It’s that time of year, when we sharpen our pencils and let our imaginations run wild, as we write our annual letter to Santa and plead our case!
We’ve got a special treat in store for you this year, as we welcome RevolverGuy Founder Justin Carroll back to the blog with his thoughtful “Wish List” for the industry. I sure enjoyed hearing Justin’s voice again in these pages, and know you’ll appreciate it too.
mike’s list
But before we get to Justin’s Wish List, I’ve got to put my plug in for a few special requests from the Jolly Old Elf:
-
-
- A Trijicon HD-style replacement front sight for revolvers–I’m a fan of square posts with a splash of red-orange up front, and would particularly love to have something like this for my S&W Ultimate Carry revolvers. Call me square if you want, but I like my sights that way. Extra eggnog for the folks who get it done!
-
-
-
- A perennial request: Please bring back the medium-frame, Ruger Six-series! It’s OK if you design it more like a GP/SP, we just need a good, medium-frame Ruger back in the catalog. All the versions please–Speed, Security and Service, short and long, blue and stainless. (I hope my buddy Andrew is paying attention, and not getting distracted by visions of dancing sugar plums–Focus, man, focus!!).
-
-
-
- A rejuvenated family of high-quality, Smith & Wessons in .41 Magnum. The 10mm is neat and all, but a revolver deserves a revolver cartridge, don’t you think? And I don’t care what the magazines say, the 10mm is NOT the ballistic twin to the mighty .41 Mag. Anybody who would try to sell you on that one probably thinks Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. Same kinda guy who would steal Frosty’s top hat.
-
-
-
- A true Cobra, with an aluminum frame. I like the steel frame plenty, but the market really wants one with an aluminum frame, like the original. My requests would include a wider and deeper notch in the rear sight, and a wider trigger face (with rounded profile and edges, to replace the narrow, squared versions that the new D-frames are plagued with). Let’s stop playing reindeer games Colt, and get this present under the tree!
-
-
-
- A return of the Airweight M&P, the three-inch RB Model 13, the .38 Special 640 Centennial, the snubby Model 19, the .41 Mag Model 58, and the .45 ACP Model 625 please. And for a new twist, how about a revised 619 and 620 without the lock, this time? (We don’t need full lugs on all our L-frames.) They’ve gotta be made to stringent quality standards though, or I won’t be interested. Broken guns will get you coal in your stockings, boys.
-
-
-
- A new source for quality grip adapters that can keep up with market demand–especially for the Colts, old and new, and other underserved guns. Those new S&W Classics with the Tyler repro-Magnas could really use them, too. Let’s give the Lords-a-Leapin’ something to really jump about.
-
-
-
- More custom stock makers, please. We can never have too many of those. I’m still waiting for an affordable set of repro-Fuzzies, and would prefer not to send my money to Thailand to get them. Let’s get some elves busy up there, in Santa’s workshop. Less singing, more sanding!
-
-
-
- A version of the Taurus 66 Combat with a fluted cylinder, a high-profile fixed rear sight, and a black ramp front sight with an orange insert. Flutes help with reloading, and fiber optics are best reserved for phone lines. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
-
-
-
- A low-profile speedloader carrier, similar to the (sadly) discontinued JOX pattern pouch. Santa’s got a brand new bag, but we’re still looking for a good one to hide a COMP II under a t-shirt.
-
-
-
- A richly illustrated book on the LAPD stock makers–Blackford, Stark, Hurst, Farrant, Hogue, et.al. I think it would be a fascinating study. Maybe DB&Y could work on this in all their spare time? Bad Santa to the rescue! ; ^ )
-
(Dec 20th, Post-Publication note: My pal, Matt Olivier, just did a great interview about these grip makers, in conjunction with gunsmith Nelson Ford. Check it out here, for a great introduction to these craftsmen and their grips! Thank you Matt, for sharing this wonderful info with us!)
(Dec 30th, Post-Publication note: Anthony Lombardo, who was referenced as an authority on this subject by Matt, in the video above, has graciously shared his extensive research paper on this subject with us. Readers can find his thorough and well-illustrated guide to the custom grip makers at the following link: Custom Handgun Grip ID and Collector Guide 1935-2024 by Anthony Lombardo)
Do any of those interest you too? Let’s hear from you in the comments about your requests for Santa, OK?
Now, on to the main event . . . take it away, Justin!
-Mike
My Revolver Wish List
As some of the old hands here have noticed, I have taken a substantial leave of absence from RevolverGuy. There are various reasons for this; I have had a lot going on, and there are a few pictures below to catch you up just a bit! In 2020 I started EMT school, which lead to paramedic school and a new career. I got into the Search & Rescue side of things and attended a bunch of training (and many rescues) in that arena. More recently I attended the police academy at night, and started an even newer career in law enforcement. But that’s not the only reason I’ve been gone.
Distractions aside, my interest in guns has remained as strong as ever. In the last five years I’ve spent more personal time at the range than any other five year period in my life. And yet, my interest has waned in regards to revolvers. The reason? Frankly, revolver innovation seems stagnant. There’s not much new to see other than a new chambering here, a new finish there, or “oh look! A new barrel length on an old gun!” Every once in a while someone might squeeze an extra round in, like Kimber did with the K6s, or Charter Arms did with the Professional.
Beyond that, little seems to happen. Over a decade now of watching revolver trends…the same things seem to happen over and over. Some company will release a design with modest upgrades…but completely overlook all the other stuff. The Colt King Cobra is a good example; it’s a great revolver, but because it’s for “defensive” use, the company can cut corners and neglect to put a rear sight on it…just like the Charter Professional. Smith has re-released the Models 19 and 66, but Smith & Wesson quality control is a topic all its own.
Meanwhile, I see plenty of work that could be done in innovating revolvers. I started RevolverGuy.com as a serious study of serious defensive tools and their application. The market doesn’t seem to share my dedication to the life-and-death seriousness of revolvers, so my attention drifted.
Don’t get me wrong; I like the classics and I still enjoy shooting revolvers, but I’d also like to see them advance a bit. A little innovation might make revolvers a bit more viable for a few more folks.
A quick disclaimer is in order here. Lucky Gunner dropped this video and we make a lot of the same points. I want to make clear that I had the majority of this article written when his video dropped. I’m not copying his work, but a lot of people thinking about revolvers are coming to similar conclusions.
The Basics
First and foremost, manufacturers need to get back to basics. Before they do anything else to a revolver, they need to bring back some of the old-school craftsmanship that made revolvers great in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, revolvers are not “simpler” than semiautos. Revolvers are, in fact, far more complicated. They are difficult to mass produce while creating a reliable product. Some parts bear on each other in an arc. This sometimes requires hand-fitting, or at very minimum, an eagle-eyed QC department.
Sadly, we’ve not found this to be the case. Guns are making it to the market with 16-pound triggers, malfunctions the likes of which I’ve never seen, barrels that are visibly out of alignment, and more. The reasons for this slip in quality that seems to worsen every decade are many. When Smith moved from MA to TN, it probably lost a lot of institutional culture and wisdom. Many old hands probably retired rather than move. Second, due to the complexity of revolvers, their profit margins are thinner. This is an area where new management likes to cut corners to keep sticker prices approachable.
I’m not just laying this problem at S&W’s door; QC problems are rampant with revolvers from Colt, Ruger, and Taurus, too. First and foremost I’d like someone to make a wheelgun with better than 50/50 odds it will work. That’s just not happening right now. Again, it’s hard to be excited about revolvers when there’s nothing worth buying out there.
