20 Revolvers That Are Disappearing From Used Markets Faster Than Anyone Expected

Photo credit: Dave “DirtyDave” Maximillion/YouTube

Used revolvers used to be the slow lane at most gun counters. You could browse a while, spin a cylinder, dry-fire a little (with permission), and go home to think on it. Lately, it feels like you blink and the good ones are gone—especially the models that actually get used in the woods, in a truck, and on a hip when chores turn into “something’s in the barn” moments.

A few things are stacking up at once: fewer new revolvers being made in certain lines, more folks wanting simple and dependable guns again, and a whole generation realizing the “old boring wheelgun” they laughed at is the one they wish they still had. Here are 20 specific revolvers I’m seeing disappear from the used racks faster than anyone expected, and why they’re not staying put.

1. Smith & Wesson Model 19 (Combat Magnum)

The Model 19 is one of those revolvers that just feels right in the hand. K-frame balance, sights you can actually use, and a trigger that—on a good example—makes you look better than you are. Guys who grew up on polymer pistols handle one and suddenly get it.

They’re leaving used shelves because they’re not just collectibles. They’re practical: .357 when you want it, .38s when you don’t, and they carry flatter than the big N-frames. Clean pinned-and-recessed examples vanish quick, but even honest holster-worn guns get scooped up now.

2. Smith & Wesson Model 66 (stainless K-frame .357)

If you live where sweat, rain, and truck-cab humidity are part of life, stainless matters. The 66 is basically the “do it all” K-frame for folks who actually carry a revolver outside. It’s a woods gun that won’t rust into a science project if you forget to wipe it down one night.

Used ones used to sit because everyone wanted something newer. Not anymore. The 66 is a sweet spot for size, corrosion resistance, and shootability, and people are figuring out that a good one doesn’t come along every week.

3. Smith & Wesson Model 686 (L-frame)

The 686 is what a lot of shooters wanted the K-frame .357 to be after a steady diet of full-power loads. It’s heavier, yes, but that weight is your friend when you’re shooting real .357s instead of talking about them online.

On the used market, 686s are getting snapped up by folks who want one revolver that can handle range time, trail carry, and home defense without drama. The 3-inch and 4-inch guns disappear fastest, especially the older ones with that smooth, broken-in action.

4. Smith & Wesson Model 586 (blued L-frame)

Same idea as the 686, but in blue, and it just looks right. A 586 with honest wear is a revolver you don’t mind taking to the deer lease or keeping in the truck—because it already has a few miles on it.

They’re getting hard to catch because the guys who like blued steel aren’t letting go, and new production doesn’t scratch the same itch for everybody. When a clean 586 shows up used, it rarely lasts the weekend.

5. Smith & Wesson Model 27 (N-frame .357)

There’s something about the Model 27 that screams “old-school serious.” It’s big, smooth, and built like it expects to be shot. If you ever handled one with a good trigger, you remember it.

Used examples are disappearing because collectors are circling them, sure, but regular shooters are too. They’ve become a “buy once, cry once” revolver for folks who want the classic .357 in its original, no-compromise form.

6. Smith & Wesson Model 28 (Highway Patrolman)

The Model 28 used to be the bargain way into a big N-frame .357. Not fancy, not polished like the 27, but tough as a fence post. It’s the kind of revolver that looks better with a little wear.

Now the secret is out. When one hits the used rack at a reasonable number, it’s gone—usually to someone who wants an N-frame to shoot, not a safe queen to admire.

7. Smith & Wesson Model 10 (.38 Military & Police)

The Model 10 is the revolver equivalent of a good hammer: plain, reliable, and hard to wear out. It points naturally, and it’s one of the easiest revolvers in the world to shoot well with standard-pressure .38s.

They’re vanishing because folks want simple home-defense guns and “shop revolvers” that don’t need babysitting. Also, a lot of them were police trade-ins, and that well is not bottomless.

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

A steel J-frame with decent sights and a real trigger is still a useful carry piece if you’ll practice. The Model 36 has a feel that the ultra-light snubs don’t. It doesn’t beat you up, and it doesn’t feel like a toy.

Used ones are moving because people are coming back around to the idea of a simple pocket revolver, especially in places where deep concealment matters and reliability is the whole point.

9. Smith & Wesson Model 642 (Airweight Centennial)

The 642 is the revolver that ends up in a lot of pockets when folks are being honest about how they really carry. It’s not fun. It’s not “range day” material for most. It’s there because it’s light and it works.

Good used 642s used to be everywhere. Now, the clean ones with decent actions get grabbed quickly, especially by folks who want a no-hammer snag-free setup for daily carry.

10. Ruger GP100

If you want a .357 you can run hard without worrying about being gentle, the GP100 is the answer. It’s not the lightest, and it won’t win a beauty contest against older Smiths, but it’s a tank in the best way.

