I really like what I'm hearing from Bar-Sto! They seem wholly on board with wanting to tackle this project and that's fantastic.

On the other front, I have to say that what you reported from S&W is, in my opinion, pretty damn good and better than what I would have guessed. I'm not sure I would contact them at all for this, I have basically no confidence whatsoever in their ability (in 2017) to even recognize the finest stuff that has ever carried their name.

It sounds like in this instance they at least gave you some manner of a reply that was more valuable then "we'll take it and give you $100 off a new M&P!"