Old revolvers have made guns fun for me again

[KevH]

Sounds odd, but revolvers have made guns fun for me again.

Let me explain. I’ve been shooting since I was seven years old, was given a subscription to American Handgunner by my grandma when I was in the 6th grade, started the police academy when I turned twenty-one, and was a firearms instructor and armorer not too long after that. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time at SHOT, been around industry insiders, and have had all sorts of great training opportunities. Hang around doing one thing for too long and its luster wears off.

Lately, not much new excites me. To me, most cars have turned into utilitarian black and white crossover jelly beans that all look the same and it seems the same thing has happened to guns. Handguns are either a plastic-striker fired thing or a Kimberesque 1911. Shotguns all are some type of B-Gun and rifles all trace their design to Eugene Stoner. Hell, Ruger and S&W would turn the revolver into a striker fired plastic gun if they could. To be quite frank, both cars and guns have lost their souls…and that’s not a bad thing regarding their safety, utility and efficiency…but gone is the fun.

Every time I pick up a Smith & Wesson or Colt revolver…especially one with blued steel and checkered wood…or an old Winchester Model 12 or Ithaca 37…I feel something. I know it sounds strange, but some sort of transcendental experience occurs. I get a similar feeling when I get behind the wheel of a Ford Model A or International Harvester pickup, but that’s another story.

So when I’m near folks that want to talk guns or a new cop shows me the latest greatest striker fired stippled wonder gat they just spent too much money on and they won’t carry two years from now, I just nod and humor them as to not make them feel bad. I get it.

But when I see blued steel and wood I get a tingle and just feel happy. Guess that’s why I keep buying these old guns every chance I get. :D

[awp_101]

Preach it!

I'm still searching for "The One" bottom feeder when it comes to concealed carry but when it comes to "I'm going out to have some fun at the range" the revolvers are the ones going with me.

[Malamute]

Doesnt sound too odd, theres a number of people here that share similar feelings. I believe theres been 2 variations of passion of the gun threads, have you seen them?

One, https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?11538-The-Passion-of-the-Gun

I shoot some things because they are practical, but have no particular interest or motivation other than "I should". Other stuff, for me, classic Smiths and Colts, and classic rifles back to mid to late 1800s single shots like Sharps, just have an entirely different level of attraction and interest, I'll go out of my way to read about them, handle and shoot any I come across, talk about them, find historical use information about them, go to museums, shoot the old stuff at crazy distance, (including the pistols).

Somebody offers to let me shoot their glock. Meh. Unless it had something unusual i was curious about, it wouldnt interest me much. Colt Single Action or 1886 Winchester.... "um, yeah, how many rounds did you bring". Some of the most fun I recall from simply shooting someone elses gun, a woman was at a small local cowboy shoot in Az, she had a tuned 357 Colt SAA 4 3/4". I asked to see it, she asked if i wanted to shoot it and handed me a 100 rd box of shells. After a few cylinders I tried to be polite and say i didnt want to shoot up all her ammo. She said her husband loaded tons of it for her, shoot all I wanted, so finished off the box. Made me quite happy. One day I will own another one.

Edit: after seeing AWP 101s post, it reminded me of one auto that did actually catch my interest some more than average, one of the little Detonics 45s. I had one back before it was legal to carry concealed, so there wasnt much need for such a thing at the time. Still would like to have another to mess with.

[Dagga Boy]

Just a warning.....this is how much addiction issue started. When only wheelguns and pre war automatics excite you....6 figures of cash later and I am still like a crack addict. Luckily, I marri d a fantastic woman who supports me in my issues with toxic masculinity and revolver addiction.

[Zeke38]

It's a logic versus emotion or soul issue. My logical side tells me to carry a Plastic S&W Compact. My emotional or traditional side begs me to put on a Smith and Wesson K Frame 19 2.5". The old yin. yang dilemma. Somedays, like when I'm going out into a local National Forest it's usually a Smith that starts with the number 4 in revolver. When I'm going to a city a half hour away with many types and sizes of "foreign students" the logic side kicks in.

