Does anybody know why the NG revolvers were dropped?

Medxam--

If you cannot locate a 44 Special steel cylinder from the S&W factory or Gun Parts Corp or elsewhere, perhaps you could buy a 38 or 357 cylinder & have it reamed by a gunsmith to take .44 Special. I'm not familiar with the NG models & don't know if yours has a 5 or 6-shot cylinder, but as a last resort there are custom gunsmiths who could make a cylinder from scratch, using your original ejector rod assembly.
 
My 325NG in .45 ACP is with me pretty much every time I am in the woods. If I'm hiking, hunting, etc, I have it with me. It carries light and shoots great. I got a good deal ($699.00) on it NIB when they were being discontinued. I like it a lot.

Cheers,

Rick

 
WC145 said:
As has been mentioned, slow sales would be the obvious reason for discontinuing the line, however, for those of us looking for a lighter weight, "carry oriented" revolver they were just the ticket. They came in K, L, and N frames in .38spl, .357mag, 10mm, .41mag, .44spl, .44mag, and .45acp. They were all set up the same way - scandium alloy frames, blackened stainless cylinders, XS Big Dot front night sight, Cylinder & Slide Extreme Duty fixed rear sight, and rubber grips.

I have a 327NG, the 8 shot .357mag, that has been tweaked to my liking and it's my favorite field gun, great for all around outdoors carry. Mine sees most of it's holster time when I'm working on the property or out in the woods. I also had a 315, the K frame .38spl version that I foolishly sold to a forum member, another great gun.

SDC10013.JPG
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How is the recoil on this with full tilt loads? I located one like yours.

Jay
 
325NG.jpg

Here's my 325 NG, purchased in 2008 when they came out. I had the forcing cone re-cut by S&W because it was spitting back at me. They did a good job. It has a steel cylinder and scandium frame, XS front sight, cylinder and slide rear sight. The action is very light and smooth compared to most out of the box guns. I replaced the trigger return spring, a slight improvement. The original grips had to go, they sucked. I went through two pair of wood grips before buying the S&Ws you see on it now. Wood was just too painful to qualify with. I wonder if they'll go up in value because they're no longer in production?
 
I'm pretty sure you'd hate the recoil

33jayman said:
How is the recoil on this with full tilt loads? I located one like yours.

Jay
Click to expand...

So since I'm in Michigan too, why don't you let me know where the one you found is and I'll remove the temptation for you....;)

Lad
 
33jayman said:
Title pretty much says it all.

I thought they were a great idea and wanted to get one and the next thing I know, they disappeared. Was there something wrong with the design?

Jay
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Yes, they were an affront to both Daniel Wesson and to Horace Smith, and they were an abomination to most others who want their S&Ws to actually look like S&Ws. S&W should never have wasted production labor or materials on these unfortunate models. To an "oldie" like me, they just did not look like a Smith & Wesson, and that is enough for me - and apparently everyone else. S&W does not drop products which sell.
 
Nice to carry, too light for the range. The simple fact is, they did not sell. No more, no less.
 
I had everyone of them at one time. Cool looking,but changed direction to the 3 inch pre locks. I think they have a purpose, but just not for me anymore. I liked them because of the Steel cylinder versus the titanium cylinders on the PD's. night sights were cool. Just couldn't get over the lock. Although I did keep my 325.
 
I wish they would come back

I wish Smith would bring them back! I still want a 329NG to alternate with my 329PD. One day I will get lucky and find one that I can afford.
 
I liked the night guard revolvers too. I don't think they sold well. Revolvers aren't very popular anymore. I have seen a few pop up at gunshows and used at gun stores. I really like the 310 but they have been very difficult to find. I almost bought the 7 shot 357 version used but it was sold before I could get back to buy it.Hopefully I can add a NG or 2 to my revolver collection.
 
shawn mccarver said:
Yes, they were an affront to both Daniel Wesson and to Horace Smith, and they were an abomination to most others who want their S&Ws to actually look like S&Ws. S&W should never have wasted production labor or materials on these unfortunate models. To an "oldie" like me, they just did not look like a Smith & Wesson, and that is enough for me - and apparently everyone else. S&W does not drop products which sell.
Click to expand...

Ford sold a bunch of Model Ts. Does that mean we all still be driving one? :rolleyes:

S&W has routinely dropped models from production, including some that were huge sellers. Models such as the 19, 27, 28, 29, 1917 and even the K22 all come to mind.

I really like the Night Guards and own several. They are mean and nasty lookin' big bores that are all business!
 
