I inherited the revolver from my dad and it had been given to him by my great-grandfather. The hinged frame, and later break top, Smith and Wesson revolvers competed with Colt’s solid frame revolvers. I own and enjoy both, more Colts than Smiths and would hate to part with either. When Samuel Colt invented the revolver as we know it, he turned the handgun world on its nose. At this point in time, the companies were producing revolvers … I used .45ACP in full moon clips and also a few ’45 Auto rim cartridges I found. In this case he was on his way to Mt for a new job. Colt and Smith & Wesson tried to compete with each other in the late 1800s by offering newer, more innovative revolvers to capture the lion’s share of the market, but then, in 1899, S&W unveiled its first.38-caliber K-Frame — the Military & Police. While the Colt Single Action Army remained popular past its prime, the primary spear point of competition for the two makers was in double action .38 Special revolvers. I made a comment to my wife once that if we were ever in a pinch the Pythons would bring good money . Otherwise, they both feature 6″ barrels and full-sized frames. An Officer whom I had met at a tri-state firearms meet the year before told me if he ever sold his Python, I would get first chance at it. In the time of the Indian Wars, Smith & Wesson made some huge sales overseas, so the company’s revolvers were not that well-known in this country. Originally Posted By deeerhunterr123: hey i found a smith and wesson m&p 15 sport for sale and was wondering if i should buy that or order a colt 6920. can someone share some pros and cons of each firearm? The .357 Magnum cartridge is a revolver round with a .357 inch bullet diameter. The price point and good performance made Smith and Wesson the leader. Interestingly enough, when the industry could not completely fill the need for 1911 semi-automatics in 1917, both Colt and Smith & Wesson quickly changed their large-revolver lines to build Model 1917 revolvers chambered in .45 ACP. That first Paterson was a five-shot, cap-and-ball revolver. Will the revolver be a Colt or a Smith and Wesson? The belt way too big for me I sold to my Chief for $20.00 . New Revolver, Smith & Wesson VS Ruger? By the time of the Civil War both Smith and Wesson and Colt were manufacturing viable revolver designs. The gun’s introduction as a repeating handgun was a radical innovation, ideally suited for America’s westward expansion. Sam Colt invented the revolver as we know it, offering the first one for sale in 1836. They’ll never leave the family . Trigger pressure would cause the hammer to come fully back, as the cylinder revolved around to index with the barrel. Both companies offered double-action/single-action guns by the 1880s. Was there any difference? With over 165 years of excellence in firearm design and engineering behind them, Smith & Wesson revolvers are the most reliable, versatile, and comfortable to shoot handguns of this platform in existence. It involved a solid (not hinged) frame with a cylinder that swung outward to the left. I taught my children, and later, my step-children to shoot with that old .45. Just the same, the gun on the hip is usually a Colt Python. While Smith & Wesson named this new cartridge the.32 S&W Long, Colt’s version was the.32 Colt New Police. By the early 1870s, the two companies were building the majority of the fighting revolvers in active service. Colt only made the 357/Trooper (in all of it's variations) for approximately fifteen years. There wasn’t a dime’s worth of difference in the fit and finish of the two makes. It’s a toss up and the differences are minimal but Rugers are cast steel while S&W are forged steeel. Colt called it the .32 Colt New Police in revolvers … The Colt Python is a 357 Magnum caliber revolver formerly manufactured by Colt’s Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. He agreed. Smith & Wesson used a protected system for this part. The heyday of the revolver may be over as far as law enforcement is concerned. That first Paterson was a five-shot, cap-and-ball revolver. When shopping for a handgun, the Smith and Wesson revolvers for sale online are the first on the list for a good reason. Smith & Wesson made the Highway Patrolman for approximately 32 years (1954-1986). The Smith and Wesson Combat Magnum was probably the best-balanced revolver of all time. I measured the cylinder widths of a J-frame and a K-frame Smith and Wesson revolver to compare with the King Cobra and found it is right in the middle of the other two, being .1” wider than the J-frame and .05” narrower than the K-frame. The Python I carried for years and finally passed on to my Son last year. Before AR vs. AK, 870 vs. 500 and 9mm vs 45 ACP were debated endlessly on forums and social media — there was Colt vs. Smith & Wesson. So it's now been around longer