Love my Smiths and DA Rugers, carry and train with plastic.

[Dagga Boy]

For me I simply separate tools that tend to be polymer and 9mm and a j frame these days, and guns I love. Tools I train with and carry daily. Guns I love I simply admire and occasionally carry for the pure joy of it, kind of like a good cigar or a shave with a safety razor with brush applied shave soap.....life s little gifts. With a lot of my stuff it is holding history in your hand. After three decades of being quite serious into both the firearms training and the gun industry, making guns fun again has been awesome. I also find the revolver section of forums and other groups and buying high end Revolvers separates me from a ton of the douchery of the firearms world. Doing multi thousand dollar deals on rare Pre war Revolvers is handled like adult gentleman versus arguing over ten bucks with somebody on “another stipplied Glock”. I am currently working on a five figure deal for two exceptionally rare guns that will take months to work through and will be an amazing addition to my collection with every bit of it being awesome and part of the thrill of holding a one of one piece of firearms history.

[Trooper224]

I don't fine your feelings strange in the least, since I obviously share them.

My guns are divided into two camps: those for work/competition and those for fun. The guns in the former category are mostly semi-autos of one type or another, while every gun in the latter is a revolver. Range time with the work guns, while still enjoyable, seems like an effort these days and I'm not competing anymore. A range session with a blued or nickeled wheel gun is pure enjoyment. I actually had to make an effort to leave my recently acquired Model 29 in the safe for the last couple of weeks. I absolutely love the thing and I found myself shooting it to the exclusion of everything else, which was effecting my performance with my work guns. For me, there's a lot of nostalgia at play. Revolvers were the guns of my youth. They were carried by cops, both real and fictional as well movie and television cowboys. When I'd sneak into a local gunshop as a boy, those were the guns I'd see gleaming in the case and dream about. At least until my mother would find me and wonder over my fascination with those tools of the devil. None of my coworkers understand my love for such things. I have to hook up with the retired ones to gain understanding on that. The current crop is all about tactical plastic, but that's fine. Someday they'll be old and they'll reach for a symbol of their youth. Something that returns them to a time when they felt as if they'd be young forever and there wasn't a dragon they couldn't slay. Then they'll understand. On November 18th I'll hand over my state issue weapons and there won't be a single polymer pistol left in my house and the newest rifle in the safe will be an FAL.

[Nephrology]

I never feel bad spending money on an older S&W revolver. My only regret is not owning more. Now that I have basically all of the plastic pistols I could forseeably need, the next handguns I purchase will be revolvers. A 686/586 is what I am thinking, specifically...

[mtnbkr]

Almost nothing feels better than waking up one crisp fall morning at your yearly mountain deer camp, strapping on an old blued revolver, and pouring yourself a cup of coffee out of an ancient percolator sitting on the equally ancient Coleman stove to be enjoyed by the freshly stoked campfire.

The revolver is an integral part of that scenario. :D

28527

Chris

[CSW]

Just a warning.....this is how much addiction issue started. When only wheelguns and pre war automatics excite you....6 figures of cash later and I am still like a crack addict. Luckily, I marri d a fantastic woman who supports me in my issues with toxic masculinity and revolver addiction.

Lot of truth to that statement!!!
A single old beat up model 28 fueled an N frame addiction.

[RJ]

I’m new.

Can I have a seat by this fire?



I received a Ruger New Model Blackhawk as a gift a few months ago. I really like it.

I like shooting it. I like cleaning it, I like the feel of the stocks and the heft of the steel. It has...a soul.

I recently concluded my dog walking gun decision tree. Not a G43, or a Shield, but...a Ruger LCR. I’m finding myself browsing options in stocks for this little Roscoe...those Eagles in Rosewood look nice...