Here are the basics upon which I would love to see manufacturers focus their attention:
Reliability
Reliability is a non-negotiable in a defensive firearm. An unreliable gun is worse than useless to me; it is a danger to anyone who depends on it. No matter what, the gun must work. Revolvers have a reputation of being incredibly reliable, but this is increasingly not the case. I would love to see a return to a prioritization of quality and craftsmanship over quick profits.
Sadly, gun company execs know that most of their guns will be purchased, shot just a little, and put away. This doesn’t give them a big incentive to cut profit margins further to make a premium product. If companies won’t raise quality across the board, I do wish for a premium, enthusiast-grade product that’s actually worth the money.
This could look something like the old Performance Center days: a base revolver, but with premium parts, feature upgrades, and hand-tuning (on a basic revolver that functions to begin with, of course; reliability should not be an optional upgrade). I understand it would cost more, but those of us who love our revolvers and shoot them hard could probably make this financially viable for manufacturers.
Excellent Triggers
My opinions of most revolver triggers have ranged from, “yawn,” to “holy hell, that’s heavy!” I have handled and shot current production revolvers with trigger pulls over 16 pounds! Most of the lighter ones have been rough, halting, gritty, or otherwise generally poor. The double-action trigger is one of the most beautiful things about a revolver, and a bad one negates most of its benefits.
I have been exceptionally lucky. Familiar to old hands here, my 686-3 and 640 Pro Series both have triggers that make others green with envy. The 686-3 just came that way and has only gotten better with age. The 640 Pro benefited from an Apex Duty/Carry Trigger kit and thousands of live and dry trigger presses. It did, however, come with a trigger worth improving on.
Like reliability, a great trigger is a byproduct of quality. If manufacturers turn their attention to quality, the rest would follow. The increased sticker prices may scare of some consumers, but I’m betting it would even out over time, as sophisticated consumers regained confidence in wheelguns.
Visible Sights
Defensive-designated revolvers have languished far too long with crappy integral front sights and the trench rear. Even many hideout-class semi-autos now come with dovetailed sights that can be drift adjusted, replaced, and are far more visible than tiny, integral sights. And it’s not like it hasn’t been done; the 640 Pro and the newer Ultimate Carry line have dovetailed sights. But why in the world does one have to purchase a high-end revolver just to get halfway decent sights?
Though it would require a slight redesign of the top strap and front sight, it is not impossible to make integral sights that are large enough to actually see. A slight “hump” on the back of the top strap would add almost nothing in weight, not disturb the gun’s concealabililty or carryability in any meaningful way, yet would provide a huge upgrade in regards to aiming the gun. Even better would just to be acknowledge that guns need sights and start dovetailing all these small revolvers and providing sights for them.
Oh, and maybe make some 3-inch guns with adjustable sights. The Taurus 66 Combat and the Colt King Cobra are two otherwise great revolvers…with the same trench rear we’ve been saddled with for decades. The King Cobra especially irks me because the 4-inch version has adjustable rear sights. For &%$# sake, Colt, why do you make two different frames for the same gun?! Please, put adjustables on both!
And for that matter, why do the rear sight notches on S&W adjustable sights consistently seem to be getting smaller and smaller? Those notches seem to have been getting shallower for years. The major benefit (to me, at least) of adjustable sights on concealed carry revolvers is not so much that they are adjustable, but that they are large and visible†. With the crappy, shallow notches on new Smith revolvers this benefit is almost totally negated.
With the basics out of the way, let’s talk about some new and noteworthy wishes.
†That and because they have the cuts and holes necessary to upgrade to far better, aftermarket sights like the C&S fixed rear, D&L Sports fixed rear, or the Bowen Rough Country Adjustable Rear sight. Because obviously I know it’s too much to ask for S&W to put an amazing sight like that on from the factory…even on Performance Center guns.
Weapon-Mounted Light Capability
One of the huge downsides of revolvers is their continued inability to accept weapon-mounted lights. Seven (almost eight!) years ago I wrote an article praising revolvers for home defense. I mentioned, though at that time was willing to accept, the revolver’s inability to take a weapon-mounted light. That has changed, and that is no longer acceptable to me. Another thing that has not changed: no serious, defensive revolver accepts a weapon-mounted light.
Why are lights important? First, target identification is imperative. There are many cases of innocents – and even family members – being shot by well-meaning individuals who failed to identify their targets. Shooting someone who does not pose a threat to you is unacceptable, legally, civilly, socially, and (I hope!) morally. You MUST identify your target. It’s even enshrined in the Fourth Safety Rule we can all memorized by rote but rarely think about: know your target and what is beyond it.
Second, shooting one-handed when I could shoot two-handed results in a needless loss of accuracy and speed. Why would I opt for a revolver that requires me to use a handheld light when myriad other options exist that allow safe, effective two-handed shooting with an attached, easily-operable light?
I understand that there are some obstacles to mounting a light to a revolver. There is the crane/yoke swing. There’s the ejector rod under the barrel. What I do not accept is the idea that mounting a light is an insurmountable engineering challenge. If a manufacturer were willing to invest some R&D dollars and collaboration with Streamlight or Surefire, I’m sure they could make this a reality, and preferably while still allowing backwards-compatibility with existing holster fits (sans light, of course). Again, I’m sure it would be difficult, but I’m equally certain it is not a mechanical impossibility.
OEM Speedloaders
This may the be the most controversial item on this list. Why? Because seemingly RevolverGuys have given up on reloading revolvers. I’m somewhat disheartened to see this, but most seem to have accepted the idea that, “no civilian has ever successfully reloaded a revolver in a gunfight.” I think this is a logical fallacy, and I’d like to explain why before I get to my wish.
The Problem
I believe the “no civilian ever reloads” argument fails based on three facts.
-
-
- Relative to semiautos, only a tiny percentage of individuals carry revolvers. Therefore, there is only a very small amount of data to work with.
- Only a tiny percentage of those carrying revolvers (or semiautos) bother to carry a reload, so they couldn’t reload if they wanted to.
- RevolverGuys are constantly told, “you won’t be able to reload in a fight,” so they don’t mentally prepare or physically train for it.
-
If the numbers were reversed and most folks carried wheelguns, I think we’d find plenty of cases where folks reloaded…or at least needed a reload. But with the small numbers, it’s hard to find meaningful data, so it’s easy to say “no one has ever done it, so you shouldn’t worry about it.”
I personally feel that we are doing a disservice to ourselves and those who pay attention to us when we tell guys carrying five-round guns not to worry about a reload. The fewer rounds you carry, the closer you get to needing a reload. You might end up being the guy carrying a five-shot gun who gets handed a two-shot problem… Or you may get an eight-shot problem. Probably won’t happen, but it’s far from an impossibility, especially when you consider the concept of multiple attackers. A small revolver is a “one bad-guy gun.”
I believe reloads are important from a defensive standpoint. Almost as importantly, if I shoot a revolver a bunch I want to be able to really run the gun. It’s hard to do this without speedloaders, and it’s hard to want to do it with second- or third-best speedloaders.
The Fix
I would like to see manufacturers treat speedloaders like magazines. Though we tend to think about speedloaders as semi-universal, they really aren’t. You might have a bit of cross-compatibility in the J/K/L world, But most speedloaders work with a small handful of revolvers to the exclusion of all others.
Of course this would cost money, increasing the end-user cost and/or cutting into profit margins. However, no manufacturer would dream of putting out a pistol and not developing (or at least collaborating with someone like Mec-Gar to develop) a magazine to go along with it. If manufacturers approached speedloaders this way the market wouldn’t be so splintered. As it stands now, when I consider a new revolver one of my first questions is, “what speedloaders will work with it?”