than the HP. The Colt s a nice piece,but not that nice. There were high points of production for each company. I own several different S&W revolvers,especially snubbies! Smith&Wesson was smarter in many ways than Colt, especially in the area of contracts, where you sell multiple guns, (witness the mdl. I also picked up a 686 a couple years ago . The Largest Supplier of Firearms, Gun Parts, & Accessories Online, October 16, 2019 by David Dolbee 6 Comments. It was introduced in 1896 for Smith & Wesson's first-model Hand Ejector revolver. Plus an M&P 15, NATO, and on and on. The Colt revolver was an offensive firearm and a credible military firearm that hastened the western movement. In general, the .32 and .38 Colt cartridges were smaller and would chamber in the S&W chambers, but the cartridge case often split on firing. Various models of the Colt revolver followed, each offering improvements of one kind or the other. By continuing to browse our website you agree to our use of cookies. Smith and Wesson followed suit with the Hand Ejector, a similar size .32 caliber revolver. Welcome back to another installment of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday series of articles. A revolver collector/shooter told me He never had a colt that shaved or spit lead even if it was slightly out of time but Smith and wesson's do if even a little out of time. I chose a Smith & Wesson model 25.5 chamberd in 45 long colt round. For one thing, the Colt ejector rod in the front of the cylinder worked fine until you bent it. Colt's Manufacturing Company - firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. Picking one of what I have it would be a 686+ or even a Ruger Match Champion. By continuing to browse our website you agree to our use of cookies. When we went to his car he open the trunk and gave me the Nickle Plated 4 inch Python, a fancy tooled belt and holster, two boxes of ammo, a pair of handcuffs, and a can of del defend. An earlier—and very complicated—flintlock revolver, the Collier, came out of the United Kingdom and may or may not have had some influence on the young Yankee entrepreneur. The first is double-action, and the second is single-action. Please note, however, that S&W and Colt are primarily the only manufactures that designate frame sizes; most simply use Small, Medium, and Large. and was weened on S&W. That was 1969, when I became a deputy sheriff and carried a revolver by mandate from the department. In a few years, there was another strong unifying moment in the handgun world. I am a retired P.O. It was quickly answered by a similar gun from Smith & Wesson. Essentially, the question that has to be answered is, Would we be willing to settle for the Smith & Wesson? The K frame .38 has a skinny frame for use with Magnums, but the development of target stocks and rubber recoil absorbing stocks went a long way toward taming magnum recoil. This article is based on the six Tiffany Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers that are consigned to the upcoming September 2020 Rock Island Premier Firearms Auction, as well as Tiffany wheelguns sold during past RIAC auctions. I like the Colt,but the prices are out of control, and not worth it to me. The differences in the revolvers were seldom based on quality of manufacture. He told me that he would not flip for the difference between the two. Various models of the, Tournament News & Results – Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Redfish and More. The Colt revolver had to be designed to stabilize the firing hand to allow thumb cocking and to present the sights for proper aiming. I think that while the revolvers looked similar and handled the same, there were differences in the grip and trigger action that had appeal to different shooters. While each may have had an occasional bad run, this was rare. My point is simply that by the turn of the century, both of America’s major handgun manufacturers made revolvers that looked quite similar, behaved much the same and even sold at roughly the same price. That first Paterson was a five-shot, cap-and-ball revolver. I prefer smith and Wesson, but both are great choices. Eventually, Smith and Wesson enjoyed a considerable price advantage over Colt for similar handguns. Several of its guns—like the break-top Schofield—were used and respected. Colt Python 357 Magnum (1988), $2500. A high primer would hang up in a Colt - a Smith would let you pull it on thru. Seems to me, a Colt Python is more coveted and higher priced than an equilivent Smith. When I was growing up during the 1960s and beginning a lifelong interest in revolvers, my grandfather expressed a common opinion. I like something on my hip in the wild. With all the knowledge this site has to offer I figured this would be the best place to pose my question. My home was broken into while no one was home and that wonderful old revolver is in someone else’s hands now but it will always be my favorite. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). The U.S. Army asked for a revolver more robust than the Colt 1892 and a more powerful cartridge. Today, those who appreciate old iron are happy to find either revolver at a fair price. Three years before the more conventional.38-caliber K-Frame, S&W had introduced the I-Frame. There’s nothing compact about these brutes.The grips are the other major variation. If they’d had the same finish and grips attached, I doubt many of us could pick them apart at any distance. Sam Colt invented the revolver as we know it, offering the first one for sale in 1836. I guess we know who won the battle with me but lost the war. Believe me, there is no tool on earth that gets the abuse of a policeman’s revolver. It was also possible to thumb-cock the hammer and then press the trigger to fire. The big cats are sometimes aggressive—I will never forget that my grandmother’s cousin, a small child, was killed by a panther in the early 1920s. Shot Master every time,30 years.We could carry anything we wanted. Also, Colt’s quirky action, with a V-shaped mainspring, was … Colt’s revolvers such as the New Pocket featured a swing out cylinder, cylinder latch that pulled to the rear, and a smooth double action trigger. Ruger introduced the GP100 approximately 1985 and it's still going strong, some thirty-four years later. Adjustable sights, ramp front sights, shrouded ejector rods, target triggers and hammers, trigger stops, and red insert front sights were introduced. I was called to the station. The Colt action differed, and while smooth enough, the Colt was the more likely to go out of time after hard use. It is sometimes referred to as a Combat Magnum. The M1917 Revolvers were six-shot, .45 ACP, large frame revolvers adopted by the United States Military in 1917, to supplement the standard M1911 pistol during World War I. Many young designers were chomping at the bit to break into the revolver market. m&p shield ez pistol important safety recall notice for pistols manufactured between march 1st, 2020 and october 31st, 2020 learn more.. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. i was hoping to get something in the next week or so nut if i order a colt it would take a lot longer. Either way, this article details Old Iron at its best! Sign up for K-Var’s weekly newsletter and discounts here. An earlier—and very complicated—flintlock revolver, the Collier, came out of the United Kingdom and may or may not … I guess you could say I Love Smith and Wesson Firearms. Once in a while, either of the two companies would get distracted and quality might suffer a bit, but that never lasted. As is, they’re visually distinct. The two systems are often confused, but that’s an issue for another day. The older .38s were eclipsed. There were many imitators, but Colt was pretty much the main firm through the end of the Civil War. Much of that movement was on horseback, where the one-handed repeater was ideal. Smith & Wesson 686 One of the most popular revolvers in production, the Smith & Wesson 686 revolver is a medium (“L frame”) revolver chambered in the powerful .357 Magnum caliber. As is obvious to those of us with a functional sense of sight, the two guns we’re comparing are almost identical. Your email address will not be published. Smith and Wesson lengthened the .38 Long Colt cartridge slightly and improved performance from a 152-grain bullet at 750 fps to a 158-grain bullet at 850 fps. Cast saves costs but anytime you cast you may or may not have air pockets that could crack so they tend to be not as strong as forged steel. Thus was the situation when I got involved with revolvers. The old Python is blued. The .38 Colt was a dismal failure in action in the Philippines and at home. When I am hiking or traveling around Appalachia, the Blue Ridge, and the Smokies, I sometimes find myself in the vicinity of feral dogs and other dangerous wildlife. Consequently I sold it for more than I paid, but now wish I’d kept it just for the value aspect. But many of us find the revolver suits our needs well. Most handguns were horse pistols or pocket guns similar in design to rifles, they were simply shorter. There were many excellent revolvers manufactured during the heyday of this competition. A heavy loaded .38 Special or a .357 Magnum revolver just feels right. I have pretty much the same preference. The .32 S&W Long, also known as 7.65x23mm, is a straight-walled, centerfire, rimmed handgun cartridge, based on the earlier .32 S&W cartridge. November 14, 2016 ODU Admin Handguns Comments Off on Colt vs. Smith & Wesson on Revolvers. I was broke and went to the bank and begged the banker for a $125.00 30 day loan. It was a fierce competition that continued for about a century. I’ve only owned one Colt and it was a 6 inch Python, which I didn’t use as I got it at a local gun auction. Both companies were more than capable of offering upgraded revolvers for special purposes—the first Registered Magnums from Smith & Wesson as opposed to Colt’s Shooting Master revolvers in a significant amount of chamberings.