Recently, I found myself drifting slowly past the used revolver case at the Crack store after a Range Visit...my eyes straying over the .38 special ammunition selections...thinking...you know, a good used S&W revolver would make a good bedside gun...hmmm...hmmm...

Yep. I think I’m hooked lol.

[03RN]

Sitting in the middle of a wilderness area sipping on whiskey cooking bear that my brother in law killed that morning just calls for a revolver. Just something about woodsmoke.
28529

When I'm 2 days from a road looking at spending the next couple weeks avoiding people and only talking to my dog I really don't see why I need more than my Blackhawk.
28530

[RJ]

I’ll bet you guys would know: Eons ago, when I was 25 or so, and dinosaurs walked the earth, a family member of mine owned a revolver I got to shoot at the farm a couple times. The name as I recall was a “Security Six”

Google tells me it was this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Security-Six

Are these typically a decent bet as a used gun in a pawn shop sort of scenario?

[mtnbkr]

I’ll bet you guys would know: Eons ago, when I was 25 or so, and dinosaurs walked the earth, a family member of mine owned a revolver I got to shoot at the farm a couple times. The name as I recall was a “Security Six”

Google tells me it was this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Security-Six

Are these typically a decent bet as a used gun in a pawn shop sort of scenario?

Yes. They're pretty desirable to Ruger DA revolver aficionados. The frame is a bit smaller than the GP100, more like a K-frame. There is also a Speed Six, which was fixed sight if I recall.

Chris

[CSW]

Like this one?
A 2 3/4 bbl.
157 serial range.
Purchased used, about 20 years ago,
$150.00!

[ACP230]

I am at the point in life that I can buy some of the guns I missed out
on years back.

Some of the ones I had on a list then have become available (at higher prices)
lately. Many have been revolvers, although a Winchester 1897 was also on the
list and I got a screaming deal on one at a local pawnshop early this year.

A police turn in S&W M28 four inch was a buy off the list. That was
followed by a second M15 two inch, and a Old Model Blackhawk in
.357 with an auxiliary 9mm cylinder. Been chasing one of those since
they first came out!

[beenalongtime]

Two guns I have been wanting since getting back into shooting, have been a 10mm and a wheel gun. The 10mm I aquired this year when a used Sig 1911 style was brought into my lgs. A wheel gun I kept arguing with myself over since I let the first one go, to a guy who used to be issued it. I ended up last week with a Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel (same specs as the first S&W I let go), since the grips felt better then the Smith that was also there, and it was less money (more money for ammo).
Already trying to figure out what I want for a stubby.

[Chuck Whitlock]

I’ll bet you guys would know: Eons ago, when I was 25 or so, and dinosaurs walked the earth, a family member of mine owned a revolver I got to shoot at the farm a couple times. The name as I recall was a “Security Six”

Google tells me it was this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Security-Six

Are these typically a decent bet as a used gun in a pawn shop sort of scenario?

A decently sized gun show ought to have a few examples floating about.

[Spartan1980]

Sounds odd, but revolvers have made guns fun for me again.
...snipped
Every time I pick up a Smith & Wesson or Colt revolver…especially one with blued steel and checkered wood…or an old Winchester Model 12 or Ithaca 37…I feel something. I know it sounds strange, but some sort of transcendental experience occurs. I get a similar feeling when I get behind the wheel of a Ford Model A or International Harvester pickup, but that’s another story.

Doesn't sound odd or strange to me in the slightest!

[revchuck38]

Yes. They're pretty desirable to Ruger DA revolver aficionados. The frame is a bit smaller than the GP100, more like a K-frame. There is also a Speed Six, which was fixed sight if I recall.

Chris

There was also a fixed-sight Service Six. IIRC, the difference between the two was that the Speed Six was a round butt and the Service Six was a square butt.

[mtnbkr]

There was also a fixed-sight Service Six. IIRC, the difference between the two was that the Speed Six was a round butt and the Service Six was a square butt.

