Quintessential s&w revolver and why
- Thread starter jc77
- Start date
Easy. The good ole Model 10. The direct decendant of the earlier, non-numbered "hand ejector" models. The 10 is easily one of the best revolvers ever made by S & W. The triggers are usually excellent, right out of the box... reliability is unsurpassed... the all-steel K-frame will stand up to decades of use....the ergonomics are as good as any revolver ever produced, etc., etc., etc. The 10 was the STANDARD among police depts for many decades. Those that used other models, but still S & W's, invariably used some very similar variation(s) of the K-frame, internally identical to the model 10, such as the FBI model 13's and model 64's....which (by design) were simply Model 10's altered to handle the .357 magnum cartridge.
My 1984 vintage 10-8 (3" HB, round butt - identical in configuration to the standard FBI model 13's of the period except for the cartridge ) is the most accurate hand gun I've ever owned - and will put 6 rounds through the same hole every time - if I could shoot that well. (I've done just that several times, by carefully shooting in SA, from a rested position. Those groups averaged 5/8 ths of an inch at 10 yards.). I've gotten groups just over an inch at 50 feet, by the same means. (A better shooter than I undoubtedly could beat that.)
The only things that ever "let down" the model 10 was lack of adjustable sights (which could be had on other, more expensive models, such as the M19)....and the finish quality, which was kept basic for the reason that the M10 was intended as a service pistol. Ignoring those two items, the Model 10 was as good, functionally speaking, as any other K-frame model.
My 1984 vintage 10-8 (3" HB, round butt - identical in configuration to the standard FBI model 13's of the period except for the cartridge ) is the most accurate hand gun I've ever owned - and will put 6 rounds through the same hole every time - if I could shoot that well. (I've done just that several times, by carefully shooting in SA, from a rested position. Those groups averaged 5/8 ths of an inch at 10 yards.). I've gotten groups just over an inch at 50 feet, by the same means. (A better shooter than I undoubtedly could beat that.)
The only things that ever "let down" the model 10 was lack of adjustable sights (which could be had on other, more expensive models, such as the M19)....and the finish quality, which was kept basic for the reason that the M10 was intended as a service pistol. Ignoring those two items, the Model 10 was as good, functionally speaking, as any other K-frame model.
Last edited:
Agreed, S&W Military & Police/ model 10. To add to wpsdlrg comments it has been around in one form or another for something like 114 years or so and has somewhere around 6,000,000 of them made, and it is still being produced. May not be the best pistol ever made or the best caliber but it has been around to long and is to popular not to make a list like this one.
Well, the Military & Police or Model 10 is the easy answer and the one most people would likely offer. A good case can be made for this model as it is their biggest seller by far.
An argument could also be made on behalf of the 44 Magnum or Model 29. The first truly powerful handgun and the one that brought the name "Smith & Wesson" to mainstream America via the Dirty Harry films.
Or the Registered Magnum which introduced the 357 cartridge and established S&W as a maker of fine revolvers.
But I would contend that the Combat Masterpiece or Model 15 truly embodies the real essence of the S&W. It has the classic lines of a fighting revolver and was a popular choice for police nationwide. Even Reed and Malloy eventually ditched their K38s in favor of Model 15s.
I have a matching set of CMs in 22 and 38...
And a Model 15-3 retired from a university campus police department...
An argument could also be made on behalf of the 44 Magnum or Model 29. The first truly powerful handgun and the one that brought the name "Smith & Wesson" to mainstream America via the Dirty Harry films.
Or the Registered Magnum which introduced the 357 cartridge and established S&W as a maker of fine revolvers.
But I would contend that the Combat Masterpiece or Model 15 truly embodies the real essence of the S&W. It has the classic lines of a fighting revolver and was a popular choice for police nationwide. Even Reed and Malloy eventually ditched their K38s in favor of Model 15s.
I have a matching set of CMs in 22 and 38...
And a Model 15-3 retired from a university campus police department...
2damnold4this
New member
I agree with wpsdlrg and sgms. The M&P/model 10 is my pick for the revolver that bests represents S&W.
Technosavant
New member
My immediate thought:
"Model 10, maybe sharing the podium with the Model 15."
A K frame .38spl is one of the best balanced and nicest feeling guns ever made. One just needs to choose between fixed or adjustable sights. There's many other Smiths to love, but IMO, that is probably the Platonic ideal of wheelguns.
Runners up:
S&W 29 in .44 mag
Colt Python
"Model 10, maybe sharing the podium with the Model 15."
A K frame .38spl is one of the best balanced and nicest feeling guns ever made. One just needs to choose between fixed or adjustable sights. There's many other Smiths to love, but IMO, that is probably the Platonic ideal of wheelguns.
Runners up:
S&W 29 in .44 mag
Colt Python
Driftwood Johnson
New member
Triple Lock. Most elegant revolver S&W ever made. Wanted one for years. Now I have two.
The iconic S&W, the essence of the S&W revolver, was the Military and Police revolver, the gun that kept S&W in business during the first 40 years of the 20th century. While the M&P, technically the .38 Hand Ejector Military and Police Model, was, by definition, .38 Special, the similar guns in .32-20 and .38/200 also added to the vast numbers of essentially identical revolvers.
Other models, as well as Variations of the M&P fitted out for target work in .22 and .32, and later models in .357 Magnum do not detract in any way from the role of the M&P as THE image of an S&W revolver, just as the Police Positive was for the Colt company.
Jim
Other models, as well as Variations of the M&P fitted out for target work in .22 and .32, and later models in .357 Magnum do not detract in any way from the role of the M&P as THE image of an S&W revolver, just as the Police Positive was for the Colt company.
Jim
Fine looking revolvers for sure. However, I understand these were manufactured in fairly limited quantities so I would think it would be hard to call them the "quintessential" S&W revolver. To me, it would have to be either the Model 10 or 15. But that's the nice thing about this thread, it's all a matter of opinion.
Driftwood Johnson
New member
That depends on your definition of quintessential.
Quintessential: representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
I'm going for the most perfect, the Triple Lock.
I think I'd have to go with the Model 10 in all it's various names over the years. At one time or another I've owned a half dozen or so, and have another on layaway right now (An M&P from the late 30's/early 40's).
Funny, I used to look down my nose at those guns. I thought they were quaint and old fashioned. Now that I'm quaint and old fashioned myself, I think a lot more of them.
But the Model 15 ain't a bad choice either, and since I just happen to have one of those, I'll post pictures.
My personal favorite though is the Model 19. Did a gun ever have a better name than "COMBAT MAGNUM". I first saw that on the cover of the very first Guns and Ammo magazine I ever saw, way back in the day. Man..."COMBAT MAGNUM!" That just jumped off the page at me. And that picture...that was what a handgun was supposed to look like.
This one looks like it's seen a lot of miles. Can't say I put them there though.
Funny, I used to look down my nose at those guns. I thought they were quaint and old fashioned. Now that I'm quaint and old fashioned myself, I think a lot more of them.
But the Model 15 ain't a bad choice either, and since I just happen to have one of those, I'll post pictures.
My personal favorite though is the Model 19. Did a gun ever have a better name than "COMBAT MAGNUM". I first saw that on the cover of the very first Guns and Ammo magazine I ever saw, way back in the day. Man..."COMBAT MAGNUM!" That just jumped off the page at me. And that picture...that was what a handgun was supposed to look like.
This one looks like it's seen a lot of miles. Can't say I put them there though.