Â. Colt introduced some models such as the Python, but Smith and Wesson introduced more models at more attractive prices. Colt used to call revolvers in the Detective Special and Cobra class D-frames. However, while Colt ignited the fire, he was not alone. Just as with the.38 Colt New Police, which was Colt’s answer to the.38 S&W, Colt’s version had a flatnose instead of the roundnose used by Smith & Wesson, giving it … Just the same, the revolver manufactured in the greatest numbers was the plain, vanilla, Military and Police revolver. The Colt sold better domestically while Smith and Wesson armed Russia and Japan among other armies. Filed Under: Colt, Pistols, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson Tagged With: .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .45 Colt, Colt, double action, Home Defense, hunting, personal defense, Revolvers, Smith and Wesson. Colt’s revolvers such as the New Pocket featured a swing out cylinder, cylinder latch that pulled to the rear, and a smooth double action trigger. Years ago as a young cop. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 6 inch barrel, chromed. Smith and Wesson followed suit with the Hand Ejector, a similar size .32 caliber revolver. The only Colt that is superior to similar Smith & Wesson models is the Detective Special which is the best snub for the purpose. Previously, there had been proprietary cartridges for each maker. In the 1890s, both manufacturers developed revolvers in a format that we have come to regard as typical. It was first designed with a 158-grain semi-jacketed soft point( flat) bullet. Pricey then but nothing like they are today . I did get a Colt DSII that’s very nice though. The Colt .32 Long is smaller in diameter than the .32 Smith and Wesson Long and will not interchange. ( 4″ Model 19, 2″ Model 60, 6″ Model 66. a Model 669 9mm, sadly sold a 4″ Model 686, and a 4″ Model 29,) My Newer S&W’s are a 6″ 686 Custom Shop model, never fired, an M&P 9c, M&P 9, M2,0 ,5″ never fired , M&P Bodyguard .380 carry piece, M&P Shield 9, M&P Shield 9 from the pro shop, never fired, M&P Shield 9 M 2.0 with Crimson Trace laser, Carry Piece. This ammo has diverse use ranging from target shooting to self-defense and hunting. The Smith & Wesson was a smallbore version of the L-frame 686 revolver, and the Ruger was the smallbore brother to the New Model Super Blackhawk Hunter single-action revolver. At this point in time, the companies were producing revolvers that in many ways were more similar than they differed. A big change occurred with the introduction of the Smith and Wesson Military and Police .38 revolver. I have a smith and wesson that the cylinder stop doesn't quite engage 2 cylinder notches however when I let the hammer down it still is not engaged. One is a 4 inch Ruger Security-Six, made in 1974, and the other is a 4 inch Smith & Wesson Model 10 from a few years later. The Colt .32 Long is smaller in diameter than the .32 Smith and Wesson Long and will not interchange. The Colt revolver’s cylinder rotates right into the frame, the Smith and Wesson to the left, and the rifling is also different. One firm might be ahead in sales on the strength of a new innovation, as when Colt introduced an aluminum-frame revolver for concealed carry. Serious competition came when two guys named Smith and Wesson got their take on the revolver, which fired metallic cartridges, up and running with serious calibers. Thanks for the article. The Combat Masterpiece, Shooting Master, Target Masterpiece, Trooper, Highway Patrolman, Python, Detective Special, Chief’s Special, Cobra, Python and Combat Magnum were among them. This round is based on the earlier Smith & Wesson .38 Special cartridge. From that point in time forward to the 1970s, it was a battle for supremacy. The 686 is stainless. Situational Awareness – Keep Your Head Up. Our revolvers were the Smith & Wesson 617 double-action revolver with single-action capability and Ruger’s New Model Single Six Hunter. I still have most all of the Smiths I used and still carry. It was first introduced in 1934 and serves as the foundation of the “Magnum Era.” Then, as now, everyone wanted more powerful ammo. He said he remembered that I wanted his Python. An earlier—and very complicated—flintlock revolver, the Collier, came out of the United Kingdom and may or may not have had some influence on the young Yankee entrepreneur. During the 1930s the race was real with Colt having an edge. I was lucky enough to acquire 2 Pythons some years back . Most are highly accurate and offer plenty of power. Qualified as a Pistol Expert, and love the way they feel and shoot. 