Before I picked up my 642-1 I carried either a M649 (.38 Spl older version) or a Ruger SP-101 DAO. Both are fine for their intended purpose.
Long ago I foolishly let go of a nickeled M36 3" Heavy Barrel. Shot about as well as my issued 4" M686 with 158gr LSWCHP +P ammunition. Should'a kept it.
Nothing wrong with a standard blued M36. Should'a kept that one, too.
While I like the little M37 Airweight with the bobbed hammer, I'll probably keep it in the safe and not shoot it any time soon. I just thought it was an interesting example of the breed to pick up.
Wouldn't mind having a M638 sometime, just to have the Airweight version of my favored ugly Bodyguard.
Should'a kept my blued Ruger Speed-Six. Like it better than either of the blued & stainless short-barreled Security-Sixes I carried.
Blued & stainless M19/66's are excellent examples of nicely done short-barreled full-size revolvers that really only offer the advantage of being able to use a slightly shorter holster.
One in proper condition is something to enjoy when it comes to range time.
S&W's M13/64/65 models probably weren't appreciated nearly as much as they deserved, overall. I wouldn't mind finding a pristine example of either the M13/65, in that order, even though I primarily favor stainless for working guns.
Never cared for the Colt, Rossi, Charter Arms or Taurus offerings. Sorry.
I pretty much think the S&W J-frame series deserves a class all its own, even though similar size revolvers have been offered by other manufacturers.
While I've handled, fired and trained with my fair share of M60 and 640 J-frames, including an early 640 bearing the short-lived "+P+" rating in the frame's cylinder window, I just never felt interested in buying one of my own. Admittedly, this is at odds with my preferrence for the utilitarian stainless guns. No real reason for it, except that the 60/640 just don't appeal to me. May still pick up a new .357 Magnum M60 before I retire, just to round out my J-frame collection, though. Rather do all my Magnum shooting with my SP-101, though.
I always prefer to have revolvers checked out by someone who can correct or repair problems, though. QC is just so unpredictable and variable when it comes to revolvers, it seems. My 649 and 629 Classic were produced during S&W's 'not great' years ... with neither gun being in functional and proper condition as it came from the factory. Too bad. Some time at the bench under the attention of an old-time S&W revolver armorer (and new hammer & trigger for the 629) and both guns were restored to what they should've been from the factory.
Of course, my SP-101 had a nasty, sharply burred edge on the ejector star that caused the gun to sieze up under sustained shooting which heated things up, and my Redhawk had to be returned to the factory for a new hammer & trigger, as well ... (and my early P-90 needed a new slide, FWIW
) ... and Charter Arms never could get one of my problematic .44 Bulldogs to function, even after repeated trips to the factory ... and I've even seen, and heard about, problems involving Colt Pythons ... so it's not like these things don't happen to everyone upon occasion, you know.
