Arik,

I based my comments about quality on my own personal experience. In 50+ years of handgun shooting I've owned more S&W revolvers than I can remember. The number has to be well over 50 and the majority of them are older guns from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. None of those guns had the problems we're discussing here.

I've owned half a dozen newer (IL, MIM, frame mounted FP) models and at least 4 of them have had problems. I've sold or traded all of them off except for one that I put far too much money into getting it to work. To S&W they were with-in tolerance or spec.

I do not know what the return ratio is now compared the those earlier decades but I do know about the guns I've owned. I will no longer buy a S&W (new or used) with the IL or the frame mounted FP. You and others are obviously free to do as you like but you can't tell me my own experience isn't valid or that it didn't happen.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)