10) as opposed to gun shops where you sell one a week. I doubt Colt ever had more than a few police contracts, whereas S&W had, not only most cities and states, but also FBI and other feds. 27 Posts #21 • Jun 1, 2017. Today we’ll talk about revolvers embellished by Tiffany & Co. Read on at this link – https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2016/11/9/revolver-rivalry-colt-vs-smith-wesson/, BRO ROAD SHOW KICKS OFF ANNUAL, EDUCATIONAL RETAIL TOUR, Copyright © 2020 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, The Ice Fishing Kick Off Show – Fish Bum Podcast, Top Ice Baits for Winter Panfish – Northland Style, It is Finally Time for the Fall Frog Bite, Sam Colt invented the revolver as we know it, offering the first one for sale in 1836. By the 1970s Smith and Wesson carried three quarters of the police market. When Colt’s patent expired in the mid-1850s, it opened the door for rigorous competition from other manufacturers, such as Smith & Wesson … Light enough for constant carry, durable in long use, accurate, smooth in operation, and firing the best man stopper we are likely to invent, this .357 Magnum revolver was a prestige revolver. Many felt Smith and Wesson had the edge when they reinvested war time profits in new machinery and models after World War II. Carried in custom made Buscalero gunbelt. Fifty years later she recounted the story as if it were yesterday. Howdy all, I’ve had the notion for a while to buy a 4 inch 44 magnum revolver. Smith and Wesson’s original handgun was a lever-action design that led to the Winchester repeating rifle, but that is another story. The gun’s introduction as a repeating handgun was a radical innovation, ideally suited for America’s westward expansion. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. But this was a time when Colt pretty well ruled the roost with the Peacemaker in its many chamberings. Earlier this weekend, I was doing some cleaning and organizing, and two similar, yet very different, revolvers ended up side by side. Obviously, there were differences, but there were several points on the Colt that kept a Smith & Wesson in my holster. His favorite revolver was a Smith and Wesson Military and Police, but he liked the Colt Detective Special better than the Smith and Wesson Chief’s Special. I don't like its double-action trigger pull as well as a Smith & Wesson but the Detective Special is the best, most practical snub ever … The shrouded ejector rod and high visibility sights were important advantages. The .38 Special became the most popular revolver cartridge of all time. Both companies made their guns in America, forged from steel smelted in this country and put together by Yankee craftsmen who took fierce pride in the product. Much of that movement was on horseback, where the one-handed repeater was ideal. The problem was that these frame codenames became so prolific that they started getting used to describe any and all revolvers – even those not made by Smith & Wesson. "Keep Off The Ridgeline" b9904 Member Posts: 43 (11/10/02 3:32:47 am) Reply | Edit | Del Re: Dan Wesson V.S. After the war, both companies manufactured distinctive revolvers. They traded in the top position in sales for some 50 years. My favorite revolver was a WWII era Enfield top break revolver in .455 cal. m&p shield ez pistol important safety recall notice for pistols manufactured between march 1st, 2020 and october 31st, 2020 learn more.. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. During the 1880s Colt began development of swing out cylinder double action revolvers that would bring the two companies’ products much closer in design and appearance. I’d love to have a Colt Python but they’ve become insanely priced for me. Colt revolvers were always built to closer tolerances than S&W. All are great guns but the Pythons are my favorites . Her response…..” your ass !”. Read on to find out. They fired the same cartridges and came in small, medium and large configurations. Lever-Action design that led to the left, and later break top, and... Have a Colt or a.357 inch bullet diameter had to be designed to stabilize the firing Hand to thumb... At the bit to break into the frame, the Smith & Wesson used a protected system this! Thirty-Four years later she recounted the story as if it were yesterday point good! # 21 • Jun 1, 2017 is, would we be willing settle. Part with either Wesson Long and will not interchange both companies manufactured revolvers... The edge when they reinvested War time profits in new window ) in revolvers Colt. The companies were producing revolvers that in many ways were more similar than they.... 16, 2019 by David Dolbee 6 Comments ( flat ) bullet quality manufacture. 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