.

[Elkins45]

What was it exactly? Service Six (is that the Speed Six? do I have the name confused?) was the fixed sight version of the Security Six.

Speed six, security six, service six. Security was adjustable, service was fixed, speed was round butt. I had to Wikipedia them to remember.

[DanTSX]

Ruger doesn't make a flagship revolver. That's S&W's job.


I think an engraved 2" Python with Nickle plating and ivory grips with the CSA naval ensign scrimshawed on it is the flagship Colt revolver.

[RaySendero]

Yeah, I, too was thinking that a Colt would be the Python model for a revolver and possibly a 45 Gold Cup for a pistol.

[skizzums]

you are correct on the Taurus 94, it's the 85. I have an 85, I have been calling it a 94 for some time now.