You're right. I forgot about the grip differences. The *Six series wasn't one I paid much attention to as it was "outdated" when I bought my first revolver in 1998 (A NIB GP100 FWIW).

Chris

[CSW]

At one time I owned four 357s. The security six, a 28,a 27, a gp100, and a trooper mk3.
Still have the smith's but the Colt and gp100 are gone.

[Nephrology]

I also fully intend to purchase some new GP100s (3" or 4") to use as "working guns" that I don't feel badly ripping out of a kydex holster. Sadly having just bought a new car it's not high on my list of budgetary priorities... but one day...

[DamonL]

Don't forget about the leather holsters and custom wood stocks you don't mind buying because it is a real steel old time gun. That adds to the fun.

28541

[ReverendMeat]

While my preference is for TDA autos and fun/impractical stuff (I kinda dig the CMR-30...) the last gun I saw that I actually pined for was a mint S&W 29 a dude brought in for consignment. I would've bought it from him right then and there but, y'know, minimum wage.

[03RN]

Don't forget about the leather holsters and custom wood stocks you don't mind buying because it is a real steel old time gun. That adds to the fun.

28541

Ryan Grizzle?

[HCM]

I’ll bet you guys would know: Eons ago, when I was 25 or so, and dinosaurs walked the earth, a family member of mine owned a revolver I got to shoot at the farm a couple times. The name as I recall was a “Security Six”

Google tells me it was this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Security-Six

Are these typically a decent bet as a used gun in a pawn shop sort of scenario?

Prices in security six’s have gone up recently. Just FYI they have been out of production over 25 years and the Ruger factory no longer supports them, numrich /gun parts Corp has parts.

They hold up well but if you just want a shooter you may want to look at a GP100.

[DamonL]

Ryan Grizzle?

Milt Sparks PMK holster and Craig Spegel Grips.

[03RN]

Milt Sparks PMK holster and Craig Spegel Grips.

Nice

[john c]

The name as I recall was a “Security Six”

Are these typically a decent bet as a used gun in a pawn shop sort of scenario?

These were a little bigger than the K frames, and in fact take the same speedloaders as the Python. They're excellent pistols; I like them more than the GP100. Ruger still warranties these guns, but has no parts. If the gun can't be fixed, they'll send you a new GP100 as a replacement. This makes these pistols excellent buys. I highly recommend them.

[john c]

At one time I owned four 357s. The security six, a 28,a 27, a gp100, and a trooper mk3.
Still have the smith's but the Colt and gp100 are gone.

The recent GP100s are MUCH better than the old ones, in terms of triggers. I have two GP100s made in the last five years, and had one made in the middle '90s. The newer ones feel like they've had a trigger job, and are all around better pistols than older models. Check them out.

The new GP100s are better than the current crop of 686s, by a mile.

[jtcarm]

At one time I owned four 357s. The security six, a 28,a 27, a gp100, and a trooper mk3.
Still have the smith's but the Colt and gp100 are gone.

There’s five in my safe right, and I’m about to order a bigger safe[emoji33]

[HCM]

These were a little bigger than the K frames, and in fact take the same speedloaders as the Python. They're excellent pistols; I like them more than the GP100. Ruger still warranties these guns, but has no parts. If the gun can't be fixed, they'll send you a new GP100 as a replacement. This makes these pistols excellent buys. I highly recommend them.

This is not correct. They will sell you a GP 100 at a discount - not send one straight across - ask me how I know.

[Malamute]

Prices in security six’s have gone up recently. Just FYI they have been out of production over 25 years and the Ruger factory no longer supports them, numrich /gun parts Corp has parts.

They hold up well but if you just want a shooter you may want to look at a GP100.

Theres other places to get parts also.

[ragnar_d]

I'm in a similar boat. Almost my entire career and time shooting I've been chasing bottom feeding autochuckers and AR's in some shape or form. Recently, I've been falling hard for revolvers, lever guns, and old trench/coach guns. Nothing against the modern guns, it's just I've found another avenue that captures my interest. It's a different technical and shooting challenge than the more modern guns and keeping me interested in my hobby. Because the other option was turning most of the extraneous contents of the safe and ammo locker into a Z06 or Cayman S.

