Model 15-4ever
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New S&W Revolvers for 2023
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robertrwalsh
SWCA Member
I think I just saw a unicorn run by.
cmj8591
Member
It's all about the green. Plastic guns are cheap to make and everybody is using them. The profit margin on a revolver is less and the only people who buy them is the niche market that is into shooting, which is a small segment of the guns sold. I'm afraid that revolver production has gone the way of blue, carbon steel and cut checkered wood grips.
It will be interesting to see how both S&W and Ruger do going forward as they report declining revenues which their shareholders don't want to hear. Do they keep up with the high volume and cheaper to produce vs. the more profitable lower volume i.e. the traditional revolvers? IMO
I hate to be agreeing with this but true. I am able steel and wood fan, and even when S&W does come out with something interesting, it will be in that hideous stainless with rubber grips. Bring out a blued 986 no lock, and I will be in line.
I will also say I feel we are close to market saturation with plastic frame autos, and considering how well colt is doing with reintroduced revolvers, perhaps S&W will get the memo?
Doubtful S&W will get the memo. As far as I've read the only revolver manufacturing is in their original plant in Massachusetts. Agreed with what has been said here. The semi-autos are the bigger money makers, not revolvers...
Personally. I hope they do not make any new or increase production of revolvers. The quality of their offerings is sad. I’ll just stick to buying used Smiths from a time when S&W had quality machinists and smiths and did not rely on the public to be the QC department.
S&W could set up a completely new, modern, small volume revolver shop at the new location, focusing on high quality high price offerings competing with Colt/Manurhin/Spohr/Korth. Even if they wouldn't sell all that many, the halo effect alone would be worth it.
I don't know what they pay their parts assemblers, but perhaps if they paid a better rate they may get better people. I spent 3 car payments on a beautiful M 27-9, blue & wood 4", put 30 rounds through it of .38 spl., and the forcing cone got a chunk taken out of it. 2 months later I get it back, and a totally new problem with the timing or something on 4 of 6 chambers. I really hope to shoot it someday. It's sitting on some shelf back at S&W again. 1st trip took two months; maybe in another month I'll get it back working.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
Photog
Member
I used to look forward to coverage of the SHOT show...not anymore. Most is about the "newest, bestest, mostest, "tactical" weapons", that companies are producing. Honestly, I would not be surprised to find some company claim that they have improved the AR platform tremendously by changing a hex head screw to a torx screw, or offering a never seen before, custom shade of FDE stock; maybe offering a 32 position collapsible stock so if you happen to be wearing an extra heavy tee shirt you can get that "perfect" fit. It seems that there are 100's of "improvements" on the basic Glock style ignition system that have appeared throughout the years. One thing I will give Colt a lot of credit for is that they don't have a tupperware handgun, their AR line has not changed that much, and they have reintroduced/manufactured new revolvers. From the way the new Python and Anaconda are selling, seems like the "old" steel and wood revolvers are not dead. Just my opinion.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
New S&W revolvers for 2023
How many more different ways are there to build a revolver, especially ways that improve it? IMO, S&W should set their Wayback Machine to 1960. Unfortunately, what sold for $65 back then would require a mortgage to be affordable today.
How many more different ways are there to build a revolver, especially ways that improve it? IMO, S&W should set their Wayback Machine to 1960. Unfortunately, what sold for $65 back then would require a mortgage to be affordable today.
Protocall_Design
Vendor
The one thing they could do is make a better DA trigger pull from the factory. No one has done that yet, even Korth, Manhurin, Janz, etc. That would put them ahead of everyone else in the revolver market.
I have invented 2 new actions based on the S&W platform that are better than any of them. One is a drop in hammer kit, and one is a super light action that the hammer and trigger only goes back about 1/2 the normal amount. These actions make people want a revolver. If I can do it, S&W should be able to do it. It wouldn't cost any more to make them like that, either.
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cmj8591
Member
Police department and military contracts are where the S&W money is being made. They pump out the M&P's and ship them by the pallet around the world. The next market is self defense. People who are not shooters who are buying a gun to carry or put in the sock draw want cheap, reliable and easy to use, in that order. They drive the J frame sales and the plastics that are designed for ease of use. That's why you see more J frame revolvers in the line up than other styles and it's why they put so much effort in developing the "E-Z" line for example. Sport shooting is a small part of the picture and collecting is even less. Lets face it, not a lot of people want to spend what it costs to make a high end revolver. Colt is riding the Python wave by producing a gun that has been in demand but not available for a long time. It won't take them long before the demand is met and sales tail off. It's not like there going to get any police contracts for them. Then they will reduce or stop production all together. I doubt there are a lot of the brain trust at S&W talking about how much profit the company will make if they introduce a carbon blue, hand fitted $2000 model 27. It's the law of supply and demand and simple economics and it's what keeps them in business.
Tanners Owner
US Veteran
Personally, I’d like to see S&W bring back several of the classics ( for me I’d like to see a 22-4 4”) in select revolvers and select Gen 3 semi autos.
Agree the money is in the volume polymer striker guns enable, but to me S&W is the iconic revolver manufacturer
My wish may not be yours
Agree the money is in the volume polymer striker guns enable, but to me S&W is the iconic revolver manufacturer
My wish may not be yours
Does the X-Frame in .350 Legend count?
Not that I expect a stampede for that one, but it is new and I don't recall seeing it before the ball dropped.
Honestly, I'm a revolver guy and a 642 is the only S&W I've bought new since they went to 3 digit model designations ("dashes" not included.)
I was tempted by a 610 just before COVID but passed since I had just gotten rid of all my 10mm/.40 reloading dies and components.
Not that I expect a stampede for that one, but it is new and I don't recall seeing it before the ball dropped.
Honestly, I'm a revolver guy and a 642 is the only S&W I've bought new since they went to 3 digit model designations ("dashes" not included.)
I was tempted by a 610 just before COVID but passed since I had just gotten rid of all my 10mm/.40 reloading dies and components.
junglefighter
US Veteran
The IL is is now not needed in revolvers, as Colt and Ruger do not have them and I have not read of any lawsuits reguarding revolvers. If they only made new T.V. shows and movies with someone using a revolver, it might increase production and new revolvers might start to be mfg. In this post I am only stating that I like revolvers.
All about the market demographics. As kids the current under 40 watched action movies featuring high capacity semi's, whereas we were outside twirling our Roy Rodgers six shooters and arguing about whose turn it was to play the Indian.
Ask a newbie to guns if they'd rather spend the time to master a heavier, all metal six shooter that requires practiced proficiency to reload quickly, or a point and spray semi that can be reloaded with eyes closed at half the cost.
Costs Glock $100 or so to assemble a plastic pistol that is in global demand, vs Colt or Smith building a quality stainless revolver with a limited demand.
The older, avid revolver collectors with the coin to drive up prices at auction and buy those new Colt's? Makes one wonder what that demand will be like 20 or 30 years from now when they've aged over.
Ask a newbie to guns if they'd rather spend the time to master a heavier, all metal six shooter that requires practiced proficiency to reload quickly, or a point and spray semi that can be reloaded with eyes closed at half the cost.
Costs Glock $100 or so to assemble a plastic pistol that is in global demand, vs Colt or Smith building a quality stainless revolver with a limited demand.
The older, avid revolver collectors with the coin to drive up prices at auction and buy those new Colt's? Makes one wonder what that demand will be like 20 or 30 years from now when they've aged over.
No Quarter
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I don't know... Kimber did a pretty good job of coming out with a nice new iteration of the revolver platform. They are still selling well. I think it is possible, but S&W carries a lot of financial baggage.
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