New vs. old Smith & Wessons...

[PALADIN85020]

OK, call me old fashioned. But the more I think about it, the more I appreciate the older Smith & Wesson handguns. And here, I'm referring to those made prior to 1995. I know that new materials, CNC machining. MIM and stamped parts, internal locks, rubber stocks and boiler-plate instructions are essential to lower cost manufacturing and political correctness, but I really appreciate the older guns made in the old way. Forged steel, hand-fitted parts that look right and function right. Nicely-grained wood stocks that are handsome. Instruction sheets that match the gun rather than being "generic." No product warnings that state the obvious (guns are dangerous, etc.). Handsome presentation cases. Pinned and recessed elegance. And the hell of it is, the modern guns cost more at retail than their finer excellent condition predecessors do on the used market.

U.S. Firearms makes Colt single action replicas better than the modern ones made by Colt. I wonder if they could make Smith and Wessons better, too? I read about over-torqued barrels, warped cranes, cracked frames, burrs and polishing defects, heavy trigger pulls, malfunctioning internal locks etc., and I'm sure that's due to the bean-counters pushing to get the product out the door cheaply and expeditiously. Wouldn't it really be cheaper to make them right before they are shipped rather than have to take returns in order to fix the boo-boos?

Here's the way Smiths ought to look - the word is elegance and it's missing today. The more or less nostalgic "classic series" guns still aren't made or fitted in the old way, and the details no longer match the originals.

Here's what I'm talking about, folks. These are worthy of the name "Smith & Wesson!"

John

I rest my case.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I am like you I like the older S&W's to. Your guns are great and the photography is wonderful. Don

 

[feralmerril]

Dont get me started! I feel the same way. Truth is, to me stainless guns are even newbies. Outside of buying a new ruger flat top .44 special recently, probley my "newest" guns are 35 years old, on back.

 

[RonJ]

Back in the sixty's and seventies I heard much the same thing except it was pre 1965 (pre Bangor Punta) and before that it was pre-war. I wonder where the cutoff date will be in 2065?

 

[Badkarma 1]

Definetly uped the "DROOL factor" there PALADIN85020! I too continue to haunt gun shows for older Smiths, as well as pawn shops. Many thanks for the pictures, "gun art" is highly underated! Dale

 

[dentkimterry]

Do you shoot any of those?

 

[bmcgilvray]

New versus old Smith & Wessons? I know the outcome to that one. Old wins because I'm willing to own the oldies and unwilling to even try the first new one.

Thanks Paladin, for the tremendously fine photo display!

 

[bootsdeal]

I bought a Model 36 snubbie in 1972. Still is in perfect condition. Probably less than 1000 rounds through it. Also have a model 642 snubbie bought 2 years ago. I'll take the Model 36 anytime, along with my old Ruger Police Service Six in 357. Another excellent revolver.

 

[Kavinsky]

old without a doubt, I just have little faith in the modern ones especially after reading that report at gunzone about 340pd: gunzone 340pd 1000 bucks and it still broke! and the pushing the envelope link on the same page, where it seems like smith and wesson designed the thing on a computer and didnt actually test that model of gun before they put it out on the market and you cant help but wonder if that applies to there other new revolvers as well.

plus the key lock goes against the whole point of going with a revolver over a semi auto

I go with a revolver because theres no safety lever to screw me over in a fight if I'm not thinking straight while trying to dodge bullets and in a way that key lock is far worse than a normal safety lever because you cant just easily turn it off and you'd be screwed if it was in the on position and you dont have that little tool with you.

and the ones from the 50's all the way up to 1980 just have a feel that the new ones cant match because of the way they were made, they just feel of a superior quality to the new ones and cheaper too.

New Classic M29 with not quite there wooden grips and key lock: $1000 bucks

Old M29-2 6 1/2 inch pre 1980 with a better feel to it and no key lock: $800

however when it comes to there semi autos its a different matter to an extent, I've heard nothing really bad about the 645/4506 and the 10mm series that was derived from them, although that M and P just feels like a plastic toy to me, and the trigger was just lousy (I was like this is what the big deal is all about? this is the gun they were talking about? are you sure?) although it probably functions just fine.

 

[fiasconva]

There just ain't anything polymer or plastic that can even compare to those. Great pics and I want one of each.

 

[dkees]

I agree. I don't own a Smith made after 1970.

 

[feralmerril]

I am going to show some pictures of the older western type guns I used to collect. I really liked these type guns. Unfortunatly, most were stold from me many years ago.

 

[Kavinsky]

What's with the spare barrel and ejector rod for the Colt there?

 

[feralmerril]

That colt was made in 1906 and sent to the copper queen mine at bisbee arizona. Started out as a 44 wcf in 4 3/4". Before I got it, it was totaly restored and redone in .44 special to 7 1/2" by old gun writer tommy bish and al capone that owned king gun works. I found a short cristy barrel and ejector houseing and had it put on. I didnt like the setup as it really wouldnt kick out the fired shells, too short. Had it redone back.

 

[Raider]

My wife and I love the older Smith revolvers and the Mod 39 revolvers. We won't even consider the new models.

Charlie

 

[Kavinsky]

hmm sounds like a real piece of history as do all of your guns by the looks of them.

 

[ladder13]

No argument with the OP, at all.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Do you shoot any of those?

Most of them, I do. Some are safe queens by virtue of being unfired or nearly so, and/or so old I don't want to risk lowering their condition or value by firing them. But mostly, yes, I do wring them out on occasion. After all, that's what guns are for! Still, very few get fired extensively, and all are lovingly cared for.

John

 

[snowman]

You have a nice group of guns there, sir. Thank you for sharing the pictures with us.

I share your affinity for the presentation target grips as well as for the older models. I've been in the process of replacing the checkered ones on my older Smiths.

Andy

 

[18DAI]

Thats a beautiful collection of real S&W's PALADIN85020.

Nice to see some good looking S&W revolvers.....from the left side too! Regards 18DAI.