A few months ago I came up with what I believed to be a super idea for my wife's eleventh wedding anniversary gift. Eleven years being the "steel" anniversary, what better gift than a Smith and Wesson, especially since the Mrs. Loves to shoot. The gun I decided to procure is detailed in this post:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/139601076-post1854.htmlhttp://http://smith-wessonforum.com/...-post1854.html
After presenting my wife with the Model 63, she was very happy and surprised. Also, she couldn't believe I sold my Colt New Frontier Buntline .22 to buy her the 63.
Anyhow, our first trip to the range with her 63 revealed problems with the gun. The rear sight windage wouldn't adjust, the double action trigger had a bad hitch and my wife wanted a Hogue wood grip bigger than the Herretts I'd bought and refinished. The sight problem was an easy fix, a grain of sand had jammed the blade. The Hogues cost me $80 plus shipping. The trigger hitch, well I stoned the sides of the rebound slide.
Range trip two resulted in my wife liking the new Hogue grip but shooting all over the place because " the trigger sucks". So, I ordered a Wolff spring kit. When the kit arrived, I used the lighter rebound spring. The hammer spring I only went down 2lbs, being its a Rimfire. I tested the revolver and it worked reliably. The trigger was also pretty darned good for a J frame .22. I figured Mrs. Steamloco76 would be very happy....
On my 50th birthday we went to the range again. She shot her Browning 1911 .380 and Ruger Single-Six. Her shooting was going well and she was enjoying herself until she picked up the Model 63. She started jerking the trigger, having sight problems, breaking her wrist and just about every other technique issue possible. We moved to her carry gun, a 642. She did fairly well, so back to the 63. Ugh, just aweful. Mind you, I shoot the little .22 just fine, so it is not the gun. Finally, she says " You know, I expletive HATE this gun!!" I was a bit hurt after the effort to find, buy, outfit and then upgrade her present, she HATES it.
Well, enough is enough. I talked to my good friend and LGS owner. He had been looking for a 63 to round out his stainless S&W revolver collection. He agreed to buy it for exactly what I had in it and I keep the Hogue grips. Bye bye 63. No way I was keeping a gun which would always remind me of my anniversary present gone wrong. Plus, I got to return a favor to a friend who has treated me well.