20 Revolvers I Let Walk Out of Gun Shows That I Have Not Stopped Thinking About

Photo credit: jamescraig102/GunBroker

Gun shows have a way of messing with your head. You walk in with a budget and a mission, and you walk out with a pocket full of beef jerky, a couple boxes of ammo you did not need, and a list of “I should’ve” that sticks around for years.

I’ve learned I don’t really regret passing on the flashy stuff. It’s the revolvers that sting. The ones that felt right in the hand, had honest wear, and came with a price tag that was fair for that day and never again. Here are 20 wheelguns I’ve let slip away across folding tables and concrete floors, and why I still catch myself thinking about them.

1. Smith & Wesson Model 19 (4-inch, blued)

This is the one that always comes back first. A 4-inch Model 19 with the kind of holster wear that tells you it rode on a belt more than it sat in a sock drawer. The action was smooth in double-action, and the single-action break was clean without feeling “worked on.”

I convinced myself I “already had a .357.” Yeah, but not like that. The K-frame balance is hard to explain until you’ve carried one all day and realized it never feels bulky, just present.

2. Colt Python (6-inch, Royal Blue)

There was a time you could spot a Python and at least have a conversation about price without your eyes watering. This one had deep blue that looked like a pond at dusk and a lockup that felt like a bank vault. I checked timing and cylinder play like I always do, and it was tight.

I walked because it was “too nice to use.” That’s a weak excuse. If you’re going to own a Python, you ought to shoot it some and let it do what it was built to do.

3. Ruger Security-Six (2.75-inch)

I ran into a short Security-Six that looked like a working man’s carry gun. Not pretty, but honest. The grips were worn smooth where a thumb had ridden the same spot for years.

These carry better than a lot of folks expect, and they will take real shooting without being fussy. I passed because I was “holding out for a GP100,” and that one still hurts. The Six-series has a feel all its own.

4. Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman (6-inch)

The Model 28 is big, plain, and serious. The one I handled had that matte finish that doesn’t beg for attention, and the weight out front made it settle on target like it wanted to behave. You pick it up and immediately understand why troopers liked them.

I told myself it was too heavy to justify. Funny how that logic disappears the first time you shoot full-house .357 and realize the gun is doing you a favor.

5. Colt Detective Special

Small Colts have a certain “snap” to the action that feels different than most modern stuff. This Detective Special had a little edge wear and perfect little fixed sights that you could actually use if you did your part. It pointed like an index finger.

I hesitated because it was older and I worried about parts and timing. Fair concern, but I’ve seen plenty of these run for decades when they aren’t abused. A good one is a real pocket of history.

6. Smith & Wesson Model 10 (4-inch, heavy barrel)

Boring? Sure. Also one of the best “actually useful” revolvers ever made. This was a heavy barrel Model 10 with a police trade-in look, and the double-action pull stacked just right. It felt like it had been shot, not messed with.

It was priced like a plain Jane .38, which is exactly what it is. But the older I get, the more I respect a gun that just shoots where you look and never asks for special treatment.

7. Ruger GP100

A 3-inch GP100 is one of those revolvers you can make excuses to carry. It’s stout without being ridiculous, and it handles .357 like it’s no big deal. This one had the factory rubber grip with the wood inserts and a front sight that caught light well.

I passed because I was chasing a “deal” and this one was priced fairly, not cheaply. That is how you miss good guns. A fair price on a good GP100 is usually the deal.

8. Smith & Wesson Model 66 (2.5-inch)

Stainless, K-frame, short barrel—this is about as handy as it gets for a practical .357 that still feels like a classic. The 2.5-inch Model 66 I handled had just enough weight to keep it civilized and just enough sight radius to be honest.

The short K-frames get talked about like they’re unicorns, and there’s a reason. They ride easy, they balance right, and they’re the kind of gun you can actually live with.

9. Colt King Cobra

I’m not talking about the brand-new reissues. This was an older King Cobra with that beefy frame and a barrel length that makes sense for a do-it-all revolver. The trigger had that Colt character—different, not necessarily lighter, but precise.

I let it go because I was unsure what it was “worth.” Then I went home, looked around, and realized I didn’t have anything that filled that exact role with that exact feel.

10. Smith & Wesson Model 17 (K-22, 6-inch)

A good .22 revolver is one of the best training tools on earth, and the old K-22s are about as good as it gets. This Model 17 had sharp edges, clean chambers, and a trigger that felt like it was made for slow, deliberate shooting.

I talked myself out of it because “it’s just a .22.” That’s what you say before you start pricing rimfire revolvers that are actually nice. They make you a better shot, and they make range days cheaper and more fun.

