If this forum had a say with Smith & Wesson

Smiths are NOT Taurus and will never compete with each other.

QC, QC, QC.

I think everybody can agree on pencil barrels on all of the L frames. They can still make a few full lug 686 models, but all of their performance guns have those ugly slab slanty type barrels.
 
I'd like an M&P 9 4" compact that's ported and optics ready. So basically a ported CORE.
 
I'd like it if the M&P 10mm shipped with more than 1 magazine. And we could order spares from S&W.
 
I think it is 500 but could be more.

Many years ago there was a thread in the semi auto section to get S&W to produce a gun for those interested.

Problem was, everyone had a different idea on which gun, no one offered to start by gathering the money. No one wanted to hold the money.
It was disorganized, and never got past dreams.

9, 45, 40…. full size, compact,stainless, blue.

Best to just lobby them, imo.
I think it's dollar volume - nowadays something like $3 million minimum for a production run that requires tooling or engineering changes.
 
Okay I'll add mine........Bring back ALL the mountain gun series in all the calibers. Especially the one in .22 that they snuck out. Sold a few and quit.

I agree
Heard they made less than a thousand.22's
What was that all about? Also a J or K kit gun in .32 mag.
 
Classics?

A department that built the Classics would be nice. Too much plastic and stainless, not that I don't like stainless (easier to clean). but I do miss polished BLUE guns. Just sayin...
 
I hope the management of S&W dedicate themselves to making a profit for the company. I’m not sure CZ and Ruger have enough liquid assets to buy S&W from the bankruptcy court at this time. Now Norinco is plenty strong enough to take over but government may not allow that. I’ll just bet the management at S&W know almost as much about running a profitable company as we do.
 
As long as we’re in fantasy land I want the classic line expanded and eliminate the locks. It’s probably cheaper to manufacture without the lock. Do they legally have to continue the lock forever? I don’t know the details of the deal they made.
 
Back in the earlier days of Thompson/Center, there was an organization called the "Thompson Center Association".
They used to arrange group buys, mostly of special limited run barrels in unique lengths and chamberings, but also of Contender pistols as well.
These days, on the Cast Boolit Forum, they do an abundant number of group buys for special order molds.

So, why not propose such deal with Smith and Wesson and this forum and/or the SWCA? Set a minimum order number and commitment to buy.
I don't think the "cheapest is bestest" rule would matter much.
Look what "dash 2" N frames are selling for! Or, look at the price tag of Manurhin, Korth, Janz, or the new Spohr revolvers!
They could charge a healthy premium to make it worth the effort.
So, first up, we bring back the Registered Magnum, complete with custom order barrel lengths, sights, and registration certificates.
I'd propose they include a machine rest test target and guaranteed accuracy standard. (say, 5 shots within 1" at 25 yards.)
Price them somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500.
I think they'd sell.
 
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Given the CNC machining centers now in use, changing features on anything involves more than just skipping steps/eliminating parts. The code monkeys have to rewrite the programs and verify correctness*. And, one has to get the legal team (actually, there's a slew of "stakeholders" who have to get involved) to go along.

*There's a whole lot more to changing over production lines for different models than there used to be. Dunno if the CNC machines can store multiple programs and all the operators/setup people have to do is select from a menu. When I was on a production floor, the CNC machines were dedicated to one item.

CNC machines today can store hundreds or even thousands of different programs. Tooling changeovers can be made in minutes, or at least less than half an hour. Some tooling can be set ups so an operator is changing parts on one table while the machine is working on parts on another table for a different model. Changes to programs take minutes. Much has changed since the days of dedicating one machine to one part. Almost no one does that anymore. I spent 49 years in manufacturing plants from machinist to president. The technology today is amazing.
 
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I was ready to jump in to the.,32/.327 market a few years ago but SW bailed out and ammo was hard to find. It's just like the the new 30 super carry, I get the concept but it won't succeed without industry support
 
So, first up, we bring back the Registered Magnum, complete with custom order barrel lengths, sights, and registration certificates.
I'd propose they include a machine rest test target and guaranteed accuracy standard. (say, 5 shots within 1" at 25 yards.)
Price them somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500.
I think they'd sell.

A few years ago it was easy to find a 686 in 2.5”, 3”, 4”, 5”, 6” or 7” and changing out the front or rear sight is relatively cheap if you don’t like the stock one. They couldn’t sell them unless they priced them in the $700 range. As far as a gun registration goes, I’m guessing most won’t be interested.
 
CNC machines today can store hundreds or even thousands of different programs. Tooling changeovers can be made in minutes, or at least less than half an hour. Some tooling can be set ups so an operator is changing parts on one table while the machine is working on parts on another table for a different model. Changes to programs take minutes. Much has changed since the days of dedicating one machine to one part. Almost no one does that anymore. I spent 49 years in manufacturing plants from machinist to president. The technology today is amazing.

Robert is correct, as usual, lol. Today machining centers capabilities are amazing. Most have automatic tool changing ability coupled with robotic loading and unloading a human only “ pushes the bottom” if that. Many large work pieces are on pallets, use robots or ride a “ track” from machine to machine to complete the part. Crankshafts can be milled from the raw forged billet to ready to install in just a few hours, most of that is in annealing before grinding. Machine tools today programming systems are in small containers the size of desk top computers. 30+ years ago the same machine would have needed 20-30 feet of climate controlled cabinets. Todays inspection/ measuring/ QC systems are accurate to .OOO1” or more, simply amazing.
 
It really doesn’t matter but what WRMoore said is pretty much completely wrong nowadays. Robert’s summary in post 36 much more accurately describes modern CNC machining. It’s not the 50s and 60s any more! - thank God! The downside is that, unfortunately, keeping pace with machining technology is terribly expensive. Really tough for the small shops. Generating “code” is the least of one’s worries.

I have to agree that we’d all put S&W out of business if they followed our advice. :D I’m just happy S&W has not totally abandoned revolvers and that they continue to come up with (IMO) some interesting products. Time marches on. :o
 

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