doing a severe drawn down on the armory.
what is THE 22lr pistol that HAS to be in the safe?
Ruger Standard?
Bearcat? Single Six?
Woodsman?
Kit Gun?
Hi-Standard?

Of that list, if I were in the market the first one I would buy would be the Colt, Woodsman or Huntsman either would do for me.

If money were tight, I'd buy a Ruger Standard (the only Ruger I find interesting). The Woodsman is the coolest, the Ruger is the "best" shooter...Meaning, they tend to not be too picky about ammo.

That’s an impossible task for me but I suppose if I HAD to ditch them all but one I’d keep the woodsman

K-22 for me. I've had a half-dozen Rugers of various Marks, a couple of Single Sixes, but the Smiths seem best of the bunch.

don't have any rugers or high standards..... or a safe....grin

yeah Huntsman looks like your runnin low!

10 yrs from now will i be able to find an AFFORDABLE replacement mag for the semi-autos?

comments on the Ruger Wrangler?

Ruger Single Six Convertible .22 LR/.22 Mag

WTF would you wait 10 years to go find one?

We are talking quintessential pistols here, not budget piecers....

I don't like my sights to travel on my slide. had another 41 follow me home the other day,but with only (4) mags,though I've better than a dozen laying in wait. Hint...................

Saw a Performance Center 41 with rail for sale online the other day. Pretty tempting, though my skill set probably ain’t up to it. $1400.

The Kadet 2 conversion for my CZ has a fixed rear sight like a 41. Cost more than my Victory, but is pretty nice.

I think rather highly of Marvel Unit One's,if only because they are billed to shoot under 1" at 50yds and do...even on a 100yr+ old frame. Hint.................(grin)

I've chosen a Ruger new model Single Six as a mainstay. There are other 22's around here that might hold more shells or are more accurate than the Ruger. But few are less ammo picky or dependable.

65Jeffrey: I would recommend (considering the day and age and political atmosphere we are in!) that you keep EACH and EVERY one of the aforementioned listed "pistols".
Exactly what I have done - as I have multiples of each pistol you listed (except for the Bearcat) and I do NOT plan on letting ANY of them go until the United States of America settles down - a LOT!
Best of luck to you with whichever you decide on.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

It looks like Stick swims his 1911's too.

What do you have that will operate correctly and accurately with .22 short, long, and long rifle, as well as shotshells?

Proly get a Buckmark Contour 5 1/2" and slap a reflex on it.
Eyes gone.
Used to hunt squirrels w a Kart slided Nygord worked Ace frame.
That was a long time ago.

Will admit the adj sighted Bearcats are pretty cute.

I believe they call that “Shabby Chic”.

I’d be inclined to get hold of some Rustoleum, but what matters is what happens when the trigger gets pulled. Those Marvels are supposed to be well, marvels; about as good as they get.

I've pared mine down now to just a Ruger 22/45 Lite and a S&W 63. Both are light and very packable, and a real hoot to shoot; but if I HAD to choose, I'd take the 22/45 Lite. The revolver has that extra blast from the barrel cylinder gap without ear protection, gets tough to chamber rounds in the cylinder from the burnt powder residue after 50 to 100 rounds, and can't be suppressed. The 22/45 has about a 2 lb trigger pull, scope and suppressor capabilities, and just keeps running and running without cleaning.

Based on the age that one may have done it’s swimming in the English Channel

I've got a few but probably one of my Ruger mk4's would be last to go because uppers are fast to change out and repairs are pretty quick and easy. But I'll be honest, unless there is dire financial circumstances I don't see the appeal of a random downsizing. Not like quality guns get cheaper every year.

I have a bunch, but the quintessential pistol would be a K22 or M17, perhaps a Colt OMM or OMT. Semi's a High Standard or a Smith M41. Have had all of them. Runner up, an H&R 999 Sportsman.

seems like a stainless 5.5” smith 41 with composite grip panels would make a dandy ...

4" Colt Diamondback .22LR

Indeed!!

H&R hmmmm....worth some thought

The Ruger 22/45 Lite is definitely a great one. And one of my favorites.

But I could get by with my old Colt Scout .22 SA if I had too.

Just an old school police positive flat top target.

I'll not be without a model 18 Smith and Wesson.

I am not clear on your question - do you have these five and are thinking of going down to one only? If so my choice of the five mentioned would be the Woodsman, they are classic, operate great, and feel great.

But I have already gone down to just one, it is the same one chilintructor mentioned - Colt Scout 22 LR. We have been partners for 60 years now and it has never failed me - just like an old friend.


drover

Me too!

Quintessential DA revolver = S&W K-frame M17 or 18.

Quintessential SA revolver = Ruger Single Six

Quintessential pistol = Colt Woodsman

The Colt SAA with stag grips, is it a 22, too?

I wouldn't put it in the class of the guns mentioned but we have enjoyed ours, we put hogue overmold grips on it, lost the "cowboy" look but made it a much better plinking gun.

We love our bearcat now that we found what ammo it likes.

I love a standard, have two at the moment along with mk1s and 2s. I scored a 22/45 lite for a good deal and its been fun with a burris fastfire on it.

I think everyone should own a single six.

I've picked up a few smiths lately, a 34 and 43, haven't taken them out to shoot yet.

There are many cool old 22 pistols out there. While not what would be considered "old" or maybe even "cool", I have a buck mark from the 90s that will never leave my collection. Great pistol that has seen a lot of rounds. When it comes to 22s, it must run reliably or it gets kicked down the road. I have always liked the Woodsmans and Hi-Standards, but have yet to have one in my collection.

yessir. A Peacemaker. The other one in fake ivory is a new frontier....

Dammit man! Take that hanging tag off and shoot the little wench.