Current Production Smiths

[lhump1961]

I own nothing but Smiths...old and new, revolvers and autos. Every one of 'em has made me happy! My son-in-law has Rugers and I have shot them plenty (along with most everything else over the years) but I keep buying Smiths.

I agree with Inthewoods...don't over think it, if you like the look and feel of a Smith then BUY IT! They are quality made American guns.

 

[OldBlood]

dwpmusic, The barrel problem I have is the only problem i've had. If you are buying in a store, check out the gun prior to buying it. If it looks good and passes the tests, I'm sure you will have a good gun.

 

[Lützow]

OK, folks, the bottom line here is that I want some input from all you highly knowledgeable folks about the current revolvers that S&W is offering. I know that not many care for the lock and I don't either but that notwithstanding, what else is wrong with them? I know that most products have deteriorated over the years but are the current Smiths just a piece of junk? Will they fall apart? Are they just not as accurate? Do they hang up? I've got one current production Smith which is my wife's 642-2 complete with Crimson Trace laser which I paid a handsome price for. Hasn't had but about 300 rounds fired through it. It seems OK. Bottom line is this. Nostalgia is fine and I'm all for it but if I knew I could buy something new that was as good as something old I'd opt for the new in some cases. What are some of your thoughts? I still want a 27 or a 28 vintage. I just hate to see something as American as S&W turning out junk, if in fact that's what they're doing. Are they?

Well, here is my 2 cents. I am a revolver user since way back (1980). I have been using a Dan Wesson 8" model 15-2 in .357 mag for varmint control and small game hunting around the farm. I recently acquired my concealed carry permit and wanted a lighter, more compact, revolver to carry in a shoulder rig. I had always admired Smith and Wesson revolvers so I ended up purchasing a new 386 XL Hunter in .357 with a 6" barrel.

So far I am disappointed. I suspect the barrel is off center in the frame. I had to adjust the sights to their maximum up and to the right settings to zero at 10 yards. Groups are much larger then with my Dan Wesson. SA trigger pull, after a spring kit and honing, is 5-5.5 pounds. Barrel cylinder gap is .009". The finish on the barrel showed sines of wear after a couple dozen test fittings in a leather Bianchi X-15 holster.

The gun is back with S&W at the moment. I hope that they will send it back good to go. I have my doubts at this point. In the meantime I am scanning the internet classifieds for clean used pythons and older Smiths. Some gun makers do still make them like they used to - Anschütz comes to mind. Someone else in this thread mentioned that you could always go out and buy a Korth for $4000. If I knew of a gun shop where I could actually examine a Korth in person and puchase it for only $4000, I would be there in a flash with my checkbook in hand!

 

[trukinjp13]

Yeah I had a bad experience with a brand new one too. I'm glad I ordered a different one hopefully it's not crooked and shatty looking too. It's sad to pay thais kinda money and get boned.

 

[Lützow]

S&W's only real competition is Ruger. Both of my Ruger revolvers are excellent guns. Want to pay $4K for a Korth and have nothing north of a .357, go right ahead.

If S&W's QA and product engineering were so shoddy, they wouldn't be the dominant revolver manufacturer in the world, someone would have run them out of business but that hasn't happened. Don[/QUOTE]

So, a company can not stay in business selling shoddy products? How then do you explain the success of Wall-Mart?

Also, where can I find one of those $4000 Korths?

 

[notsofast]

Smith owes quality products to its brand and the consumers. They need to employ people who are able and realize the importance of their responsibility to an icon.

 

[DonD]

S&W's only real competition is Ruger. Both of my Ruger revolvers are excellent guns. Want to pay $4K for a Korth and have nothing north of a .357, go right ahead.

If S&W's QA and product engineering were so shoddy, they wouldn't be the dominant revolver manufacturer in the world, someone would have run them out of business but that hasn't happened. Don

So, a company can not stay in business selling shoddy products? How then do you explain the success of Wall-Mart?

