S&W's Revolvers going forward

GTBL

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What will S&W do going forward to combat the Kimber K6s and even the new Cobra with the bobbed hammer? Maybe nothing, but I wonder if they are working on something? I personally would like to see a Performance Center model 66 that has a bobbed hammer or even a version of a 6 shot J frame of some sort. I have to imagine that they are working on something. If anyone knows of any news, please share.
 
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The Chief was perfect when introduced. It's a belly gun. Its intent is quickly to battery in a close encounter of the deadly kind. A good guy would have to be extremely knowledgeable of survivor tactics and lucky to remain vertical were he to suffer the grave misfortune of confronting two bad guys while armed with a belly gun. In essence, The Chief, like all belly guns, is a one bad guy gun.

I know that a good quality semi is tactically superior to my beloved Chiefs. If I lived in a gang plagued city, I'd screw the whole idea of a compact handgun. I'd go with an excellent, full-size 1911-A1, which was designed by JMB as an offensive battle handgun, in an excellent holster such as Blackpoint Tactical's Leather Wing, and at least two spare mags. It would be loaded with 230 grain ammo. I'd be good with 230 grain ball, but I'd probably use 230 grain Fed HST Tactical.

As far as belly guns go, The Chief is The Chief of belly guns.
 
I would be pretty interested in a K frame in the 242Ti mold (obviously a 6 shooter vs 7 for the L frame). Wouldn't even have to be a .357, .38 +P is plenty in what would certainly be a sub-20oz gun.

With this said, IMO S&W does not have a recent track record of reacting to what other companies put out or what's "hot" at the moment.
 
I would be pretty interested in a K frame in the 242Ti mold

That would interest me as well. Even an L frame with 7 shots.
 
S&W new models

I think S&W has too many models and variations already. As a former
production-inventory control person I always thought working at S&W must be quite challenging. Others are right: improve the QC on current production
and customers won't be looking elsewhere. Willyboy
 
I'd like to see S&w make some of their classics again. Maybe 1 production line a year. Of their blued guns. Model 19,13,66 etc
2 1/2-4" versions. Small amounts 1000 pcs or so would sell out
 
What will S&W do going forward to combat the Kimber K6s and even the new Cobra with the bobbed hammer? Maybe nothing, but I wonder if they are working on something? I personally would like to see a Performance Center model 66 that has a bobbed hammer or even a version of a 6 shot J frame of some sort. I have to imagine that they are working on something. If anyone knows of any news, please share.

My first pocket gun as a LEO was a Colt Cobra. It was not a good pocket gun in uniform pants, where the five shot J frame was just right. IWB carry I preferred a full sized 1911, or a 4 inch K frame.

The real competition for the two firearms you listed is the Ruger LCR in 327. Smith at one time sold a j frame 327 but for some reason they dropped it.
 
I'd accept a better quality control of current product.


I haven't bought a new S&W product in over a decade (1911 & it's an excellent gun) and an S&W revolver in 30 years. So I'm clueless of its quality control. Can you please elaborate on, "...better quality control of current product."
 
Because some have forgotten:

This 1980 to the Present forum is a place for enthusiasts of S&W revolvers of this era to enjoy discussion of those products.

If you are not fond of these revolvers and prefer the older products, we have three other forums that cover those revolvers. You are invited to discuss them there as much as you want.


If you are one of the people who constantly enters threads ONLY to spew your hatred for the internal lock, MIM parts, or whatever you dislike about modern S&W revolvers, STOP doing it.

I'm not trying to tell you what to like.
I am telling you to leave the people who do like and use these products alone to enjoy them, and move along to a discussion about something you like. Just as we don't allow anti-gunners to come here and bash you and your guns, you don't need to be here bashing the modern products and making the owners of them feel inferior or stupid for using them.

I am not saying that you cannot post about a problem that you have personally had. Tell us about it. Give us the facts. But DON'T come here merely to tell us what you hate and will never buy.

We will be very firm about this.
ONE Reminder will be issued, and points will be given after that.



Accumulated points lead to suspensions.

Those of you who just can't let it go may find your access to the 1980 to the Present forum removed.


Those of you who choose to keep spouting it here or carry it to the other forums on this board may wind up banned.

Bottom Line-


Again, I'm not telling you what to like or yearn for.
Just leave the people who are enjoying these products alone.
If you're going to bust if you can't spout off, tell it to the factory- Contact Smith & Wesson

If you're tempted to start ranting about freedom of speech, save it.



