Questionable quality S&W

[Windageandelevation]

Hello friends, bought little jframe 637 used and try to get side plate off and give once over. I can honestly say i am very impressed with the level of machine work and lack of tool marks left in the trigger pocket. Compared to some older Smith with much more noticeable end mill tooling marks. Machining really has become more precise. Read articles various places saying smith overpriced garbage, not the case are their issues with modern day manufacturing , certainly but this example is not one of them. Just thought i would share my experience.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

I have noticed that many of the people who talk garbage about this gun or that gun have never owned them,but are simply repeating what they`ve heard

 

[627Pro]

Hello friends, bought little jframe 637 used and try to get side plate off and give once over. I can honestly say i am very impressed with the level of machine work and lack of tool marks left in the trigger pocket. Compared to some older Smith with much more noticeable end mill tooling marks. Machining really has become more precise. Read articles various places saying smith overpriced garbage, not the case are their issues with modern day manufacturing , certainly but this example is not one of them. Just thought i would share my experience.

Now this is where a picture or two would be helpful, to show off that modern S&W manufacturing machine work.

 

[Oracle]

I have watched videos of Hickok45 taking down both S&W and Ruger revolvers. The take down for Smith's was more straightforward and easy, the Ruger take down reminded me of taking down and reassembling my Ruger Mark II .22 LR. I don't want to trash Ruger, they build some hefty revolvers.

 

[white cloud]

It kind of depends. My wife's three year old Model 67 is a very nice gun I bought a 640 Pro last summer. The cylinder gap was really bad. I sent it back to the mother ship and it was straightened out. It is now a nice gun. I had some S&Ws from back in the 70s and 80s that were terrible guns. IMHO, those guns back then had an elegance that some of the newer revolvers don't have. However, I don't think quality is lower in the newer guns. I do wish they would get rid of the "hole" and some of those new "target" grips are the horrors. I like Ruger revolvers a lot.

 

[bearman49709]

Thank you for the good report, we usually just hear if something is wrong.

 

[Windageandelevation]

Well can't figure out how get photograph on here any suggestions

 

[USMC_1978]

It kind of depends. My wife's three year old Model 67 is a very nice gun I bought a 640 Pro last summer. The cylinder gap was really bad. I sent it back to the mother ship and it was straightened out. It is now a nice gun. I had some S&Ws from back in the 70s and 80s that were terrible guns. IMHO, those guns back then had an elegance that some of the newer revolvers don't have. However, I don't think quality is lower in the newer guns. I do wish they would get rid of the "hole" and some of those new "target" grips are the horrors. I like Ruger revolvers a lot.

You mentioned S&W product quality during the 70/80s, that was across the board during that time. Compare Harley Davidson/AMF then and now, no comparison.

 

[mikeruns]

I have had good luck with 3 different new s&w handguns over the last 6 years or so...tight amd accurate. The M29 mtn gun has the lock which I am over worrying about, the 642 is a no lock gun and the other is an m&p sub-compact 9mm....I like them and have about 15 others that range from 1920-1990's as well....one thing to note about the super clean machining on your revolver is the alloy cuts very easy compared to their carbon and stainless frames...I am happy with the quality of the newer guns but some of the aestatics of markings and new wood grips and or rubber leave something to desire....I changed the grips out for some after market wood grips on the mtn gun as the 2 sets that came with it from the factory were quite homely although the rubber ones were quite comfortable.
I'm glad you are happy with the good quality and functioning of your model 37 though. I do like the rubber grips that came on my 642 and the aestatics on it are quite good compared to some of the k, L and n frames I see around....the accuracy is really good and I am getting to accept some of the modern changes as time goes on and mine keep shooting as well as they do.
Cheers, Mike

 

[DonD]

The internet wasn't really around for much of the production life of older style revolvers.

I'd submit that many older revolvers, though quite serviceable became "retired" as their owners grew older and their health declined etc.

So, that leaves us with the internet which I think anyone who is being objective about the issue would agree, gives a world wide voice to complaints and whining about ANYTHING, no matter how trivial.

I'm not for a moment suggesting that new revolvers coming out of Smith never have QC issues but in general, they're made of better steel (not discussing scandium here) held to tighter tolerances due to CNC machining and require far less hand fitting, something Smith will state. I've owned 5 Model 500s all excellent and well manufactured guns. All have had outstanding triggers. I'm down to 2 Model 500s which are both keepers. Have been shooting them regularly since 2003. Don

 

[Windageandelevation]

The last three smiths I've looked at are from roughly 2007-2012. One of them scandium,one of them aluminum and one of them carbon steel. All the pocket work was very cleanly machined. I am now working on a 686-4 i believe from 87-88 time period it is stainless and exhibits the same quality machined pockets as the rest. I have several older ones i will take a peek at and share with you guys here is a 2007 386 scs pocket. Thanks Danny

 

[CH4]

What about the big fool mark above the cylinder latch?

 

[Collo Rosso]

I am happy with the quality of the newer guns but some of the aestatics of markings and new wood grips and or rubber leave something to desire....I changed the grips out for some after market wood grips on the mtn gun as the 2 sets that came with it from the factory were quite homely although the rubber ones were quite comfortable.

Half the fun of a new revolver is shopping around for new grips!

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

We get the quality that we are willing to pay for. S&W does the best they can while remaining competitive. Not much consolation for those who have had to send back their guns, but stricter quality would call for higher prices that we have proven that we collectively will not pay before going to competitors.

 

[oysterer]

I do like the new production quality and would not mind having some. I cant cross that bridge as long as they put the internal lock on them and as long there is ample supply of nice vintage guns out there. I do believe that the internal lock costs them BIG.

 

[Windageandelevation]

I voiced my opinion to them regarding the lock, the reply was nothing but overeducated speak saying nothing regarding my comment. But that's thier business. Im not fan of it but thoroughly checking out the quality of the few i have i can overlook it. One i even got the block off plug for, thzt guy does very fine quality plug and doesn't look to bad either.i can't believe they put that square barcode symbol right on the side of the new python or some of the safety warning on rugars to.

 

[RonPagan]

Its been years since I looked at a beretta 92 and I was seriously considering a compact 92 since I always thought they looked great. Flip the pistol over to discover a manifesto of warnings on the slide. No new beretta for me I guess. So internal lock, CAUTION CAPABLE OF FIRING WITH MAGAZINE REMOVED, the python qr code all seem to be industry standard which is a shame to say the least.
I will add that my 329, my only new Smith and Wesson, is very nice. A trigger as wide as the old targets but without serrations? Perfect. Wide target hammer? Nice. All 6 throats cut the same size and a properly sized bore to match them rounds it off. I wish my 625s had that trigger and hammer combo but back then smith and Wesson were obsessed with skinny little triggers and hammers. I've also got/had plenty of older Smiths with throats that are grossly oversized. So sometimes new is good.

 

[Windageandelevation]

Little j frame with black keyhole plug, and 686-4 trigger pocket