I hate to dig a old topic up but i will lol..

I been trying to dig around the internet on Rossi (pre Taurus) days as why they look so much like Smith & Weeson as i have a model 88 in slainless steel and it is so close to my J frame it couldn't tell in the dark which was which.
Some where i read that there was ties between the two companys as i heard S&W sent engineers to Rossi (pre Tauras) to help them improve there guns and some feel this is why parts from S&W guns will work in some of the Rossi guns.

With what has happen with S&W and many will not buy a current made gun by them .. then the (pre Taurus) Rossi guns are a gem for there price.