11. Ruger Single-Six (convertible, .22 LR/.22 WMR)

This one was a plain stainless Single-Six with both cylinders, and it looked like it had been in a tackle box, a truck console, and a camp drawer. In other words, it had lived. The timing was good and the cylinder swap was smooth.

There’s nothing fancy about it, and that is kind of the point. A Single-Six is a walking-around gun, a snake gun, a camp gun, and a “teach the kids” gun all in one.

12. Smith & Wesson Model 629

A 4-inch .44 Magnum is not everybody’s idea of fun, but it is a serious woods companion. This 629 had a little muzzle wear and a set of grips that fit like they were picked by someone who actually shot it. It wasn’t a safe queen.

I passed because I told myself I didn’t need that much gun. Then I spent more time in places where you might want a little extra comfort on your hip, even if it’s mostly peace of mind.

13. Ruger Redhawk (5.5-inch, .44 Magnum)

The Redhawk is a brick with a barrel, and I mean that in a respectful way. This one had that classic Ruger tank feel, and the cylinder locked up like it was supposed to. It felt like a gun you could hand down without worry.

I didn’t like the trigger as much as a Smith, and that’s fair. Still, I would not be quick to let a solid Redhawk walk by again. They’re built for hard use, and you feel it the moment you pick one up.

14. Dan Wesson Model 15 ( .357)

Dan Wessons don’t get the attention they should at gun shows because they’re not flashy unless you know what you’re looking at. This Model 15 had the vent rib barrel and that heavy, steady feel that makes you want to shoot slow and far. The lockup was tight and the cylinder gap looked clean.

I hesitated because it wasn’t a “name” to the average buyer. That’s exactly why you buy them when you find a good one. They are shooters, not just conversation pieces.

15. Smith & Wesson Model 27 (3.5-inch)

If you’ve ever handled a 3.5-inch Model 27, you know why I’m bringing it up. It’s classy without being delicate, and the checkering and finish on the older ones is the kind of craftsmanship you just don’t see much. This one sat in the hand like it belonged there.

The tag was high, and I did the old “I’ll think on it” move. Another lap around the show and it was gone. Ask me how I know that a Model 27 doesn’t wait around for indecision.

16. Colt Trooper Mark III

The Trooper Mark III is one of those revolvers that gets overlooked because it isn’t a Python and it isn’t a Detective Special. That’s fine by me. This one had honest wear and a smooth, solid feel, and it looked like it had been carried by someone who trusted it.

I passed because I was worried it was “too in-between.” The reality is those in-between guns are often the best buys and the easiest to live with. They’re not precious, but they’re not junk either.

17. Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief’s Special (blued)

A blued J-frame with a little shine worn off the edges is one of the most natural carry guns ever made. This Model 36 had a tight cylinder, a crisp single-action, and those small fixed sights that force you to focus. It felt like a coat-pocket gun from another era.

I let it go because I was chasing lighter, newer, and higher capacity. That’s all fine, but a good J-frame has a way of making it into your routine because it’s simple and it works.

18. Ruger SP101 (3-inch, .357)

The 3-inch SP101 is a workhorse. It’s heavy for its size, which is exactly why it handles magnum loads better than the little featherweight guns. This one had a front sight I could see fast and a trigger that felt like it had been dry-fired a lot, in a good way.

I walked because I already owned an SP101 with a shorter barrel. The next time I was actually trying to hit something past bad-breath distance, I remembered why that extra inch matters.

19. Charter Arms Bulldog (2.5-inch, .44 Special)

The Bulldog is not refined, and nobody should pretend it is. But it’s a compact .44 Special that carries easy, and this one felt tight enough and clean enough to be a legitimate defensive revolver for someone who wants a bigger hole without a bigger gun. The price was right, which is the whole appeal.

I passed because I talked myself into thinking I “needed” something nicer. Truth is, there’s a place for a rough-and-ready revolver that you don’t baby, especially if it rides in a truck or a tackle bag.

20. Smith & Wesson Model 25

This was the kind of revolver you pick up and immediately start thinking about handloads, steel plates, and slow afternoons at the range. Big N-frame, big bore, and a trigger that felt like it had been tuned by time, not by a Dremel. It wasn’t perfect, but it was right.

I told myself .45 Colt was a hassle and I didn’t want another “project” caliber. Then I watched the owner close the case and walk off with it, and I knew I’d talked myself out of something I would actually enjoy owning.

I’m not saying you should buy every revolver that gives you a warm feeling at a gun show. Budgets matter, and so does having a plan. But I will say this: when you find a revolver that locks up tight, points natural, and makes you want to shoot it, don’t talk yourself out of it just because it isn’t trendy. The older I get, the more I realize the right gun is the right gun, and they don’t always come back around.