The best revolver ever made is the post-war S&W .357 - Page 2

Hanshi · October 15, 2020, 02:36 PM

My old and much used 5" M27. A hard act to follow.

rodfac · October 17, 2020, 02:43 PM

Hanshi...that is one FINE lookin' piece 'o hardware...and with the best of all bbl. length...Skeeter would be proud to shoot with you...can't find a pic of my 50th Anniversary 5-incher but it's a regular on my gunbelt...Rod

Mr.RevolverGuy · October 18, 2020, 01:58 AM

Very Nice Fellas keep them coming.

Super Sneaky Steve · October 18, 2020, 08:49 PM

Beautiful guns but I wouldn't want to carry those bricks. Modern MIM guns are actually better built, but don't have the same class.

**44 AMP** · October 18, 2020, 11:17 PM

the old S&Ws shoot better than I do, and will still be running when I am not.

How is anything new, built differently, "better"??

zoo · October 19, 2020, 02:13 AM

This thread reminded me, I can recall every revolver I ever carried as a uniformed patrol officer. First a S&W 6” model 10, then a S&W 4” Highway Patrolman (model 28), then a Ruger 4” Security Six, 4” Dan Wesson, 4” Colt Trooper, and finally the best of the group a S&W 4” model 586!

Oh yeah, but for the model 10 they were all .357.

Oliver Sudden · October 19, 2020, 02:36 PM

The best I ever shot is a S&W registered magnum. Smooth, accurate and made like a fine watch, and that’s a 83 year old revolver!

Super Sneaky Steve · October 19, 2020, 06:21 PM

Quote:

the old S&Ws shoot better than I do, and will still be running when I am not.

How is anything new, built differently, "better"??

Here's a Smith and Wesson Armorer. I've heard the same from many old gun smiths. The new ones are made much better.

https://youtu.be/4h9l2ipiKf4

FireForged · October 19, 2020, 08:54 PM

I want to argue but I just cant

jglsprings · October 21, 2020, 02:51 PM

Quote:

I want to argue but I just cant

Yep, that's about it...

zoo · October 21, 2020, 08:18 PM

Well, obviously the S&W 586 is the best factory made revolver ever made. One would have to be a complete fool not to know that. 686 I guess if you have to have stainless.

CDR_Glock · October 22, 2020, 05:01 AM

Best has to be defined for purpose.

Competition? Workmanship? Shoot-ability? Concealed carry? Target shooting? Hunting? Capacity against a semiautomatic?

Also depends upon who is using it.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

zoo · October 23, 2020, 01:02 AM

I was kidding, CDR Glock. The answer is going by to be rather subjective.

OldCranky1 · October 23, 2020, 08:31 AM

I have a friend who used to own a funeral home, he's retired now. Back in the early 1990's he had an old lady in her 80's come in to make arrangements on her husbands funeral who had passed away the night before. She told my friend up front before they started I don't have any insurance or money to pay for this, but would you consider a trade and he said what do you have to trade that I could use in the funeral home. She reached into her huge pocket book and took out a box in almost pristine condition that had S&W on the box cover, handed it to him and said this.

He opened it up and found all the original paperwork and receipt from a long since out of business hardware store in the community and in the box along with a S&W Registered Magnum and the serial number was if I remember right the 4th or 5th one made, it was among the first 10. It hadn't been fired and no turn marks on the cylinder. I just can't remember the barrel length. He said to her let me make a few calls and I will be back and see what we can do. He said he called S&W and they wanted to buy it from him when he described the revolver and then told him the value and he said thank you. He went to the little old lady and said lets go pick out a casket and vault, a trade will work if this is what you want to do. She was content and he was happy.

rock185 · October 23, 2020, 03:44 PM

I've owned a few Colts, but many more S&Ws to include S&W 27s,28s,57s, 29s, etc. I've enjoyed them all, but the "best" revolver I've ever owned from just solid, precise quality of build perspective is a Freedom arms. If other revolvers are more closely and precisely fitted, I don't know where or how that extra precision would manifest itself....

darkgael · October 25, 2020, 06:06 AM

Post WWII “Best ever made”.....I dunno about that. Have you shot every revolver made after WWII? If you have not, you have no real basis for the judgement.

Porsche911 · October 27, 2020, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Post WWII “Best ever made”.....I dunno about that. Have you shot every revolver made after WWII? If you have not, you have no real basis for the judgement.

I said Post-War S&W .357. This is the short-trigger revolver.

I have owned and fired all of them.

PzGren · October 30, 2020, 06:33 AM

To be able to judge what the best revolver may be, one should have experience with all revolvers. While I have not handled all models, or revolvers from all manufacturers even, I can throw a few contenders in.