Also, where can I find one of those $4000 Korths?[/QUOTE]

Shoddy products?? Perhaps some cheap products to go along with the same stuff you get the privilege of paying 50% more for elsewhere.

I love the opportunity to pay so much more for the same product at other stores. Don

 

[stevej615]

I'm coming at this issue fromn a little different perspective. I have two Model 27-2 revolvers with the 8 3/8" barrel. One is a shooter, though I have probably put less than 1000 rounds through it, with maybe 150 max .357 Magnum. I was thinking of selling my other 27-2 which is unfired, bought new in the mid 70's as a spare. I'm going to keep it. I don't consider myself a collector, but if my shooter 27-2 were to be stolen from the trunk of my car, for example, I would hate to replace it with a new gun after some of the things I've read on this forum.

 

[CWH44300]

Ive had zero problems with my new smiths, can't say that about all my old ones or my rugers. Just my two cents but ill take the new ones

 

[nipster]

I have not and never will own a smith with a lock. I have shot recent 686 and model 60 with the lock and other new models.

Things I hate:

1. the lock
2. 2 piece barrels where applicable
3. moving the firing pin from the hammer to an internal firing pin
4. removal of the recess on the cylinder
5. general other cost cutting like MIM molded pieces instead of forged
6. obviously poor quality control in some cases (crooked barrels, etc)

I also dont like the fact that they have discontinued most of the blue guns and entire models like the 19, 66, 13, 586, etc

 

[Duke426]

I've owned S&Ws made between 1922 and about 2005. My newest production gun is a Thunder Ranch .44 Special. It's one of the most accurate, nicest action revolvers I've ever owned. Fit, finish, bluing are VERY nice.

That being said, I have noticed a steep decline in the fit and finish of the new guns I've examined in the last 5 years or so. The gritty actions, barrels being canted to the side, poorly fitted sideplates, the cheap laser engraved logos and barrel markings, etc scream CHEAP!! They don't look or handle any better than the Taurus revolvers do.

I don't care for the lock and MIM parts but it hasn't prevented me from buying guns that have them. I do have a problem shelling out good money for something that looks like it was finished & slapped together by a 16 year old stoner in High School shop class, then praying I don't have to send it back for work.

 

[amazingflapjack]

I have recently sold some NIB unfired S&W revolvers, and in the process of emailing prospective buyers, after seeing that my description of the gun was accurate, some of them said that they thought it was a "real nice gun" but that they wanted one to shoot. "Well, here is a brand new one to shoot," was my thought. Obviously, some bought the gun as soon as they saw the condition. Some wanted them for specific gun competitions, etc, and I understand that, but why would anyone pass on a brand new gun made 30+- years ago, and then go throw down a hand full of a new holer?! I guess some of them just didn't want to pay what I was asking, or whatever, or maybe they just couldn't get past the "that's an old gun" Thang? Flapjack.

 

[scooter123]

Keep in mind that we have the Internet today. This means that anyone who has a problem can put it on the net where it can be seen by anyone who looks.

Personally I've purchase 3 new revolvers since 2008 and really can't complain about any of them. Yeah, my 625 JM needed a bit of work due to a cocked barrel but I had already planned on doing a custom crown on the barrel so it was simply a matter of paying attention when I re-installed it. As for my 620, just wish I'd purchased 2 when they were being made, it's the most accurate handgun I've ever shot.

 

[DonD]

I have not and never will own a smith with a lock. I have shot recent 686 and model 60 with the lock and other new models.

