Every once in a while I just cannot help but hold forth on the superiority of the S&W K frame magnums. You know, the models 13, 19, 65 and 66. I am talking the pre-MIM and pre-lock guns. Those oooooh so sweet and sexy carry guns from a bygone era of good guys and bad guys, and citizen kanes.
Could there by a more vibrant, more responsive, more perfectly balanced carry piece than the 2.5- and 3-inch k frame magnums? I THINK NOT!
As I sit here, M19-3, 2.5-inch magnum in a holster at my elbow on the desktop, I feel a great appreciation for the gun, and thankfulness for Mr. Jordan and those at S&W who's good judgment and excellent design brought these guns to life. Slap on the grips of your choice and these guns are, without doubt the finest carry revolvers of all time. Period. End of story. And, truth be told, they are, even today, a better CCW for most private citizens than any other handgun.
Some will try to say the L frame is better because it is marginally larger and much stronger. Hog wash! The L frame is significantly larger and its extra strength is commonly over stated. I've owned and shot them all ... a lot. What you do get in additional robustness with the L frame is undermined by the increased size and weight, and lack of liveliness in the way the gun handles when compared to a K frame gun. The L frame is a superb range gun and hunting gun. It is good belt holster gun, but the L frame is just an okay CCW gun in snubnose configuration. They are simply too large and too heavy to be best in show in the CCW role.
I don't know why I am going on about this tonight but I just love those K frame magnums!
Could there by a more vibrant, more responsive, more perfectly balanced carry piece than the 2.5- and 3-inch k frame magnums? I THINK NOT!
As I sit here, M19-3, 2.5-inch magnum in a holster at my elbow on the desktop, I feel a great appreciation for the gun, and thankfulness for Mr. Jordan and those at S&W who's good judgment and excellent design brought these guns to life. Slap on the grips of your choice and these guns are, without doubt the finest carry revolvers of all time. Period. End of story. And, truth be told, they are, even today, a better CCW for most private citizens than any other handgun.
Some will try to say the L frame is better because it is marginally larger and much stronger. Hog wash! The L frame is significantly larger and its extra strength is commonly over stated. I've owned and shot them all ... a lot. What you do get in additional robustness with the L frame is undermined by the increased size and weight, and lack of liveliness in the way the gun handles when compared to a K frame gun. The L frame is a superb range gun and hunting gun. It is good belt holster gun, but the L frame is just an okay CCW gun in snubnose configuration. They are simply too large and too heavy to be best in show in the CCW role.
I don't know why I am going on about this tonight but I just love those K frame magnums!