S&w 36 0r colt detective ?

I carried a S&W 36 for many years as an off duty gun. I also acquired a Colt Cobra (lightweight DS). I carry the Colt when I pack a recover. The extra round was the deciding factor in a package only marginally larger. I always preferred the Smith trigger, but at expected distances, that's a non factor. You really can't go wrong wither way.



 
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I carried a Colt DS off duty for several years, but that was back when Colt was still making them & the guns could be easily serviced & repaired if necessary.

Today, despite owning three of the Colts, when it's a small revolver that goes along, it's a Smith.

Parts & service readily available, the action holds up better over time.
Denis
 
I prefer Smith & Wesson revolvers, and have around 20 of them.

I prefer how they look, feel in my hand, and how the latch mechanism operates (push forward to release the cylinder).

I carried a Detective Special for some months back in the 1990s, but I just could never get used to the "pull the latch to the rear to release the cylinder," so I traded it off on a 3" Model 36 nickel.

I also don't like silver guns, so eventually I sold that to a friend's father, who wanted a revolver for his sailboat.

Just recently I found another Model 36, also a 3". That one is currently my nighstand gun.

These days my preferred carry gun is an S&W 042, a hammerless Centennial Airweight.
 
I'd prolly reccomend the Smith they're still parts and service avaliable. But I have both and Rugers also hard to go wrong.
 
I own both and definitely prefer the Model 36. The DS suffered a broken firing pin and it took weeks to get a replacement. Parts are becoming very scarce.
 
I have both. The S&W is less prone to being damaged and is easier to fix if it does get damaged. I can fix the older Colt revolvers, but getting parts is getting tough.
 
I carry a Smith 36. Small, I'm comfortable with the 5 rounds of 38s and a spare 5 in a drop pouch on a speed strip. I carry OTB, usually with a shirttail over it.

That said - either would be fine as far as I'm concerned.
 
S&w 36 0r colt detective ?
Which one would you buy for carry gun?
Click to expand...

I presently own 7 S&W J-frames ... (and a Ruger SP101DAO). ;)

My first DA revolver was a Colt.

I'd also be a bit concerned about keeping a hard-used Colt revolver running, long term. The former (retired) revolver armorer maintained all our issued Colt Pythons and assorted S&W's back in the revolver days. Whenever someone brings in a Python with a problem, I'll either call him to see if he's willing to help them out, or just suggest they call him. He won't be around forever, though.
 
Both are excellent guns and I feel you would be happy with either. At least I am but I find myself carrying the little pony more mainly because it holds an extra round
 
LIke them both....but I carried a M36 for many years, and I guess it just kind of grew on me...don't own it anymore, sold it to a friend. But it had 1000's of rounds thru it with NO problems.
 
I own and carry a Colt Agent (lightweight version of the DS) because of the extra round and it has a very nice trigger. For pocket carry, it's a SW Model 38 Airweight because its thinner and has a shrouded hammer. If I had to choose one, it would be the Colt.
 
I own and carry both from time to time. Either will do the job. Both are fine guns. My favorite of the S&W J frames is the Model 36-1 (3 inch heavy barrel RB). I tend to favor the longer barrels and even though I have a Detective Special, on the days I carry a D Frame, its usually a Police Positive Special.
 
I have both, and carry the 36, and the wife has the DS for a bedside gun.
I actually carry a S&W Model 12 snub more often than the 36.
It's light, accurate, and holds six rounds.
 
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