The sub-problem here is that the speedloaders offered are second-best, at best. The bar-none best speedloaders in the world are the (in?)famous S.L. Variants. I was fortunate to get into revolvers just in time to snag a few of these off eBay at around $75/each, and they are essentially priceless now. Why? Because they are, without question, objectively the best speedloader ever designed.
So why can’t you find them? At least in part because Smith, Ruger, and Colt never reached out and said, “hey, we’d like to include two of these in the box with every revolver we sell. How much would that cost us?” Even now the utility patent on these seems to be long dead and the company long-since disappeared, so why is no one taking up the task of making a high-quality copy (or even an improved version) of these?† I wish one revolver manufacturer would get serious about making the best possible speedloader for their gun instead of relying on the aftermarket to fill that void.
†Yes, I am aware of the Japanese knock-offs and they are pretty poor copies.
Revolver-Mounted Optics
Yes, revolver mounted optics have been done, but they remind me of the dog that could sing: everyone was so impressed that it could sing, no one seemed to notice that it didn’t sing very well. There are factory revolvers wearing red dots, but I’d hardly call it an all-out effort to integrate an optic into the gun.
Why does this matter to me? I was a long-time holdout against pistol-mounted optics, but I finally made the switch. The reason? First, I’m not getting any younger. I still don’t need glasses, but I can’t do what I could do with irons just a few years ago. This trend will only continue, and I don’t want to sacrifice ability for pride. Second, optics are becoming an inevitability. I must carry one on my duty gun, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Seeing this writing on the wall a couple of years ago, I dove in headfirst.
And I’m glad I did. Though five years ago I could never imagine myself saying this, but there is no way I would go back to iron sights now. Shooting with irons now feels like shooting in “hard mode.” There is so much more to line up and be aware of, so much more of the target is obstructed, and beyond just a few yards it is so much more difficult to be “shirt-button precise.”
One final reason: I want all my serious handguns to have basically the same sight picture. Obviously there are exceptions: the hideout guns and such, but I don’t want to have to swap to a completely different sighting system just because I want to use a revolver.
The very limited current crop of revolvers that are defensive-oriented and have a provision for mounting an optic seem slapped together. No real innovation was done to the revolver other than tapping a couple of holes in the top strap. The only “innovation” was a plate that mated the two. Not to be too negative, but the execution on those plates was pretty poor, too. An aftermarket shim is needed to adjust their elevation to make them usable with many extremely popular optics. I would love to see a revolver that truly integrates a red-dot into the top strap rather than just strapping it onto the roof rack and hoping it rides.
This may require a slight, overall thickening of the top strap, but in my opinion would be worth it. Even better if it allowed for a lower-third co-witness…but this would require dovetailing for real sights, a battle all its own. Honestly, though, I have seen more iron sights fail (fall off, drift out, etc.) than I have optics, so this is optional, but it would demonstrate a commitment to the task at hand!
Putting It All Together
I only really have an interest in firearms as they pertain to defensive use. I’m not a collector, I don’t really care all that much about nostalgia – I want hard-use guns for serious purposes. I know many readers here see things differently, and that’s fine, but defensive utility is what makes me part with my money. With all this put together, here’s what I would be absolutely thrilled to find under the proverbial tree next year:
A K-Frame sized revolver. it doesn’t have to be from S&W. It doesn’t even have to be exactly K-frame dimensions, though the ability to use uber-common holsters and grips would be nice (oh, and make it a round butt, please). Give it a 3-inch barrel and make it stainless steel, whether you put a black finish on it or not. Give it 6 shots of .357 Magnum/.38 Special so guys like me can afford to shoot it, but maybe make a hip, modern version with 7 shots of .32 FedMag.
Oh, an if you could find it in your hear to trim a little weight off and use some of those modern alloys…that would be really cool, too. Put high-visibility, robust adjustable sights on it so we can regulate it to whatever ammo we choose to carry. Remember that lightly-loaded wadcutters and full-house Maggies have very different points of impact and we don’t all want fixed sights regulated for your favorite round.
Get your QC up to snuff. Hire some guys who know about revolvers – both what is popular and needed in the market, and guys who know how to build them. Inspect and test these guns before they leave the factory. As badly as I hate to say this, charge the price you need to charge, and build them as slowly as you need to build them to create an outstanding product, please.
Develop a speedloader to go with it. Don’t just pull something off the shelf. Collaborate with Magpul or someone to design a really top-notch speedloader that you’d be proud of, one that would be a true market differentiator! Put two or three in the box with the gun, and sell spares on the factory store. If they are truly excellent, they will become their own profit center – trust me on that. Hell, you don’t even have to reinvent the wheel: the design is languishing out there.
Surprise us with an optics-ready version. Make three or four plates for the most popular optics out there. Actually make the gun look like it were mean to to work with an optic. I’ll understand if you don’t get it perfect on the first try, but TRY. The same goes for a weapon-mounted light. Get up with Streamlight and see what you can come up with.
The end result: a high-quality, lightweight, compact, optic-ready, WML-capable defensive revolver with speedloaders in the box? And it takes readily available holsters and has great iron sights? Hell yeah! Really nail this version and these things will sell themselves. Then you can add 2- and 4-inch versions to your catalog next year. You can add special editions with cool, new finishes… I’m sure other manufacturers will take note, and soon they’ll do some innovating, too.
Oh, One More Thing…
Since it’s a wishlist: Santa, I know I’ve asked before but I’d love a medium-sized revolver in .22 Magnum with an 8- or 9-shot cylinder. I certainly wouldn’t be mad about a SP101, but it would have to go on a diet. Alternatively, a lightweight, half-lug K-frame would be even better! Put a 4-inch barrel on it with some really good adjustable sights and I’ll be the first in line to buy one!
Wrap-Up
And that’s it! That’s what I’d like to see in revolver innovation. Revolvers have some great benefits. Unfortunately for every benefit you get out of a revolver, you give up several much bigger benefits that come standard with most semi-autos…like the abilities to use a weapon-mounted light, buy cheap, reliable OEM magazines, and mount an optic. Oh, and most mainstream semi-autos – the ones having the same status and cachet as the big revolver brands – all work pretty much flawlessly out of the box.
Ultimately I would like to see manufacturers treat revolvers as I see them: as serious defensive tools rather than as profit centers.
The only disagreement I have with Justin, if you even want to call it that, is on weapon lights. Personally, I don’t like weapon lights; they require me to point my firearm to use. As Paul Harrell, may he rest in peace, pointed out in his video on lights years ago, pointing your gun at someone to use the light only to find it’s one of your family members or whomever is not a good thing from a safety perspective.
In MY opinion, I want to identify my target before I point anything. So, a weapon light is not something I desire.
I do agree about QC. You can buy a generic striker-fired pistol from any reputable manufacturer, Taurus included, and 9 times out of 10 it will just work. Meanwhile, I had bought two $1,000+ S&W wheelguns and had QC issues. That’s unacceptable.
It’s precisely because of that that I hesitate buying new wheelguns; at least not without looking at them first. The ones I have work, and that’s good enough for me right now.
I suspect I may eventually walk the path of the auto myself. I absolutely adore my Beretta 92FS, and would like to get a Beretta 84 or 80X to accompany it. However, revolvers have so many advantages for MY use case that I can’t imagine truly quitting them. My Beretta 92 is too big for me to carry, so it won’t be replacing anybody in that role, haha.
