As far as double action revolvers go, my preferance has always been toward the Smith & Wesson double action guns, especially the Model 29 .44 Magnum and the 586 .357 Magnum. But a Colt New Service was my first very own handgun when I was young, and I've always had a soft spot for the New Service/M1917 revovlers. These were available when I was young for $15~$25, though I paid a whopping $30 for my ex-RNWMP New Service in select condition. Mine was a .45 Colt ex-.455 Eley, rebuilt to .44 Special. Then came a succession of M1917s with $1.50/box .45 ACP ammo.
Thanks for your photos. When I was in the Army, .45 ACP cartridges still came packed with a couple of pairs of half-moon clips.
Bob Wright
P.S. If you just had one of those Army "Smokey the Bear" hats in your photo...............