New S&W quality

[HOUSTON RICK]

We get the quality that we are collectively willing to pay for. We are increasingly less willing to pay for quality of manufactured goods. Manufacturers have no choice but to go along.

 

[smithman]

We get the quality that we are collectively willing to pay for. We are increasingly less willing to pay for quality of manufactured goods. Manufacturers have no choice but to go along.

I disagree somewhat. A $1000 pistol is not a bargain purchase. Yet, even those are apparently getting out the door at S&W with problems.

Let's say a $350 Taurus has a cosmetic problem. Ok. I guess I wasn't willing to pay for that extra bit of assembly care. It does work though.

Let's say a $1000 Smith has a crooked barrel, gouged chambers, fails to fire, etc.. That's not ok. I theoretically paid for a relatively premium product.

Now if my $400 642 has a bit of character, I'd not get so worked up…as long as it works.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I disagree somewhat. A $1000 pistol is not a bargain purchase. Yet, even those are apparently getting out the door at S&W with problems.

Let's say a $350 Taurus has a cosmetic problem. Ok. I guess I wasn't willing to pay for that extra bit of assembly care. It does work though.

Let's say a $1000 Smith has a crooked barrel, gouged chambers, fails to fire, etc.. That's not ok. I theoretically paid for a relatively premium product.

Now if my $400 642 has a bit of character, I'd not get so worked up…as long as it works.[/QUOTE
E

Everyone has their theory. S&W is competing with a lot of cheaper manufacturers, whether you pay $1,000 or $2,000m you are buying a product competing in that price range with RIA, Taurus and other manufacturers. Collectively gun purchasers (not as much us here) have been buying what is cheaper, no questions asked. S&W cannot sustain enough volume by charging that much more than their competitors to tighten the quality. Look at what happened to Colt. I do not want to buy S&W's from Wuhan in a few years.

 

[brian686]

I have bought several of the new revolvers and two of the semi-autos, and only had one problem. The strain screw of a 686+ came loose and caused light primer strikes. It was quickly fixed at the gun shop. The other guns were in excellent condition as one should expect. My LGS is managed by a gun smith who is a long time S and W Armorer. I believe he goes over all the new guns before they make it to the show cases. Can't a gun shop refuse or send back any flawed product to the respective manufacturer or distributor? If so, why aren't they? Flawed guns should not be put out for sale in the first place.

 

[Curry Bread]

Eh, I think I will limit my new S&W purchases to things from the performance center. My L comp has been great. The 637 I got, not so much. Light primer strikes too often to be an ammo issue. Just ended up selling the gun.

 

[LCC]

For an interesting read, check out the attached on how Smith has converted from gunsmithing to production.
Believe herein lies the problem "This turns the extremely high-skilled, labor-intensive operation into an assembly job that any new employee could be trained to complete in under two weeks.


StackPath

 

[sniper]

The point is a slighty offset barrel will not have an effect on its performance. I've seen plenty of older Smith's that aren't perfect either. You're not buying a collector's item. It's a gun that's meant to be used. I'm tired of these posts that nitpick every single tiny thing and make a mole hill into a mountain. Smith's aren't any worse than any other companies offerings and are better than most, despite people trying to make it sound otherwise.

Say WHAT? Spend nearly a GRAND on a piece of equipment, even not a "collector's item" and not have the basics right? That seems to be a bit of a stretch to me. Something as vital as a straight front sight, Timing, etc. would seem to be the bare minimum a person should expect from any manufacturer. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening much these days.

 

[cmj8591]

Nothing can be as bad as what the Lear Siegler owned Smith were producing from 1986 until Thompson bought them

I think Bangor Punta gives them a run for their money in the **** category!

 

[Gliych]

The buyers of S&W firearms have become the QC department.
Corporate S&W has chosen to eliminate their QC dept. and gamble on whether the buyer will notice or care enough to return a defective firearm for repair or replacement.

 

[photoman]

For an interesting read, check out the attached on how Smith has converted from gunsmithing to production.
Believe herein lies the problem "This turns the extremely high-skilled, labor-intensive operation into an assembly job that any new employee could be trained to complete in under two weeks.


StackPath

Interesting. That was published in 2012! Given the quote below, I suggest looking for revolvers made before 2010. From the article...

"Until about two years ago," said Smith, "we had all of our revolvers hand fit by essentially gunsmiths. They would hand fit every single revolver made in the factory to the exact standards, literally with files and mallets."

 

[shocker]

Interesting. That was published in 2012! Given the quote below, I suggest looking for revolvers made before 2010. From the article...

"Until about two years ago," said Smith, "we had all of our revolvers hand fit by essentially gunsmiths. They would hand fit every single revolver made in the factory to the exact standards, literally with files and mallets."

But then 2 paragraphs down:
This is, of course, a rather dramatic throwback to a time when machining capabilities and tolerances weren't what they are today, requiring the company to purposefully enlarge the specifications for some of the component tooling to allow the fitter room to file it down and hand fit it.

 

[pistolpete10]

Quality and S&W don't go together at all any more. Don't remember the last S&W I bought that didn't have something wrong with it. Last 2 I sent back weren't repaired. One was partly repaired, the other "you bought it it's yours". Last one I bought, I just shoot single action and ignore the dip in the rib, didn't even send it back.