No disagreement here, sir! I have both handheld lights and weapon mounted lights on my person (on duty, I don’t carry a WML off duty) and on my proverbial nightstand, for different purposes. The handheld is for searching/identifying. The WML is for shooting, while being able to observe what I am shooting. That may have been unclear in my description above.
It’s worth mentioning that you don’t have to point the firearm AT a person to identify them. Pointing at the floor and using the splash is enough to ID someone as friend or foe, without muzzling them. The circumstances matter, too. As a guy who lives alone, save my German Shepherd Dog, with no other key-holders to my home, no one should be coming into my house uninvited – especially at night. I would feel comfortable using a WML, albeit with good trained and practiced technique.
Hear! Hear! …and a pre Christmas toast of single malt ( sorry, eggnog makes me gag) to a thoughtful List.
It’s just basics we need, maybe that explains why older revolver prices match new ones….although I think a light might be an easier option than a dot. …until one is made with a pop up screen.
My wishlist would be a .44 Special using the recipe Justin described.
It’s a glass of bourbon for me, sir! I wouldn’t snub my nose (no pun intended!) at a .44 Special…OR a glass of single malt for that matter!
Nice work gentlemen. I ponder the The Wish List all year long and just happen to have it right here, similarities and all.
Meta level ideas..
Massive improvements in “out of the box” quality control from all makers. Some are better than others, but everyone can do better. S&W needs to do much, much better.
The designers of revolver stocks need to create grips compatible with all common speed loaders – or specify in their marketing why they’re deliberately not.
Quit using time honored model names to mislabel unrelated and nothing special products, “Cobra” and “Bodyguard” come to mind…
How about some affordable domestic ~100 grain ball in 32 S&W Long? With a bit of cleverness you could make it shoot to fixed sights, go 12-14 inches in gel, and yaw along the wound path.
Domestic manufacturers of 22 Long Rifle ammunition need to rediscover the recipe for producing reliable priming without charging us European Match-grade Biathlon ammo prices, if you please.
Some manufacturer specific requests…
An aluminum S&W K-frame (or L?) in 38 +P and 32 H&R. Pick your pattern: M12, 315 NG, or 242.
Likewise, an alloy Cobra would remind us old timers of the OG snub. Colt can improve their adjustable rear sight or just OEM a solution from the custom market. Us non-Colt shooters are getting tired of hearing, “The new Colts are the best ever, you should buy some. Oh, but the adjustable sights totally suck!”
If S&W and Colt remain clueless Ruger could pick up the slack with a K-frame sized wheel gun along the lines of their excellent LCR. A Light Medium Revolver – six-shot 38/357 and seven-shot 32/327 might just quiet those of use who miss the Six series.
I’d immediately part with the requisite chunk of change should Diamondback make a version of their SDR with a black or matte three-inch with both a 38/357 AND 9×19 cylinders.
Finally, Ryan Hamre has working so hard in his workshop making delightful things for us he deserves to find enough 3D printers under his tree to triple his production. Hamre Forge Spegel pattern just plain work; we just need them on demand.
Otherwise, I’m good.
How about some affordable centerfire revolver ammo in any chambering? Or maybe I’m just in the wrong line of work!
That’s the main reason I’d like to see a Diamondback SDR in a switch cylinder format. I’m old enough to remember when 38 Special was the most common ammunition on gun shop shelves, and 9mm was pretty scarce. Today we live in a 9mm world, for better and worse…
When I first paid real attention to such things, I could buy 50 rds of .38 Spl LSWC for about $6, and 9mm ball hovered around $9.
Bravo, Michael. The name recycling and inadequate speedloader relief are pet peeves of mine, and I appreciate you mentioning them.
I first pitched the idea of building a medium-frame LCR to Ruger about six or seven years ago. I discussed it recently with friends at Ruger, and while they didn’t pooh pooh it, I think other priorities will probably garner their attention first. Sadly, I think we’ll probably be waiting for a while on that one.
Diamondback is going to make you happy much sooner, I think!
I’m with you on the .32 ammo!
Outstanding.
It’s rare for me to have nothing useful to add.
Well, this: Grips need to fit the gun, the user, and the application. “Non-stick”, non-abrasive and recoil absorbent. And, for Pete’s sake, they need to properly clear speedloaders.
Doubling down on the QC demands. My main complaint: every revolver needs to reliably pop any primer regardless of whether there’s a spur on the hammer.
P.S.: Sure would be nice to have a slicktop Smith.44 Magnum 4″ with a pinned front sight. And that lightweight Cobra…
Lobo, I’m the oddball who prefers steel snubs (more on that in our February coverage), but even I can see the appeal of a new Cobra–a proper Cobra, I mean, with an aluminum frame!
Wow . . . Justin, you hit long and hard about revolver stagnation. It has been a problem since the 1980s, and has not really improved. First, let me touch on my version of Mike’s wish list:
1. Airweight M&P, the three-inch RB Model 13 – make it stainless, i.e. Model 65
2. A 2.5 inch Model 19 – which is why I hang on to my M66-3 with the 2.5″ tube. And drop this 4.25″ barrel nonsense. Canada is going the way of the UK, so there’s no need to kiss up to that.
3. Ruger renewed Security-Six series, built on GP/SP lockwork, but made for serious work.
That said, Justin’s comments on revolver reloads have a LOT of truth. The notion that ‘no civilian ever reloads’ argument fails because the data base is so thin compared to semiautos that it only has one side. So you only fired 3 or 4 rounds, that does not mean you were out of danger. Nowadays, perps travel in packs, and those five or six rounds likely won’t cut it. Too many revolver carriers have a false reliance on statistical averages. Those who have worked the street know that averages can get you killed. At Newhall, there were two criminals versus four CHP officers, and that those odds did not work out well at all.
RevolverGuys are constantly told, “you won’t be able to reload in a fight,” so they don’t mentally prepare or physically train for it. Time spent reloading is time lost, and when you are already in reaction mode, you are behind the curve.
My LE days started way back (early 1970s), Newhall was a fresh wound in our academy, and I’m here to tell you, reloading a revolver is no small matter when you have lead flying at you, and when your adrenalin is flowing such that you struggle to keep your body under control. Things go to (bleep) so fast that you end up dry snapping on empties before you know it. Your brain that has been going warp speed to avoid getting hit now has to redirect to dump empty cases, and reload. The tragedy at Newhall exemplified this both with revolvers and shotguns. No matter what speed loading device you use, becoming intimately familiar with it is critical. The loading device is only as good as the operator.
Justin’s observation on current quality control is, sadly, spot on. None of my S&W revolvers have the Hillary Hole. They are all from the 1970s to mid 1990s, and they are drop dead reliable, well timed, and well made. I have yet to handle any revolver (looking at you, Smith & Wesson) made in the last 25 years that inspired functional confidence. One does not have to reinvent the wheel to make it better, just make the wheel itself better.
I fully understand the position on weapon mounted lights and optics. Sadly, the physical design of the double action revolver does not easily lend itself to that adaptation. Unless you’re willing to tote their 8 shot Performance Center special with the light rail, I don’t see it going mainstream any time soon.
As long as that light weight K-frame comes with an external hammer (bobbed for DAO function is fine, but I want something I can pin down while reholstering), then I am all for this Christmas revolver.
Another thing I would like to see from manufacturers: Sell DAO hammers like Charter Arms does. I get that single action notches require hand fitting so selling those is more of a liability, but that isn’t really a concern with DAO hammers. I can bob a hammer myself if I have to, but I would like to be able to hand over some cash to have one where the finish matches and the hammer has been designed to look nice.
