Governor

Not for me.

It'll make them a lot of lovely money though.

It is just another monument to the current dumbed-down generation of shooters. Foolishness sells to the thoughtless.

Yup, it even has and arrow on the barrel so they know which direction to point it! Guess thats to let everyone know that it's not like an IPod.
 
+1 S&W is a business, if it makes them money, creates more gun owners and allows them to profit so they can keep making the other guns we buy and enjoy, it's a win for us all.

I will never condemn an American gunmaker for bringing out new products, even if I don't like the product personally......I don't care a bit for polymer revolvers but I was glad to see Ruger bring out the LCR. If they sell, more power to them. Rather see the lineup grow than shrink.

People say it's a "sad day" when S&W copies a Taurus.......I was more sad to see the Model 10 moved to the "Classic" lineup with sporadic batches coming out, rather than being a "production" gun like it has since 1899, now THAT is a sad day:o
 
Has anyone seen a MSRP on this yet? Yes, S&W does need to be competitive, and I'm glad to see the .45acp listed as an option for their model. But for those buyers who aren't gun nuts like most of you guys, but buying "just in case I need it", price will make the difference. If this is listed at $200+ the Taurus model,like some of the revolvers are, they won't steal much of their business away from them. Just saying--.
 
While we're all criticizing Smith and Wesson for what we think may be a poor decision, let's not forget that S&W just about went bellyup a couple times in the not so distant past and for a while even passed into foreign ownership. So if they're making a solid "business" decision based on market analysis, I won't get in line too fast to knock the idea. They're not in the business of pleasing pistoleros like us, but making money for their stockholders. Besides, I don't have to buy the thing if I don't like it or have confidence in it. Then I also recall a few handguns that we extolled as the solution to all pistol-problems and fell flat, plus a couple that the gunwriters declared poor ideas that have proved the test of time. The .41 magnum and the .357 come to mind. Once upon a time it was solumnly declared the new-fangled double action revolver would never replace the single-action.

It also seems to me that a lot of us have invested a lot of ink (figuratively speaking) knocking folks who can't hit the backside of a bull with a bass fiddle. Maybe for the lady (or the gentleman) who is confronted at close range could benefit from something only requires practicing once a decade and can just be pointed and shot. My wife of 33 years suffered a stroke a couple years ago and can't use her strong side too well. I'd rather see her carrying this thing than going unarmed with a big sign that reads "victim." I can't be with her every minute, so if this gets her through the night, I'm all for it.
 
Maybe for the lady (or the gentleman) who is confronted at close range could benefit from something only requires practicing once a decade and can just be pointed and shot. My wife of 33 years suffered a stroke a couple years ago and can't use her strong side too well. I'd rather see her carrying this thing than going unarmed with a big sign that reads "victim." I can't be with her every minute, so if this gets her through the night, I'm all for it.

Your entire post was well stated, and this in particular makes a good point. Not all firearms are made just for me, my tastes, and/or my abilities.

panther said:
If this is listed at $200+ the Taurus model,like some of the revolvers are, they won't steal much of their business away from them.

If I was in the market for this type of handgun, I would gladly pay $200 more for a S&W to get the quality and customer service over a Taurus. I would prefer to pay the same, but in order to get the S&W, I would pay more.
 
This is just plain wierd! Just a thought here, and maybe it's as wierd as the gun....

It's bound to be significantly more expensive than the Judge that it copies, so I don't expect it to be a brisk seller. Also, it's pretty clear that there will be a strong backlash from the S&W purists. Some of them don't like model numbers, some don't like MIM parts, and shocking but true, there are a hardcore handful that don't even like the intenal lock....

Let's change gears for a second.

I'd like to have a K-32. Most of us would (except for the handful that already have one).

I count myself to be very fortunate that I have a .22 Jet, a Model 52, and a factory nickel plated .38 Special Python (books say there's no such thing, but there is). These guns are interesting and desirable because they're rare (and a lot of fun). They have other things in common. None of them were great sellers, they had very limited appeal, and they didn't stick around.

I'm thinking that this Governor ain't gonna be around very long. All I know for sure is that if I get one, it won't become collectable. If I thumb my nose at it, it'll become worth more than its weight in cut and polished diamonds....
 
Nothing that appeals to me, but while I was in the LGS a couple of months ago, 2 guys came in looking for Judges in the space of 10 minutes. That correlates to the way that same shop cannot keep X Frames in stock, another gun that has no appeal for me. I'm just out of step with the gun-buying public and content with my Model 10's.
Chris
 
love em or hate em the judge is in very high demand.
i've handled a few and have considered getting one for a house gun but everyone of them that i've seen has a loose feeling cylinder that leads me to believe that they won't hold up well in the long run.
personally i think and hope that the smith is built better and if so i may buy one.
 
Today, I spoke with the owner of the LGS, just back from the SHOT. He said he ordered a large number of the new Governors.
He also mentioned that he is dropping the entire Taurus line, as about 1/3 of them are defective, causing him problems with his customers, and that Taurus' service department is of little help.
 
