Just looked at the " S&W Lineup"

[hemiram]

It's sad, but S&W could be out of business as far as I'm concerned, since they currently make nothing I would buy. I don't want the extra hole in my revolvers, I don't want plastic/scandium at all, and I don't want striker anything either. I guess it's used S&W's, or no S&W's at all.

 

[Swabby]

I guess if there is a positive side to any of this, it would be that a significant number of used 3rd Gen autos (9's and 40's mostly) have flooded the market recently. I don't just mean the CDNN, Robertson's, etc guns, but more than 50 3rd Gen autos have sold on Gunbroker for less than $300 each in the past few months. And, those were only the ones I had on my watchlist. Seems there is a mass exodus from these models by law enforcement, and those who want to carry what law enforcement carries. Luckily, most of them are becoming available to us. Even if S&W never goes back to the 3rd Gen design, I think there are enough of them out there to keep us die hards happy for the next 50 years.

A classic series of 3rd Gen autos would be awesome, right up until you flipped it over and saw the lock on the slide. Or, flipped it over and saw the price tag. I think we would all be better off just sniping the best of the used and police trade-ins. I don't think anybody can argue about a 3rd Gen Smith being an awesome gun for $300.

 

[EB71]

If anyone at S&W would bother to track the auction sites, it would be clear to them that there's still a fair market for 3d gens. A huge market? No, but what size is the market for all the obscure retro revolvers they keep churning out? And the 20 different flavors of 1911?

 

[blujax01]

I guess if there is a positive side to any of this, it would be that a significant number of used 3rd Gen autos (9's and 40's mostly) have flooded the market recently. I don't just mean the CDNN, Robertson's, etc guns, but more than 50 3rd Gen autos have sold on Gunbroker for less than $300 in the past few months. And, those were only the ones I had on my watchlist. Seems there is a mass exodus from these models by law enforcement, and those who want to carry what law enforcement carries. Luckily, most of them are becoming available to us. Even if S&W never goes back to the 3rd Gen design, I think there are enough of them out there to keep us die hards happy for the next 50 years....

Yep - another ad in the Columbus Dispatch this morning. Vance Outdoors selling police trade 5906's w/ 3 mags for $299 and 5906 TSW (again, 3 mags) for $329.

It's a different generation. The vast majority of buyers are looking for polymer guns. To them, steel auto's are almost as quaint as revolvers. Think "8-Track" and "Cassette Deck".

The same thing goes for rifles and shotguns. Wood is for old folks.

Sorry ...

 

[photoman]

Now that electronic fuel injection has be perfected and is ultra-reliable, who needs a carburetor?! Ooops! Wrong forum.

Plastic guns have some distinct advantages for the consumer and manufacturer and that's not going to change.

The big problem with the 3rd gen S&W's, in my opinion, was the massive complexity of the product line. That's always been a marketing strategy at S&W that I never understood. Most gun purchasers, both retail and LE/Mil are not interested in collecting 12 different minor variations of the same design. They are looking for a simple, reliable firearm.

I think S&W could have easily continued the 3rd gen product line with a reliable, Sc framed DAO in the three major calibers and been competitive.