NG's made Governor's affordable

I think the suggested retail price was the real killer. The "weight for size" is right, in my opinion. If I pick up an all steel 2-1/2" N frame (629PC is 10oz. heavier than a 629NG) now, it just feels heavy for the size. Guess I got spoiled. :p

They're not much fun for a full day of shooting at the range but the rubber grips really help. Don't try it with wood grips! I think it's almost a must to handload for these, especially the big bores, to optimize your load.

To clarify, they had a night sight, singular, only on the front which to me is only half of what you need. Imagine what their price would have been if it had Trijicon dots on the back too !?

I think S&W used the NG to develope & master the manufacturing of Sc frames & now the Governor fans reap the benefits. :(

Here is a revived thread with more NGs:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/87606-any-night-guards-out-there.html

329NG / 325NG / 357NG
NightGuardmodeltrio01_zpsb357b4cc.jpg


_________________
Trust in "The Guard"
 
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The Night Guard line was dropped due to poor sales, as others have also stated. I don't recall where I read that, but that's what I saw in print. I would guess the poor sales were due to the lack of interest and NOT the high price, and I say this because the J frame guns in scandium, the 340's sell for stupid money and they all get bought up in a heartbeat when they appear.

I had one I sent back to the factory and was told I had to wait until Smith made another run of 340's before they could replace mine. They replaced it when another run was made, but the new production guns were available for maybe a month before they were all bought up, and I saw some final bid prices in the $1200 to $1300 range for these diminutive 5 shot scandium alloy framed monsters. This tells me that if buyers really liked the Night Guard range, they would have happily paid the price they way they do for the scandium 5 shot 340 series.

It's a shame because I really like the Night Guard series but I just didn't have the money to buy one, maybe one day. For now I content myself with my "Mini-Night Guard" Smith and Wesson, same no nonsense hard wearing DLC coating, PVD coating on the stainless cylinder like the stainless cylinders of the Night Guard range, and the XS tritium night sight for the 340 M&P.
 

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33jayman said:
How is the recoil on this with full tilt loads? I located one like yours.

Jay
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It's stout but not too bad, IIRC the loaded weight is around 30-32oz so there's enough gun to tame it a bit. It's nothing like the scandium .357mag J frames, they're horrid. Anything less than full on mags are easy and .38s make it an all day plinker. It reminds me of shooting a swollen M19 snubby.
 
They were pricey! I had bought a 2 5/8" PC627 UDR when they were first re-released - and loved it. Several months later, I decided to say goodbye to an old friend to fund what I thought would be a great night stand gun purchase - a 327NG. I made my deal - and looked the new revolver over only to find a flat cylinder back - it wasn't moonclip ready! The nearby case-mate - another new 2 5/8" PC627 UDR - left with me instead - for only $2 more! Believe me, it's a better buy - especially if it's greater mass isn't a problem. As a night stand gun, that isn't a problem. I also like it's large orange front sight - much easier in subdued light for my mature eyes to pick up.

Skip ahead to 6/11 and my next quest - a 325NG for another iteration of the 'night stand gun' - and share the 244+ loaded moonclips of .45 ACP ball ammo that previously fit only my 625JM. The best price I found was $869 - and another 625JM was within pocket change of that. Then I visited a new gunstore - and 'found' the Governor, which, brand new, I had never heard of! It is 7/8" longer OAL and weighs <1.8 oz more. Same sights and construction as the 325NG, too. It will also chamber .45 Colts and 2.5" .410 shot shells. The kicker - at $569, it was three Benjamin's less than the 325NG!

So there you have two currently available alternatives to discontinued Night Guards.

Stainz
 
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The concept was interesting, but not worth the money to me (and apparently some others). The lock was of course a deal breaker, but that's curable. The one thing they absolutely did right was the sights. Big, and visible, and the tritium up front only as is now taught. That's the way fixed sights should be. For those like me, who started with genetically crummy eyes and then got old and had other indignities, the standard fixed sights on most revolvers are as useless as female secondary characteristics on a bowling ball. That keeps my from buying revolvers that would otherwise be interesting.
 
I have heard several people say they were ugly. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think they look awesome. I like the other S&W designs as well. I usually hate fixed sight revolvers but like Doug M said S&W got them right on these revolvers. I love the weight of them also. My carry gun is a Ruger SP101 .357. Loaded it weighs over 30 ounces. With the reduced weight of the Night Guards I can have 1 or 2 more rounds to play with without a lot more weight. The cost was the only thing that stopped me from buying one. It's the same reason I don't own a 340PD. I want one but the price is steep. I would love to have a NG on the belt and a 340PD in the pocket for backup. If I can ever find a good deal on one I will own it.
 
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