I would like to see S&W return to the good old days. Remember when they offer custom barrel lengths, custom sights, fixed or target, hammer and trigger options, square or round butt, extra fit and finish, and now with or without the controversial safety. Will they be cheap, naw, I know better. Will they loose money, naw, I know better. If I am willing to pay extra for what I want and willing to wait the extra time, why can this service not be offered. This was the kind of service they offered at one time. This I guess was at a time when they wanted business by catering to who would buy their products. Oh well, I just saw a sign out at the LGS that read: "Huge Rebates on S&W Products" I thought if you give the customer what he wanted maybe you wouldn't have to discount your products so much. There was a time when the customer was KING. Maybe I wrong, but I do know what I want and I'm not seeing it.

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and everything Kentucky !!

While I can appreciate what you are saying, the "old days" when S&W was catering directly to the customer are long gone. That niche market is now filled by companies like Korth. Seen their prices lately?
S&W is a commodity-quality supplier now. Their business model no longer supports the kind of customized ordering system that they used to have.
That's the downside. The plus side is that the vast majority of their guns are still of very good quality, but the prices are still low enough for them to be a good value.
At least that's my opinion. That and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee at 7-11.... maybe.

They will loose money. Most people don't care for the extra stuff. I know I don't. I have a slight preference for round vs square butt but not enough to really care and I certainly don't need extra fluff that doesn't make the gun shoot can't better. I need ammo....lots of ammo. If the custom shop offered cheaper guns with zero finish and supplemented that with ammo I'd be all over it!

Customer changed! You view the gun as a work of art to be cherished and loved and passed down. I view it as something to take to the battle of Berlin, to the battle of Stalingrad, to hell if need be! If it breaks it gets tossed and another one bought. Finish is something that costs money and does next to nothing.

I have nothing against the other way of looking at guns and I have a few of those but I have no interest in them. They were presents that looks nice, cost money, take up space and are not used


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REAL customer service is looong gone...businesses are only concerned with the bottom line and more important.......the current work ethic in today's society leaves a lot to be desired.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

The bottom line has ALWAYS been THE ONLY CONCERN! Those guns weren't free, weren't donated. They were sold for profit to the customer. Customer changed!

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There's your answer as to why...

Listen, I don't mean to take anything away from the other side. If you like to look at blue all the time and shoot occasionally that's fine but to me, and many others, it's a collosal waste of money. I can't justify spending money on something that gets little serious use. And if it gets serious use I have no reason to spend money on fluff. For the same reason I can't justify buying a new hand made reproduction of a German Luger. It doesn't fit into anything I'm willing to use

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Yup, its all summed up in the one statement that you and vytoland both made...

The customer has changed. S&W changed as a result.