Range day with the 617, less then impressed.

[Mike SC Hunter]

Very few of my handguns have the rear sight centered. That’s why they put those little screws in rear sights.

Yeah, the ratchet looks a little rough, but did you buy it to look at the ratchet?

How does it shoot? That’s what really matters.

HMMM..........I have to move my rear sights to zero.......No big deal...........No problems ever with my 617.

 

[Shutthefrontdoor]

There isn't much to say on a positive note. S&W just keeps lowering the bar. I've posted here many times that most people who know how to properly check out a revolver are way better off buying a vintage S&W from around 1994 and earlier. The key to that is once again knowing what to look for and how to asses a used gun. If it isn't up to muster, walk away and keep looking - good ones are out here as the Company produced plenty of great revolvers for many years. For those new to S&W revolvers and who are not privy to how a proper check out should be done, bring an experienced S&W Guy with you!

S&W vintage revolvers that are in good condition are IMHO some of the finest revolvers ever built but they are getting older now. That is why being picky, discerning and knowledgable is a must when buying them. Yes, there are many great ones still available but do not "bargain hunt"! Most items in life are priced accordingly. We do not want you read about another purchase disaster by someone who thought he was saving a few bucks.

I blame the new CEO and management at the current S&W for destroying what the old Company was all about, their former great quality, their perfected designs, etc. They are NOT the S&W I (and most here ) grew up with. Those are just the plain, hard facts! Why they are incapable in getting their act together like Colt, Ruger, and many other who also fell down the worm hole for some time is beyond my comprehension.

If you own other S&W revolvers that are known good quality and in good repair, take note of the rear sight position. Is is close to center? Look to see of the 617's barrel is screwed on tightly and if it is lined up and centered. The sight blade sometimes will have a minuscule amount of play so it can be adjusted freely, but it should not wobble back and forth - consistency and stability is key to accuracy. Yes, the ratchets are kind of rough, however if the revolver times correctly and locks up tightly, I'd suggest leaving well enough alone. You don't want perfectly looking ratchets that are not cut right. I guess you have little choice other than to send it back for repair -and pray they actually fix it properly.

I long for the day I was able to just walk into any LGS and walk out with an issue free, perfectly made S&W revolver - did that many many times when I was younger. Of all the S&W's I purchased new, I had exactly ONE lemon that the Company said was a defective frame, couldn't be fixed and they replaced it on the spot by destroying mine and stamping my serial number on a brand new gun. That took about 3 hours when I was actually standing in the Factory building in front of the Shop's Foreman in the early 1980's. Went home with a gem (2" blued, RB, M10) that I foolishly sold a few years later but that is another story.

How much would you bet that not one person in (the current) upper management knows who William Deming was? When I was balls deep in manufacturing in the 1990's and 2000's, Deming along with Shigeo Shingo were not only essential reading - but mindset required.

 

[BoulderTroll]

There isn't much to say on a positive note. S&W just keeps lowering the bar. I've posted here many times that most people who know how to properly check out a revolver are way better off buying a vintage S&W from around 1994 and earlier. The key to that is once again knowing what to look for and how to asses a used gun. If it isn't up to muster, walk away and keep looking - good ones are out here as the Company produced plenty of great revolvers for many years. For those new to S&W revolvers and who are not privy to how a proper check out should be done, bring an experienced S&W Guy with you!

S&W vintage revolvers that are in good condition are IMHO some of the finest revolvers ever built but they are getting older now. That is why being picky, discerning and knowledgable is a must when buying them. Yes, there are many great ones still available but do not "bargain hunt"! Most items in life are priced accordingly. We do not want you read about another purchase disaster by someone who thought he was saving a few bucks.

I blame the new CEO and management at the current S&W for destroying what the old Company was all about, their former great quality, their perfected designs, etc. They are NOT the S&W I (and most here ) grew up with. Those are just the plain, hard facts! Why they are incapable in getting their act together like Colt, Ruger, and many other who also fell down the worm hole for some time is beyond my comprehension.

I've got a different take on it. I don't think Smith and Wesson are that invested in the revolver market anymore. I think they see that money comes from plastic pistols and LE contracts, and have chosen to focus on their M&P line instead, in a similar way to SIG. Sure, they still make the "Classic Series" DA/SA guns, but they know full well that it is not where the majority of their cash comes from, so it has become the red-headed stepchild of SIG, just as revolvers have with S&W.

To say that nothing positive is happening, however, I think is a bit unfair. The number one complaint that S&W revolver fans have had for decades now was the lock. Yet even now that those are coming off, S&W can still do no right in many people's minds. The three new Classic guns are a great step in the right direction, as are the mountain guns. With motivated folks like Andrew Gore heading their revolver department, they are at least making an effort to please customers. Sure, QC is lacking, but to be fair, it is lacking in nearly every major firearms company these days, due to demand and a much more transient workforce. S&W is not alone in that regard.

Long story short, you will never please everyone, even when you start making major changes to improve (as they are currently doing).

 

[Harv 24]

How much would you bet that not one person in (the current) upper management knows who William Deming was? When I was balls deep in manufacturing in the 1990's and 2000's, Deming along with Shigeo Shingo were not only essential reading - but mindset required.

SMED

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

ALWAYS ALWAYS..........Inspect before purchase............Saves a lot of ulsers and heart ache.