Great idea Greyson. I think an aftermarket supplier could do well selling a line of those.
I can definitely get behind the idea of DAO hammers!
Sadly QC problems are not new. Complaints about the Bangor Punta era are legion. I recently sent Mike a copy of a 1989 article by Charlie Petty bemoaning the decline at S&W and attempts by S&W to improve. 1989.
Ironically, the Brits fixed the lingering QC problem, then threw all that progress away with the lock.
Now we have the reverse.
Sigh.
As a former peace officer from the middle 70s early 80s no offense, but I hate the term LEO I carried a Colt 1911 until the powers would be said we couldn’t carry semi autos so I went for a model 25 in 45 Colt as. for lights on pistols. I’m a big no I worked swingshift and graveyards most of my time and I had. I think it was a stream light large flashlight, it would light up half a block . I can’t remember a time, even without my flashlight that I had trouble seeing on a call
I never tried an optic so I can’t say anything about them other than I think they’re just another gimmick and yes, I’m an old curmudgeon that I do enjoy revolver guy.com and all the work you guys put into building it and keeping it going thank you
Thank you Dave! I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
Loved your reflection on the Streamlight! I’ve got my dad’s old 5-Cell Kel Lite and its output is a little underwhelming by modern standards. It felt like the “Torch of the Gods” back in the days when my best light was an Eveready Captain, but the little Fenix PD35 light on my keychain is much more powerful, now. Nice to see we’ve made some progress in some areas after all!
“(Retired) peace officer” is spot on.
LEO is a large cat, growls when the movie starts.
My job was making order out of chaos.
Lobo,
I prefer the term “peace officer,” too. Some states call their cops that, but unfortunately mine isn’t one of them. I am a Law Enforcement Officer. I’d love to use peace officer, but for me it isn’t accurate.
Leo is a big cat, El Eeh Oh isn’t 😉
Thanks for your service, Dave!
On lights: I’m not sure where you worked. I work in the country. Forty percent of our county is national forest and wilderness area. It gets DARK here.
All the ideas mentioned above sound pretty good to me, but my plea numero uno is for American gun companies to operate like they did during the halcyon days of about thirty years ago when they at least tried to manufacture decent products that didn’t fail soon out of the box.
Amen, brother!
Mike,
I agree the 10mm Auto is not the equal of the 41 magnum, but most folks don’t need or want to run a 210 @ 1400, or the requisite N-frames, most days. What the just barely big bore world may need is a 10mm Rimmed (think 45 Autorim), which Bryan mentioned at the Roundup is being seriously evaluated. A 200 @ 1200 out of six-shot L-frame might just be a fresh enough idea to sell some gats, ammo, and gun rags. Ho, ho, ho!
Solstice Greetings!
Michael
For defensive use, you are probably right. For hunting use, a lot depends on where you live. In Colorado, a handgun used for big game must retain 550 ft. lbs. at 50 yards. 200 grains @1200 fps is 548.9 ft. lbs. at 50 yards (according to Buffalo Bore; I didn’t do the math myself) and 220 grains @1150 fps drops off even more. Is such a cartridge ethical? Probably, but it falls just a hair’s breadth short of being legal. If someone wants a hunting/woods defense gun that is legal in my state but also wants to do so in a more comfortable package than .44 Magnum, .41 Magnum makes a lot of sense. A 210 grain .41 @1300 fps gives you 637 ft lbs at 50 yards, so there is a comfortable margin on the legality and a S&W 69 re-chambered for .41 Magnum (I’m not sure what model number that would need to be since 657 would imply an N-Frame, and the model 67 is already in use) would be reasonable to carry and (hopefully) shoot.
Again, I’m not disagreeing with you on the defensive revolver front, but I do see enough use for .41 Magnum that I still support Mike’s suggestion.
Sounds like you need to talk with Lipsey’s about a special run of S&W Model 69 in 41 magnum (five-shot). That said, I wonder if a six-shot 10mm 69 wouldn’t be more popular. While we’re dreaming we should ask the engineers if they can safely shoehorn eight 327s into a L-frame cylinder somehow. Yes, I can do this all day…
Michael, I don’t disagree. My afinity for the .41 Mag is mostly built on the more sedate police loadings, but having the extra potential is a plus for the field, as Greyson noted. The full rim is the real bonus though, as I’m not a fan of running clips in revolvers.
My pal is working on that 10 Autorim project that Bryan discussed, and I’m eager to see it succeed! A rimmed 10mm would be a much more successful product than a .41 Mag in today’s market.
But I still want the .41 Mag to get some well-deserved attention!
Great post as usual.
As a revolver fan, I’m frustrated with poor QC and a lack of speedloader options. I’m also stunned by a lack of lighter/smaller six shot .38 Special and .357 revolvers from Ruger and Smith. I’d love to see a Detective Special sized LCR, or a slightly taller six shot .38 Sp101. However, a new Six Series line from Ruger would make me very happy! If S&W can produce niche products like the Governor, certainly they could give the ill-fated Model 73 C frame another try.
Thank you all for the great revolver content, and Merry Christmas!
William, the C-frame suggestion is a winner! I’ve been bugging Ruger for a six-shot SP for more than a decade. At this point, I think I’m more likely to see a return of the Deerstalker from them.
Mike I’m working on one off of your list as you’ve seen. Not Christmas ready but soon after.
And everyone is going to like what you’re working on, Marshall.
Indeed!
Mike, we gotta talk Andy Larsson into making grip adaptors per your wish list!
Justin, be careful out there!
I was thinking the same! Or Ronnie Wells!
Like Michael Brady above, I’ve been pondering and anticipating this post for months.
One of my favorite things is the annual Christmas list. I look forward to the creativity of all of my fellow readers…
As I write this, I have two mountain gun, and although that 10mm tempts me. I still want a 45 Colt edition cut to accept 45 acp in moonclips.
More speed loader selections for 7 shot L Frames. (Safariland, I am looking at you). As Smith and Wesson continues to recover their senses and recover from the move south, I wish they would reach to Safariland and ask for their collaboration. (I don’t have a SL Variant, and I don’t want to get addicted )
I would like more leather dealers finish their wares in Havana Brown. I also wish Galco would make ammo pouches to match the DAO Outdoorsman holster in dark havana. Petty, but I like to match (I’m kinda metro like that).
I do have lust in my heart for those JOX pouches
There was nearly a revolt the year I tried to skip it, so The List has become a permanent feature. I’m glad everyone is enjoying it so much! I always love to see what you guys are thinking. Honestly, I always have to limit myself, because my personal list is looooong.
I’ll reach out to friend Mike Barham at Galco, and bring his attention to your suggestions!
Standby for good news on the pouches . . .
I always look forward to the Wish List. Thank you Gents! I completely agree with most everything put out by Justin. The QC or lack their of with new modern revolvers is disheartening. My Smith and Wesson 2.75in M66 came out of the box with several blemishes and tool marks. Thankfully, it is very reliable and the trigger continues to smooth out with continued use. It hurts to say, that is the only specimen I have purchased that is reliable. Other new models I tried have locked up during the first 6 rnds, and pins have walked out.
I have stayed with Safariland speedloaders because they work for me, but it has always been trial and error to find the right stocks that will clear the loaders. I believe in always having a reload and I think revolver makers adding speedloaders to the box is a great idea.
My single wish, is for a Smith and Wesson Nightguard 315, 2.5in out of the box perfect. No tool marks, good sights, and reliable function. They made them before, I think they could do it again. Thank you again for this outstanding content!