[45dotACP]

A model 57 with a 8 3/8" barrel gave me a handgun that is truly exceptional to shoot. I'd never carry it except for maybe hunting, but it's one of my favorite handguns by far.

I just carry Glock 9mms because they're for things like staying alive, as opposed to a N frame big bore, which is for things like feeling alive.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[fatdog]

9mms because they're for things like staying alive, as opposed to a N frame big bore, which is for things like feeling alive.

great quote

My cowboy guns (long guns and pistols, plus cap and ball stuff) and my modern revolver collection are things that I enjoy, and very much love to shoot, and will drag me to a match or the range "just because". There are times and locations when the modern revolvers are probably adequate for defensive purposes. If I want to be prepared for a real world potential multiple opponent threat, nothing beats the polymer parade of the various excellent hicap semi auto guns and good ammo choices we have in this era.

[CSW]

There’s five in my safe right, and I’m about to order a bigger safe[emoji33]

I'm in search of just the right 357 carbine [lever], to compliment the pistols.

[03RN]

I'm in search of just the right 357 carbine [lever], to compliment the pistols.

Find a 92 copy to try out before you buy anything else.

I have a 16" .45 and it is slicker than snot. Absolutely hammers deer. I wish I grabbed a. 357 when I saw them every where.

[CSW]

I have the '94 Winchester trapper in 45 colt to compliment my Smith mountain gun.
I too should have bought the 357 at the same time

[deputyG23]

Revolvers are addictive - I picked up this little fella at Green Top yesterday....Model 37-3. My first “fully hammered” J frame.
28556

[OlongJohnson]

I think it would be hard to beat a GP100 Match Champion as a first revolver.

[mtnbkr]

I think it would be hard to beat a GP100 Match Champion as a first revolver.

My GP100 was my first revolver. This was long before the Match Champion existed. 4" barrel, adjustable sights. You could do a lot worse (S&W 686 in the same configuration would be another good choice)

I eventually sold it because I'm no longer interested in 357mag for recreational shooting. I'd rather shoot 38special or 32swl for fun and carry a 44specl/mag in the field. It's nice to have choices. :)

Chris

[mtnbkr]

Revolvers are addictive - I picked up this little fella at Green Top yesterday....Model 37-3. My first “fully hammered” J frame.

Nice. I've carried a 37-2 with factory bobbed hammer for 13 years now. Green Top is a good store. I've never purchased a gun from them (friends have), but I've spent a lot of money on hunting, archery, reloading, and fishing stuff there.

Chris

[deputyG23]

Nice. I've carried a 37-2 with factory bobbed hammer for 13 years now. Green Top is a good store. I've never purchased a gun from them (friends have), but I've spent a lot of money on hunting, archery, reloading, and fishing stuff there.

Chris

Green Top is one of many gun/outdoor stores here in the RVA vicinity. We are fortunate to have so many choices here. I visit most of them at least 1x/month and sometimes come across something in my price range that I cannot resist bringing home...
This 37-3 may be somewhat uncommon, according to some of the folks on the S&W forum. This one does not appear to have been carried much, if at all, and shot very little. I was intrigued because it was a later exposed hammer J frame minus the lock. It will stay in the safe for now until I can research it a little more. It will need slightly larger stocks to better fit me if I decide to put it to work.
Thank goodness I have a proven beater 442 for carry duty.

[jtcarm]

I’ll bet you guys would know: Eons ago, when I was 25 or so, and dinosaurs walked the earth, a family member of mine owned a revolver I got to shoot at the farm a couple times. The name as I recall was a “Security Six”

Google tells me it was this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Security-Six

Are these typically a decent bet as a used gun in a pawn shop sort of scenario?

You can still find good specimens for under $500.