 

[SWFan27]

Smith & Wesson will fix any issue if you send it back for warranty work, but it stinks to have to do it. A properly working Model 617 though, is well worth the wait. It will provide a lifetime of shooting enjoyment.

 

[357 shooter]

I've got a different take on it. I don't think Smith and Wesson are that invested in the revolver market anymore. I think they see that money comes from plastic pistols and LE contracts, and have chosen to focus on their M&P line instead, in a similar way to SIG. Sure, they still make the "Classic Series" DA/SA guns, but they know full well that it is not where the majority of their cash comes from, so it has become the red-headed stepchild of SIG, just as revolvers have with S&W.

Last plastic Shield Plus I bought Smith was not willing to fix. Told then 2 different red dots sights would not zero and their response was to contact the manufactures of the optics?! Seriously? At least they are working on Harv's 617 and hope it it gets fixed properly. As for me I am totally finished buying any NEW Smiths.

As to the 617s , own a 617-1 4" and a 617-5 6". The 617-1 shoots pretty decent , the 617-5 shoots very well , probably the most accurate Smith revolver I have ever owned.

 

[SWFan27]

The own

I've got a different take on it. I don't think Smith and Wesson are that invested in the revolver market anymore. I think they see that money comes from plastic pistols and LE contracts, and have chosen to focus on their M&P line instead, in a similar way to SIG. Sure, they still make the "Classic Series" DA/SA guns, but they know full well that it is not where the majority of their cash comes from, so it has become the red-headed stepchild of SIG, just as revolvers have with S&W.

To say that nothing positive is happening, however, I think is a bit unfair. The number one complaint that S&W revolver fans have had for decades now was the lock. Yet even now that those are coming off, S&W can still do no right in many people's minds. The three new Classic guns are a great step in the right direction, as are the mountain guns. With motivated folks like Andrew Gore heading their revolver department, they are at least making an effort to please customers. Sure, QC is lacking, but to be fair, it is lacking in nearly every major firearms company these days, due to demand and a much more transient workforce. S&W is not alone in that regard.

Long story short, you will never please everyone, even when you start making major changes to improve (as they are currently doing).

The owner of my LGS said he sells 50 semiautos to every revolver he sells. I own both, but revolvers are my big firearm passion. I am part of a rather small niche market that thankfully Smith & Wesson still caters to. Their bread and butter are most certainly the plastic pistols and LE contracts that you mentioned. Most of the revolver guys on the Forum probably have not purchased a new Smith & Wesson revolver this century. Revolvers are not what keeps the doors open at S&W.

 

[BoulderTroll]

Last plastic Shield Plus I bought Smith was not willing to fix. Told then 2 different red dots sights would not zero and their response was to contact the manufactures of the optics?! Seriously?

To be honest, it sounds like you had an unreasonable expectation. If you called Remington or SAKO and told them your 700 or 85 would not zero with two different optics and wanted them to fix it, you would have been met with stunned silence or outright laughter. I've never heard of someone trying to return a handgun or a rifle for an optic zeroing problem. I'm not trying to come across as snarky, but what did you believe S&W would be able to do to "fix" the problem? It's certainly not their responsibility to make sure that a customer's aftermarket optic and plate adapter are working correctly.

Maybe if I knew what you meant by "would not zero", it might make more sense...do you mean both optics ran out of adjustment range in the exact same way? (That would be the only thing that would indicate a possible gun/ mount problem). With the massive variety of horrible handgun optics out there these days, it would not even have dawned on me to contact the firearm maker.

 

[Yendor357]

Do those ratchets work? Or are you offended by their appearance? If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it until it is.

Rear sight…. Looks fine to me. I’ve long since bought my last dovetailed rear sight semi auto. Trying to adjust a rear sight with a sight pusher, or worse yet a hammer and brass punch is a bear, to say the least. Be thankful you have an adjustable rear sight.

I’m pretty sure Colt is just an assembly plant nowadays. Browning has subcontracted all its parts for years. Browning has the lowest return rate of any gunmaker, I’m told.
I’d bet Smith doesn’t make all of its own parts anymore. That’s just the way of the world now. But on the flip side, subcontracting is smart business. You have, we’ll say barrels, subcontracted out. Upon arrival at the assembly plant, they’re found to be out of spec, you just return them because you don’t have any money tied up in the barrels.

People long for the days of old. I’ve had 4 Smith in the 80s and 90s ( bought used. Gee…I wonder why they were being sold). A 17 that split cases. A 629 that the cylinder rubbed on the frame when it was swung open, a 624 that wouldn’t group less than 5 inches at 25 yards, a 686 with a blemish frame. Usually you get a good gun from Smith. Usually. Once Colt started making revolvers again, I haven’t bought a Smith again.

 

[Harv 24]

Signed for it this morning. Here is what Smith wrote. They typed in the wrong sight, but luckily, they replaced the rear sight, they replaced the extractor. As to the Yoke and cut forcing cone, not sure what that's all about, as my beef was the ratchets and rear sight/canted barrel.

So we will head to the range this weekend and get it sighted in and see.

I also replaced the horrid black rubber grips with the Altamonts and the grips I got from Thailand.

The Thailand grips are definitely keepers. They feel and look better and allow a higher grip.

So far, so good.

 

[Yendor357]

I gotta say, it looks great

Good luck at the range. Please do report back.