That’s not the S&W report card we want to hear, but I appreciate you sharing it Mark. Let’s hope they turn it around in 2026.
S&W has remade the Model 20 in 357 instead of 38 Spec. I have one and I like it a lot. I would like them to make the same gun in 44 Mag. It would be a modern version of the Model 21/Model 1926. Make 6” and 4 1/4” barrel versions. I would shoot 44 Special in mine but 44 Mag would be an easier sale.
Glad you got a good one, Brett! The sample they were displaying at SHOT 2025 had a barrel that was so badly underclocked, you could slide a quarter between the ejector rod shroud and the frame, so I wasn’t hopeful. I’d like to see the lock get removed from these N-frames.
-Flat topstrap with front and rear dovetails for Sig-pattern sights (they’re popular and sit low to the gun)
-Optics-ready
-More DAO options. Give me bobbed or internal hammers, or bring back the Bianchi Lightning stocks (I talked with RevolGrips about doing these, he said he’d look into it). If I wanted to shoot single-action I’d buy a single-action
-Full-length ejector rods whenever possible, or get as close as you can.
-Calibers I can actually afford to shoot (.22LR, .22Mag, 9mm)! It doesn’t matter how impressive .32 is, I can’t afford to use it. Give me a .22Mag for better capacity, low recoil, and reliable penetration (CCI round-nose MaxiMags do great)
If Taurus would release a 942 TORO in .22Mag I would buy it *immediately*. If it had a bobbed hammer and full-length ejector rod I’d be even more excited.
I’m with you, Kris. The .32s interest me, but I haven’t been sold, yet. Too many logistical hurdles (cost, availability), and the reliability of the guns has been spotty. I’m paying close attention from the sidelines, for now. I like the dovetail idea, but the plunger system (like Colt is now using) is even friendlier. There are many more sight options available for the dovetail, though!
You might want to check out the Charter Arms line. They have a variety ranging from .22LR, .22WMR, .32H&R, the usual .38 Special lineup, .357/9mm combo, and even .44 Special, .45ACP, .45Colt, .40S&W, .380ACP.
They don’t seem to get the publicity that Colt, S&W, Ruger, and Taurus get, but they have always been like the turtle in the race: slow, steady, and affordable.
I tell you what I want this holiday season; for someone to politely but firmly remind Hollywood and the video game industry to stop depicting their character whipping the cylinder shut. The day I became a revolver fan is the day I spent forever wincing at how poorly they’re treated on the big screen (and small screen). I’ve sent dozens of emails to game developers who released a beta/demo build of their upcoming video game asking them to change the reload animation so as to not show the cylinder being whipped shut, but none of them have responded and released the finished product this way much to my chagrin. This has only been a problem for what, 50 or so years? And to this day Hollywood can’t resist showing their sleek sexy action hero fill a cylinder and whip it closed before getting into a motion sickness inducing shaky-camera gunfight. I’ve never felt more like a curmudgeon old man than when I lecture the younger generation on how to properly care for a wheelgun because they saw their favorite John Wick/James Bond/Reacher protagonist whip a cylinder shut after reloading, and monkey see monkey do, ugh.
And don’t get me started on how revolvers are drawn in comics, it’s almost as though every artist has either never seen a revolver and drew it based on how it was described to them, or they saw one once as a kid and try to recreate it from memory. I’ve seen missing cylinder releases, missing ejector rods, missing triggers, missing sights, cylinders with no holes for the cartridges.. once I saw a revolver with an entire second barrel drawn on top of where the actual barrel should be, it would have been LESS effort to draw it correctly than whatever ugly abomination they went for in the finished panel. I hate the Joker less because he’s a murderous madman but more because he’s constantly depicted whipping his .44 magnum shut before using it. Next year I pledge to write to DC Comics and suggest creating a character who fights using only revolvers and would exist specifically to fix the horrible inaccuracies depicted when artists show a hero or villain holding a wheelgun.
Jeb, the line starts over there, behind all the guys asking Hollywood to stop turning revolvers into 20-shooters. 😁
I try to post on this Christmas Wish list every year. I am all caught up on my Colts this year. So I would like to ask the elves at Smith and Wesson to make some new classics. A model 49 in the classic line would be great. I love the “humpback ” shrouded hammer. Yes ugly ,but oh so functional. I own the 49,638 and two 649s. But a new one would be great. Also if “Santa” is listening a model 13 3″ in the classic line would be a super one too.
Well here is to hoping.
Mark O
Mark, I’m not even a Humpback fan, and it makes total sense to me to add a 49 to the catalog!
Great article. My wish list echoes what many others have already said:
1. Better QC.
2. Better sights that are readily changeable like on most semi-auto pistols and completely do away with the antiquated top-strap groove. More options of easily visible night sights, fiber-optic, gold bead, etc. would be welcome.
3. More 3-inch guns. For me, this is the sweet spot of handiness, concealability, velocity, balance, and a full size ejector rod.
4. Readily available drop-in DAO hammers, either aftermarket or OEM.
5. Safariland speed loaders (Comp II and Comp III) available for more models. I’m reluctant to buy a 7 shot revolver for this reason.
6. Standardize twist-style speed loaders—and stop making them turn the “wrong” way. HKS has it right;) others should follow suit 😉
7. I’ve never owned S.L. Variant speed loader but I wish someone would make a well made model like the original I’ve read so much about
8. More models that are red-dot ready and readily available holsters. My aging eyes would certainly appreciate it.
9. Revolvers come from the factory with speed loaders
As for a light on my revolver—that’s a no for me. I don’t want the extra weight or bulk. I carry a light on my on-duty pistol, but I won’t carry one on an off-duty handgun. For bedside use, I’ll meet a problem with a shotgun or rifle—both of which have lights—not a handgun.
I already knew I liked ya Mark, but it was confirmed when you declared HKS has it right. 😁
Justin! Glad you are back in the revolverguy saddle again! I have to say I like the fixed sight in the Professional… no need to worry about breaking or shifting or falling out, and it’s a wide enough, deep enough rear sight… unlike most of the gutters out there. Speaking of the Professional, how ‘bout an HKS speedloader option in .32 that will fit it? I’d also like to see a K frame Smith, three inch barrel, in .357 that also accepts 9mm in the same cylinder. Moon clips if necessary for the 9mm, but not needed for .38/.357. Ruger, we are all wanting a larger frame LCR. Get on it!
I didn’t listen to all the computer-generated chatter about how bad new SW revolvers are and all the problems people are having with them. I recently purchased a new 686-6 + with a 3″ brl ($1,000 +). Have about 500 rounds through it and it is a wonderful revolver. Sorry all those guys had problems.
I will also say my main EDC is a Taurus Mdl 617 7 shot 2″ brl 38Spl/357 mag, and I have been pocket carrying it for about 12 years now. The revolver is stocked with older (Peter Pie era) Cor Bon DPX 357 ammo. It was in my pocket the day I had a skirmish at our mailbox. Had complete confidence in it.
I have had a 77 year love affair with Revolvers starting with my father’s Pre Model # 10 in 38Spl(crica 1949). My father purchased the SW 38Spl 4″ and taught my mother how to shoot it out the bedroom window because he was to be taken from our family to a Sanatorium located in Ashville N Carolina as he had contracted TB. He did not have the strength, and was bedridden, and could not go outside to teach my mother. She had 3 young children, and the revolver served her well.
One could say I Quite Fond of Revolves.