We already covered that here- A Note on Freedom of Speech
 
This is merely a guess: handgun profit is in semis. My guess is they're less costly to produce. Demand seems to be for modestly priced semis that are reliable and sail smoothly for CCW work. There's an economic reason S&W's Shield line is popular. That is a neutral statement. I don't own a Shield.

As Walkingwolf correctly posted, a full-size 1911-A1 is very easy to conceal. Its only minus is its fully loaded weight. And Walkingwolf s right about the Chief as a cop second gun. While I've never carried a second while 10-8, I'd bet that The Chief ruled the second gun on-duty cop gun. And yes, outta reverence, I did refer to the Chief's Special as The Chief, a proper noun clause because there is only one Chief of belly guns.

I love my Chiefs. I'm sure that nostalgia has a lot to do with my affinity for The Chief. I'd give a body part to own a copy of the first run of The Chief. But my money's on they're all being displayed in law enforcement museums and agencies, and that probably as it should be.

I'm realistic. My P239 .40 is a much better bad guy carry gun, which is darn near a non sequitur because I couldn't tell you the last time I've carried.

If I were to buy another dedicated self-defense handgun, it'd probably be a Shield, which says a lot coming from a committed Sig dude.

I do think revolvers will continue to be produced; however, I'd expect supply to shrink due to demand for semis.

My guess is a 5-round .44 Special on a K Frame would do well; something like the Bulldog. If that's not doable, put a rim on the .40 S&W, and develop a 5-round K Frame for it. A 180 grain .40 S&W bullet has demonstrable efficacy.

Overall, I'd expect to see more demand for the Shield than revolvers for CCW work.
 
GTBL: If S&W was getting ready to release something new and wonderful, chances are we would have caught wind of it at SHOT Show. As for "Wishes", we have a special section for posting them, which I hope, S&W monitors to gauge which way the wind is blowing. :D
 
Not always

The Chief was perfect when introduced. It's a belly gun. Its intent is quickly to battery in a close encounter of the deadly kind. A good guy would have to be extremely knowledgeable of survivor tactics and lucky to remain vertical were he to suffer the grave misfortune of confronting two bad guys while armed with a belly gun. In essence, The Chief, like all belly guns, is a one bad guy gun.

I know that a good quality semi is tactically superior to my beloved Chiefs. If I lived in a gang plagued city, I'd screw the whole idea of a compact handgun. I'd go with an excellent, full-size 1911-A1, which was designed by JMB as an offensive battle handgun, in an excellent holster such as Blackpoint Tactical's Leather Wing, and at least two spare mags. It would be loaded with 230 grain ammo. I'd be good with 230 grain ball, but I'd probably use 230 grain Fed HST Tactical.

As far as belly guns go, The Chief is The Chief of belly guns.
You missed the story of the NYC police officer that was a customer at a beauty salon. Three felons attempt a robbery. Drawing her Chief from under her cape, 3 shots, 3 stopped robbers. That said. If I had to go to a place more expecting trouble I'd want more gun. For me it be my LC9s. 7 or 9shots and a faster reload
 
Speaking to the Smith reps at the past several SHOT Shows, the IL is here to stay.

Too bad!! Lucky I have enough guns that there is nothing they could make that would entice me to buy a new one!!

And I still wonder why they seem glued to the IL in the revolvers, but have none in their autos???
 
You missed the story of the NYC police officer that was a customer at a beauty salon. Three felons attempt a robbery. Drawing her Chief from under her cape, 3 shots, 3 stopped robbers. That said. If I had to go to a place more expecting trouble I'd want more gun. For me it be my LC9s. 7 or 9shots and a faster reload

She was very, very, beyond extremely lucky. Were the robbers armed?

I know of an armed robbery in LA County that didn't turn out well for an off-duty cop who was armed with a Chief.

Unless another person or she was in imminent peril, I'd of advised her to be a live witness. It's never a wise idea to initiate a gunfight that might result in a shootout that is the cause of another's death...unless there is no other option. The felony murder rule exonerates the good guy for murder of another and inculpates the suspects. In fact, the surviving suspects can be charged under the felony murder rule for the death of a suspect killed by a cop or a good guy.

Finally, it's logical fallacy to cite an exception to any rule in attempt to invalidate it. Always go with the rule, not an exception to it.
 
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