The Smith & Wesson Revolver Model No. 3

First seen in 1870, Smith & Wesson’s No. 3 revolver beat the arrival of the Colt Single Action Army revolver by three years. The No. 3 was a large single action revolver with a cylinder holding six cartridges, and its hammer could be cocked by the thumb of either hand. Continue reading “The Smith & Wesson Revolver Model No. 3”

2026 SHOT Show Debrief

RevolverGuy was back in Vegas again this year, hitting the ranges and hiking the floors of the 2026 SHOT Show, to bring you the latest news from the revolver world. Continue reading “2026 SHOT Show Debrief”

Lipsey’s Exclusive S&W 686 Plus Mountain Gun

The four-inch Smith & Wesson Model 686 (aka the Distinguished Combat Magnum) is one of my perennially favorite revolvers and my friend, the .357 Magnum is one of my perennially favorite cartridges. Which, now that I think about it, is probably why Mike tapped me to write this one. Anyhow, today we’re going to discuss the latest iteration of S&W’s flagship L-frame revolver: the Lipsey’s Exclusive S&W 686 Plus Mountain Gun. Incidentally, I’m also going to give you guys a backstage glimpse into my writing process. Continue reading “Lipsey’s Exclusive S&W 686 Plus Mountain Gun”

The M13 Aircrewman Revolver, Part II

In Part I of this series, we discussed the U.S. Air Force’s early interest in aluminum-framed revolvers, and their experience with prototype/development test samples from Colt and Smith & Wesson. We pick up the story in this second part, with the delivery of Aircrewman operational test samples from the two companies, which would eventually lead to the procurement of the M13 Aircrewman revolver. Continue reading “The M13 Aircrewman Revolver, Part II”

The Priorities of Survival

I’ve been working on my presentation for the 2025 Pat Rogers Memorial Revolver Roundup quite a bit, lately. The presentation will focus on a handful of law enforcement gunfights involving officers armed with revolvers, and identify some “lessons learned” for armed citizens who are similarly equipped. Continue reading “The Priorities of Survival”