Thank you for the comment about the lack of interest in reloading revolvers! Over the past few years it seems a certain section of the Gunfluencer population has opted to take a note out of the Anti-Gunner’s handbook when pimping their preferred people popper. Talking about how “You only need 5 shots in a civilian defensive encounter” or suggesting a bolt-action hunting rifle as perfectly serviceable for home defense.
I’m a revolver and shotgun guy. But suggesting that there’s no need for more capacity, easier handling guns, etc seems to be drifting into a nostalgia filled LARP rather than best practices. I too fantasize about walking my property with an SAA slung on my hip like John Wayne, but I know that isn’t setting myself up for success when going about my business day to day.
There’s room for fun guns, and sometimes pressing those into serious use, but they’re certainly not optimal. Great suggestions overall, with a realistic look at what we want and need.
Thanks Dan, like you, I don’t pay any mind to “gunfluencers” or most things I read on the interwebs these days.
We’ve had some serious discussions here in these pages about capacity and the likelihood that an armed citizen will get the opprtunity to reload in extremis. There’s room for many opinions here, but I’ll stand by my previous observations that while you should always carry a reload and be proficient in the skill, it’s highly unlikely you will ever reload a revolver in a fight. Maybe afterwards, but probably not during.
That doesn’t negate a manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure their product supports an efficient reload. It also doesn’t negate your responsibility to carry more ammo and be well-practiced in getting it into the gun. But if you’re planning on that ammo being available to you during a fight, and that’s part of your calculus in choosing your gun and tactics, I think you’re setting yourself up for the worst kind of disappointment.
Just one man’s opinion.
I sold my 3” Model 13 in the 80’s when my PD started allowing semiautomatic, got myself a SW59 for it. I so wish I still had it and keep looking all the time for another.
Merry Christmas to each of you who posted and those readers of the RG that remain silent but more than likely agree with most of the thoughts on these pages.
I am in my 3 score and 10 years on this globe. I probably need to lighten my load so I don’t leave a difficult chore behind for my sweet wife to handle. Old Hannibal Lecture said it pretty well when he opined, “What do we covet, that which we see! Translated gun shows and internet firearms sales sites are dangerous territory for those of us who have an affinity for revolvers and other related items and are approaching their 4th quarter.
I do have a very strong wish for Santa or some of his Elves to find me a set of Sambar Stag grips with full knarley bark to fit a Interarms German ( France) made PPK/S. I know it is a semi auto but it makes a great speed load. One in .22 & one in .32acp that are very easy for old Fellers to shoot well. Please Santa! 😁
The large request I have is that someone in this country get a grip on these terrible times we are living in. Thanks to Politicians.
When hardly a day does not go by with out some innocent person being killed by Stangers and or non Citizens.
Drastic measures are needed swiftly and unforgettable.
Without the certainty of punishment there is NO deterrent to crime.
May you and yours be safe.
Tony
Amen, brother! The gift of lasting peace would be wonderful, but I’ll settle for swift justice, for now. Praying that you and yours will have a wonderful Christmas, pal!
“ A rejuvenated family of high-quality, Smith & Wessons in .41 Magnum. The 10mm is neat and all, but a revolver deserves a revolver cartridge, don’t you think? And I don’t care what the magazines say, the 10mm is NOT the ballistic twin to the mighty .41 Mag. Anybody who would try to sell you on that one probably thinks Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. Same kinda guy who would steal Frosty’s top hat.”
—Mike
I am in complete agreement! I will add to your wish a line of snubby 41 specials to the 41 family. The 41 special would be a perfect companion to the full 41 magnum lines. It is about time that the 41 Special becomes official! One can dream!
I like what you’re thinking, Shaun!
I share your desire to see Ruger re-introduce the Sixes. As a Border Patrol Agent I carried a stainless steel Ruger Security Six .357 magnum from 1986 until 1996 when the Patrol transitioned to the Beretta Model 96 in .40 S&W. I believe this revolver fulfilled Bill Jordan’s dream revolver for law enforcement. It was a better handgun than the S&W Model 19 .357 magnum I carried from 1978 until 1986. I fired literally thousands of rounds through it. It retained its accuracy and never had any problems at all. I also owned a 3″ stainless steel Ruger Speed Six .357 magnum. (I still regret selling it.)
Peace to you and yours.
It’s great to hear from you, Sir! I bet that Six was the perfect gun for the job–tougher than my beloved 19, but lighter than the later GP100. There’s a big gap left by its absence!
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for checking in!
Mike
I own two security sixes and shoot them very well. My biggest issue is a lack of any sort of decent holster for concealed carry. I would like to carry my 2 3/4″ appendix but I find it difficult to find any sort of decent belt holster for keeping it out of sight much less in the waist carry option.
Ryan, I’d reach out to Dale Fricke Holsters for kydex, and Andrews Custom Leather for hide. I think they can set you up with a custom appendix holster for your Six.
You guys have done a good job covering the list here, Justin and Mike and everyone. A hearty second to Justin’s “build them right, don’t let them leave without being right”. Give revolvers the same attention that electric guns get with regard to good sights. Harrumph on the speed loaders and grip adapters! Lightweight 3″ K frame .38 Specials from S&W, enclosed hammer variants (like the 650 and 850) of the 856 from Taurus, please. Amen on Ruger bringing back the Sixes AND putting out a more modern version like a medium frame LCR. A six shot L frame Mountain Gun chambering a “10mm AutoRim” would be a really handy revolver. A modern Mountain Gun in .45 Colt would be most welcome, too. Top my list off with an alloy framed Colt Night Cobra with an enhanced rear sight. Merry Christmas to everyone here at RG!
I agree on an alloy-framed Night Cobra. I love the new Cobra; I wouldn’t have bought one if I didn’t. However, it’s more like the Detective Special than the OG Cobra. I think an alloy-framed Night Cobra (factory bobbed hammer), with the Cobra’s fiber optic front sight and a Novak rear sight (like on the Ruger GP100 Wiley Clapp editions) would be nice.
Or do a setup like the Diamondback SDR. I haven’t looked at one in person, but it has some nice looking sights.
All I want for Christmas is for the 32 H&R mag LCR to be added to the California roster.
I asked Caleb Giddings about why they went for an unfluted cylinder on the new 66 and he responded that it looks cool. I was disappointed after learning how the flutes actually helped with indexing during a reload in Mike’s class. Totally agree that they missed with the choice to go unfluted on a gun that has “combat” in the name.
Merry Christmas all!
In addition to all the big things people want, (if Smith makes new production model 12s I’m buying one, even though I know I’ll have to un-fornicate it), I’m with you guys on the JOX pouches.
We’ve got a million dudes in garages making sidecar type holsters, can just ONE of them make a JOX style pouch? Rob Leahy’s Sidewinder is pretty close, but something without a flap and thinner kydex would be nice.
I used to also complain that something needs to come along to replace Safariland’s discontinued CD2 carrier, but apparently Harrison from Harry’s holsters MIGHT be doing something with that.
Harry’s Holsters has listed two speed loader holders on their website, which appear to be 3D printed and quite rugged.
Tea Cup – OWB Speed Loader Carrier–Like the CD2 it’s a little bulky for a concealment accessory.
IWB Speedloader Carrier–It’s big and a little spendy.
There is a fella working on designs that will fill the five year (and counting) gap since JOX left the market. Expect him when you see him…
I’ve got samples of all three that I’ve been working with. We’ll be covering them early next year.
Well done Justin on the failure of QC at S&W in particular. I had the same theory after they moved most of the company to Tennessee. Also would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike, Kevin and the whole team at RG. Have really enjoyed your work through the years! Merry Christmas and my God bless you all.