Things I hate:

1. the lock
2. 2 piece barrels where applicable
3. moving the firing pin from the hammer to an internal firing pin
4. removal of the recess on the cylinder
5. general other cost cutting like MIM molded pieces instead of forged
6. obviously poor quality control in some cases (crooked barrels, etc)

I also dont like the fact that they have discontinued most of the blue guns and entire models like the 19, 66, 13, 586, etc

Gee, pushing the state of science aren't you?:
1. Lock- doesn't hurt anything, don't like it, remove it
2. 2 piece barrels- reduce stress on the frame, particularly with high intensity cartridges. That's bad right? Geeze
3. firing pin in frame-an engineering and safety improvement, another bad idea right? You'd rather see someone's toes blown off or worse if they dropped a loaded gun?
4. Recessed cylinder bores, accomplish absolutely nothing with rimmed cases.
5. MIM, just as strong as forged.
6. Poor QA as if that never happened in the past.
Don

 

[gr7070]

I have recently sold some NIB unfired S&W revolvers, ...why would anyone pass on a brand new gun made 30+- years ago, and then go throw down a hand full of a new holer?! Flapjack.

Because an unfired used gun would likely command a premium that the same fired model would not. No reason for them to eat that loss in value.

And fwiw those aren't NIB or brand new guns you're selling.

 

[gr7070]

Keep in mind that we have the Internet today. This means that anyone who has a problem can put it on the net where it can be seen by anyone who looks.

Somewhat similarly, an older used gun has likely had all its warts removed now. Therefore there's less opportunity to see complaints here.

Although some would have you believe those old guns were always perfect. Maybe that's why they didn't have a warranty. Of course if that were the case they would have had a warranty as it would have cost S&W nothing to warrant.

There are things to like about buying an old gun. Most of the things people dislike about the new ones are irrational and the outrage is disproportionate to the actual issue.

 

[strangelittleman]

I own 7 S&W revolvers, w/ born on dates from 1959 to 2010.
Of the collection, 3 have the Frame Mounted Firing Pin (686+Mtn Gun, 686SSR, 386NG) 2 have MIM parts (a 686+ Mtn Gun and 386NG, whereas the 686SSR has a forged TRGR & HMR) two have the IL (the 686SSR & 386NG) and one has the 2-piece bbl (the 386NG).
The above mentioned revolvers have some or all the dreaded modern manufacturing techniques applied to them, yet they have been excellent products w/ excellent QC and workmanship.
I have fired hundreds of rounds through each w/ 0 problems. One day, I fired 200 full power .357Mag 125grJHPs and the same number of 158gr JSPs through the lightweight 386NG in an effort to make the IL malfunction and my hand wore out before I could get the IL to magically shift to the locked position.
Do I like the IL? Hell no, I just don't use it. I think the customer should have the choice, as they do on the M&P auto line of products.
I have liked all the periods of S&W revolvers that I own, but the periods that I've noticed the most QC problems and the most shoddy workmanship is definitely the revolvers of the early 1980's.
Today's S&W product is at least as good as any period preceeding, in some cases perhaps even better.
Let me put it this way, I carry the 386NG, everyday, as my off-duty piece, I trust it that much.

 

[StatesRightist]

Old Smiths never had a problem, it was a miracle, if you dropped them on water they would walk across it, not sink......lol.

There is nothing wrong with the new guns, they have issues and some are lemons, just like any mass manufactured product in history has had. I own old and new guns, all are high quality. If you want to be an illogical curmudgeon knock yourself out, just don't expect thinking people to support you. Are they put together by hand anymore? No. Are they pieces of junk, no again. We have gained innovation, but lost a little craftsmanship, this is how it goes in life.

 

[strangelittleman]

Well stated.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Old Smiths never had a problem, it was a miracle, if you dropped them on water they would walk across it, not sink......lol.

There is nothing wrong with the new guns, they have issues and some are lemons, just like any mass manufactured product in history has had. I own old and new guns, all are high quality. If you want to be an illogical curmudgeon knock yourself out, just don't expect thinking people to support you. Are they put together by hand anymore? No. Are they pieces of junk, no again. We have gained innovation, but lost a little craftsmanship, this is how it goes in life.

True, but hand finish & pride in workmanship did have it's place.