I swapped a LEO turn-in Glock 22 for this one:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180730/422f3772fec89acf31242e8aa8e7b18b.jpg

I had maybe $350 in the Glock.

I suggest snagging one soon, as collectors are quickly turning their attention to them.

[deputyG23]

You can still find good specimens for under $500.

I swapped a LEO turn-in Glock 22 for this one:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180730/422f3772fec89acf31242e8aa8e7b18b.jpg

I had maybe $350 in the Glock.

I suggest snagging one soon, as collectors are quickly turning their attention to them.

That, Sir, was a great trade. I would have done the same. The Ruger Six series are not seen often now. My BIL has a 6” stainless one from the early ‘80s that he bought new and fired maybe one hundred bunny fart .38 hand loads through it, cleaned it, and put it away.

[Sal Picante]

Every time I pick up a Smith & Wesson or Colt revolver…especially one with blued steel and checkered wood…or an old Winchester Model 12 or Ithaca 37…I feel something. I know it sounds strange, but some sort of transcendental experience occurs. I get a similar feeling when I get behind the wheel of a Ford Model A or International Harvester pickup, but that’s another story.


I'm a die hard Beretta fan: The 92 is pretty easily my favorite pistol. I use it for everything and know so much about that design. That said, I keep seeing these ol'smiths that need rescuing:

p/BfPi43PHbRS

Old Smith and Wesson "Bekeart" 22-32 "hand ejector" in decent shape. Need to get it dated by S&W. Shot it with some low-vel gold medal ammo... Shoots like a dream. (A bit small for my hands, honestly, but great fun to shoot and goof off with...)

p/BWd-A8KgVDg

I bought this on my 40th Birthday... I couldn't pass this up: she was just sitting there under the counter next to some used GLOCKs... It had the OG papers and box. Bought in the 60's by the man. His wife kept it in the box and they've never shot it. (I've never shot it)

Now that I've moved to FL, I keep finding amazing old guns: It's like people retire here, die, then just have this treasure lying around! I just found a nice 6" barrel K22 Masterpiece (later model) with the box, papers some vintage ammo. Since I haven't worked out my DL and etc here yet, I need to wait for a while before I can pick that up... (have a few other things I'm waiting on too... ;) ) It is a bit worn, beat up, but in excellent mechanical condition: You can tell the guy took great care of it but shot the hell out of it.

These are the things I love finding: some of the "shooter" models - you know the kind - they clean up nice, but you can still go and pop a few rounds with 'em with out worrying about destroying their value or something. I mostly love .22's (thats my favorite caliber, honestly...) and, before I left Chicago, used to take one to the range when I practiced. After I was done with my "real session", I'd pop a few hundred rounds of .22 or something for fun... The rotation varied: that Beakeart (above), a old 50's era Ruger RST4 (precursor to the Mk1) with a right side magazine button that I've shot more than any other gun I own, a Beretta Jaguar (that thing was FUN!), or one of a few tricked out vintage Hi-Standards etc...

I love putting in the work, but more than anything, enjoy the aesthetic of "making the shot" - I get why people do Kyudo (Japanese archery): It is the same feeling as Bullseye, PPC, etc. Slowing down, getting some vintage iron in my hands and just enjoying life before getting back to the soul-crushing junk punch of a grind that is USPSA is good medicine. (Tagging Matt Little here since he keeps punching himself in the dick and might enjoy taking a day off to just plink with his kid...)

[Dagga Boy]

Great post Les. You get it. I find having fun, interesting guns around to enjoy makes it easier to “go to the gym and train”with the working tools.

[Sal Picante]

I find having fun, interesting guns around to enjoy makes it easier to “go to the gym and train”with the working tools.

^^ This.

[Joe in PNG]

My new 10-5 is making shooting fun for me as well.

[Hambo]

Lately, not much new excites me.

You're getting old. ;)

[KevH]

You're getting old. ;)

This is true. Haha!