It might be of interest, that the last revolver pictured, is a Korth made in 1969 that I bought used about 12 years ago and have shot almost weekly. Apparently, the finish is more durable than on my 1952 K-22.

rclark · October 30, 2020, 05:28 PM

Quote:

To be able to judge what the best revolver may be, one should have experience with all revolvers.

Well, it would still be just another opinion. If I had one revolver just like that person's 'best', mine might shoot horribly or the factory assembler was having a bad day and I'd call it junk.... No, best is in the hand of the beholder. A best for me is a revolver that looks right, shoots accurately, trigger job is right, and feels good in the hand.... and there is only one 'class' of revolvers that even starts to meet that criteria for 'me'. For someone else it might the revolver that stopped a charging bear... Best he ever had and glad he had it.... Then of course is the 'best' at what intended job! That is a whole nother topic which people have argued since the creation of guns in general! I suppose that is why we are all shooting different revolvers too.

PzGren · October 31, 2020, 06:32 AM

Quote:

rclark wrote:
Well, it would still be just another opinion. If I had one revolver just like that person's 'best', mine might shoot horribly or the factory assembler was having a bad day and I'd call it junk.... No, best is in the hand of the beholder. A best for me is a revolver that looks right, shoots accurately, trigger job is right, and feels good in the hand.... and there is only one 'class' of revolvers that even starts to meet that criteria for 'me'. For someone else it might the revolver that stopped a charging bear... Best he ever had and glad he had it.... Then of course is the 'best' at what intended job! That is a whole nother topic which people have argued since the creation of guns in general! I suppose that is why we are all shooting different revolvers too.
__________________

If the English language is applied accurately, then the best is surpassing all others in excellence. You only gave the definition of what is constituting a good revolver for you. Yet, to establish what's the best - surpassing all others, you will need to know about the others and not write from a standpoint of limited experience what is the best in all categories, when it is only the best that you own or have shot - or, as it is so common these days have read about in another gun forum.

bac1023 · November 27, 2020, 12:19 AM

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I wouldn’t call those the best of anything. I much prefer the pre war Magnums from S&W. However, the finest double action 357 revolvers were not built in this country, as far as I’m concerned.

skywag · November 27, 2020, 11:36 AM

I have the best.................what are you other guys talking about!!??

BourbonCowboy · November 28, 2020, 11:02 PM

I've shot quite a few revolvers, and a number of them were .357 magnums. Now I only own one .357 - a Colt Python. It's by far the finest revolver I've ever shot. I don't know if it's the best ever made, but it's definitely in the conversation.

The Happy kaboomer · November 28, 2020, 11:11 PM

Opinions are like exhaust pipes.......We all got one.

Sanch · December 1, 2020, 01:03 PM

I have no clue. However, I've had a few gunsmiths, one of international fame, tell me that the S&W Model 27-2 was the best revolver ever manufactured to include the Colt Python. All of the smiths were primarily 1911-A1 aficionados. None were Colt 1911-A1 aficionados. They did a lucrative business making Colt 1911-A1s work reliably. They all built their own versions of 1911-A1s.

BTW, I do not think that any of the aforementioned smiths had considered Korth revolvers.

I have no dog in this fight. In fact, I see revolvers becoming close to but not completely obsolete.

Last time I was in a gun store the handgun display ratio was approx 8:1 semis to revolvers.

October 15, 2020, 02:36 PM	#26
Hanshi Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2017 Posts: 239	My old and much used 5" M27. A hard act to follow. __________________ Young guys should hang out with old guys; old guys know stuff.

October 17, 2020, 02:43 PM	#27
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Hanshi...that is one FINE lookin' piece 'o hardware...and with the best of all bbl. length...Skeeter would be proud to shoot with you...can't find a pic of my 50th Anniversary 5-incher but it's a regular on my gunbelt...Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

October 18, 2020, 01:58 AM	#28
Mr.RevolverGuy Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 991	Very Nice Fellas keep them coming. __________________ Mr.Revolverguy http://www.dayattherange.com Firearms Reviewed and Reported On: An unbiased opinion with real world use.

October 18, 2020, 11:17 PM	#30
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	the old S&Ws shoot better than I do, and will still be running when I am not. How is anything new, built differently, "better"?? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 19, 2020, 08:54 PM	#34
FireForged Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 1999 Location: Rebel South USA Posts: 2,074	I want to argue but I just cant __________________ Life is a web woven by necessity and chance...

October 18, 2020, 08:49 PM	#29
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,250	Beautiful guns but I wouldn't want to carry those bricks. Modern MIM guns are actually better built, but don't have the same class.

October 19, 2020, 02:13 AM	#31
zoo member Join Date: October 2, 2019 Posts: 414	This thread reminded me, I can recall every revolver I ever carried as a uniformed patrol officer. First a S&W 6” model 10, then a S&W 4” Highway Patrolman (model 28), then a Ruger 4” Security Six, 4” Dan Wesson, 4” Colt Trooper, and finally the best of the group a S&W 4” model 586! Oh yeah, but for the model 10 they were all .357.

