Which classic rangefinder would you recommend?

[newst]

Are you going just to wear it or take pictures also?
If the latter, get something you know can be serviced, which means the Leica M series.

Barnack Leicas can be serviced as easily as M series bodies.

 

[shawn]

When Calumet made and marketed their shutter speed tester, I bought one (boxy plastic thing with a 9V battery) in the 1990's. No mechanical camera I owned with a 1/1000 shutter speed marked on the dial actually had one. Pentax K1000, Leica M3, Leica M4P, Leica M6, Nikon FM2 . . all had top speeds around 1/750 and no two exposures on the same camera measured exactly the same.

Interesting, this is my Tower 45 about 1/3 over 1/1000.

F2 also about a 1/3 over.

My SRT201 is slow at 1/1000 (about 1/660) but very very close everywhere else.

Bronica S2A is slow at 1/719.

 

[caila77]

I Love the Canon P.
You could add a Leica CL

 

[Darinwc]

All are excellent choices. Ultimately, get the best working camera possible.

IMHO the Nicca or a Leica ii/III are slightly better than the others. I have both and Canon and Leotax.