JP, thank you kindly for the nice words! It makes it worth the effort when we hear from happy readers. Merry Christmas to you and yours, God bless!
My wishlist is short:
A Second Amendment-friendly Governor in California!
Amen brother! Chad Bianco!
I second the motion for a book on the custom grip makers of the LAPD!
An early Model 60 stainless J-frame with a genuine Guy Hogue-crafted grip is one of my better finds! It took a trip to the Hogue Pro Shop in Paso Robles to validate it as one of Guy’s own creations from back in the day.
I love Christmas and I love this thread on Revolver Guy every year!
I’d love a small 6 shot 3” barrel LCR or SP from Ruger. .38 would be nice and .357 would be better. I think we’ve gotten what we’re going to get from Smith and Colt (not a complaint, but always room to improve). Good on Taurus for what they’re doing along these lines. Also, how about an article on what I’d carry if I could only carry a revolver.”???
As always, keep up the good work Mike!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
That’s easy, BC. My 4″ Combat Magnum, backed up by my 640! Always great to hear from you!
This video is about the specialist grip makers of LAPD: Blackford, Farrant, Hogue, Hurst, and Stark.
Thanks Ricky! The security settings won’t allow the link, but I’ll embed it into the article, because it’s great.
I just saw that same video yesterday and was about to send it to you LOL
All I want for Christ-Mass is an 8-shot L-frame (or 10-shot N-frame) in 327 Fed Mag. If the Model 69 is a 5-shot 44 Mag, then they can definitely make an 8-shot 32 caliber L-frame. Like I said last year (and the year before that), you can call it the Model 70 or you can go along with the 3-digit numbering system and call it the Model 616 (bringing back memories of the good ol’ 32 caliber Model 16). Please!
You know what ticks me off about S&W, aside from the poor QC lately? They are capable of great ideas, but it takes a distributor like Lipsey’s to get them to do them.
My mom has a S&W M&P Shield EZ in .380, and it’s brilliant. Not only is it a great pistol for the purpose it was designed for, but even an experienced shooter can appreciate it. Why can’t they be this creative with their revolvers?
Why the preference for a .38 only 640 opposed to the current .357 version?
For me, the primary attraction is it’s a smaller, lighter gun. Shorter frame, cylinder and barrel.
There are also some folks who believe .38 Spl shoots better out of .38 cylinders than .357–I can’t say for sure, but it can’t hurt
looks likyou need to look at charter arms newest offering. They’ve got a 4 inch adjustable sighted revolver with picatany rail on top. .357 or .22 even I think 22 mag.
I just thought of this, too late for Christmas, but still . . .
Round-butt Python. The 3-inch and shorter Pythons are marketed as concealed carry pieces, right? So why do they have the square butt, with the sharp angle at the heel that’s guaranteed to print through anything short of Nanook of the North’s parka? After all, the Python is the same size as the GP100 or the L-frame (I’ve carried them all in the same holster, though not at the same time), and they both come with round butts in the shorter barrel lengths. Why not the Python? Is it more of the “classic styling” that keeps the horrible non-vertical recoil step on it?
Sheesh, do I have to do all the thinking for the gun companies these days?
Agree. The rounded butt on the Marshal and some regular Official Police revolvers improves the feel of the grip.
I live in Colorado. I can’t help but wonder if when our new detachable magazine laws come into effect it revolvers will see a resurgence in our market place. The gun buyer standing at the gun counter will be looking at attending 12 hours of training and then begging the local Sheriff for permission to buy a detachable magazine firearm. It is not a “shall issue” permit to purchase on the part of the purchase. The Sheriff is not fully funded for this new fun process. OR, you can buy a revolver. At least for now, the legislature will be meeting again.
Hang in there pal, and fight ’em like mad! I know what you’re going through, since all those bad ideas came from my state.
Great suggestions/wishes. Definitely agree with the need for OEM speedloaders. Would like to see an expanded line of SL Variants, Jet Loaders, even Safariland speedloaders for everything from Ruger LCRs to S&W 686P.
I recently purchased a few speedloader holders from Leonard Pouches. I think the owner is doing a collab with Nick from Jox loaders (kydex base and Leonard uses leather to make the actual speedloader holder. Might be worth a future review. They make 5/6 round and 7 round pouches.
Mike,
Here is much of the info Matt used in the Nelson Ford video that has been compiled over the years in Google doc form.
It is free for anyone to use as a labor of love and interest. Input is always welcome.
Custom Handgun Grip ID and Collector Guide 1935-2024
by Anthony Lombardo
Sir, thank you SO MUCH for your hard work on this, and for sharing it with us! What a wonderful resource! I guess the book I requested has already been published by you. I’ll add a link in the story.
Darn good list. I don’t personally want headlights or television sets on my guns. I would ask for laser grips for a wider variety of guns though.
Please, please, how about express sights like the big dot. The hardest part of fast iron sight usage is the rear sight hiding the front. A wide Vee rear would do wonders.
And for the love of all that is holy stop with the mandatory porting!
Michael, I’m not a fan of TVs, lights, or porting either, and would love to see Crimson Trace offer more styles of Lasergrips. My biggest ask of Crimzon Trace is to make the excellent LG405 more readily available, though–it’s their best product, but they’ve been scarce over the last few years.
Honestly, I’m not a fan of the big dot express sights, but would like to see plenty of options available for those who do. Same for the TVs, lights, and porting–I’m happy they’re offered, but don’t want to see them replace the options without them.
When I relocated to Texas about 10ish years ago I sent an e-mail in asking for advice on a new 357mag revolver and based on, I believe it was you, recommended I purchased a then new 686+! And my love for revolvers increased with my collection, as did my wife’s! I eventually purchased new S&Ws Model 10, 642, 19 Classic, 629, 627pro, 27 Classic and all had to be returned for repair or replacement! My 686+ was just returned because the barrel was walking out of the frame, the new Model 27 had to be replaced because it was shipped with a bulged barrel and S&W sent me a new one…and the bluing on the top strap is spotty at best. I didn’t return it because it took just over 8 months from the time I purchased the first one till the time I received the second one and was pissed enough I hadn’t even fired one of them! The new Model 19, shipped with a bent crane, 627 pro was scratched pretty bad but was “within standard “, the 642 firing pin sparks when fired and is “within spec”, the 629’s canted barrel “within spec”, Classic model 10’s 18 pound trigger “within spec! I’ll never purchase another S&W product again. My wife’s GP100 has been great however my SP101 “spurless” has the second worst trigger, after the M10, and is wildly inaccurate past 7-10 feet, after trying alot of different ammo I found it likes Remington 125gr SJHP 357mag the best. My Ruger Super Blackhawk has been great. However I’ve lost confidence in most of these so I stopped carrying revolvers all together, sadly, and this Christmas I wanted a new Ruger GP100 3″ 7-shot so bad but didn’t want to take the risk so I purchased a new Glock 19X, a Coyote coloredTrijicon RMR and a Strealight TLR-1 also in Coyote….and all for the same price as the GP100 would’ve been however I know all 3 will be, thankfully, boring reliable, accurate and high quality! I also found a great deal on Federal 9bple so I couldn’t be happier! I’m not ready to part with my revolvers yet however It wouldn’t take much convincing at the point to sell them for something else. I also congratulate you with your new job with the Sheriff’s Dept!, my wife currently works for a large agency here in Texas and I did my time in hell with the NYC Housing Police in the 90s and wouldn’t never do it again! So stay safe and come home to your family every night!