October 19, 2020, 02:36 PM	#32
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 272	The best I ever shot is a S&W registered magnum. Smooth, accurate and made like a fine watch, and that’s a 83 year old revolver!

October 21, 2020, 08:18 PM	#36
zoo member Join Date: October 2, 2019 Posts: 414	Well, obviously the S&W 586 is the best factory made revolver ever made. One would have to be a complete fool not to know that. 686 I guess if you have to have stainless.

October 22, 2020, 05:01 AM	#37
CDR_Glock Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2010 Posts: 704	Best has to be defined for purpose. Competition? Workmanship? Shoot-ability? Concealed carry? Target shooting? Hunting? Capacity against a semiautomatic? Also depends upon who is using it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

October 23, 2020, 01:02 AM	#38
zoo member Join Date: October 2, 2019 Posts: 414	I was kidding, CDR Glock. The answer is going by to be rather subjective.

October 23, 2020, 08:31 AM	#39
OldCranky1 Junior Member Join Date: November 5, 2019 Posts: 14	I have a friend who used to own a funeral home, he's retired now. Back in the early 1990's he had an old lady in her 80's come in to make arrangements on her husbands funeral who had passed away the night before. She told my friend up front before they started I don't have any insurance or money to pay for this, but would you consider a trade and he said what do you have to trade that I could use in the funeral home. She reached into her huge pocket book and took out a box in almost pristine condition that had S&W on the box cover, handed it to him and said this. He opened it up and found all the original paperwork and receipt from a long since out of business hardware store in the community and in the box along with a S&W Registered Magnum and the serial number was if I remember right the 4th or 5th one made, it was among the first 10. It hadn't been fired and no turn marks on the cylinder. I just can't remember the barrel length. He said to her let me make a few calls and I will be back and see what we can do. He said he called S&W and they wanted to buy it from him when he described the revolver and then told him the value and he said thank you. He went to the little old lady and said lets go pick out a casket and vault, a trade will work if this is what you want to do. She was content and he was happy.

October 23, 2020, 03:44 PM	#40
rock185 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2001 Location: Out West in Rim Country Posts: 1,093	I've owned a few Colts, but many more S&Ws to include S&W 27s,28s,57s, 29s, etc. I've enjoyed them all, but the "best" revolver I've ever owned from just solid, precise quality of build perspective is a Freedom arms. If other revolvers are more closely and precisely fitted, I don't know where or how that extra precision would manifest itself.... __________________ COTEP 640, NRA Life

October 25, 2020, 06:06 AM	#41
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	Post WWII “Best ever made”.....I dunno about that. Have you shot every revolver made after WWII? If you have not, you have no real basis for the judgement. __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

October 30, 2020, 06:33 AM	#43
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,260	To be able to judge what the best revolver may be, one should have experience with all revolvers. While I have not handled all models, or revolvers from all manufacturers even, I can throw a few contenders in. It might be of interest, that the last revolver pictured, is a Korth made in 1969 that I bought used about 12 years ago and have shot almost weekly. Apparently, the finish is more durable than on my 1952 K-22. Last edited by PzGren; October 30, 2020 at 06:39 AM.

November 27, 2020, 12:19 AM	#46
bac1023 Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 1,107	Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I wouldn’t call those the best of anything. I much prefer the pre war Magnums from S&W. However, the finest double action 357 revolvers were not built in this country, as far as I’m concerned.

November 27, 2020, 11:36 AM	#47
skywag Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Posts: 254	I have the best.................what are you other guys talking about!!??

November 28, 2020, 11:02 PM	#48
BourbonCowboy Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2019 Posts: 127	I've shot quite a few revolvers, and a number of them were .357 magnums. Now I only own one .357 - a Colt Python. It's by far the finest revolver I've ever shot. I don't know if it's the best ever made, but it's definitely in the conversation.

November 28, 2020, 11:11 PM	#49
The Happy kaboomer Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Posts: 226	Opinions are like exhaust pipes.......We all got one.

December 1, 2020, 01:03 PM	#50
Sanch Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2020 Posts: 154	I have no clue. However, I've had a few gunsmiths, one of international fame, tell me that the S&W Model 27-2 was the best revolver ever manufactured to include the Colt Python. All of the smiths were primarily 1911-A1 aficionados. None were Colt 1911-A1 aficionados. They did a lucrative business making Colt 1911-A1s work reliably. They all built their own versions of 1911-A1s. BTW, I do not think that any of the aforementioned smiths had considered Korth revolvers. I have no dog in this fight. In fact, I see revolvers becoming close to but not completely obsolete. Last time I was in a gun store the handgun display ratio was approx 8:1 semis to revolvers.