Used GP100s are disappearing because they’re the “one revolver” choice for a lot of outdoorsmen. They handle heavy loads, they’re easy to live with, and they don’t feel fragile when the gun is banging around in a pack.

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11. Ruger SP101

The SP101 hits a sweet spot: small enough to carry, heavy enough to actually shoot. A .357 snub that doesn’t feel like punishment is a big deal. The trigger can be a little stiff out of the box, but it smooths out with use.

These get snapped up used because they’re practical in the real world—especially the 3-inch version. If you find one with the box and decent grips already on it, it’s usually sold before it ever makes it to the website listing.

12. Ruger Security-Six (and Speed-Six)

The old Six series Rugers have a following for a reason. They’re lighter than a GP100, strong, and they carry well. The Speed-Six in particular rides nice on the belt without feeling like a boat anchor.

They’re disappearing because they’re not made anymore, and folks who know them tend to keep them. When one shows up used that isn’t beat to death, somebody who’s been waiting quietly will pounce.

13. Ruger Blackhawk (.357 or .45 Colt)

Single-actions aren’t for everyone, but a Blackhawk is one of the best “woods wandering” revolvers ever made. It’s accurate, it’s strong, and it makes you slow down and shoot like you mean it.

Used Blackhawks are moving fast because they’re durable hunting-side companions and because the .45 Colt versions in particular have become a favorite for handloaders. Even if you’re not a reloader, the appeal is simple: it just works.

14. Ruger Super Blackhawk (.44 Magnum)

This one isn’t subtle. A Super Blackhawk is for folks who actually want .44 Magnum, not folks who want to say they own a .44 Magnum. It’s heavy enough to manage recoil, and it’s built to take a lifetime of use.

They’re getting scooped up used by hunters and by guys who like a revolver that can ride in a chest rig during scouting season. When a clean one shows up with a decent trigger and tight lockup, it’s not sitting long.

15. Ruger Redhawk (.44 Magnum)

The Redhawk is the revolver you buy when you’re not interested in excuses. It’s big, it’s overbuilt, and it doesn’t care what load you feed it. If you spend time in places where four-legged problems are a real possibility, that matters.

Used Redhawks are disappearing because demand for “serious” revolvers is up, and because a lot of folks would rather buy a used Ruger tank than pay new-gun prices on something they’re going to scratch up anyway.

16. Ruger Super Redhawk (Alaskan and longer-barrel models)

The Super Redhawk is awkward to some eyes, but it’s a workhorse—especially for hunting and heavy-caliber duty. The Alaskan models in particular are kind of their own category: short, stout, and meant for close-range problems.

Used ones move quick because they’re specialized, and the guys who want them usually want them right now. If someone’s planning a backcountry trip or setting up a bear-country sidearm, they don’t want to wait around for the perfect deal.

17. Colt Python (older production)

The Python has always been expensive, but what’s changed is how fast used ones vanish even at eye-watering prices. The finish, the feel of the action, the name—yeah, it’s a whole thing. But it’s also a revolver that shoots extremely well.

Older Pythons don’t hang around used racks because collectors and shooters are both hunting them. Condition matters a lot here, and the clean ones are practically pre-sold the moment they show up.

18. Colt Detective Special

Six shots in a snub-size package is a big deal if you like revolvers. The Detective Special carries well, points naturally, and has that classic Colt feel that’s hard to duplicate. It’s a revolver that makes you understand why people stayed loyal to them.

They’re disappearing because they’re not being made, and because the market finally remembered that “six in a small frame” isn’t common. When one shows up with a tight cylinder and timing that feels right, it doesn’t sit.

19. Colt Diamondback (.38 Special)

The Diamondback is one of those revolvers that’s easy to love and hard to justify—until you shoot one. It has a lighter, handier feel than a Python, and it’s just plain cool without being gigantic.

Used Diamondbacks are leaving fast because they’ve become a “grail gun” for a lot of folks who grew up seeing them in old photos and pawn-shop cases. They also make fantastic range revolvers for someone who appreciates a good trigger.

20. Dan Wesson Model 15 (.357 Magnum)

Dan Wessons used to be the revolvers a certain type of shooter loved quietly. Strong frames, excellent accuracy, and that distinct look. The interchangeable-barrel concept isn’t everybody’s thing, but the guns have a reputation for shooting lights-out.

Now they’re getting harder to find used because serious revolver shooters are grabbing them, and because parts and accessories don’t sit around like Glock mags. If you see one complete and clean, it’s one of those “decide now” moments.

Revolvers aren’t perfect. They’re heavier than most carry pistols, slower to reload, and they take real practice to shoot fast and well. Still, the used market is telling a story: durable, proven wheelguns are getting treated like practical tools again, not leftovers from another era. If one of these is on your short list, don’t handle it ten times and then “think about it” for two weeks. Ask me how I know.