OK, I'll bite.. I want one, it's on my list, probably won't be legal here in Mass ever, but if it is, I want it.. :) It's just a gun, that's all. I like guns, some have a purpose more than others. No big deal, S&W hasn't lost their identity nor has it become something else, it's still Smith and Wesson. If this gun is made in Springfield, someone has a job, I like that. If you don't like the looks, or the bullet or anything else about it, that's ok... don't buy it, don't look at it, buy another M29... :)
 
OK, I'll bite.. I want one, it's on my list, probably won't be legal here in Mass ever, but if it is, I want it.. :) It's just a gun, that's all. I like guns, some have a purpose more than others. No big deal, S&W hasn't lost their identity nor has it become something else, it's still Smith and Wesson. If this gun is made in Springfield, someone has a job, I like that. If you don't like the looks, or the bullet or anything else about it, that's ok... don't buy it, don't look at it, buy another M29... :)

Here, here!

I'm with you 100%. Don't like a particular model gun, car, motorcycle, or whatever? No problem. Just move on.
 
I understood it when Smith started competing for the tactical market, as there are a lot of tax $$ available for the reaping.

I do not understand why they are heading towards the fringe market of the firearms industry. They would have to seriously lower their prices to be competitive.

The 1 ton elephant in the room is still the IL. Ditch it, and consumers will go back to paying top $$ to have a real Smith once again.
 
Smith fans bashing Smith while the Ruger fanboys stick together.

I don't want or need a governor or a judge; but I don't have the desire to gun bash either.

The microsoft cowboys over at TFL.com are bashing Smith as well as Taurus on about a half dozen threads right now.

If you don't like a gun, just don't buy it; supply and demand will run it's course whether it's good or bad.

If I were a first time gun buyer, I don't know if I'd consider a Smith after reading all the negativity about Smith on the internet.

A quote from "Big Lee" in the lock thread:

This is what I hate the most. We need to recruit new shooters, NOT discourage the new guys. Every time a newbie leaves, WE lose.
 
On another board, the "street price" of $600 was announced for this "governor".

Taurus has what, $350 - $400 price on the Judge?

Yea, that governor will sell. ;) Regards 18DAI.
 
Well...not necessarily. I am certainly not arguing that this is a viable defense gun, but as previously pointed out, I wouldn't want to be shot with one...or even a pellet gun. If someone was attempting a car jacking, for example, and you shot them in the face at a range of a foot or two, let's say, I bet it would discourage them from proceeding.

Other than that, though, I wouldn't want to depend on this particular weapon for almost any other defensive scenario...unless this was the only weapon I had.

I keep seeing statements like this regarding the Judge, and I have to ask what difference it makes what kind of gun you're using? At that distance a shot column is not going to disperse, and is going to be about the same as a slug. Why not just carry a more useful .38, .44 or other normal gun? A .410 revolver is truly just a novelty gun, unless maybe you encounter poisonous snakes on a regular basis.

(Full disclosure - I own a Judge. But I also own a number of other novelty guns!)
 
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Sigh...

I will predict the future; thick people will fill the cylinders of these absurd revolvers with .460 S&W Magnum loads (you know, for defense) and turn them into hand grenades. Hilarity ensues...

That would be SERIOUSLY dumb, anyone that mentally challenged shouldn't be allowed to own firearms.

For me, I've tried w/o success to get CCI interested in making shot shells for the .500 Mag. I've made my own but I don't think home brewed shells can equal what CCI does with their plastic capsule. Don
 
You guys have obviously not shot a judge. It is not about ballistics, but about sound, percussion, and blast. Bad guy thinks he is getting shot at with a .357, so the intimidation factor is the appeal of a shotgun load in a pistol...........No curb appeal for me either :(zorro49
 
Why not just carry a more useful .38, .44 or other normal gun?

Don't misunderstand my post...I am not a fan of the Judge (nor of Taurus products in general) and I can't imagine that this new shot revolver by Smith will be any more effective (although perhaps more reliable.) However, as pointed out by JC4013, this gun might fill a need for some people...and if so, more power to them. Some just might not feel confident in carrying a "normal" gun, and if a revolver of this type gives them some confidence and a measure of protection, enough so that they will have/carry it as opposed to nothing, then good.

I would rather my wife have the Governor than nothing, if she needed to defend herself. Fortunately she is happy with her M&P9c, so it's not a question for us to deal with...but for some, it may be the answer.
 
Maybe for the lady (or the gentleman) who is confronted at close range could benefit from something only requires practicing once a decade and can just be pointed and shot.

No they really wouldn't. First off shot at very close range does not behave like a slug, it acts like what it is, a bunch of little pellets with very poor penetration. No .410 load is a good self defense load in this thing (including slugs) and if you use a 45 round in it then why not get a good 45. The problem I have is people will buy this thing thinking they have something when in fact they have something that's not up to the job.
 

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